[net.consumers] Scanners and opinion polls

slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (12/18/85)

>The computerized cash register with UPC scanner is an interesting
>animal--it has its advantages (like faster checking; probably more
>accurate) and its disadvantages (no more price stickers so you can't tell
>what you paid; price increases are retroactive to all stock).  It obviously
>has lots of processing power left over.  One local grocery store chain has
>been using a little bit of magic to conduct "customer opinion polls"
>Dick Dunn

My husband works with communications between the central supply house
and the store, and information collected from these scanners.  It is
indeed interesting how much information they collect.  One bit of
data that I never would have thought to process:  Number of bad checks
accepted by each clerk.  Your check number is recorded, along with
the number of the clerk.  If your check is bad, it's a black mark
against the clerk. 

I've never heard of the "opinion polls", though.  What kinds of questions
are they asking?
-- 

                                     Sue Brezden
                                     ihnp4!drutx!slb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      To search for perfection is all very well,
      But to look for heaven is to live here in hell.   
                                       --Sting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~