Costco Vs Sam's Club Self-Checkout: Which Chain Provides A Better Experience? - Tasting Table

"With Sam's Club, you essentially scan the items with your phone through the app as you shop and pay with your linked credit card when you're done. You're not only able to keep tabs on your total, but you also avoid waiting in lines at the end. Best of all (at least for us), you can place an order at the café and easily scoop up a slice and hot dog as you exit."

"Costco's checkout policies can be strict. For instance, shoppers have complained that the use of hand scanners is not allowed at self-checkout. These are usually reserved for store employees. This can be one of the worst parts of grocery store self-checkout, especially if you're checking out heavy items or bakery items that have the barcode on top and need to be flipped to scan and then placed on the scale."

While both Costco and Sam's Club have distinct advantages, Sam's Club provides a more seamless self-checkout experience. Costco's self-checkout has restrictive policies, including prohibiting handheld scanners for customers and requiring items to be placed on scales, which creates inconvenience for heavy or bakery items. Sam's Club's Scan & Go feature allows shoppers to scan items via their phone app while shopping, track their total in real-time, and pay through a linked credit card without waiting in lines. Additionally, Sam's Club enables customers to order from the café and pay for gas through the app, streamlining the entire shopping experience.

Read at Tasting Table