Readers Say

This Target in Dorchester no longer has self-checkout. Does your local store?

Target declined to give a reason for the change, but said a "handful" of stores across the country would no longer have a self-checkout option.

By Emily Spatz

April 10, 2024

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If you prefer avoiding social interaction at all costs when out running errands, you’re not alone. And now, in some cases, you’re out of luck. 

Recently, the South Bay Target on Allstate Road in Dorchester closed all of their self-checkout machines, leaving customers with no choice but to come face-to-face with real-life cashiers (gasp!). 

Users on Reddit shared their opinions on the issue, with one person writing that they had to wait 30 minutes in a checkout line just to get toothpaste and deodorant. Some expressed concern about how Target would deal with understaffing issues and still provide timely customer service.

Over half of people aged 18 to 44 prefer self-checkout for reasons like speediness, privacy, and not having to talk with checkout staff, according to data from the Digital Commerce Index. Though people ages 45 and older prefer it less, 43% of people overall said they’d rather opt to check out themselves.

But despite helping stores decrease labor expenses and being convenient for shoppers, this do-it-yourself option has a cost — namely increased theft. About 69% of self-checkout users think the machines make stealing easier, and 15% of shoppers admit to stealing, according to a Lending Tree survey.

While Target declined to disclose why they will be halting self-checkout at the South Bay store, the chain said a select number of stores will be undergoing this change. 

“In a small handful of locations nationwide, including the Dorchester, Mass. store, all checkout lanes will be staffed by team members moving forward,” said Target spokesperson Jennifer Kron. 

Besides closing self-checkout lanes, the company is planning to institute several other changes to its checkout process. 

One policy, which took effect at all stores last month, won’t allow customers to take more than 10 items through self-checkout lanes. The store is also slated to implement new technology that will flag improper scanning at self-checkouts, according to reporting by USA Today. 

All of that aside, we want to know whether your local Target or preferred grocery or other store has limited its checkout options. Do you prefer self-checkout rather than traditional cashiers? Why? Will a lack of these machines change where you shop?