Costco members at their local store have noticed a new checkout feature. According to some members, this addition improves the payment process, making it quicker and more efficient than Costco's self-checkout kiosks.
Costco Introduces New Checkout Feature
Chris, a Costco member, recently shared his experience at the store on Facebook, noting that he had observed somewhat long lines on a weekend, as usual. He mentioned encountering a new feature during his visit.
According to Chris, a Costco employee approached him with a portable scanner while waiting in line with his groceries. The staffer scanned Chris's membership card and all his items, totaling about 15, then moved on to assist others.
When Chris reached the cashier, he mentioned that he only had to pay after seeing the total for the items previously scanned on-screen. He noted that "it would already be done, just quick pay and leave," explaining that he found it "kind of cool" and "a little better than self-checkout."
Another member commented that a similar process has been implemented at select Costco stores in California.
According to The U.S. Sun, some shoppers hadn't noticed the new feature at their local Costco locations yet.
A shopper expressed their desire, stating, "I wish my Costco had this."
Implementing the scan and pay later process appears to be determined on a store-by-store and case-by-case basis.
Also Read: Walmart Self-Checkout Issues Lead to Customer Frustration and Abandoned Carts
Shopper Warns of Self-Checkout Risks
Meanwhile, a Reddit user, Krillavilla, recently recounted a concerning experience at Costco involving self-checkout registers equipped with handheld scanners.
Krillavilla described encountering an unusual situation just ten minutes prior at Costco. While using the self-checkout, an associate approached, scanned their membership card, and scanned the items in their cart.
Later, when attempting to make an Apple Pay transaction via their iPhone banking app, an unexpected item appeared on the checkout screen simultaneously, causing an "insufficient funds" error message. Another Costco associate intervened, puzzled by the sudden appearance of the item that Krillavilla hadn't selected.
The transaction was canceled, and Krillavilla informed a supervisor about the incident, citing their studies in Security Engineering and Bug Bounty at the university.
The supervisor assured that even if the transaction had gone through, associates at the exit would have intervened to investigate and issue a refund to the customer and potentially to the perpetrator.
Krillavilla shared their experience of cautioning others about the risks associated with items appearing in the checkout process during self-checkout, not only at Costco but potentially at other supermarkets using similar handheld scanner technology.
Yahoo mentioned that Costco, with a membership base surpassing 124 million, has many members who willingly navigate self-checkout challenges. While considerable benefits outweigh the drawbacks, alternative methods exist to streamline this process.
One approach is adjusting your shopping times. Opting for early mornings or late evenings on weekdays can help avoid crowded lines, ensuring access to employees equipped with hand scanners.
It's advised to steer clear of weekends when Costco experiences peak traffic. Additionally, avoiding holidays like Thanksgiving, despite store hours, can enhance your shopping efficiency.
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