On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:40:18 +0000, MM wrote:
>>>Barcode scanners are dirt cheap, by the way.
>>How much does it cost to buy a barcode scanner that has a database of
>>and can display prices for all the products in a shop? How sturdy are
>>such scanners, and how long will they last when subjected to the
>>normal abuse and carelessness of the general public? How is the
>>database of such barcode scanners updated? How can it be ensured that
>>the database in the scanners is the same as the database used by the
>>tills?
>My Cat5 cable (15m) cost about a tenner from Misco. In a bulk buy, far
>cheaper. Running any of a myriad of cut-down Linuxes, the whole thing
>would be very cost-effective.
But would it be accurate and reliable?
> What is the cost to the store each time
>a shopper stops a floor walker/shelf stacker and asks the price?
Less than the cost of a barcode scanner. The employee has to be there
anyway. Most queries from shoppers are about the availability and
location of specific items, not their price. Introduce scanners and
the number of queries would *increase* - e.g. "What's this thing
for?", "How do I use it?" "Why isn't it working properly?" "This
item has 3 different barcodes, which one am I meant to scan?" "Could
you hold my baby while I scan that item on the top shelf?" Etc.
--
Cynic
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