Costco Says Its New Pre-Scan Checkout System Takes 8 Seconds — So I Put It to the Test

Key Points

• Costco is testing a "pre-scan" system that lets employees scan items while customers wait in line, aiming to cut checkout time by eliminating the need to unload carts at the register.

• Early feedback suggests the system can speed up lines, but inconsistent results — including glitches and missed scans — mean it doesn't always save time yet.

• While it won't eliminate checkout lines, the pilot could improve overall flow if refined, offering a middle-ground solution compared to competitors' app-based skip-the-line options.

As much as Costco members love the warehouse giant's savings, $1.50 hot dogs, and tantalizing display of bakery items , there's one thing fans consistently complain about: the checkout lines. These lines, which can extend to the back of the warehouse on weekends, are a constant source of frustration, especially as other big box retailers have worked to address this issue. 

Rival Sam's Club, as an example, has offered its "scan and go" system since 2016 to alleviate lines. This allows customers to scan their purchases (and pay for them) through the store's app while shopping, meaning these customers can skip the line altogether.

Amidst recent rumors that Costco's self-checkout may be headed toward extinction altogether, CEO Ron Vachris offered a nugget of hope for customers fed up with the long waits in their last earnings call .

Costco has started piloting what it calls "pre-scan technology" and says it can cut transaction time to a mere eight seconds. "Early results show this [pre-scan method] is improving the flow of traffic, and we have received great member feedback," Vachris reported on the call of early results. 

Read on to learn more about how the technology works and whether it'll save you any time or not.

How does Costco's pre-scan technology work?

The idea behind Costco's new pre-scan pilot is simple. As you're waiting in line, a Costco employee will scan your member card and then all of the items in your cart. Once you reach the register, you simply scan your member card again. Your items automatically appear on the register, and you can swipe or tap your credit card.

Related: The Korean Products You Should (and Shouldn't) Buy at Costco

In theory, this reduces wait time because shoppers don't have to take everything out of their cart to scan it, only to load it back in. You still have to wait your turn to pay, but if everything runs smoothly, skipping this step should make the line move significantly faster than it normally does.

My experience with Costco's pre-scan system

My warehouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been using pre-scan for a few weeks now. I've used it twice and have had a 50/50 success rate, which seems to be the experience others are reporting, too.

The first time I used pre-scan, it didn't work. The Costco employee scanned everything in my cart, but when I got to the register, the system hadn't logged anything. The employee didn't know how to fix it, so I had to take everything out of my cart, scan it, and pay. It didn't add any time to my normal check-out experience, but certainly didn't take anything away.

The second time using pre-scan, though, worked beautifully. My warehouse still uses self-checkout, and even on a busy Saturday, I'd say 10 of us checked out in under 10 minutes. The Costco employee would scan a cart and quickly move down the line, making it a breeze to finish check-out and be on my way.

What are customers and Costco employees saying about the new eight-second process?

The new pre-scan system has received mixed reviews, with employees reporting that the scanning guns often malfunction and that lines have worsened since the technology was implemented.

Customers have also cited concerns, saying that when employees focus on pre-scanning the first couple of carts, they're still scanning when a self-checkout opens up. Others have reported that items have been scanned twice , adding time and annoyance as they navigate the refund process.

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Still, the program is in its pilot phase, so the kinks may be getting worked out. Costco is notoriously slow when it comes to adopting new technology (it only recently rolled out online cake ordering ), but it's promising to see some effort behind the cause.

While it's unlikely that your total wait time will be eight seconds, it is possible that your line will move a little bit faster the next time you go shopping.

Read the original article on Food & Wine