In article >,
"Phideaux" > wrote:

>
>
> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Yesterday, I went through the checkout line with
> > a small quantity of peppers. I watch the stocking
> > situation at the supermarket, and only buy when
> > the stock is recent and good quality.
> >
> > CHECKER: Okay, what is this? [Holding bag up.]
> >
> > ME: Habanero chili peppers.
> >
> > CHECKER: [Riffles through instruction pages.]
> >
> > ME: I believe that's thirty-one twenty five.
> >
> > CHECKER: Huh? Oh, you mean the code, right?
> >
> > ME: Yes.
> >
> > CHECKER: Okay, let's try that. [Immediately
> > registers as Habanero Chili.] You're good!
> >
> > * * * * *
> >
> > Today, a similar situation with the same checker.
> >
> > CHECKER: What's this? [Holds up bag of Brussels sprouts.]
> >
> > ME: Forty-five fifty.
> >
> > Of course, when the code is punched in, it registers
> > as "Brussel sprt" or whatever on the computer display.
> >
> > And as I leave the checkstand, I hear her telling
> > the next customer:
> >
> > CHECKER: That's my favorite customer!
> > He knows all of the codes!
> >
> > Which is not quite true. I know a few codes which get
> > me checked out sooner, because they have in the past been
> > delays. The supermarket does not sell many of certain
> > items, which are sometimes items that I buy. Checkers
> > are often not familiar with the codes for these
> > seldom-sold items.
>
> I'm all too familiar with the syndrome.
>
> "What's this?"
>
> Kale.
>
> "What's this?"
>
> Eggplant.

You should figure out what's the cheapest produce item. It
might be lettuce, for instance.

"What's this?" (holds up watermelon)

"A head of lettuce."

"What's this?" (holds up ten pound Hubbard squash)

"A head of lettuce."

"What's this?" (holds up sack of hydroponic tomatoes)

"Lettuce."

It's just a shame they bar-code the meat and fish.

Mike Beede