A curious drama unfolded at a Walmart store when a customer mistakenly charged himself over $1,300 at the self-checkout kiosk by entering 999 avocados instead of 9. What began as a simple pricing confusion swiftly turned into a theatrical scene as the man called 911, alleging the retail giant was “robbing” him. The incident, now stirring conversations across social media, shines light on rising tensions between customers and self-service systems. With police involvement and public uproar, the tale adds yet another layer to the complex world of modern retail.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Walmart customer mistakenly enters 999 avocados at self-checkout, causing a $1,300+ bill

• Believing he was being scammed, the man called 911 on the store

• Police arrived and ultimately arrested the customer for refusing to leave

• Incident shared by Walmart employee “Lore-Archivist” on Reddit

• Triggers wider conversation about challenges faced by retail staff at self-checkouts

• Employees share experiences of aggressive customer behavior and unfair blame

In a turn of events that left Walmart staff and shoppers stunned, a customer reportedly called the police on himself after accidentally overcharging his own grocery bill at a self-checkout kiosk. The incident, now widely circulated on Reddit, sparked a broader discussion about the growing tension between shoppers and self-service retail systems.

The unusual episode was originally shared on a Reddit forum by user “Lore-Archivist,” who detailed how the confrontation escalated from a minor pricing discrepancy to a full-scale scene involving law enforcement. According to the account, the customer initially approached Walmart’s self-checkout with a cart full of various items. One product, which was labeled $9.99 on the shelf, rang up as $19.99 at the kiosk. A Walmart team leader promptly stepped in and adjusted the price for the customer.

However, this was only the beginning. As the man continued scanning his items, similar pricing issues reportedly arose with multiple products—some of which, according to the employee, could not be changed at the kiosk. The situation took a dramatic turn when the customer began scanning avocados. While intending to enter a quantity of nine, he allegedly entered 999—causing his total bill to surge to over $1,300.

This triggered the customer to accuse the store of attempting to scam him, loudly insisting that Walmart was “robbing” him. Despite explanations and attempts at de-escalation from store staff, the man refused to accept responsibility for the error. He went on to dial 911, summoning the police to the scene.

When officers arrived, the customer reportedly continued his loud accusations, displaying the self-checkout screen as evidence of his claim. Walmart employees, attempting to remain professional, explained that the issue stemmed from his own input mistake. Still, the customer remained agitated and demanded compensation for his alleged “distress,” refusing to leave the premises unless his grievances were acknowledged and resolved.

The officers, after assessing the situation, reportedly warned the man that his refusal to vacate the store could lead to legal consequences. When he persisted, he was placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the store for trespassing—ironically by the same officers he had summoned.

Following the incident, the Reddit post gained traction, drawing responses from current and former Walmart employees who shared similar stories of unusual or hostile interactions with customers at self-checkout lanes. Many retail workers highlighted the frequent misconceptions customers have about the self-checkout process, including accusations of laziness or failure to assist, despite staff being constantly on the move to resolve machine errors, check IDs, restock bags, and clean up.

One user commented that customers often complain they are “doing our job for us,” while others recounted how quickly disruptive individuals backed down when offered a store phone to “call the cops.” Another Redditor shared an experience involving a belligerent customer demanding help in an aggressive tone, only to back off after being challenged by a staff member.

The broader thread pointed to a growing frustration within the retail sector, particularly for those working in environments where automation and customer entitlement frequently clash. While self-checkout kiosks aim to speed up shopping and reduce labor costs, they have also, according to many workers, become ground zero for customer confusion, complaints, and confrontations.