US meteorologist sparks wild debate over checkout dividers

Coles has responded after a TV weatherman claimed we’ve been using checkout dividers “wrong” when doing our grocery shop.

Coles has weighed in on the correct way to use a checkout divider after it was claimed we’ve been using them “wrong”.

Supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi provide the plastic bars to help customers separate their purchases on the conveyor belt and streamline the payment process.

But according to US meteorologist Ryan Vaughan, placing the divider horizontally across the belt isn’t the right way to use the checkout item.

The TV weatherman claimed many people “don’t know how to use the divider”, stating we should place the bar lengthways along the belt, in a Facebook post that quickly went viral around the world.

Now Australian supermarket Coles have weighed in on the debate, explaining its staff will continue to serve anyone who adopts the new technique.

“Coles checkout dividers are a handy way for customers to separate their groceries when completing their shop,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Team Members at the checkout will always provide friendly customer service regardless of a customer’s preferred method of placing their divider.”

News.com.au also contacted Woolworths and Aldi for comment.

Shoppers have been divided over claims we’re using checkout dividers ‘wrong’. Picture: Facebook/RyanVaughn

More than 13,000 people have commented on Ryan’s post since it was shared on Saturday, with many divided over the weatherman’s claims.

Some admitted said they were “blown away” by his suggestion, flooding the comments in shock

“I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time. It makes more sense to do it that way,” one person replied.

“I didn’t know it was for the sensor – I thought it was literally to divide the groceries so the cashier knows what belongs to the first person and the second person,” another added.

As one declared: “Well, it actually does make more sense to put it the long way, now that I think about it. It just feels like it’s wrong.”

However, others refuted the claims, stating they needed evidence.

“The people that do this are the same people that park taking up two spaces,” one lamented.

“I’m gonna need documentation that upholds your claim,” another stated.

US meteorologist Ryan Vaughan caused a stir online with his post. Picture: Facebook/RyanVaughn

The overwhelming response led Ryan to respond in the comments, confirming he was having a bit of fun by sharing his unique method.

“It doesn’t take much to fire up the world,” he wrote.

Ryan later explained the post had been inspired by a “goofy conversation” with his wife while at the grocery store, adding he had no idea it would go so “crazy”.

“It was a boring weather day, so I posted my opinion on Facebook, and everyone went crazy,” he told a local media outlet.

“I like to put the divider longways so that my groceries don’t go right up against the people in front of me paying.”

His original post had stirred up commenters by declaring: “Some of you don’t know how to use the divider.”

“You need to put it long ways to trip the sensor and keep a distance. Some of y’all use it as a privacy fence.”

He accompanied his bold statement with a photo allegedly showing the “right” and “wrong” way to use the divider.