Dollar General Reverts to Traditional Checkouts to Curb Theft

Dollar General is reversing its self-checkout strategy, removing the option from 300 stores and introducing a hybrid model with assisted-checkout at 9,000 locations due to increased theft and inventory loss. The company’s CEO, Todd Vasos, announced the change as part of efforts to combat “shrink,” which includes theft, damaged goods, and unsold inventory. The decision follows an AI analysis that linked self-checkouts to the company’s shrink issues. Dollar General’s move reflects a broader trend among retailers to limit self-checkout, with some, like Walmart, restricting it to certain members or imposing item limits. The shift also comes as Dollar Tree plans to close 1,000 Family Dollar stores, partly due to theft.