Shoppers in Long Beach, California, are about to see Walmart’s checkout experience flipped on its head. A new city ordinance now forces the retail giant to limit how many self-checkout machines one worker can oversee—just two terminals max per employee—and also requires at least one traditional register to stay open. Fail to follow the rules? That’s a $2,500 fine per violation, and yes, it applies to every checkout lane.
The move, passed by the Long Beach City Council, is meant to curb a surge in shoplifting and boost in-store safety. Walmart, known for embracing automation to cut costs, now faces a challenge: balance high-tech convenience with a growing demand for more human staff. The stakes are high—not just for operations, but for thousands of customers used to scanning and bagging their own groceries in peace.
Walmart’s Got the Memo
The new rule isn’t a friendly suggestion—it’s a mandate. Retailers that don’t play by the book could get slapped with fines of up to $2,500… every time they slip up. That’s not pocket change, especially when multiplied across dozens of registers.
This shift doesn’t just mess with the back-end logistics—it could also change how customers move through the store. Fans of the speedy self-checkout may soon find themselves back in a good old-fashioned line.
Those in favor of the change say it’s all about safety. They believe more employees on the floor means fewer thefts and a safer environment for workers too. The idea? Turn stores into less of a free-for-all and more of a fortress—minus the moat.
According to local police, petty theft in Long Beach jumped 16% between 2023 and 2024—and that’s got retailers feeling the heat. With shoplifters getting bolder, stores are being nudged into taking tougher action.
The workers’ union is all in on the plan. They argue that having more employees on the floor isn’t just about catching sticky fingers—it’s also about creating a better work environment.
Linda Molina, a union rep in Long Beach, didn’t mince words: “More people on the job means less theft and safer stores.” And hey, there’s a bonus—this could open up more job opportunities in an industry that’s been struggling to fill shifts faster than you can say “price check on aisle five.”
Unions See Opportunity Amid Staffing Demands
Not everyone’s sold on the idea. Some business groups—like the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and the California Retailers Association—are sounding the alarm. They believe these new requirements could do more harm than good. Hiring more staff for self-checkout areas isn’t cheap, and they say those costs could sneak into your grocery bill faster than a buy-one-get-one offer.
Walmart has finally chimed in, and it’s clear the retail giant isn’t thrilled. The company, along with other major chains, has poured big money into tech upgrades to make shopping faster and smoother. Self-checkout was their answer to long lines and labor shortages, not to mention a way to keep pace with online giants. But now, critics argue, this law feels like a slap on the scanner—punishing them for going digital in a world that’s only getting more connected.
The Chamber of Commerce isn’t buying it. They say this new law misses the mark on curbing theft. “All it really does is pump up expenses without tackling the root of the problem,” said Celeste Wilson from the Chamber. In their view, big retailers aren’t just standing around—they’ve already rolled out hi-tech tricks like smart cameras and weight sensors to keep checkout lanes honest.
But the Long Beach City Council isn’t budging. To them, tech alone won’t cut it. They argue the real solution is putting more people back on the floor, not just machines. In their words, the future of retail shouldn’t be all robots and no humans—it’s about finding the sweet spot between silicon and staff.
If this rulebook spreads across the country, retailers will have to rethink how they run the show. Self-checkout, once a golden goose for cutting costs and speeding things up, might soon come with a side of headaches—higher expenses and a whole new way of doing business. Looks like the express lane just hit a detour.
