A CURBSIDE feature at Sam’s Club has been discontinued for customers – just weeks after an equally shocking checkout change was announced.
Shoppers at the popular supermarket chain have barely had time to react to the checkout news, as the curbside reveal offers a one-two punch.
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Drastic changes happening at Sam’s Club right now stand to make a massive difference to your shopping experience.
For many, the cubside feature was a handy way to pick up shopping and save time on getting groceries.
But now, a massive change is coming to curbside that will change everything.
Sam’s Club announced to its customers via an email on April 29 that it will no longer let them use curbside if they check-in using text message.
My San Antonio reports that from now on, you will only be able to use curbside check-in through the Sam’s Club app.
Before this, shoppers were able to use the store’s website, park in a spot nearby and send a message to a Sam’s Club associate they were ready for their good to be delivered to them.
The new rule forces you to download the Sam’s Club app from the App Store or Google Play.
The rule comes into effect on Tuesday, May 6.
With this, one of the first concerns is that it could make using cubrside harder to use for those not savvy with phones, like the elderly.
Whenever a supermarket brings in new technology and forces it on customers, it poses a real risk of alienating a large portion of their base.
It is not known why Sam’s Club has made this change.
The US Sun has reached out to the chain for a comment.
CHECKOUT CULL
But this isn’t the only major change that Sam’s Club has made that imposes a heavier reliance on technology for customers.
The US Sun reported that Sam’s Club is removing all of its self-checkout machines from its 600 stores.
Sam’s Club is making the change in favor of its Scan & Go feature.
The feature sees customers go round and scan items as they pick them up and then use their phone to pay and leave.
This will be done by using a specific app and scanning a QR code.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
Before leaving, shoppers will go through an AI scanner to check everything has been paid for.
One of the main things this does is remove the need to employees checking receipts at the exits.
Sam’s Club President and CEO Chris Nicholas said: “This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today.
“We’re investing with intention — in our fleet, our associates and the member experience — to become the world’s best club retailer.
“We are not limited by our physicality — we are enabled by it.
“Our omnichannel model creates more opportunities to engage with members where they are, and how they want to shop.”
SHOPPERS SPEAK OUT
Shoppers, however, have threatened to boycott Sam’s Club if the change happens.
The US Sun reported on the shopper reaction, which was negative in the majority.
One person said: “Scan and Go is a huge time saver and I’ve used it for years BUT there should still be an accommodation for anyone without a smart phone, an old phone that can’t run the Sam’s app, just fearful of tech or just angry because they feel they’re doing someone else’s job.”
Another wrote: “I’m going to let my Sam’s membership expire and switch to Costco.
“I appreciate having a real person check out my items, and scan and go is terrible if you have a lot of items.
“And then what happens if you happen to have cash and want to pay that way? See ya, Sam’s Club.”
A third noted: “I don’t get paid to check myself out.
“I tried it at Walmart once and found their self check out scanners malfunction quite a bit and scan the wrong (higher) price.
“Since Sam’s Club is the same company it would mean theirs are the same.”
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