Target joins a growing list of retailers backing away from self-checkout as theft spikes and shoppers push back.
Target just made a move that’s turning heads—and not in a good way. As of early May 2025, the retail giant has begun pulling self-checkout lanes from select stores across the country. According to a report from Fox Business (May 4, 2025), the decision stems from a sharp increase in shoplifting and mounting customer frustration with malfunctioning kiosks. While some shoppers are applauding the return of full-service lanes, others—particularly toy collectors and board game enthusiasts—are less than thrilled.
And it’s not just Target. Other major retailers including Dollar General, Walmart, and Five Below are also scaling back or restricting self-checkout access. Security concerns are the driving factor behind the shift, marking a reversal of the pandemic-era trend that embraced contactless, customer-driven transactions.
The Bigger Problem: Theft and Shrink
Fox Business cited a jaw-dropping case out of California where a single individual allegedly swiped $60,000 worth of merchandise during 100 self-checkout visits. And in New York, organized theft rings are now costing retailers a combined $4.4 billion annually, according to the New York Post.
The shift also conveinetly comes as Target has recognized a surge in organized retail crime plaguing its stores — and many other popular retailers — nationwide and forcing some to shutter.
A California thief used Target’s self-checkout service to snatch over $60,000 worth of merchandise during a shoplifting spree spanning across 100 visits to the retail store.
That kind of loss—what retailers call “shrink”—is pushing companies to tighten controls. As PaymentsJournal reported back in July 2024, many stores are starting to prioritize security over convenience. Walmart, for instance, now limits self-checkout to Walmart+ members and Spark drivers in many areas. Dollar General capped usage at five items or fewer, and Five Below has yanked self-checkout entirely from several locations, per The Daily Dot.
Why It Matters to Collectors
For toy collectors and tabletop fans, this is more than a minor inconvenience. Target has long been a top destination for exclusive action figures, retro toys, and board game restocks. Whether you’re hunting a hard-to-find Marvel Legends release or grabbing a new copy of Wingspan for your next game night, self-checkout made those quick trips faster and easier.
As The US Sun highlighted, collectors often rely on in-and-out efficiency to scoop up high-demand items before they disappear. Losing self-checkout could mean longer lines, slower trips, and missed opportunities.
There’s also the issue of customer preference. While the article cites a 2023 LinkedIn consumer insights report, a more widely cited NIQ study from July 2024 confirms that Gen Z shoppers strongly prefer seamless, tech-driven retail experiences, aligning with the claim that self-checkout fits their shopping habits.
The Backlash Is Real
Unsurprisingly, shoppers are speaking out. Fox Business says customers are already “fuming” over the change, voicing frustration on social media and Reddit. Others, like those cited by NBC Chicago, actually prefer the human touch and see it as a return to better service. The divide underscores a larger challenge for modern retail: finding the balance between safety, efficiency, and customer experience.
“Ugh, I hate this… I just want to get my groceries without forcing people to do more labor,” someone replied to a Reddit thread.
“This definitely is not the better option,” one person said after a terrible experience waiting in line. ” I went to my local Target to pick up a flashlight that was on sale. Took me almost a 1/2 hour. There was a group of people waiting and one girl running herself ragged.”
What Now?
Target’s move won’t tank its collector following, but it could make those early morning toy hunts or last-minute game grabs a bit more of a grind. The company has reported significant shrink-related losses in recent years, though the article’s cited $180 million loss in 2024 could not be independently verified and may require clarification or a stronger source.
As more retailers follow suit, the future of in-store shopping is in flux. Will smart surveillance and hybrid lanes solve the problem, or are we witnessing the slow death of self-checkout altogether?
For now, if you’re headed to Target for your next Funko Pop or Settlers of Catan expansion, be prepared to wait—and hope your cashier knows the toy aisle well.
Sources:
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Target Pulls the Plug on Self-Checkout Amid Shoplifting Surge and Customers Are Fuming, MSN, May 4, 2025
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Target Dials Back Access to Self-Checkout Machines, Joining Other Retailers, New York Post (via Fox Business), May 4, 2025
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Retailers Pull Back From Self-Checkout on Theft Concerns, PaymentsJournal, July 9, 2024
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Five Below Is the Latest Retailer to Pull Self-Checkout From Stores, The Daily Dot, 2024
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Target Becomes Latest Retailer to Rethink Self-Checkout, The US Sun, 2025
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How Gen Z Consumer Behavior is Reshaping Retail, NIQ, July 29, 2024
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Target Limits Self-Checkout: Here’s What Shoppers Are Saying, NBC Chicago, 2025
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