Long Beach Implements Self-Checkout Regulations, Sparking Debate & Customer impact
Long Beach, California, has enacted new regulations governing self-checkout lanes in large stores, a response to a nationwide surge in shoplifting and growing concerns over retail theft. The ordinance, recently put into effect, aims to curb losses but is already causing frustration for shoppers and raising concerns about potential price increases.
The move comes as shoplifting incidents across the U.S. have dramatically increased. According to a study by the National Retail Federation, shoplifting incidents jumped 93% from 2019 to 2023. In 2023 alone, retailers surveyed reported an average of 177 retail thefts per day.
The Long Beach regulations mandate that large stores maintain at least one staff member for every three self-checkout stations. The ordinance also limits customers to a maximum of 15 items when using self-checkout, and prohibits the purchase of items secured in locked display cases through these lanes.
The California Grocers Assn. has warned that the requirements coudl lead to longer checkout lines and higher grocery prices, as retailers are forced to either increase staffing or reduce the number of self-checkout kiosks. Some stores have already reacted to the new rules. Signs have appeared at Albertsons and Vons locations in Long Beach stating self-checkout lanes are closed “due to a new city of long Beach ordinance.”
At a Long Beach Target, five self-checkout stations were open, each monitored by one employee. According to the ordinance, opening additional stations would require hiring another employee for supervision.
Shoppers are already noticing the changes. Francilla Isaac, a Long Beach resident, stated, “I use it a lot when I’m just here to get a few items…But all the stores are the same now, they have it closed.”
Industry groups representing retailers like Target and Walmart argue the ordinance will increase labor costs and ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers, and also reduced sales. Nate Rose, a vice president at the California Grocers Assn., said, “These efforts will ultimately damage self-checkout…We’re seeing that worst-case scenario play out where a number of grocers have decided it’s not worth it to keep the self-checkout lanes open.”
The California Retailers Assn. echoed these concerns,with president Rachel Michelin stating,”The problem with the Long Beach ordinance is that it’s so constricting…I think we’re going to see unintended consequences.” The association believes retailers should have the freedom to determine the most effective strategies for addressing theft.
though, union leader Bell argues that the opposition stems from grocery companies’ reluctance to increase staffing or employee hours, particularly considering ongoing minimum wage increases. He believes increased staffing could actually improve both customer experience and company profitability, stating, “This should be better for the customers. And it should actually improve profitability for the companies.”
Lisa Adams, a visitor to Long Beach from Utah, expressed missing the convenience of self-checkout, but acknowledged the need to address theft. she recounted witnessing a theft firsthand, describing the scene as “chaotic and loud,” observing a man pretending to scan items before fleeing the store.
