All Home Depot stores brace for major self-checkout policy change under city’s new ‘limits’ bill

A SELF-CHECKOUT change could soon hit another area in a popular state, including all of its Home Depot stores.

Anaheim in Orange County, California, has already proposed self-checkout changes, and Santa Ana has become the latest to consider legislation.

Sign up for the Money newsletter

Thank you!

Leaders in the region are considering legislation that would require a certain number of employees per a certain number of self-checkout machines in stores.

This would be one employee for every three self-checkout kiosks.

The ordinance also establishes a 15-item-or-less limit for customers to use the self-checkout kiosks.

Stores that violate the rules could face penalties of up to $1,000 per employee per day.

read more on the home depot

Santa Ana City Council members are expected to consider the legislation today.

In a report, the benefits of the legislation were outlined, with a focus on retail theft.

It reads: “Increased employee presence in checkout areas improves oversight and may deter retail theft, which has been identified as a growing concern in retail environments.

“Establishing minimum staffing ratios reduces the burden on employees tasked with monitoring multiple transactions simultaneously and helps mitigate workplace conflicts.”

Latest self-checkout changes

Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.

Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.

Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.

While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.

One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.

However, that test run has been phased out.

At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.

Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.

As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.

Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.

Jenna Thompson, a spokeswoman for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, praised the proposal.

She added: “When cities pass an ordinance, they will provide thousands of workers – union and non-union – with extra support and better service for customers.

“UFCW members look forward to seeing Santa Ana pass legislation to ensure quality jobs and safe, positive shopping experiences.”

But Nate Rose, a spokesman for the California Grocers Association, stressed that the bill would increase costs for shoppers.

He said that there’s “just simply no place else for those costs to go other than to higher prices on grocery store shelves.” 

Long Beach and Costa Mesa have already adopted their own self-checkout regulations.