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A check-out counter system includes a scanner, a bagging station, and a deck area. The bagging station is positioned adjacent the scanner and includes a first and a second support shelf. The first support shelf is positioned and configured to support a plurality of first bags. The second support sh

A check-out counter system includes a scanner, a bagging station, and a deck area. The bagging station is positioned adjacent the scanner and includes a first and a second support shelf. The first support shelf is positioned and configured to support a plurality of first bags. The second support shelf is positioned below the first support shelf and configured to support a plurality of second bags. The deck area is configured to support at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags after the at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags has been loaded with merchandise. The deck area is adjacent the bagging station and defines a top deck area surface that is generally coplanar with a top surface of the first support shelf. Other check-out counter systems and associated methods provide additional advantages.

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What is claimed is: 1. A check-out counter system for processing merchandise, comprising: a scanner configured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; a bagging station positioned adjacent the scanner, the bagging station including: a first support shelf positioned and configured t

What is claimed is: 1. A check-out counter system for processing merchandise, comprising: a scanner configured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; a bagging station positioned adjacent the scanner, the bagging station including: a first support shelf positioned and configured to support each of a plurality of first bags when each of the plurality of first bags is loaded with a first portion of the merchandise; a second support shelf positioned below the first support shelf and configured to support each of a plurality of second bags when each of the plurality of second bags is loaded with a second portion of the merchandise; and a deck area for supporting at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags after the at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags has been loaded with a respective portion of the merchandise, the deck area being adjacent the bagging station opposite the scanner and defining a top deck area surface that is generally coplanar with a top surface of the first support shelf; and wherein the bagging station includes: a third support shelf positioned below the second support shelf and configured to support each of a plurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags is loaded with a third portion of the merchandise. 2. The check-out counter system of claim 1, wherein the first support shelf is positioned behind the second support shelf relative to a location of a cashier operating the check-out counter system. 3. The check-out counter system of claim 1, wherein the bagging station includes: a first rack positioned above the first support shelf and configured to hold the plurality of first bags for loading with merchandise; and a second rack positioned above the second support shelf and configured to hold the plurality of second bags for loading with merchandise. 4. The check-out counter system of claim 1, further comprising an unloading area positioned adjacent the scanner opposite the bagging station, the unloading area defining a top uploading area surface positioned above the top deck area surface and top surface of the first support shelf. 5. The check-out counter system of claim 1, wherein the scanner and the bagging station are positioned along a linear processing path, and the deck area extends laterally away from the linear processing path. 6. A check-out counter system for processing merchandise, comprising: a scanner configured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; a bagging station positioned adjacent the scanner, the bagging station including: a first support shelf positioned and configured to support each of a plurality of first bags when each of the plurality of first bags is loaded with a first portion of the merchandise, and a second support shelf positioned below the first support shelf and configured to support each of a plurality of second bags when each of the plurality of second bags is loaded with a second portion of the merchandise; a deck area for supporting at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags after the at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags has been loaded with a respective portion of the merchandise, the deck area being adjacent the bagging station opposite the scanner and defining a top deck area surface that is generally coplanar with a top surface of the first support shelf; and a third support shelf positioned below the second support shelf and configured to support each of a plurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags is loaded with a third portion of the merchandise; wherein each of the plurality of third bags is larger than each of the plurality of first bags and each of the plurality of second bags. 7. The check-out counter system of claim 6, wherein the first support shelf is positioned behind the second support shelf relative to a location of a cashier operating the check-out counter system. 8. The check-out counter system of claim 6, further comprising an unloading area positioned adjacent the scanner opposite the bagging station, the unloading area defining a top uploading area surface positioned above the top deck area surface and the top surface of the first support shelf. 