In this day and age, we have become really accustomed to the idea that we can take the things that we are buying to the front of the store, and a quick scan of a barcode or punching in of a code will bring up the price of the item. We don’t really think about it much.

In many places, stores still need to get special dispensation from item pricing, that is, they need to get a license of some sort from the local authorities that allows them not to put an individual price tag on each item. Usually part of the agreement is that a sign is posted near the item clearly identifying the price of the item (and its unit price, in the case of groceries).

When it works well, it is really handy. When it goes wrong, it is a major headache.

Today we went grocery shopping at our local cut-rate grocery store. As we entered the store and perused the produce, we picked up three cucumbers, which were 3 for a dollar, according to a sign nearby. Around the time we reached the other end of the store, a cashier got on the loudspeaker and asked for a price check on cucumbers.

I should stop for a second and tell you that, in certain circumstances, the staff of this store will use the loudspeakers like an intercom. It makes for really quick communication, and isn’t too annoying as long as they don’t do it all the time, which they don’t.

“Two for a dollar” came the reply.

This was followed by another voice, “Three for a dollar.”

“They’re ringing up as two for a dollar; the customer says the sign says three for a dollar.”

“Two for a dollar” came the second voice again.

“Sign over here says three” came a fourth voice.

“Mike, send someone over to produce to change the sign. Amanda, go to the registers and override the price for this customer.”

It then quieted down a bit. I thought about putting up a fight, but for 50 cents, it wasn’t worth it. The cashier was kind enough to let me know about the price difference, and we acknowledged that we had heard the whole thing, and that we would buy the cucumbers anyway.

The moral of the story: Technology saves effort when it is used right, but costs us when we botch it up.

Amusingly, as we were leaving the store, I heard one employee saying to another to “get someone to go over to produce with a gun.” Of course, I know (or, at least, I hope) she meant a pricing gun, one of those portable wireless computer terminals that they use to look things up, take inventory and make price changes, but the comment was amusing in this context.