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Costco tests new 'automated pay stations' to ease checkout lines
The pilot lets employees pre-scan cart items and aims to cut wait times to about 8 seconds per transaction, Costco said.
- Costco is testing a new "automated pay station" across some of its 640 United States warehouses, allowing employees to pre-scan items while customers wait in line with an average transaction time of around 8 seconds.
- To address long lines and theft concerns, Costco is moving away from self-checkout systems in favor of a model where employees pre-scan items while customers wait in the traditional checkout line.
- Unlike traditional checkout, employees scan items in a customer's cart while they wait in line, eliminating the need to unload items onto conveyor belts before paying at the cashier.
- Since rolling out around Easter, the system drew criticism from employees who called the transition a "disaster" and complained that lines are worse, with one stating "We don't have two people for it, though. It's very slow and unnecessary." Customers offered mixed reviews on Reddit.
- The system remains in the testing phase across select stores, so changes may occur as Costco evaluates effectiveness and competitive alternatives emerge in the retail checkout landscape.
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33 Articles
33 Articles
abc10 Sacramento+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Costco tests new 'automated pay stations' to ease checkout lines
A new pre-scan payment system is being piloted at some Costco locations as the company seeks to ease checkout lines. (AP photo)
·Sacramento, United States
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Costco tests an employee prescanning system that promises to reduce payment time to less than 10 seconds in selected U.S. stores.
Telemundo 20+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
The next time you go to Costco, it may take you less than 10 seconds to pay for your purchases. The warehouse chain is testing a new payment system that looks for customers to take only seconds in the payment process. This new system is in pilot phase in selected stores across the United States. Some customers have commented that it already came into effect in their Costco preference.
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Total News Sources33
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution93% Center
Bias Distribution
- 93% of the sources are Center
93% Center
C 93%
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