Sam's Club is gaining favor among Costco shoppers who are frustrated with recent changes to the checkout process at their usual retailer. Due to concerns about theft, Costco has removed the self-checkout scanner guns at several stores.
This modification has led some customers to prefer Sam's Club, which offers a more user-friendly shopping experience.
Sam's Club Gains as Costco Faces Checkout Challenges
Numerous shoppers have expressed appreciation for Sam's Club's Scan and Go feature, which lets customers bypass traditional checkout lines by paying through a mobile app. The U.S. Sun reported that this comes as removing scanner guns at Costco is causing dissatisfaction among its members.
A frustrated shopper recently learned about the removal at her local Costco in Oklahoma and sought online to find out if the change was only temporary.
She voiced her disappointment and mentioned that the inconvenience had convinced her to return to Sam's Club once her Costco membership expires, praising Sam's Club's Scan and Go as the superior option.
Walmart's website highlights that the Scan & Go feature was first introduced in 2016 and later integrated into the Sam's Club app in 2018. Since its introduction, the feature has evolved significantly, amassing over 9.6 million downloads.
The app allows members to bypass traditional checkout lines, with continuous improvements guided by member feedback. Recent updates include broader mobile payment options such as EBT SNAP and Sam's Cash rewards system enhancements.
Additionally, Scan & Go's functionality has expanded to include uses at Sam's Club fuel stations and cafés, further streamlining the shopping experience for club members across various settings.
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Shifting Checkout Strategies at Costco Lead to Shopper Discontent
The U.S. Sun revealed that at the close of last year, Costco announced plans to increase staffing at self-checkout stations due to a rise in usage by non-members and a concurrent increase in theft, which the retailer partially attributes to implementing self-checkout systems.
Amid these changes, some customers have been dissatisfied with the removal of self-checkout scanner guns.
Shoppers have expressed their frustration on social media platforms and online forums. One customer stated on X, formerly known as Twitter that removing the scanner guns might be one of the worst decisions the company has made.
Another shopper echoed this sentiment on Reddit, explaining that the removal of scanner guns has significantly increased the time it takes to check out, as items must now be scanned individually and placed on a scale, complicating the process.
Further grievances come from those who find the manual labor involved in self-checkout cumbersome, particularly when handling heavy items like dog food or water softener salt.
One customer lamented the system's inefficiency, stating a strong preference for the traditional checkout process that doesn't require lifting heavy products repeatedly.
As a result of these changes, some shoppers are finding Sam's Club, with its Scan and Go feature, a more appealing option for a smoother and quicker checkout experience.
Despite frustrations at checkout, Costco retains appeal with its lenient return policy. A stark contrast to a reported incident at Sam's Club, Costco allows refunds on items ranging from years-old purchases to half-eaten food.
Additionally, Costco offers a promotional $40 for new members, but this incentive is available for only a few more weeks. This blend of flexible returns and timely promotions helps maintain Costco's attractiveness, even amidst operational challenges.
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