So I bought a batch of small carbide bits at Lowe’s: some Dremel burrs and a neat pointed RotoZip engraving bit. Got to the checkout and everything went swimmingly except the RotoZip, which triggered a management override.
This caused the dreaded price check on Register 6, the only register open at the time. People are four deep behind me and the line is growing.
Manager shows up, scans his magic power card, types in a small bit of life history, scans the package again. It calls for another management override.
He re-scans his card, types in a (presumably different) slice of life history, re-scans the package, and the price pops up in bright green for all to see:
89991 Point Cutting $10,000.00
“This just isn’t going to happen” sez I. In round numbers, I think it costs 15 bux. Maybe 10, maybe 20.
The line now extends to the paint counter. I turn to the woman behind me and observe that I don’t think I’ve ever charged a $10,000 item before and that I sure hope it comes with a free yacht.
The manager laughs, re-scans his card, types in still more life history, re-scans the package, types in yet more life history, and a new price pops up:
89991 Point Cutting $1.00
I say “Thank you very much!” He sez “Have a nice day!” The cashier sez “Wow, great deal!” I say “I’m outta here!”
Hopped on my bike and rode off into the haze.
I strongly support the “If it doesn’t scan, it’s free” method of price determination, but this is just the second time it’s happened. The first was a clerk who made an on-the-spot decision. This one had management approval!
I think the price in their database is $10k because of a data entry error, which triggered the first management override.
Fairly obviously, the database didn’t get fixed today.
But a good time was had by all!
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 
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2 responses to “Database Troubles”
Those amuse me too. I was at Radio Snack once, picking up a remaindered +12/+5/-12V wall wart power supply. Apparently they hadn’t sold well even at $5 apiece, so they were clearing them out and it rang up for 49 cents. I did the logical thing, grabbed the dozen or so they had left, and bought ’em all to add to the ever-useful parts stash. Speaking of which, I live in a small farm town, which actually had its own Radio Snack for a while. But it went out of business. I showed up with a station wagon and a roll of 20 dollar bills and bought most of the carded components on the cheap. Then I came home, hung up some pegboard, and built my own!
hung up some pegboard
Now that is most excellent!
When we moved (back) here from Raleigh, one of the movers walked into the Basement Laboratory Machine Shop (which was in the garage, one of the reasons I hated that house) and commented: “This is gonna be like moving Home Depot!”
Upstairs in the Library, another guy observed: “Throw these damned books out and get a television!”
Ya gotta have stuff…