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From: terryl@tekcrl.UUCP ()
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: UPC Scanners
Message-ID: <428@tekcrl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 16:51:12 EST
Article-I.D.: tekcrl.428
Posted: Thu Jan  9 16:51:12 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 07:41:17 EST
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> Several people have commented on the desirability of a voice-feedback for
> supermarket UPC scanners.  However, I recall when one of the very first systems
> in the country was installed in a store in my hometown (Stop&Shop in Lexington,
> MA) about five (?) years ago, the company was forced to REMOVE the device due
> to customer complaints that it was annoying to constantly have the machine
> talking!  As far as I know, they are still disconnected.

     Boy, are you right!!!! A local grocery-store chain has a voice-feedback
systems at one of the stores, and they are VERY OBNOXIOUS. I just came back
from Christmas/New Years, and now the local Albertson's has them. All of the
employees of the store that I've talked to say they hate them. One, it speaks
it a really boring monitone voice. Two, all of the boxes sound the same, which
doesn't really matter because, three, the volume is so low you can't really
hear it if the store is really busy/noisy.

     If customers are woried about mistakes, HOW ABOUT READING THE RECEIPT???
One good thing abou the scanner systems is that now the receipts show the
actual product (like soap), and some even go as far as to identify each item
by it's brand name!!! That should make it easier to verify.

> Seems like some consumers don't know what's good for 'em :-)
     Natch, big business always knows what's best for the consumers, right? :-)