According to an embodiment, a check-out system includes a plurality of the payment apparatuses in communication with each other and with a registration apparatus. A payment processor processes a payment in accordance with received payment information and a customer input. A storage unit stores received payment information when the payment apparatus is available to process payment. A transmission unit of a payment apparatus transmits received payment information to another payment apparatus of the plurality of payment apparatuses when the payment apparatus is unavailable to currently process the received payment information.