KROGER shoppers are up in arms over the chain’s ‘terrible’ checkout service.
The grocery giant’s self-checkout lanes have turned into a chaotic nightmare, leaving customers fuming and fed up with the long wait.
One customer took to X to share his frustrations, slamming the chain for having the “worst self-checkout of all grocery stores.”
He warned: “If you don’t value your time, shop at Kroger.”
Customers are now calling for employees to come back for assistance despite policies at select Kroger stores favoring self-checkout over traditional cashiered lanes.
Others have blamed the issue on the stores lack of staff, posting: “Hire more cashiers, dude. It’s that simple!”
Shoppers are being forced to brave the self-service lanes, and they’re not happy about it.
The user pointed out that in wealthier neighborhoods “it’s like a ghost town—no cashiers in sight.”
Another user claimed Kroger’s self service system is “ancient compared to the norm today.”
He added: “If they can’t keep up, customers are left to do all the heavy lifting—literally.”
APOLOGIES MADE
The major supermarket has apologized and requested more information to try to solve the issue.
But the huge backlash on social media suggests this wasn’t an isolated issue.
Feeling like they’re working for free, shoppers are calling for compensation for their grocery-gathering efforts.
One fed-up customer wrote: “Y’all need to give us a discount for the jobs y’all took away!”
Kroger spotted the complaint and apologized to the customer, promising to make a change.
“Oh no! We’re sorry to see this!” the retailer replied.
“Please send us a DM with the store location so that we can get this escalated.”
Kroger also caused uproar among shoppers for alleged overcharges.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
Meanwhile, this isn’t the only apology the supermarket has had to issue in recent months.
Kroger has apologized to a customer who became offended due to receipt-checking measures at the retailer.
Customers were not happy when they spotted employees checking receipts and carts with wheels that lock when pushed outside the store.
Elsewhere, Kroger customers have complained about the store’s digital coupons.
One shopper said he wouldn’t go back due to price hike fears.
