At this point, every Aussie shopper is probably already familiar with the conveyor belts at the supermarket checkout. We put our groceries on it, and then it moves them towards the cashier so they can scan the items and pack them into bags.

But have you ever wondered how those belts actually work? If you have, then you're in luck – a Woolworths employee has revealed it all on TikTok.

Liam Kirley is a Sydney supermarket worker who regularly posts videos of Woolies hacks, tips and secrets on the popular social media platform. (You might also remember him from our previous articles, such as this one.)

In one of his most recent videos, Liam revealed a supermarket 'secret' about conveyor belts – apparently, they are operated by an on/off switch! There are also two little-known sensors at the checkout end which stop it moving when they sense an object.

You can see him demonstrating this in the video below:

​

'So the conveyor knows how to stop there are two sensors [at the end of the belt],' he said in the clip. 'And when the product goes there, it breaks the beam.'

However, he was shocked by some of the comments left by viewers after he shared what he thought was an insider secret.

Many customers were surprised that such a simple system was in place – but much to his surprise, some clever shoppers were already aware of this tip and admitted to using it to get one over on unsuspecting staff members!

One user confessed in the comments section and said: 'I figured this out, and I like to mess with the team member by stopping and starting the belt.'

Like salt to Liam's wounds, many more came forward and admitted they had known this supermarket 'secret' for a while now. Some even admitted they knew it ever since they were kids!

'Anyone else ever put their finger over the sensor when they were shopping with their parents as a kid or just me?' another asked innocently…

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths employee has revealed the ‘secret’ workings behind the store's conveyor belts.
• The belts are operated by an on-and-off switch, with two sensors at the checkout end that stop the belt from moving when they sense an object.
• Some clever shoppers have been using this tip to mess with Woolies workers for years by stopping and starting the belt.

What are your thoughts, members? Is this new information to you, or have you known it for some time, like the others?

Next time you're at your local supermarket checkout, see if you can test out this trick for yourself… But maybe don't do it too often or you might annoy someone!

 

[Suzanne rose]

To be honest I've never paid attention, I just knew that once the groceries reached the end the belt stopped.

No I wouldn't try to stop the belt

 

[Ricci]

When my kids were little they would sometimes mess with the belt, starting and stopping it till I noticed and growled at them!!

 

[Macarj]

big deal

 

[terri]

Wow the things you can learn that are really already common knowledge. Revelations. Now let's hope there is not too much annoying the operator as it is a very trying job already.

 

[JayKay]

When my son was a pre-schooler, I heard him telling his school age sister about the trick he'd discovered at the supermarket. He could be the conveyor belt man when he grew up!

 

[JehazFNQ]

Always known. Doesn’t take much to figure it out - items get taken off, the separation bar hits the sensors and the belt stops, with next customers gear ready to scan. Remove that bar to place behind your items (cos there’s never enough of them) and your items move til they hit the sensors. Easy peasy!

 

[RobD]

So what? Why is this a story? How is this a story? Where do you find this tripe SDC?
This article is as inane as that story of that pommie whinging about traffic lights or the air hosties having a tea room at work!

 

[adorableagnes]

At this point, every Aussie shopper is probably already familiar with the conveyor belts at the supermarket checkout. We put our groceries on it, and then it moves them towards the cashier so they can scan the items and pack them into bags.

But have you ever wondered how those belts actually work? If you have, then you're in luck – a Woolworths employee has revealed it all on TikTok.

Liam Kirley is a Sydney supermarket worker who regularly posts videos of Woolies hacks, tips and secrets on the popular social media platform. (You might also remember him from our previous articles, such as this one.)

In one of his most recent videos, Liam revealed a supermarket 'secret' about conveyor belts – apparently, they are operated by an on/off switch! There are also two little-known sensors at the checkout end which stop it moving when they sense an object.

You can see him demonstrating this in the video below:

​

'So the conveyor knows how to stop there are two sensors [at the end of the belt],' he said in the clip. 'And when the product goes there, it breaks the beam.'

However, he was shocked by some of the comments left by viewers after he shared what he thought was an insider secret.

Many customers were surprised that such a simple system was in place – but much to his surprise, some clever shoppers were already aware of this tip and admitted to using it to get one over on unsuspecting staff members!

One user confessed in the comments section and said: 'I figured this out, and I like to mess with the team member by stopping and starting the belt.'

Like salt to Liam's wounds, many more came forward and admitted they had known this supermarket 'secret' for a while now. Some even admitted they knew it ever since they were kids!

'Anyone else ever put their finger over the sensor when they were shopping with their parents as a kid or just me?' another asked innocently…

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths employee has revealed the ‘secret’ workings behind the store's conveyor belts.
• The belts are operated by an on-and-off switch, with two sensors at the checkout end that stop the belt from moving when they sense an object.
• Some clever shoppers have been using this tip to mess with Woolies workers for years by stopping and starting the belt.

What are your thoughts, members? Is this new information to you, or have you known it for some time, like the others?

Next time you're at your local supermarket checkout, see if you can test out this trick for yourself… But maybe don't do it too often or you might annoy someone!

So how is this even news?

 

[Tervueren]

Worked that out ages ago, it is just a matter of watching the lights that light up at the end of the counter....