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KROGER has come under fire after customers encountered a self-checkout issue during a trip to the store.
A particularly peeved shopper blasted the retailer for the problem, which seems to be a recurring one as of late.
Kroger has apologized to a fuming customer (stock image)[/caption]
Its self-checkout kiosks have been criticized recently (stock image)[/caption]
Kroger has 1,243 locations nationwide, each equipped with self-checkout kiosks and traditional cashiered lanes for customers.
In 1986, the company was even the very first to introduce self-checkout at an Atlanta-area location, set to be a “revolution in the supermarket,” per Forbes.
It has certainly become that, with most retail giants in America having kiosks as an option for consumers.
By 2023, there were at least 217,000 in the world, according to a count collected by RBR Data Services.
That number has likely only grown — and while self-checkout can be an efficient and easy option for shoppers at its best, it can do just the opposite at its worst, as Kroger customer Amanda Woodall found out last month.
“@kroger u never surprise me!” she exclaimed in a post to X.
“One cashier at Euclid Kroger at 9 am on a Friday morning!”
Amanda claimed that there weren’t enough cashiers to accommodate the busy crowds, leaving only self-checkout kiosks as an option for everyone, no matter how many items they were purchasing.
“20 people in self check out line! No baskets available!” she added.
“Counting down days until @Publix opens in Lexington!”
KROGER’S RESPONSE
Kroger was quick to respond to Amanda’s threat to boycott the chain for the competition and apologized.
“Hi, Amanda! We are very sorry for any frustrations with store conditions, and we would be happy to share your concerns with our Store Leadership Teams,” the retailer replied.
“Please sent us DM and the exact store location with a zip code, as well as any further feedback you wish to provide. Thank you!”
It’s unclear if Amanda contacted Kroger further to resolve the situation.
Kroger's refund policy
Kroger shoppers can return items with or without a receipt.
All Kroger Co. Family of Stores can accept returns of items purchased at any location within 30 days of purchase.
Returns with receipts:
- Customers can use digital or paper receipts to get a refund
- The refund will be returned in the same payment method the purchase was made. Either going back on a card or handed back in cash
Returns without receipts:
- Customers wanting to return more than $10 will receive a store merchandise gift card for the value
- Customers who spent less than $10 will receive cash
PROBLEMS CONTINUE
She certainly isn’t alone in her grievances with self-checkout.
A customer earlier in February dubbed Kroger’s kiosks “idiotic” after a similarly negative shopping experience.
“@kroger I suppose you still think converting almost all checkout lanes to self-checkout is still a great idea they asked in a separate post on X.
“I know you’ll enjoy your giant bonus checks, not giving one thought to how idiotic this is.”
Someone else called for Kroger to “get rid” of all self-checkouts and go back to only traditional lanes to reflect that the company values “people above profit.”
Another shopper pleaded with Kroger to hire at least a few more cashiers along with self-checkout to improve efficiency.
Others also spotted a 12-item limit at self-checkout kiosks in their local store, mirroring decisions from Target and Walmart.
Kroger also still faces a lawsuit from Albertsons after the pair’s $24.6 billion merger plan fell through in December.
