Abstract: A merchandise checkout system in which a first scanning device is brought into service at peak times to scan the bar codes of checkout items held by waiting customers in a checkout lane. Each first scanning device is preferably a mobile unit linked with a central computer tuned to a single transceiver frequency associated with each lane so that multiple scanning units may be placed into service simultaneously. Purchase information is transmitted both to a tote display screen for review by a customer and to a temporary holding memory of the computer, linked with the computerized cash register of a lane. A specialized bagging cart is described to assist a clerk during scanning. After the checkout items are totalled, a multi-part queue number-total/subtotal slip including a bar code readable by a second scanning device at a cash register component is generated and presented to the waiting purchaser for later presentation to the cashier.