Are paid subscribers of Walmart+ the only customers who can use the self-checkout lanes at all U.S. Walmart stores as of December 6, 2024? No, that's not true: Self-checkout lanes are not exclusively and universally reserved for only Walmart+ members all of the time. Walmart representatives told Lead Stories that some stores "may adjust the use of staffed and self-checkouts depending on the number of customers and staff available." During limited access, some stores designate "select self-checkout stations for Walmart+ customers " for quicker access and delivery services.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on TikTok on October 18, 2024. The caption opened:
#walmart #walmartfinds #subscription #walmartplus #subscriptionhell #greedflation #inflation #corporategreed#billionaires #lizneptune #corporations #ceos #inflation #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis
Above the video still of a woman, white text in a light blue box reads:
WALMART HAS LOST THEIR DAMN MINDS
This is how the post appeared at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken Fri Dec 06 18:55:00 2024 UTC)
The 3-minute and 24-second video opened with a woman walking around in what appears to be a Walmart store saying:
It's official, guys. Walmart has removed the self-checkout counter from my store. Now, the only people who can use self-checkout is Walmart Plus members.
The Walmart website defines Walmart+ as "a new kind of membership that gives you access to lots of benefits that will help you save time and money." Included in a Walmart+ plan is "free delivery from your store, member prices on fuel at select stations, and use of mobile scan & go, which enables you to scan items as you shop in-store, streamlining your checkout process." The Walmart+ plans include a $12.95 monthly subscription or a $98 annual fee, plus applicable taxes.
Lead Stories contacted the Walmart media relations team about the claim. Three Walmart media relations and communications representatives responded via email on December 6, 2024.
Kelsey Bohl, director of local communications at Walmart, and Charles Crowson, senior director of Walmart global communications, sent Lead Stories separate emails saying the same thing:
From time-to-time, our stores adjust the use of staffed checkouts and self-checkouts. For
example, a store might start or end the day with staffed checkouts. As the number of shoppers
and associate staffing increases, these stores open self-checkout registers to manage the
increased customer flow. This process isn't new.
Madalyn Klika, senior manager of global sourcing communications at Walmart International, confirmed the above responses by her colleagues, reiterating:
During these times of limited access, some stores are designating select self-checkout stations for Walmart+ customers using our Scan and Go service as self-checkout lanes are not reserved for Walmart+ members, but stores may adjust the use of staffed and self-checkouts depending on the number of customers and staff available.
Other fact check agencies have also reviewed this claim, including Reuters, USA Today, and Yahoo News.
Additional Lead Stories fact checks mentioning claims regarding Walmart can be read here.
