Costco quietly fixes self-checkouts and begins rollout to stores
Costco is shaking up the way Americans check out — but don't worry, it's not adding more self-checkout lanes.
The warehouse giant — famous for its no-frills, pallet-stacked stores and rock-bottom prices — is rolling out new technology designed to move lines faster and cut the wait for shoppers.
CEO Ron Vachris told investors the company has begun deploying a system that lets employees scan orders before shoppers reach the cashier.
By the time customers pull up to the register, everything is already tallied — all that's left is payment.
'It's speeding up the checkout process by allowing our employees to scan transactions while the member is still in line,' Vachris said.
'Upon reaching the cashier, nothing has to be removed from the cart.'
The move comes after Costco scaled back its self-checkout experiment and put more focus on staffed lanes.
Other chains, including Walmart and Target, have also pulled back after complaints about errors, slowdowns and rising theft.
Costco CEO Ron Vachris has announced new checkout technology designed to speed up lines for millions of shoppers
The Costco checkout system, which will soon process fully scanned carts thanks to the new in-line scanning rollout
Long lines at Costco's traditional checkout lanes, where employees will now scan items before shoppers reach the register
Costco is now putting more money into technology.
The company has rolled out several digital upgrades: password-free sign-in on its app, an AI-assisted search overhaul, and virtual 'waiting rooms' for high-demand items like Pokémon cards to stop bots from flooding the site.
Not every update has been popular. Last year, Costco installed card-scanners at store entrances to crack down on membership sharing.
Some shoppers say it creates backups at the door, but the company argues the system keeps things fair for paying members.
As part of the same membership crackdown, Costco also began requiring staff to check membership cards at its outdoor food courts across the US.
Before that rule, non-members could usually slip in for the iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo without much scrutiny.
Costco shoppers have also complained about constantly shifting aisles, saying the layout feels like a 'scavenger hunt.'
Members claim it's intentional — a tactic designed to make people wander and buy more — something CEO Ron Vachris has admitted is part of the brand's 'treasure hunt' strategy.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Costco was accused of shrinkflation after customers noticed a new cookie variety came with fewer cookies in the pack despite the price staying the same — or even rising.
