Customers check out at a Walmart store.
A Doral, Florida, Walmart store with an associate helping out with self-checkout.
  • Retailers hoped to save big on labor costs by introducing self-checkout lanes.
  • Recent moves from the biggest retailers suggest it's proving harder than expected.
  • It seems many stores still need real people to help customers with their purchases.

Self-checkout may not be the money-saving "revolution" some retailers were hoping for.