Target to limit self-checkout to 10 items as stores trend away from the technology amid concerns of theft

Published

2 months ago

March 18, 2024

admin

Target will limit self-checkout to 10 items, claiming the move will improve the customer experience and speed up the process.

The Minneapolis-based retailer joins dozens of other retail chains, including rival Walmart, that have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft.

The change will go into effect Sunday at most of theMinneapolis-based chains nearly 2,000 stores nationwide, the retail giant said.

Along with paring back customers self-checkout hauls, stores will expand the number of traditional checkout lanes available.

Target piloted the new self-checkout limits at 200 stores last fall before expanding the change nationwide, the company said.

By having the option to pick self-checkout for a quick trip, or a traditional, staffed lane when their cart is full, guests who were surveyed told us the overall checkout experience was better, too,” the company said.

Target attributed the change partly to shifting consumer patterns, noting the self-checkout option was a boon during the height of the pandemic when customers sought minimal contact with others.

The self-checkout revamp is coming as Target has bemoaned a surge in organized retail crime plaguing its stores nationwide.

Last fall, Target shuttered nine stores in cities nationwide, including San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Ore., and in Harlem, citing concerns over its employees safety amid increasingly violent crime.

New York retailers bemoaned organized shoplifting rings cost them a staggering $4.4 billion in 2022.

And a survey earlier this year found the ability to swipe items undetected was among the reasons Gen Z favors self-checkouts.

Other retail giants have been testing their self check-out options, with Walmart stores closing some of their contactless lanes entirely.

From time-to-time, our stores adjust the use of staffed checkouts and self-checkouts,” a Walmart spokesperson told NBC’s Today. “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 isnt new.”

Sports

Keys to the offseason: What’s next for the Bruins, Avs, other eliminated teams?

Published

24 mins ago

May 18, 2024

admin

Keys to the offseason: What's next for the Bruins, Avs, other eliminated teams?

Ryan S. Clark
Close

Ryan S. Clark

NHL reporter
Kristen Shilton
Close

Kristen Shilton

ESPN NHL reporter

May 18, 2024, 02:00 AM ET

The 2023-24 NHL regular season was an entertaining one, with races for playoff position, point and goal leaders, and major trophies all coming down to the bitter end.

But not every fan base got to enjoy all of it so much.

With eliminations piling up, it’s time to look ahead to the offseason. Clubs that didn’t quite hit the mark this season will use the draft, free agency and trades in an effort to be more competitive in 2024-25.

Read on for a look at what went wrong for each eliminated team, along with a breakdown of its biggest keys this offseason and realistic expectations for next season. Note that more teams will be added to this story as they are eliminated.

Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Metro teams were written by Kristen Shilton, while Ryan S. Clark analyzed the Central and Pacific teams. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Projected cap space per Cap Friendly. Dates listed with each team are when the entry was published.

Jump to a team:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF
CGY | CAR | CHI | COL
CBJ | DET | LA | MIN
MTL | NSH | NJ | NYI
OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ
SEA | STL | TB | TOR
VGK | WSH | WPG

World

Ron Benjamin: Body of Israeli hostage kidnapped during cycling trip on 7 October found in Gaza, IDF says

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2024

admin

Ron Benjamin: Body of Israeli hostage kidnapped during cycling trip on 7 October found in Gaza, IDF says

The body of an Israeli hostage who was captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip has been recovered from Gaza, the Israeli military has said.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Ron Benjamin, 53, was riding his bike in the Kibbutz Be’eri in Israel when he was taken hostage during the 7 October attack.

The group said he was a “family man who loved cycling” and that he “used to go out for a ride every Saturday, just as he did on that fateful Saturday when he was taken hostage”.

It added: “Ron loved traveling in Israel and around the world, and he loved music.”

The Israeli military said on Saturday that Mr Benjamin’s body was recovered by its forces operating in Gaza.

Chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Mr Benjamin was “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Mefalsim Intersection, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza”.

Mr Hagari said Mr Benjamin were found along with three other murdered hostages whose repatriation was announced on Friday.

The remains of Itzhak Gelerenter, 56, Amit Buskila, 28, and Shani Louk, 22, were discovered in an overnight operation carried out by Israel’s military and intelligence agency Shin Bet, Mr Hagari said.

They were killed at the Nova music festival on the day of the Hamas attack.

The Israeli military, citing intelligence information, has said all four hostages were killed on 7 October.

They were among the 252 people seized by Hamas-led Palestinian gunmen during the attack.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Business

Marks & Spencer’s website and app go down

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

admin

Marks & Spencer's website and app go down

Marks & Spencer’s website and app has not been working for several hours, with a message telling shoppers “you can’t shop with us right now”.

“We’re working hard to be back online as soon as possible,” it adds.

All the menus and images have disappeared apart from one showing a model in a green jacket.

Customers trying to use the app got the message: “Sorry you can’t shop through the app right now. We’re busy making some planned changes, but will be back soon.”

The site is understood to have been down for several hours.

Replying to one customer on X, the retailer said: “We’re experiencing some technical issues but we are working on it.”

M&S is the latest high street name to have technical issues – last month some Sainsbury’s shoppers had problems with their online orders.

The outage comes a few days before M&S is expected to reveal a big jump in annual profits.

It’s been a successful year for the brand, with strong sales across the business following a turnaround plan that has included store closures and cost cutting.