Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site lanl-a.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!cmcl2!lanl-a!crs From: crs@lanl-a.UUCP Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: Automatic Overcharging Message-ID: <13377@lanl-a.UUCP> Date: Fri, 14-Sep-84 09:16:53 EDT Article-I.D.: lanl-a.13377 Posted: Fri Sep 14 09:16:53 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 02:32:00 EDT References: <314@houxv.UUCP> Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory Lines: 14 As I understand the scanning checkout devices, the advantage to the store is that the price information is stored within the cash registers memory *NOT* on the bar code label which only contains product identification information. Thus, not only is there no need to mark the original price on the product, but if there is a price change the product still need not be handled. Only the shelf price *and* the machines concept of the price need be changed. Obviously this CAN lead to all sorts of misuse/abuse such as the incident mentioned by houxv!bjt where the machines concept did not reflect the sale price. I find it easy to imagine the temptation to do this intentionally not to mention the ease with which "good-faith" errors occur. In either case, I wonder what fraction of customers would notice the "error." Perhaps I'm too cynical. Charlie