Posted on 04/19/2025 5:39:14 PM PDT by dennisw
Sam's Club stores is axing all self-checkouts from its 600 stores — in favor of controversial new technology.
The Walmart-owned warehouse chain, often seen as Costco's biggest rival, is rolling out AI-powered 'Scan & Go' tech that lets shoppers skip the line and walk straight out the door once they're done shopping.
The move is controversial because it uses a network of cameras and sensors to track shoppers and their carts.
In addition, the checkout-free experience requires all customers to use a smartphone and download the store’s app.
This could pose a challenge to older shoppers who may struggle with technology.
The shake-up is aimed at reducing checkout wait times as it eliminates the need for an employee to check receipts at the exit.
Customers will scan the product barcodes as they go around the store, put the item in their cart and then pay for the items in the app when they are done.
Rather than go to a register, they exit through an airport-style scanner with AI cameras that analyze carts to make sure all items in there have been scanned and paid for.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It should save on shoplifting which has caused prices to skyrocket.
“Can an item be un-scanned once scanned? What if you scan it and it’s more than you want to pay or the wrong price”
A robot clown will come out and hit you over the head with a foam sledgehammer.
We were at a restaurant that required the CUSTOMER to order from their table on their app or website.
We walked away.
When I go out to eat I don’t expect to have to do any of the work. That’s what I told the manager when we left.
Use this all the time, it hands down beats waiting in line behind Cletus and Velveeta and their rabble of F trophies while they have to unload, let the checker who barely speaks English struggles with every item or worse has to price.check it. You could be in line for half an hour.
Or you just walk around the store with your pocket supercomputer put things in the cart scan the barcode and move on when you want to leave you swipe the pay now and it charges your card on file or if you have Sams cash back from a Sam’s MasterCard I allows you to use that. You then just walk out the door through the scan and go lanes the AI makes sure you are not a Fing thief which in most cultures previously deserved death and it should still be that way.
It’s only boomers with on a foot out the grave that either cannot or will not embrace the 21st century and the convenience of it. Do you really think that every purchase is not scanned and associated with a person every time and every transaction with a credit card. Your membership tracks you even if you use cash as you must scan the membership number BEFORE paying out even if using cash. Get over it no one cares what senior citizens are buying for dinner other than the marketing companies who want more out of your wallet.
Me, too. Sick of apps. And I don’t use that many!
Sam’s is bulk buys. No bagging necessary.
Well at least that will be entertaining!
My reticence has nothing to do with my age. I just don’t want to be forced to use an app.
Btw, my Gen Z son doesn’t use a smart phone. He has a cheap flip phone by choice. I have another friend of Gen X who doesn’t have a cell phone at all.
Years for us too, we particularly like the “Fuel” part of the app, much faster than any gas station, no cards etc. Plus the pricing is sometimes 10% less than the competition on the visible corners.
They wasted their money on this att least where i am concerned
Exactly. Every place is using them now. We are fenced in.
They should just send an undercover agent over to Costco to see how they manage heavy checkout traffic, because Costco's system is great.
I will carry cash elsewhere as a preferred form of payment.
We don’t have Costco in my neck of the woods. And I don’t use third party apps on my iPhone.
At LaGuardia, Reagan and many other airports they do this. It’s annoying; just buy some snacks instead.
“I guess the cost of RFID chips have fallen low enough to do this.”
quiet...we’re not yet ready to disclose all of the technology that we use.
The “store” will hire the same number of people. Instead of a smiling and helpful checkout girl, you will get a bunch of baton-waving ANTIFA thugs at the door.
Unintended consequences? I think not.
They didn't publish my name. But that's me. I don't use the Kroger digital coupons for example.
All the tech crazed people embracing it should have a surgically implanted chip in their necks.
You have a cart with $300 worth of loose items and you take them to the car?
It is interesting to watch stores end bagging groceries for the customers.
I love it. We also go to Costco - there we have to wait in long lines. Sam’s Club Scan and Go rocks - love the app. It’s really good. Now they are combining with AI and cameras. I say go for it - will reduce theft.
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