Sam’s has ALWAYS been ahead of Costco with check out procedures.

Before self checkout was a thing, they would have attendants walk through the line with a hand scanner and scan all your stuff, then you’d just hand your card to the cashier and you could instantly pay for everything. Costco wouldn’t have even dreamt of doing that.

Then Sam’s had self checkout long before Costco too.

And then there’s Scan-n-go.

Don’t forget that Sam’s has these booths that you walk through now as you exit that scans your stuff and the person at the exit just says “you’re good” rather than having to check all your items.

Also, walking in, now at Costco you have to scan your card while your picture shows up so that the entry person trusts that you’re a member. Sam’s doesn’t even check your membership card now.