ST. LOUIS — Just nine months after Schnucks instituted a controversial new policy across each of its stores, the St. Louis-area grocer appears to have lightly loosened the policy.
Shoppers who visited Schnucks over the past week may have noticed a change to the signs surrounding the stores' self-checkout areas. Multiple people in the St. Louis subreddit posted pictures of the signs that once warned customers that they could only self-checkout 10 items or less changed to 15 items or less, some with a large additional sign with the words "WE HEARD YOU."
Schnucks made no announcement of the loosened restriction on its website. However, 5 On Your Side confirmed signage at the Schnucks location near Lindenwood's campus in St. Charles had changed its signage from 10 to 15 items, along with the "WE HEARD YOU" signage.
"After listening to feedback from our customers, we recently increased the self-checkout limit from 10 to 15," Schnucks told 5 On Your Side in an emailed response.
The grocer first enacted the self-checkout policy change on Feb. 1, to the dismay of its customer base. The change sparked backlash, with numerous customers sharing their frustration with 5 On Your Side after the change was announced, including:
- "Then they need to have more than one or two cashiers available. That line backs up 15 or 20 people deep. I always use self check out."
- "Well that must mean that they’ll be employing more cashiers, because that’s the only way this will work!"
- "That is all good - - if only they would STAFF the Full Check Out!"
The grocer originally told 5 On Your Side that the policy change was meant to improve customer service, checkout efficiency, and lower shopping thefts.
Schnucks was the latest grocer to go through what was called a "self-checkout reckoning." Numerous stores across the nation, including Walmart, Target, and multiple local store chains adjusted their self-checkout systems over the past year, with some closing self-checkouts entirely.