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Mobile checkout could save you time during the busy shopping season

Retailers are using mobile checkout so shoppers don't have to wait in long lines this holiday season.
Credit: Getty Images
Close-up electronic payment of a cellphone paying at a cafe.

It's less than two weeks until the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday!

All those extra shoppers taking advantage of sales can mean long check out lines from now through Christmas.

Think about the long lines of people early on Black Friday just waiting to get that doorbuster deal. It's not just Black Friday, the crowds and lines last the entire holiday season.

Retailers are catching on, so more of them are doing something called mobile checkout. If you've bought anything at the Apple Store, you might have seen it. The sales associate has a mobile device and checks customers out right where they're standing.

This year, Walmart and Sam's Club are catching on. You will likely see people ready to get you out of the store with less hassle.

Other stores where customers can find mobile checkout: Target. You'll need to download the app in order to use mobile checkout there, but it allows you to scan each item you buy and then just walk up to the register. They scan your phone and then you pay through the app too.

Macy's is the same way, you need the app. This should available in most stores now. Just scan items into the app and an employee can check it, count the items, remove security tags and send the customer on his or her way.

Nordstrom is like the Apple Store, an employee carries around a phone-size device and can check you out on the spot.

Kohl's also uses an app. Customers scan the items and have their payment and coupons already in the app. However, customers will have to wait in line to have someone check them out at the register.

These likely aren't the only stores you'll see doing mobile check out on busy days.

Keep in mind, customers need to already have the respective store's app downloaded onto their phone along with some form of payment or credit card saved on said app.

If you don't want add all that information to your phone, cash is still king, but you may have to stand in line and pay the traditional way.

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