2 min read- Costco is officially rolling out a pre-scan checkout system at warehouses nationwide.
- Employees scan members’ carts while they’re waiting in line, so all they need to do at the register is scan their ID and pay.
- While some shoppers are excited for shorter lines, many say the checkout technology still falls short of what competitors offer.
As much as we like stopping by the sample stations and exploring the new treats in the bakery department, there’s one part of the Costco experience we don’t love: checking out. The lines stretch halfway across the warehouse floor, theIDrules are downright draconian, and scanning a single customer’s haul takes what feels like hours.
Costco has probably been fielding complaints about its checkout system for years, and now it appears the chain is finally doing something about it. Warehouses across the country are rolling out a new method that can shrink the time spent at the register down to a matter of seconds.
Here’s how it works: While standing in line to check out, a Costco staff member will come to you and scan all of the items in your cart. When you reach the register and scan your membership card, all of your items load on the screen—all you have to do is pay for them. If you’ve ever visited an In-N-Out or Swig drive-thru during peak hours, this system should strike a similar chord.
Costco CFO Gary Millerchip announced the pilot program during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. He said the average transaction time is just eight(!) seconds. “Early results show this is improving the flow of traffic, and we have received great member feedback,” Millerchip said.
Members who have experienced Costco’s pre-scan technology are fans so far. One Reddit user noted, “I was thinking of the person at the register who does not have to slide a hundred items across the machine and to the end area, that’s gotta be a real nice improvement for them.” Others have had their carts pre-scanned at standard checkout lines in the past and appreciate how it has shortened the time spent in line.
That said, many members are complaining that Costco’s technology is woefully behind its competitors’. “Costco is far too busy, and the Scan & Go concept would greatly benefit the shopping experience, especially for how crowded it gets,” one Instagram user said. Another added, “Costco needs Scan & Go like yesterday!!!”
The 10-year-old Scan & Go system at Sam’sCluballows members to scan items as they shop and pay on their phones, eliminating the need to stand in line entirely. The chain has also recently rolled out a “Just Go” feature that uses an AI scanner at the warehouse exit to verify that every item has been paid for, so most members no longer need an employee to manually check their receipts.
Will Costco ever catch up with the competition? Probably not—but this pre-scan technology seems like a good start.