Sam’s Club in Maine, Massachusetts, Doing Away With Receipt Checkers

I am a newer member of Sam’s Club.  For years, I used my lack of storage space as a reason for why I did not need a membership.  After all, where was I going to stash that gallon jug of Fireball or a 10 pound box of spaghetti?  Right?

After years of my friends and coworkers pestering me to try it, I decided I would sign up for a year’s membership.  After about a week, I was hooked.  The store has so much to offer.  Yes, you can get food in large quantities, but the store has so much more.  The bakery has an amazing selection of pastries, the jewelry section has pieces to fit all price ranges, and the electronics department has amazing deals on laptops.

However, if you know me, you know that my favorite thing about Sam’s Club is the café.  Where else can a family of four have lunch for less than $10?

Are there any downsides to Sam’s Club?

If you ask nearly any Sam’s Club member, they would tell you the only thing that annoys them about a visit to Sam’s Club is the exit line.

For those who are unfamiliar with how Sam’s Club operates, regardless of whether you use a manned or self-checkout, an attendant at the door compares your receipt to your purchases.  As this is a time-consuming process, when the store is really busy, it can take up to 10 minutes to get to the exit.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, that may soon be about to change.

According to a press release from Sam's Club parent company Walmart, the company is currently testing a new, AI-driven scanning system that will eliminate the need for humans to check the receipts of customers.

The press release says, in part:

Now, after a member completes payment at a register or via Scan & Go, a combination of computer vision and digital technology deployed in the exit area of the club captures images of carts and verifies payment for all items within a member’s basket. With AI working in the background to continually speed the process, this digital innovation not only streamlines the member’s exit, but also allows exit greeters to refocus their time and expertise to assisting members and ensuring they have an enjoyable shopping experience.

The press release goes on to say that the test locations have already seen an improvement in the customer experience.

The current plan is to continue to test the system through the first few months of 2024.  Barring any major issues, they plan to roll the system out to all 600 locations before the end of the year.

You don’t have a membership to Sam’s Club?  Even though the cost of a membership is reasonable, they often offer deals on new memberships.  Check out the latest membership deals, HERE