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From: bzs@bu-cs.UUCP (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: UPC Scanners
Message-ID: <823@bu-cs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Dec-85 22:22:54 EST
Article-I.D.: bu-cs.823
Posted: Wed Dec 25 22:22:54 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 00:45:23 EST
References: <300@opus.UUCP> <942@terak.UUCP>, <1482@wanginst.UUCP>
Organization: Boston Univ Comp. Sci.
Lines: 27

Re: UPC scanners faster or slower

I find that it depends on the skill of the cashier. If things won't
scan it can really slow things down, especially because it seems more
items these days aren't individually marked. A strange thing I see
is that sometimes they key in the UPC code and sometimes they scream
for a 'price check' (someone to go check the price.) Of course, before
UPC scanners it was common to do a price check also, so speed really
seems to be a matter of luck. One thing I try to do is grab a box or
can with a price tag on it just in case, seems to help.

As for not being able to find the price anymore, I am quite adamant
about this, if I can't find a price I either won't buy it or I grab
someone and ask them to get me the price. The most annoying thing I
find about shelf pricing is when one bottle of ketchup is $12.96/quart
and another next to it is $4.93/Lb, very obnoxious (and very common.)

The really unfortunate thing is how many 'consumerist' things we all do
that are certainly unnoticed (like not buying something which is not
marked, most likely if the product actually didn't sell they probably
came up with some other reason, like not enough TV ads or a competing
product on sale.) Oh, you can express your opinion, try it, you'll
likely get some gum-cracking adolescent who could care less.

Sigh.

	-Barry Shein, Boston University