What’s Happening to Target’s Self-Checkout? Here’s the Truth

Are Target’s self-checkout lines set to be a thing of the past? The retailer has released an update to its plans for the self-service kiosks.

In March 2024, Target debuted Express Self-Checkout with limits of 10 items or fewer at most of its 2,000 stores nationwide. Traditional staffed lines remained active to help guests with full shopping carts. Target and other retailers invested heavily in self-checkout options during the pandemic to limit human interaction and mitigate the spread of the virus, as well as to save on labor costs.

The first reports of the Bullseye store limiting self-checkout access emerged in early 2024. It was later reported that the retailer would abandon these lines entirely due to multiple instances of customer theft.

The retailer subsequently faced issues with customers shoplifting and missed scans at the self-service checkout. These factors contributed to the measure of missing inventory known as shrink. There’s also an element of “partial shrink” in play as well, which means customers are not scanning an item, or they’re keying in the code for a cheaper item instead of the proper one.

So what’s happening to the company’s self-checkout kiosks? On May 5, Target added an update to its fact sheet about its self-checkout lanes but didn’t address any issues with theft or improper scanning. Rather, the company announced self-checkout would “continue evolving to match guests with the right checkout options so they can get what they need — alongside same-day fulfillment services like Drive Up, Order Pick Up and Target’s same-day delivery. It’s all in service to demonstrate the convenience, joy and value of the Target run.”

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Target self-checkout lines will remain open, but many will continue to have reduced hours. These lanes in select Bullseye stores are typically open from 10 or 11 a.m. until 7 or 8 p.m., per a Target Reddit thread. This is in contrast to the retailer’s regular business hours, which are from 7 or 8 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m.

Target Has Not Directly Addressed Limiting or Shutting Down Self-Checkout Lines

The company did not directly address the customer theft issues it has had in the update. Instead, it shared customer satisfaction details as the retailer continues to utilize both self-checkout and traditional staffed checkout. Here are the benefits listed, as seen within the last year:

• Overall transaction times have decreased by nearly 8% at both self-checkout kiosks and staffed checkout lanes.
• Customers using a mix of checkout options are reporting smoother experiences, citing shorter wait times and more positive interactions with store associates. Checkout-related Net Promoter Scores (NPS) reflect these gains, showing a 5-point increase for wait times and a 3-point rise for team member interactions.
• An increasing number of shoppers are opting for traditional lanes staffed by team members — a preferred choice for those with fuller carts, who may need assistance, or who simply value the personal touch during checkout.

The fact sheet stated, “At Target, we’re always listening to our guests so we can deliver a joyful and convenient shopping experience. Checking out is one of the most important moments of the Target run, and we know that a fast, easy experience — whether at self-checkout or the lanes staffed by our friendly team members — is critical to getting guests on their way quickly.”