The warehouse chain is testing a pre-scan system that could make the final payment step take about 8 seconds, according to multiple reports.
Under the pilot, a Costco employee scans a shopper’s membership card and the items in the cart while the shopper is still waiting in line, Inc. reported.
When the shopper reaches the front, the member card is scanned again at an automated pay station. The pre-scanned order then loads on the screen, and the shopper pays by tapping or swiping a card.
The goal is simple: reduce the time shoppers spend unloading bulk purchases, waiting for each item to be scanned, and loading everything back into the cart.
Food & Wine reported that the pilot is meant to ease congestion, though early tests have not been flawless.
The outlet reported that one test at a Raleigh, North Carolina, warehouse had mixed results. In one trip, the scanned items did not load properly at checkout. In another, the process worked smoothly and helped move shoppers through the line faster.
Some customers and employees have also reported glitches, including scanner problems, missed items, and items being scanned twice, Food & Wine reported.
Better Homes & Gardens reported that Costco has not announced an official timeline for a nationwide rollout.
The system differs from the app-based Scan & Go option used by Sam’s Club, where shoppers scan items on their phones as they shop and pay in the app. Delish reported that Costco has also tested app-based checkout technology at select locations.
For now, the pre-scan system is still a pilot, not a universal checkout change.
If Costco can smooth out the glitches, the process could give members a faster way through one of the least-loved parts of a warehouse run.
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