The concept involves a fee levied on customers for utilizing the self-service checkout lanes at a particular retail establishment. This model diverges from the traditional self-checkout system, which typically offers a free alternative to cashier-assisted checkout. An example would be a Walmart location instituting a small charge for customers choosing to scan and bag their own groceries. This practice has been a subject of media and customer discourse.
Charging for self-checkout use potentially generates additional revenue for the retailer. It could also be implemented as a demand management strategy, aimed at influencing customer behavior during peak hours or incentivizing the use of cashier-assisted lanes. Historically, self-checkout was introduced to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs for retailers, offering a convenience factor to customers. A payment model alters the perceived benefit and cost equation for shoppers.