In the bustling aisles of Coles, a supermarket chain familiar to every Australian, shoppers have stumbled upon a puzzling feature that’s been hiding in plain sight. It’s a small detail at the checkout counters that has sparked curiosity and a flurry of speculation among the eagle-eyed customers.
The discovery, which has been making the rounds on social media, features a small mirror affixed to the lower part of the checkout lane. The image of this seemingly innocuous mirror has garnered attention, prompting the question: ‘What’s with the tiny mirrors in the checkouts?’
While some may have never noticed these mirrors before, news.com.au has shed light on the fact that they are not a new addition. In fact, these mirrors have been a staple in all of Coles’ traditional checkout lanes for quite some time.
So, what’s the purpose of these mirrors? They serve a practical function. These mirrors allow team members stationed at the opposite lane to see if any items have been left at the bottom of a shopper’s trolley. This is particularly useful for spotting heavy or bulky items that might be difficult for customers to lift onto the belt. The cashier can then manually key in these items, ensuring they’re correctly charged without the customer needing to remove them from the trolley.
Despite the straightforward explanation, the online community has had a field day coming up with their own theories and jokes. From a nostalgic tool for entertaining bored children to a fashion police accessory for judging shoppers’ shoes, the theories have been as varied as they are humorous.
One commenter even suggested that the mirrors serve as an anti-theft measure, providing an angle for the cashier to spot any items that haven’t been placed on the belt, potentially hidden with intent to shoplift.
However, a former retail worker chimed in to say that in their eight years of experience, the mirrors, colloquially known as ‘BoB’ (bottom of basket) mirrors, were largely ignored by staff except for the service managers.
The role of these BoB mirrors is to help cashiers ensure that all items, especially those in the trolley’s blind spot, are scanned and charged. This reduces the likelihood of items being accidentally overlooked or intentionally stolen.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Coles’ checkout systems have been in the spotlight. Recently, a man claimed to have discovered a ‘loophole’ in the supermarket’s self-checkout system. He suggested that the scales weren’t sensitive enough to accurately measure lightweight produce, allowing customers to potentially pay less for small items. Using this method, he purchased a single chilli for just three cents instead of its usual price of 30 cents.
It’s fascinating how small design features in everyday places can go unnoticed until they spark curiosity. Whether for efficiency, security, or convenience, these details play a role in shaping our shopping experiences.
Have you ever noticed these mirrors at Coles checkouts? Were you aware of their purpose, or did you have your own theories? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Also read: Woolworths and Coles are making big changes. Will shoppers stick around?
That Mirror has been there for years, it’s so the Checkout Operator can see if there is anything under the shopping cart basket.