Self-Disservice Checkout, Part 2

(I make a quick stop at a grocery store one afternoon. I am using the self-checkout when I can’t help but overhear a couple at the self-check stand behind me.)

Lady: “Why isn’t it working?”

Man: “I don’t know. Just set it on the scanner.”

Lady: “It still isn’t doing anything. Why won’t it scan?”

(My curiosity finally gets to me and I turn to see what the problem was. The couple has a bell pepper, without any barcodes or stickers on it, and are trying to figure out why the scanner can’t read it. I just stand there staring at them in shock when the attendant walks up to assist them.)

Attendant: “Oh, here, I’ll show you. There’s no barcode on that. You have to find the code.”

Lady: “What!?! Why does it need a barcode?”