Self Checkout Changes Could Hit Montana Costco

If you ever stood in the Costco self-checkout line thinking to yourself, "This seems like it should not be this hard." Now you can join the crowd of people out there asking themselves the same question. And some states are starting to do something about it.

In New York (and other places), there are already efforts underway to restrict how self-checkout itself operates. And who knows, you may not be far behind in Montana, depending on how this goes down.

The Rules Could Be Changing

According to The US Sun, lawmakers are setting their sights on hard restrictions for self-checkout. Not suggestions. Actual rules.

Stuff like, 15 items only at self checkout, which really feels pointless when you shop at a warehouse store. Worse yet, stores would have to staff more cashiers to supervise the machines. Think about one worker for a few kiosks, not 1 person trying to run the whole circus.

Also, any stores that fail to comply with the regulations could be fined.

Why Now?

Short answer: theft and frustration.

It was supposed to speed things up. The outcome, oddly enough, was part volunteer, part low grade anxiety job. You are scanning your own stuff, writing down produce codes and praying to the machine gods that it will not scream at you for placing your goods in the bagging area incorrectly. In the meantime, retailers face increased theft, some accidental and some not.

So the pendulum may be swinging back the other way again.

What That Means for Montana

Nothing official here yet. Unfortunately, trends like this are not exactly immune to Montana.

And you know retailers love their patchwork policies. If enough big states start to clamp down, there is a good chance they will make those policies nationwide. It could result in fewer self-checkout lanes, harsher limits, or more employees monitoring nearby.

Which might sound great until you recall the state of normal checkout lines on a Saturday. Either way, it seems like self-checkout as we know it is on borrowed time.

It's fun to think about how exciting it is to be behind a person with a full cart and a checkbook. Don't even get me started with the "Coupon Lady."