Systems and methods for pre-scanning merchandise in customer's shopping cart while customer is waiting in checkout line

A method for pre-scanning retail merchandise, comprising:

• (a) positioning a mobile pre-scanning station proximate to a shopping cart of a retail customer waiting in a checkout line,
• the pre-scanning station having a frame including a handle and first and second side posts extending downward from first and second ends of the handle, a pair of arms-projecting forward, respectively, from the first and second side posts, the pair of arms being positioned to hold therebetween an open bag for receiving pre-scanned items, and a platform projecting forward from the first and second side posts, the platform being positioned under the pair of arms for providing a supporting surface for items contained in a bag held by the pair of arms, the frame further providing a support for holding an electronic article surveillance tag deactivator proximate to an open bag held by the pair of arms, the EAS deactivator being used to deactivate EAS tags on pre-scanned items before they are placed in the open bag;
• (b) scanning a transaction identifier card;
• (c) scanning a bar-coded item from the customer's shopping cart;
• (d) if the scanned item has an electronic article surveillance tag, using an electronic article surveillance deactivator seated in the mobile pre-scanning station to deactivate the electronic article surveillance tag;
• (e) placing the scanned item into a bag held open by the pre-scanning station;
• (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) for other bar-coded items in the customer's shopping cart;
• and
• (g) giving the transaction identifier card to the customer.