Traditional' lanes replace the self-checkout kiosks at the Walmart store in Missouri

'Traditional' lanes replace the self-checkout kiosks at the Walmart store in Missouri

A Walmart in Missouri is returning workers to operate the register in place of the self-checkout kiosks. 

A Walmart representative named Briand Little told USA TODAY that the company has started changing the self-checkout lines at its Shrewsbury, Missouri, store to "traditional checkout lanes."

Little clarified that the action is a component of Walmart's "announced plans for additional investments as well as improvements to stores across the country."

"The decision was based on several factors, including feedback from associates as well as customers, shopping patterns along with business needs in this area," Little said. "We think the change will enhance the in-store shopping experience and enable our associates to deliver more effective and individualized service."

Additionally, the Walmart location verified the removal of the kiosks to USA TODAY.

Is self-checkout becoming obsolete at Walmart?Actually, it's 'testing' when and how to employ the do-it-yourself method.

Walmart gave permission to test out several checkout methods.

As of right now, no corporate direction has been released mandating the elimination of self-checkout lines at Walmart locations throughout the country. However, Walmart has said that store managers are welcome to test out other checkout systems.

"Our managers seek out opportunities to innovate within their stores and closely monitor customer feedback regarding areas where they can better serve their needs," a representative for the firm, Joe Pennington, previously said in an October statement that USA TODAY received.

"There are no current plans for self-checkout removals nationwide," Pennington said at the time.

Retailers that are altering their self-checkout lines include Target and Dollar General.

With big-box shops like Target and Dollar General choosing to reduce the selection of goods available for purchase at self-checkout or remove the kiosks entirely, self-checkout is undergoing a fast transformation. 

In March, Target said that it will start "limiting self-checkout lanes to 10 items or less." Human cashiers will check out customers with "larger shopping hauls," according to a story from USA TODAY. 

Recently, Dollar General also made a similar statement. According to CEO Todd Vasos, the company eliminated self-checkout from more than 300 of its locations, which are the most susceptible to "shrink," or theft or the sale of goods for less than their true value.

Dollar General stores with self-checkout machines will only allow customers to check out five items or fewer. 

According to a report by USA TODAY, Vasos said that they will start to "convert some or all of the self-checkout registers to assisted-checkout lines in about 9,000 stores." 

In addition, Costco has started to strictly enforce the use of membership cards in self-checkout queues.