Supermarket Sleuths: Costco rules out checkout feature during rapid Australian expansion

Costco Australia has been rolling out self-checkouts across its warehouses, with one glaring omission.

None of their self-checkouts appear to have handheld scanners for customers to use on bulk and heavy items.

This is the case at my local Costco warehouse at Marsden Park in Sydney where only the self-checkout supervisor has a handheld scanner.

During a recent visit we had some bulk and heavy items in our trolley and I was about to ask the supervisor for help but she had already spotted us, and was on her way over, with her handheld scanner ready to go.

I asked her if there had ever been handheld scanners fitted at the self-checkouts and she said as far as she knew, there hadn't been.

She also didn't know if there were plans to fit them in the future, and she didn't know why they already hadn't been.

There is plenty of speculation as to why Costco doesn't have handheld scanners fitted.

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One suggested reason is to reduce the likelihood of theft of bulk and heavy items placed in trolleys, although customer receipts are usually checked upon exit.

Another reason that has been suggested is that handheld scanner technology is very sensitive and can easily result in errors such as scanning the same item twice.

Costco Australia has been contacted for comment.

I'd love handheld scanners at Costco self-checkouts so I don't ever have to lift heavy items out of the trolley to scan them which can be awkward and difficult, and the self-checkouts at my local do get pretty busy.

In my mind, it would make for a much faster self-checkout experience if they did have them.

The staffed checkouts have a pretty good process for bulk and heavy items. You just unload all of your lighter items and leave the bulk and heavy items in the trolley.

Then, as per Costco procedure, the trolley is wheeled along the right hand side of the checkout by a staffer, and the checkout person turns around and scans them like that.

Coles and Woolworths have their own bulk and heavy item procedures at their self-checkout sections.

The Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi self-checkouts I have used have come with handheld scanners that can be used on bulk and heavy items.

A Coles spokesperson told nine.com.au previously: "At Coles, we're always looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and deliver exceptional service to the millions of customers who we serve each week.

"Our team members are encouraged to assist customers wherever possible, particularly when handling bulky or heavy items at the checkout.

"Scanning these items first helps reduce unnecessary lifting and prevents lighter items from being crushed later in the process.

"It's a simple step that makes a big difference in ensuring a smoother, more efficient checkout experience."

But more recent technology I have experienced at my local Coles detects bulk and heavy items in my trolley as soon as I approach the checkout, and simply asks me to confirm the purchase.

This has happened most often when I am purchasing a 24-pack of 600ml water bottles.

It's called "skip scan" technology and its pretty clever.

Who knows what Costco Australia has in store when it comes to technology upgrades at their self-checkouts?

Over the past year my local Costco has upgraded several technical features, including installing digital membership card scanners at the entrance, replacing physical checks by staffers.

This new technology allows supervisors to flag membership issues, and if needed, direct customers to the Membership desk to sort them out.

Costco customers can also install the store app and set up a digital membership card in place of a physical card.

This too requires a visit to the Membership desk for verification.

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