Why Stores Are Getting Rid of Self-Checkout

Self-checkout was supposed to make shopping faster, cheaper, and more efficient. But some retailers are now limiting it, converting machines back to staffed checkout, or removing them altogether. So what changed? In this video, we look at the hidden costs behind self-checkout — from shrink and missed scans to employee interventions, item limits, and why retailers like Dollar General and Target are rethinking where self-checkout actually works. The bigger story is not that self-checkout is disappearing. It is that stores are becoming much more selective about when automation actually saves money. Sources include Dollar General SEC filings, Target corporate statements, and 2026 research from ECR Retail Loss. #SelfCheckout #Retail #Shopping #ConsumerTrends #WhatChangedQuietly