We’ve all been there—standing in front of a self-checkout machine at a store, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

While these devices were designed to make shopping faster and more convenient, they often end up creating more problems than they solve. There’s now even more reason to avoid them altogether.

Sylvain Charlebois, the head of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, argues that retailers mainly adopted self-checkout systems to reduce labor costs, without considering the needs of their customers. In fact, customers have disliked these machines since they were first introduced.

Companies like Walmart and Target have heavily invested in self-checkout kiosks, hoping to replace cashiers and save up to 66% on labor costs. However, research shows that these machines often malfunction, requiring human intervention to fix issues and ensure a smooth checkout experience.

But there’s an even darker side to self-checkout systems. In an effort to increase revenue, some stores have allegedly falsely accused innocent customers of shoplifting. These retailers are targeting unsuspecting shoppers and forcing them to pay for “crimes” they never committed, citing glitches in the system as justification.

Carrie Jernigan, a criminal defense lawyer, recently used TikTok to warn users about the risks of using self-checkout kiosks. She explains in her video that large retailers like Walmart will go to great lengths to pursue customers who may have accidentally forgotten to scan an item or failed to pay for something. Even if your “offense” was an honest mistake, these companies will often send legal teams after you, potentially leading to costly legal battles.

There are serious risks to using self-checkout systems. Retailers are quick to assign blame, and they will closely scrutinize security footage to identify potential “offenders” based on who last used the machine. In some cases, it doesn’t take much evidence for them to bring charges that could lead to up to a year in prison. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself fighting to prove your innocence.

So, how can you protect yourself? It’s simple: avoid self-checkout kiosks altogether. Opt for a traditional checkout lane where you can interact with a real cashier. This lowers your chances of being wrongfully accused and ensures a safer, more secure shopping experience.

Remember, it’s important to be aware of the hidden risks that surround us in our everyday lives.

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