Coles shocker: Scales disappear from self-serve registers, leaving shoppers weighing their options!
- Replies 13
In a world where technology is constantly evolving, even our routine trip to the supermarket is not immune to change.
For many, the self-serve checkout is a modern convenience that can be both a blessing and a source of frustration.
However, hold onto your hats, because Coles is rolling out a change that might just revolutionise the way we shop.
Recently, a Coles customer in Perth sparked a lively debate after noticing that the new self-serve registers at the Mosman Park store had no scales in the bagging area.
This is a significant departure from the traditional setup, where scales would detect the weight of the scanned item to prevent theft and ensure accuracy.
The change raised eyebrows and questions alike.
Could this lead to an increase in shoplifting, as some social media users speculated? Or is it a step towards a more streamlined and efficient shopping experience?
Coles stepped in to clarify that the absence of scales is not an oversight but a deliberate move towards a high-tech solution.
The supermarket giant has introduced 'Skip Scan' camera technology, which renders the old 'weighted intervention' system obsolete.
This new tech is designed to detect any accidental or intentional wrong scans, thereby eliminating the need for scales and, in theory, speeding up the checkout process.
‘While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately a small number don’t,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores, new skip scan technology is being introduced which can detect if there are any accidental or intentional wrong scans.’
‘This technology removes the need for the weighted intervention, and will make the checkout process quicker and easier for most customers,’ they added.
It is estimated that Skip Scan technology is currently implemented in approximately 250 Coles stores.
The customer who first noticed the change described the store as 'very fancy,' with amenities like fresh pasta by the gram and a bread slicing machine for customer use.
‘The AI cameras must be next level there, because you can put something in your bag you haven’t paid for as nothing is weighed,’ the shopper said.
‘I haven’t seen this before, except at the self-serve with a conveyor belt. The store was renovated last year and is unsurprisingly very fancy (they have fresh pasta by the gram in the fridge and a bread slicing machine anyone can use).’
‘I’m not sure if the lack of scales at the checkout is going to become common with newly renovated stores, like the one in Floreat when it’s finally done, or if it’s just a Golden Triangle thing.’
‘At the exit they have the tall beeper things (my brain is broken) like at Kmart etc but no gates. Note: they still weigh produce of course,’ the customer added.
However, not everyone is thrilled with the new system. Some shoppers have found the technology to be a hindrance.
‘Well, it’s not almost every store, but you’re right that there’s a lot already. And they’re a massive pain in the a***,’ one commented.
They said they were not a fan of being flagged for seemingly innocuous actions like holding a basket in hand, or using their own bags.
‘I prefer the weight-based ones, I only had a 50/50 chance of needing to wave down an employee,’ another agreed.
‘Now, with the cameras, I need an employee every time, because I dare to shop elsewhere first, but these things assume that everything in the trolley is stock.’
These comments were also highlighted by another customer who documented her frustration over an incident involving these trolleys last year, and posted it on social media.
This technology was first trialled at the United Kingdom supermarket Tesco last year.
While this has not been implemented for so long, it is important to stay vigilant regarding problems this new feature might cause.
Have you encountered these new self-serve checkouts at Coles? What has your experience been like? Do you find them more efficient, or do you miss the old scales?
Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
For many, the self-serve checkout is a modern convenience that can be both a blessing and a source of frustration.
However, hold onto your hats, because Coles is rolling out a change that might just revolutionise the way we shop.
Recently, a Coles customer in Perth sparked a lively debate after noticing that the new self-serve registers at the Mosman Park store had no scales in the bagging area.
This is a significant departure from the traditional setup, where scales would detect the weight of the scanned item to prevent theft and ensure accuracy.
The change raised eyebrows and questions alike.
Could this lead to an increase in shoplifting, as some social media users speculated? Or is it a step towards a more streamlined and efficient shopping experience?
Coles introduced the new ‘Skip Scan’ camera technology, which eliminates the need for ‘weighted intervention’. Credits: Shutterstock
Coles stepped in to clarify that the absence of scales is not an oversight but a deliberate move towards a high-tech solution.
The supermarket giant has introduced 'Skip Scan' camera technology, which renders the old 'weighted intervention' system obsolete.
This new tech is designed to detect any accidental or intentional wrong scans, thereby eliminating the need for scales and, in theory, speeding up the checkout process.
‘While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately a small number don’t,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores, new skip scan technology is being introduced which can detect if there are any accidental or intentional wrong scans.’
‘This technology removes the need for the weighted intervention, and will make the checkout process quicker and easier for most customers,’ they added.
It is estimated that Skip Scan technology is currently implemented in approximately 250 Coles stores.
The customer who first noticed the change described the store as 'very fancy,' with amenities like fresh pasta by the gram and a bread slicing machine for customer use.
‘The AI cameras must be next level there, because you can put something in your bag you haven’t paid for as nothing is weighed,’ the shopper said.
‘I haven’t seen this before, except at the self-serve with a conveyor belt. The store was renovated last year and is unsurprisingly very fancy (they have fresh pasta by the gram in the fridge and a bread slicing machine anyone can use).’
‘I’m not sure if the lack of scales at the checkout is going to become common with newly renovated stores, like the one in Floreat when it’s finally done, or if it’s just a Golden Triangle thing.’
‘At the exit they have the tall beeper things (my brain is broken) like at Kmart etc but no gates. Note: they still weigh produce of course,’ the customer added.
However, not everyone is thrilled with the new system. Some shoppers have found the technology to be a hindrance.
‘Well, it’s not almost every store, but you’re right that there’s a lot already. And they’re a massive pain in the a***,’ one commented.
They said they were not a fan of being flagged for seemingly innocuous actions like holding a basket in hand, or using their own bags.
‘I prefer the weight-based ones, I only had a 50/50 chance of needing to wave down an employee,’ another agreed.
‘Now, with the cameras, I need an employee every time, because I dare to shop elsewhere first, but these things assume that everything in the trolley is stock.’
These comments were also highlighted by another customer who documented her frustration over an incident involving these trolleys last year, and posted it on social media.
This technology was first trialled at the United Kingdom supermarket Tesco last year.
While this has not been implemented for so long, it is important to stay vigilant regarding problems this new feature might cause.
Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
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