Confirmed: Walmart Self Checkouts Overcharged Arizona Shoppers
Self-checkout kiosks have been a hotly debated subject for a few years now. First, they were installed to contain rising prices, and businesses like Walmart and other retailers added the kiosks as a way to keep overhead down.
The reality of shifting the job of checkout clerk to the customer created myriad headaches for retailers and shoppers, as consumers are increasingly steered toward using the machines whether they want to or not.
Businesses began to realize they were losing money when customers made mistakes and forgot to ring up products. Other shoppers figured out ways to circumvent the machines, resulting in thousands of dollars in product loss and shrinkage.
READ: There's a New Self-Checkout Rule at All Arizona Locations
Retailers started implementing controversial receipt checks as shoppers left stores, punishing anyone who neglected to ring up an item.
READ: The Danger of Using Self-Checkouts
Exposed: Walmart Self-Checkout Machines Overcharged Consumers
While Walmart was checking our receipts, it's now been revealed that we should have been checking our receipts for their accuracy.
In a new twist, Walmart's self-checkout kiosks seem to have been taking more from customers than they should.
READ: Are Self-Checkout Kiosks Ruining Customer Service in Arizona?
Walmart recently acknowledged a technical snafu on their part. Customers in Arizona and nationwide were being overcharged at the store's self-checkout stations.
ReviewJournal.com reports that the glitch spanned several days. The technical problem affected stores nationwide and has consumers once again questioning the reliability of the automated systems.
Refunding Customers: Walmart Comes Clean on Overcharging at Self Checkouts
Reuters reported that a Walmart spokesperson said the company prioritized customer refunds in the wake of the overcharging glitch that affected over 16,000 kiosks systemwide.
There's no way to know exactly how many Arizona shoppers were impacted by the mistake. If you were overcharged and used a credit card, you may have already been refunded for the overcharged amount. If you used cash and you still have your receipts, you may be able to take your receipt to the store to get a refund.
[Sources: Al.com | ReviewJournal.com | Yahoo Finance | Reuters.com ]
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