Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the U.S., with more than 2,800 locations in 35 states; therefore, it serves a lot of households across the country.
To make the shopping experience much easier for its customers, Kroger has added innovative features and services such as self-checkout. But how exactly does this work? Here’s what I found out!
Kroger has introduced self-checkout lanes in its stores to save time for customers and time spent paying and bagging items. In addition to the lanes, the retailer has also expanded its options and included stores that only offer self-service checkout lanes. However, Kroger still has cashiers and courtesy clerks to assist the customers in [currentyear].
Read on for more information about Kroger’s checkout process, how to use the service, and if this means that the cashiers are being removed, along with other facts!
How Does Kroger Self-Checkout Work?
When you shop at Kroger, you can shop online or in-store.
If you visit a store, you might find a self-checkout register that allows you to scan your own purchases without relying on the store cashier.
You’ll need to scan the bar codes on every item, and the machine will read the price. For items such as produce, you’ll need to place them on a scale for the scanner to pick the weight.
Once you’ve scanned all the items, the total cost will display for you to pay.
Choose your payment method, whether credit or debit card or a Kroger gift card, and complete the transaction.
Fortunately, you can handle the entire process without involving the cashier, unless you have an issue if the scanner is not working as it should.
In addition, if your purchases include items such as alcoholic products, tobacco, or medicine, the self-checkout associate will have to check your ID before you complete the transaction.
How Do You Use the Self Scanner at Kroger?
Kroger enables customers to use a self-scanner and proceed to pay at the self-checkout area.
When shopping, you can use Kroger’s Scan, Bag, Go feature, which uses a wireless scanner or the app.
When using the handheld scanner, pick the device up at the front area of the store, swipe your card, or enter your card ID on the scanner.
Hold up the scanner on the product bar code as you shop to scan to get the actual price.
On the other hand, you can use the Scan, Bag, Go mobile app, which allows you to scan the barcodes individually. As you shop, the app will keep the total of your items.
To pay, you can use your phone, debit, or credit card, and process the payment at the self-checkout area.
Is Kroger Introducing Stores That Only Have Self-Checkout?
Kroger is looking for new ways to expand its checkout options by testing stores that only offer self-service check-out lanes.
The first all-self-checkout store was introduced in Dallas in 2021.
As the company continues with the pilot test, the retailer still employs cashiers and courtesy clerks to assist employees when they need any help.
This will make it easier to serve more customers in a short time.
Is Self-Checkout Available in All Kroger Stores?
Kroger has introduced self-checkout in some of its stores, especially since the company has the Scan, Bag, Go app for its customers.
Furthermore, the retail giant announced that it’s introducing new, larger self-checkout lanes in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Dayton in [currentyear].
In these new stations, customers will scan their own items, and then the items will move through the conveyor belt to the bagging station, where a courtesy clerk will pack the items.
Why Is Kroger Introducing More Self-Checkouts?
In recent years, Kroger has increased the number of stores with self-checkout for various reasons. Let’s look at these in further detail:
Faster Checkout
Since Kroger has all registers open, customers can spend less time on checkout.
With more checkout lanes, customers can leave the store much faster compared to when there’s a cashier or clerk.
This reduces queues and improves the shopping experience in the long run.
Labor Shortage
Like most retailers, Kroger also experienced a labor shortage as employees quit their jobs.
According to Forbes, about 6.3 million retail employees resigned from their jobs in the first 10 months of 2021.
To deal with the labor shortage and issues finding the right talent, Kroger has been testing out new self-checkout points to make it easier for customers to get the services.
It Saves Money
Kroger is also introducing more self-checkout lanes to save money. If customers can check out their items, the retailer doesn’t have to spend a lot of time training cashiers.
Are Cashiers Being Removed From Kroger?
Although the retailer is introducing more self-checkout lanes, Kroger is not doing away with cashiers.
The company is still hiring cashiers and courtesy clerks to assist customers when there’s an issue at the checkout area.
With the new system, Kroger clerks will help customers at the bagging station.
Cashiers are also still important, especially if the customers need to confirm anything about products, prices, or recent offers.
Can You Use Kroger Self-Checkout for All Products?
When shopping from any Kroger store, you can use self-checkout for all the items.
You only need to know the extra steps for some items, such as produce, that need to be weighed first for the cost to reflect.
Additionally, for items with legal restrictions like alcohol and tobacco products, you’ll need to show your ID as proof to the Kroger associate at the self-checkout register.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on Kroger vs Publix, how do Kroger digital coupons work, and does Kroger takes EBT.
Conclusion
Kroger has introduced self-checkout lanes in its stores to save time for customers and time spent paying and bagging items. In addition to the lanes, the retailer has also expanded its options and included stores that only offer self-service checkout lanes.
However, Kroger still has cashiers and courtesy clerks to assist the customers at the store. In the latest development, customers will scan their own products, which will then be bagged by a courtesy clerk.
