A sign is posted explaining a technical glitch at a Target store in San Francisco on Saturday, June 15, 2019. The technological glitch that stalled checkout lines at its stores worldwide, exasperating shoppers and eating into sales at a prime time for retailers. The outage periodically prevented Target’s cashiers from scanning merchandise or processing transactions. Self-checkout registers also weren’t working at times, causing massive lines in some stores. (AP Photo/Michael Liedtke)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A glitch stalled checkout lines at Target stores worldwide Saturday, exasperating shoppers and potentially eating into sales at a prime time for retailers, the day before Father’s Day.
The roughly two-hour outage periodically prevented Target’s cashiers from scanning merchandise or processing transactions as long lines formed in some stores. Self-checkout registers, usually the speediest of options, also weren’t working at times.
Target temporarily closed some of its stores, including one in San Francisco, rather than risk aggravating shoppers.
“Our technology team worked quickly to identify and fix the issue, and we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this caused for our guests,” Target said in a Saturday statement.
Before the company figured out was wrong, a Target employee was warning customers that they might not be able to check out as they entered a San Francisco store early Saturday afternoon. Sales were being completed after intermittent delays during the half hour an AP reporter observed the lines at the store.