Target shoppers furious over bizarre self-checkout rule that drags out a simple purchase to '20 minutes' or more

Target shoppers are up in arms over a rule that leaves self-checkouts closed - increasing wait times.

Local bosses now 'have the flexibility to set self-checkout hours that are right for their store'. The new policy rolled out in March allows staff to open kiosks late or shut them early - or even during the day. 

But customers say it leads to long waits since stores do not open extra traditional manned registers to make up for the closed self-checkouts.

'Store closes at 10pm but self-checkout closes at 9pm and there are only three cashiers between 9pm and 10pm?,' one customer posted to X, formerly Twitter. 

'Huge line every night between 9pm and 10pm.'

Some Target stores are keeping self-checkout closed during certain hours 

Target has made a series of changes to its self checkouts recently

Another fumed on X: 'Banging my head against the wall. Why does running to target to get red bull take 20 minutes now? 

'Because they closed all the self-checkout lines until 10am.'

Target made changes to its self-checkout policies that began on March 17.

Local store bosses now have the option to open kiosks late or close them early - causing the problems described above. 

The move is in response to store managers wanting time to set up the mahicnes at the start of the day and time to shut them down at the end. At these times, they need to also cash up and sort out stock - and it is thought the self-checkouts can be a distraction. 

Target also rolled out a ten-item limit to all self-checkouts atits stores. It renamed tham 'express self-checkout' - saying the limit made the lines move faster.

It had been trialling the limit in 200 stores since October and was implemented in all 2,000 - even though shoppers complained that stores did not open up extra manned lanes for those with more than ten items.

Target has a ten item limit at all 2,000 stores

At the time, Target said: 'Store leaders have the flexibility to open more lanes staffed by team members and set self-checkout hours that are right for their store. 

'While the hours of operation may vary based on store needs, Express Self-Checkout will be available during the busiest shopping times.' 

Some Target stores are taking more severe measures in response to high crime rates - such as age-restricted entry and increased security.

In December, one store implemented an age restriction, requiring customers under 18 to be accompanied by an adult.

Meanwhile, other retailers are making changes to self-checkouts - with many removing them. 

DailyMail.com reported on Wednesday how Walmart was removing them entirely from two more stores.

The move is linked to increasing thefts at the kiosks, rather than a move to boost customer service.

Some of the largest retailers have taken steps this year to reverse the failed self-checkout experiment. The machines were designed to cut labor costs but caused increased theft

Last month, Dollar General announced it was pulling self-checkout stands entirely from 300 of its stores with the highest level of shoplifting and improperly scanned items.

In 9,000 other locations it said it is converting some of its self-checkout registers to regular cashier checkouts, and limiting self-checkout purchases to five items or less in a further 4,500 stores.

Other retailers are also evolving their self-checkout strategies. 

Walmart tested self-checkout lanes exclusively for Walmart+ members and experimented with closing self-checkout during specific hours. 

READ MORE: Target unveils its latest weapon against self-scan shoplifters

Target to use secret technology against shoplifters - with the AI-powered cameras able to identify repeat offenders at the checkout 

A new system uses cameras and sensors to detect items that shoppers fail to scan and will notify them with audio and visual cues.

But the secretive technology - known as TruScan - is different to simply having CCTV cameras trained on the area that security staff watch.

Instead, it is thought to use computers powered by artificial intelligence to monitor shoppers as they scan items.

Target started rolling out the cameras several months ago and will equip all stores in the US with them by the end of the year.