Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: These days, almost all retail operations use a bar-coded inventory and retail sales system. An item cannot be entered into a cash register without a bar code or its accompanying number. Knowing the price just isn’t good enough anymore.

To make shopping go faster, as I approach the checkout stand at a department store, I try to arrange all the merchandise on the counter so the tags and bar codes are in sight, and the salesperson is able to quickly scan the bar code. I place the garment, package or greeting card with the tag facing up and visible. I don’t make the clerk go on a hunting expedition.

This makes my purchase go faster, and other shoppers don’t have to wait as long. This really helps during sales, when shoppers have cartfuls of merchandise. It doesn’t take any extra effort, and it sure makes things go faster. – Sue Girard, Nipomo, Calif.