9. The check-out counter system of claim 6, wherein the scanner and the bagging station are positioned along a linear processing path, and the deck area extends laterally away from the linear processing path. 10. A check-out counter system for processing merchandise, comprising: a scanner configured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; and a bagging station positioned adjacent to the scanner, the bagging station including: a first lower bag rack configured to support a plurality of first bags for loading with a first portion of the merchandise, a first lower shelf positioned a first distance below the first lower bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of first bags when each of the plurality of first bags is loaded with the first portion of the merchandise, a second lower bag rack adjacent the first lower bag rack and configured to support a plurality of second bags for loading with a second portion of the merchandise, and a second lower shelf positioned a second distance below the second lower bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of second bags when each of the plurality of second bags is loaded with a second portion of the merchandise, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; wherein each of the plurality of the second bag is larger than each of the plurality of first bag; and an upper bag rack configured to support a plurality of third bags, the upper bag rack positioned above and behind the first lower bag rack and the second lower bag rack relative to a position of a cashier operating the check-out counter system. 11. The check-out counter system of claim 10, wherein the first lower bag rack defines a first upper edge and the second lower bag rack defines a second upper edge, the first upper edge and the second upper edge being generally coplanar. 12. The check-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising an upper shelf positioned below the upper bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags is loaded with a third portion of the merchandise, wherein the upper shelf is positioned below the first lower bag rack and the second lower bag rack. 13. The check-out counter system of claim 10, wherein the scanner and the bagging station are positioned along a linear merchandise processing path, and the check-out counter system further comprises a stand extending laterally away from the linear merchandise processing path, and a point-of-sale terminal supported on the stand. 14. The check-out counter system of claim 13, wherein a security mirror is positioned on a surface of the stand opposite the linear merchandise processing path. 15. The check-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising an upper shelf positioned below the upper bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags is loaded with a third portion of the merchandise, wherein the upper shelf is positioned above the first lower shelf and the second lower shelf, the first lower shelf is positioned below the second lower shelf, and the plurality of first bags is larger than each of the plurality of second bags and each of the plurality of third bags. 16. A method of processing merchandise in a check-out counter system, the method comprising: receiving merchandise in an unload area; scanning the merchandise received in the unload area with a user interface; placing the merchandise into at least one of a plurality of bags supported by a bagging station positioned on an opposite side of the user interface as compared to the unload area, wherein the bagging station includes a first bag holder supporting a first portion of the plurality of bags and a second bag holder supporting a second portion of the plurality of bags, the first portion of the plurality of bags including smaller ones of the plurality of bags as compared to the second portion of the plurality of bags, and wherein the unload area, the user interface, and the bagging station are each positioned along a linear merchandise processing path such that during the method of processing, merchandise received in the unload area is forwarded along the linear merchandise processing path to the user interface and to the bagging station; and transferring the at least one of the plurality of bags containing the merchandise onto a deck area for short term storage, wherein the deck area is positioned adjacent the bagging station opposite the user interface and extends laterally away from the linear merchandise processing path. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the check-out counter system includes a point-of-sale terminal positioned on a stand extending laterally away from the linear merchandise processing path, and the method further includes entering merchandise information via the point-of-sale terminal. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second bag holder is positioned above and behind the first bag holder relative to a cashier positioned to operate the check-out counter system. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second bag holder is positioned adjacent the first bag holder opposite the user interface. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bagging station includes a third bag holder positioned above and behind the first bag holder relative to a cashier positioned to operate the check-out counter system, wherein the third bag holder supports a third portion of the plurality of bags. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a support shelf is positioned below the third bag holder and is configured to provide additional support to the third portion of the plurality of bags when one or more of the third portion of the plurality of bags are loaded with merchandise, and wherein transferring the at least one of the plurality of bags onto a deck area for short term storage includes sliding at least one of the third portion of the plurality of bags from a top surface of the support shelf to a top surface of the deck area that is coplanar with the top surface of the support shelf. 22. The method of claim 16, wherein the bagging station includes a first support shelf positioned below the first bag holder and configured to provide additional support to the first portion of the plurality of bags held by the first bag holder and a second support shelf positioned below the second bag holder and configured to provide additional support to the second portion of the plurality of bags held by the second bag holder. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first support shelf is positioned a first distance below the first bag holder, the second support shelf is positioned a second distance below the second bag holder, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the bagging station includes: a third bag holder supporting a third portion of the plurality of bags; and a third support shelf positioned below the third bag holder and configured to provide additional support to the third portion of the plurality of bags held by the third bag holder; wherein the third support shelf is positioned above the first support shelf and the second support shelf, the first support shelf is positioned above the second support shelf, bags included in the second portion of the plurality of bags are larger than bags included in the third portion of the plurality of bags.