Woman Compares Walmart Self-Checkout To An ‘Unpaid Internship’ After Shopping Trip Wasted An Extra 17 Minutes: ‘They’re Training Us’


Walmart customers have long shared their grievances with the retailer’s self-checkout experience.

The retailer has invested heavily in the new technology but has had to adjust its strategy more than once after intense backlash. The result is a mixed bag: customers report that some stores have no self-serve kiosks available at times, while in others, that’s the only option.

This, a woman on TikTok recently said, is what caused a small grocery run to last 17 minutes. She joked that by the end of it, she felt like she was training to be an employee.

What Went Wrong During A Routine Walmart Run?

TikTok creator Gia Pendergast (@giapendergast) posted a brief Walmart haul video while also sharing how the lack of manned checkout counters made her shopping run especially frustrating.

She starts by explaining that she had to make an early morning Walmart run after learning her cat had run out of food the night before.

“Apparently, not only does my family need to eat, but my [expletive] cat needs to eat, too,” she jokes.

She says she stopped by the store after an earlier appointment, thinking it was going to be quick. It ended up lasting longer than she thought.

“I need somebody to tell me at what point did I start working at Walmart,” she says. “Because I was there 17 minutes unpaid.”

Pendergast claims that when she arrived, there were no staffed checkout lanes open.

“Not one register open. They’re all red,” she says. “The only thing that’s open is self-checkout.”

She says she proceeded to ring up and bag her own items before heading toward the exit. However, she says an employee stopped her at the exit.

“Explain to me why I get stopped at the door by Ryan, who needs to check my receipt as if I’m some sort of robber,” she says.

According to Pendergast, the worker was being thorough. “He starts looking over this receipt like he’s trying to read a [expletive] brain MRI,” she says. “If I wanted to steal something, Ryan, it wouldn’t be Sheba Cat Food. Trust me.”

She adds that while she typically orders online, this particular trip was unavoidable.

“But this was a Cat emergency,” she says. “He needed Sheba, and it’s the only thing he eats.”

Pendergast jokes that the ordeal had been enough to wear her out for the day. “Between being an unpaid worker at Walmart… I’m exhausted,” she says. “I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

Commenters Share Tips About Receipt Checks

In the comments section, viewers stated they felt no obligation to show a Walmart worker their receipt on the way out.

“I don’t stop for them to check!” one viewer wrote. “If ya don’t trust me then open lanes with humans !!! If I have to do your job trust me.”

“I refuse to stop to show my receipt,” reiterated another. “You only have self checkout open. Im not on your payroll and don’t even allow me in the break room. Next you’ll want me to unload trucks.”

“I always ask why I wasn’t invited to the Walmart employees Christmas party,” joked a third.

Can You Refuse To Show Your Receipt After Self-Checkout At Walmart?

According to a Florida law firm, Walmart’s practice of checking customers’ receipts may at times violate their civil rights.

While the request itself is not illegal, it may become unlawful if employees pressure customers to show their receipt by blocking the exit, detaining them against their will, or threatening them with police involvement.

The firm says that consumers who have been subjected to unlawful receipt checks may be entitled to compensation, including damages for false imprisonment or intentional misconduct.

This means customers can refuse to show their receipts at any time and are free to leave. However, that does not mean there won’t be consequences, as the store may choose to deny service or permanently ban shoppers from the premises.

@giapendergast

Self-checkout is basically an internship that you never applied for. #walmart #shop #shopping #morning

♬ original sound – Gia Pendergast

BroBible has reached out to Walmart via contact form and Pendergast via Instagram messages for comment.

Ljeonida Mulabazzi
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
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