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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!whuxl!wjm
From: wjm@whuxl.UUCP (MITCHELL)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: RE: automatic overcharging
Message-ID: <230@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Sep-84 23:14:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.230
Posted: Sun Sep 16 23:14:47 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 03:58:15 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc.
Lines: 30

My experience with most of the supermarkets in Northern NJ that use scanners
is the following:
1.   The stores around here still have the prices posted on the articles
      (is there some NJ law to that effect - I know NYC has such a
       regulation).
2.   I've yet to see an article scan wrong - that is the scanner mis-read the
      bar code and reported the wrong UPC code to the computer.
      (Note that this does not include price table look-up errors (point 3)
       or inability to read a valid bar code off the item (point 4))
3.   It seems very strange that when I've seen a wrong price come up that it
     is almost always in THEIR favor.
     One must keep in mind that the price is not encoded in the bar code on
     most items - all the code contains is the UPC for the item.
     The scanner passes the UPC to the central computer (usually a mini) which
     does a table look-up for the item description (to print on the register
     tape) and the price.   All the store has to do is program the wrong
     price into the table and VOLIA - everyone gets mis-charged.
     EXCEPTION - The Kings (a smaller local chain) supermarkets around here
     encode their meat, deli, and bakery items with bar codes containing the
     prices when they weigh and package them, so the clerks don't have to
     key in the price of your hamburger at the checkout.
4.   I've noticed that the NCR scanner system is more tolerant and able to
     read more bar codes than IBM's, since some stores around here use
     each system.
5.   No one around here offers to provide mis-priced items free.  The best
     they will do is refund the difference when you trip their error.
6.   All I can say is,  Caveat Emptor  and make them keep the prices on the
     items.
Bill Mitchell (whuxl!wjm)