Imagine waiting in a long line at your favorite warehouse store, only to have your checkout process fly by in a flash – that's the exciting reality Costco is bringing to life in Arizona with their innovative pre-scan system. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this tech upgrade a game-changer for busy shoppers, or could it spark worries about privacy and the human touch in retail?
Updated December 22, 2025, at 8:06 a.m. Mountain Time
- Costco is piloting an innovative pre-scan checkout method to slash waiting periods for customers.
- Team members handle the scanning of items right in the carts while shoppers queue up, before they even get to the payment counter.
- Reports from Costco's CEO indicate this new workflow has boosted checkout efficiency by as much as 20% in select stores.
Costco Wholesale is experimenting with a fresh approach to the checkout process, designed to minimize delays and enhance the overall in-store experience for their valued members.
According to the retailer, this pre-scan technique entails staff members scanning products directly in customers' carts while they stand in line, well ahead of reaching the register. As explained by Costco CEO Ron Vachris, this strategy has ramped up checkout velocities by up to 20% in the early implementation sites.
Vachris spotlighted this effort on December 11 during the company's first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings presentation, positioning it as a key element in a larger initiative to streamline shopping and boost satisfaction for members.
Let's dive deeper into the details of this pre-scan setup and what it means for everyday shoppers.
How exactly does Costco's pre-scan system function at the checkout?
In this setup, a Costco employee initially verifies a shopper's membership card, then proceeds to scan items from small to medium-sized purchases right there in the cart as the customer patiently waits in the queue. By the time you arrive at the cashier, everything is already scanned and tallied, letting you wrap up your transaction in a breeze. And this is the part most people miss: It not only speeds things up but also reduces the stress of handling bulky items yourself at the counter – imagine no more fumbling with heavy bulk buys!
"The locations that jumped on this pre-scan tech early have seen their checkout times improve by up to 20%," Vachris shared. Nationwide, Costco noted unprecedented levels of checkout efficiency in the last weeks of the quarter, with leadership crediting these advancements partly to fresh technologies and refined operational processes.
Costco hasn't disclosed the exact number of stores rolling out this pre-scan method or if they're planning a full rollout across all warehouses. Interestingly, discussions on Reddit from as early as seven years ago (https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/b7epya/prescancheckout/) show users spotting similar trials. More recently, some East Coast spots (https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1o8hn9m/prescanningrollingoutinnewengland/?utmsource=share&utmmedium=web3x&utmname=web3xcss&utmterm=1&utmcontent=sharebutton) introduced the feature just two months back, proving it's been brewing for a while.
The role of technology in Costco's overall strategy
Vachris emphasized that advancements like artificial intelligence are being seamlessly integrated into Costco's daily operations to heighten productivity without jacking up expenses. He mentioned similar AI applications are under trial in areas such as managing stock for the company's fuel stations.
"We're tackling this in true Costco fashion: practical, centered on our members, and rooted in real, measurable benefits for the business," Vachris explained.
For instance, one of the initial AI rollouts has been in pharmacy services, where intelligent systems compare drug prices from different suppliers and automatically replenish stocks. Thanks to this, in-stock availability has soared to over 98%, ensuring members can grab medications without hassle.
Do competing stores offer comparable checkout solutions?
Competing giant Sam's Club has opted for a contrasting method to accelerate checkouts via their Scan & Go app, enabling members to photograph items on their phones as they browse, tally a live total, and settle digitally before exiting – no lines needed. This tool (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=83224X1595658&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsclub.com%2Fcp%2Fscan-and-go%2F30001781&xcust=PPHX&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fgrocery%2Fstores%2F2025%2F12%2F22%2Fcostco-pre-scan-checkout-aims-to-speed-up-arizona-shopping%2F87872788007%2F) even supports paying for cafe orders or gas right through the app in certain places, giving a fully mobile shopping feel.
But here's where opinions might diverge: While Costco's employee-assisted pre-scan feels more hands-on and community-oriented, Sam's self-service app could appeal to tech-savvy shoppers who value independence. Does this mean traditional cashier jobs are at risk, or is it just modernizing the workforce?
Rey Covarrubias Jr. reports on grocery trends, business developments, and breaking stories for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach out via email at rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, or follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reycjraz/?hl=en), Threads (https://www.threads.com/@reycjraz), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/reycjraz.bsky.social), and X (formerly Twitter) (https://x.com/ReyCJrAZ) at @ReyCJrAZ.
What do you think – is Costco's pre-scan a brilliant fix for checkout chaos, or does it raise red flags about data privacy and job displacement? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you prefer human interaction or streamlined tech?
