A checkout system (10, 100) for processing products bearing indicia, comprising: a cordless reader (40, 140) operative for electro-optically reading the indicia in a handheld mode; a base station (80, 100) having a compartment in which the cordless reader is removably mounted in a hands-free mode; a transceiver (70, 170, 196) supported by each of the cordless reader and the base station and operative for wirelessly communicating data between the cordless reader and the base station when the cordless reader is in the handheld mode; a first controller supported by the cordless reader operative for controlling operation of the cordless reader; a second controller supported by the base station, wherein at least one of the first and the second controller is operative for determining the mode of the cordless reader; characterized by an alarm (28, 128) supported by at least one of the cordless reader and the base station and operative for generating an advisory alert to advise a return of the cordless reader to the compartment when the at least one of the first and the second controllers determines that the cordless reader is in the handheld mode and at least one of the cordless reader and the base station satisfies an operational condition, wherein the operational condition includes at least one of determination by the second controller, which is supported by the base station, that no symbol data that is obtained from the cordless reader scanning a symbol is received wirelessly by the transceiver in the base station after a time-out period has elapsed or disabling of the second controller, which is supported by the base station. a cordless reader (40, 140) operative for electro-optically reading the indicia in a handheld mode; a base station (80, 100) having a compartment in which the cordless reader is removably mounted in a hands-free mode; a transceiver (70, 170, 196) supported by each of the cordless reader and the base station and operative for wirelessly communicating data between the cordless reader and the base station when the cordless reader is in the handheld mode; a first controller supported by the cordless reader operative for controlling operation of the cordless reader; a second controller supported by the base station, wherein at least one of the first and the second controller is operative for determining the mode of the cordless reader; characterized by an alarm (28, 128) supported by at least one of the cordless reader and the base station and operative for generating an advisory alert to advise a return of the cordless reader to the compartment when the at least one of the first and the second controllers determines that the cordless reader is in the handheld mode and at least one of the cordless reader and the base station satisfies an operational condition, wherein the operational condition includes at least one of determination by the second controller, which is supported by the base station, that no symbol data that is obtained from the cordless reader scanning a symbol is received wirelessly by the transceiver in the base station after a time-out period has elapsed or disabling of the second controller, which is supported by the base station.