Sam's Club Is Finally Getting Rid of Receipt Checks—But There's a Catch
Matthew Alvarez
Published Feb 22, 2026
One of the more tedious aspects of shopping at warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club is the receipt-checking process, in which employees at the exit give your receipt a once-over before you leave. But now, Sam's Club is ditching this process, meaning you can stash your paper receipt in your pocket or purse right after you check out—and avoid waiting in line. However, that doesn't mean the wholesaler won't be checking to see that you paid.
RELATED: Walmart Worker Issues Warning to Shoppers About Self-Checkout.
Sam's Club, which is owned by Walmart, is pivoting from manual receipt checks to an artificial intelligence (AI) approach, the company announced in a Jan. 9 press release.
"We care about every second a member spends with us, so saving them even a few seconds is well worth it if we can make their experience more delightful," the company wrote. "That's why we're excited about our latest technology advancement that will resolve a key member concern: waiting in line for receipt verification to exit the club."
In the release, the company said it's a "first-of-its-kind" application of AI, effectively getting rid of the oftentimes long and frustrating lines at the door. To confirm that shoppers have paid for everything in their carts at the register or via Scan & Go, the technology uses "computer vision and digital technology" to capture images of everything in the cart. It's then able to verify payment, Sam's Club said.
A photo of the "Seamless Exit Technology" shows two thin, rectangular archways that customers walk through (which one you walk through will depend on whether you paid at the register or through Scan & Go). Each arch has dome security cameras situated at the cart level. A screenshot of the exit camera view shows how images are captured from different angles, including from above and on the sides.
Regardless of your feelings on AI in general, the warehouse club said that the initiative is intended to improve the shopping experience. In the release, the company noted that members consistently identify exit wait times as a "pain point," and Sam's Club CEO Chris Nicholas said that the move was made in response to this kind of feedback.
Now, with AI, the wholesaler hopes the exit process will be that much quicker and also allow exit greeters to focus on assisting members. In a statement to Best Life, a Walmart spokesperson said no jobs will be affected by this change.
RELATED: Costco Store Bans Entry Without a Full Membership Check—Will Others Follow?
The new technology was publicly announced by Megan Crozier, executive vice president and chief merchant for Sam's Club, in the company's keynote presentation at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Business Insider reported.
During the presentation, Crozier said that the exit technology is currently "live" in Dallas, but the company plans to roll it out to all 600 Sam's Club locations by the end of 2024.
The Walmart spokesperson confirmed that members are trying out the experience at 10 locations in total, including nine warehouse clubs in the Dallas Metro area and one other in Joplin, Missouri.
Sam's Club also highlighted Scan & Go as a convenient option. Members use the club's app on their phones to scan items while shopping. Once they're done, they can skip the checkout process entirely and pay through the app instead.
RELATED:For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Abby Reinhard Abby Reinhard is a Senior Editor at Best Life, covering daily news and keeping readers up to date on the latest style advice, travel destinations, and Hollywood happenings.Read moreFiled UnderNews • Retail • Shopping • Tech and GadgetsRead This NextThe 10 Worst Things to Buy at Sam's Club
It's better to purchase certain items at the grocery store or pharmacy.December 21, 2023The Real Reason Sam's Club Checks Receipts
In fact, this extra step might actually save you money.November 28, 2023Sam's Club Sells an Anthropologie Cabinet Dupe
This item could be your ticket to saving some serious money on a furniture purchase.August 2, 2023Sam's Club vs. BJ's: Which Is Better?
You may want to consider this info before your next bulk item purchase.April 19, 20236 Warnings From Ex-BJ's Employees
Workers say there are some things you need to know before spending money at the warehouse store.December 3, 2022Costco Store Scanning Cards at Entry
A Washington store is scanning membership cards when shoppers enter.January 9, 202410 Hidden Costco Benefits
Slash your expenses with these money saving deals.December 18, 2023Costco Is Overdue for a Membership Price Hike
The price increase will be the be the first of its kind in six years.December 15, 2023Costco Has Controversial New Shopping Carts
Shoppers seem to be divided on the wholesale retailer's recent update.December 11, 2023How Retailers Are Slashing Self-Checkout
Big-name retailers have made changes in response to "shrink" and customer feedback.December 8, 2023