Self-checkout at Walmart just got a whole lot easier, thanks to a little-known trick that one shopper recently uncovered.
In a TikTok video that’s nearing 203,900 views, user @sushiissogoodomg revealed an unexpected feature at Walmart’s self-checkout: you don’t always need to find the barcode to scan an item.
“Omg guys, you can literally just scan the item anywhere, and it’ll go through,” the shopper explained, showing how a Great Value graham cracker box scanned instantly without needing to locate the barcode.
She tested it again with a chocolate bar—the same result. The item scanned without her needing to hunt for the barcode. Commenters quickly jumped in, sharing their theories about why this works.
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Walmart’s Hidden Tech for Faster Checkout
Turns out, this isn’t a fluke. Back in 2019, Walmart partnered with Digimarc to implement invisible barcodes on their private label products, including Great Value.
These barcodes can be scanned from anywhere on the item, making checkout faster and less frustrating. Instead of carefully aligning the barcode under the scanner, you can simply point the device at the product and be done.
This technology, called Digimarc Barcode, is invisible to the human eye but easily detectable by scanners, phones, and computers. Its goal is to streamline the checkout process for both customers and employees.
No more fumbling to find the barcode or worrying about scanning at the right angle—just point and scan.
Walmart has been so pleased with this innovation that they signed an additional multi-year contract with Digimarc, further expanding their use of invisible barcodes.
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Why Haven’t More People Heard About This?
Despite being in place for a few years, this feature seems to have flown under the radar for most shoppers.
While employees are likely trained on it, there hasn’t been widespread communication about it to customers.
That’s why shoppers are often surprised when someone posts about it online, as similar videos have gone viral in the past.
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Customer Reactions: Impressed but Wanting More!
Some customers were impressed by this discovery, commenting on the convenience of the invisible barcodes.
However, others pointed out that what they really want is for Walmart to offer more tap-to-pay options, including Apple Pay.
Currently, Walmart promotes its own payment method, Walmart Pay, but doesn’t accept Apple Pay, which is a popular feature at other retailers.
While the invisible barcode is a cool feature, it seems there’s still room for Walmart to improve the overall checkout experience—starting with more payment flexibility.
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The Bigger Picture: How This Tech is Changing Retail?
This innovation isn’t just about convenience. It’s about speeding up the entire checkout process, something that’s valuable for busy shoppers and employees alike.
Retailers like Wegmans have also adopted this technology, showing that invisible barcodes could soon become the norm.
So, the next time you’re at Walmart, give this trick a try—it might just save you some frustration at the checkout line. And who knows, maybe tap-to-pay will be next!