No, Walmart and Target are not charging customers to use self-checkout

Target just announced a new subscription service, called Target Circle 360. The new plan allows customers to pay $49 annually to receive perks including free same-day delivery from Target and over 100 of its retail partners. Retailer Walmart also has a subscription service called Walmart+ where customers can pay $98 annually to receive perks like free shipping and additional discounts.

Viral posts online claim that Walmart and Target will now be charging customers for self-checkout and limiting use to those with subscriptions to the store. A VERIFY reader reached out to ask if these claims were true.

Walmart and Target are not charging customers annual fees to use self-checkout. While both retailers have subscription services, the programs do not include exclusive access to self-checkout kiosks.

Target recently announced new changes to its self-checkout, however, there is no mention of limiting access to only Target Circle 360 members. The updates include a new Express Self-Checkout option and the ability for store leaders to mandate self-checkout hours based on store needs.

Target representative Loni Monroe confirmed to VERIFY that “Target is not charging customers to use the self-checkout.”

[dumbwithmilan]

nope, my store does this and you gotta pay the membership

[wokethelast]

My Walmart just started to change their policy, you either pay the membership or they limit you to 15 items AND THE BEST PART IS THAT THEY DONT HAVE ENOUGH HUMAN CASHIERS!!!!

[michaelahern]

They were paid by Walmart and target to say this

[archcrump]

They are planning to in about 12 months to implement this. Walmart is also changing some of the regular manned checkout to Credit or Debit Card only (no cash). Keeps cashier's from making change errors or steal cash. They eventually, plan to charge a 1.5% processing fee if you pay with a credit or debit card (remember using cash is free) So eventually they will keep raising the processing fee to 2%, then 2.5% and so on.

[NSell]

Self check out is not a service. They are cutting the cost of their employees tremendously and providing self check out lanes. This is horseshit.

[studivan]

There are no fees now, but just wait, they were all about saving trees a while ago so you couldn’t use paper bags but now they will damn sure sell you one.

[danielsutton]

I guess you guys are too 'elite' to actually enter a Walmart. Had you done so, you would have found out that while they technically don’t charge a fee, they do have self-checkouts that are for paying members only, thus why some call it a fee.

[maurisue]

My Walmart got rid of all the self checkouts within the past week, like physically removed them. The only self checkouts that are left are 2 scan and go (membership only) and 2 for spark drivers

[chubbednugget]

Let's be honest. Nobody needs cashiers anymore. Let's just have nothing but machines

[TechnoGlowStick]

Yeah, I have to order everything online. There's no way I need to shop at a store that charges a bunch of fees.
Yeah, self-check out is a joke.

[yoshithebest]

This is completely false. They’re not that stupid. This fee thing is for a what they call Walmart plus self check out which is a special self check out area for Walmart plus members to make things quicker, but is not going to be mandatory to use self check out.

[benjaminbarnes]

Full of shit. Local Walmart in Indiana has shut down, what a few weeks ago, were lanes that were available to everyone. Now there is a white tape that reads it for Walmart + users only.

[MsNealM]

This is conflicting news. My local Walmart has removed and replaced cashier-assisted lanes to make room for predominantly self-checkout and has reduced the length of the checkout counter, making it challenging to shop in bulk. It seems to me that consumers are being relegated to the self-checkout. What surprises me the most is more cashiers are monitoring the already video-captured lanes than their are at the cash wrap.

[lancasteredc]

Well I won’t shop there anymore 😂 garbage food anyways… I’ll go to Aldi and Amish grocery stores all day they have hard working Amish employees and full checkout service

[sandybiltz]

Unless I get an employee discount, I'm not using the self checkout lanes! Plus I've also heard there has been a great deal of accusations about shoplifting for those using self-checkout!! Retailers are driving their customers away from them!

[ModoNayr]

Walmart near me had 12-18 unused self check out lanes for this service and the 6 lanes open had long lines. Left my cart filled with groceries at the long line and walked away!

[DB-ldph]

Some Walmarts means ghetto neighborhoods

[RodneySlinger]

The Walmart in my area doesn't even remove the items from the boxes before putting them on the shelves. FWM!

[mrglennchapman]

🙄PLOT TWIST🤔

I feel like they are setting up for their customers to have to pay for a cashier.
👇🏾
I wouldnt put it past them to even have people tip for a speedy checkout from actual humans. 🤯

[puppetprints]

Of course the media wouldnt actually research their stories.