Comments on: Why Cash Registers Need to Be More Like Computers http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:58:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sunday Morning Link Love ~ Voting Edition | I've Paid For This Twice Already... http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-13146 Sunday Morning Link Love ~ Voting Edition | I've Paid For This Twice Already... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:27:41 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-13146 [...] Mrs Micah: Why Cash Registers Need To Be More Like Computers. [...] [...] Mrs Micah: Why Cash Registers Need To Be More Like Computers. [...]

]]> By: The Penny Saved Personal Finance Site » Blog Archive » Friday Financial Fun links and my technorati rant http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12992 The Penny Saved Personal Finance Site » Blog Archive » Friday Financial Fun links and my technorati rant Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:23:05 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12992 [...] Mrs Micah and her Cash Register problems  [...] [...] Mrs Micah and her Cash Register problems  [...]

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12745 mrsmicah Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:01:50 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12745 So I guess what this means is that dishonest people suck. Because otherwise cash registers could be easy to use instead of hard. I'll settle for one that shows me every line of the transaction I'm working on. That way I'll know if I mispunched something. So I guess what this means is that dishonest people suck. Because otherwise cash registers could be easy to use instead of hard.

I’ll settle for one that shows me every line of the transaction I’m working on. That way I’ll know if I mispunched something.

]]> By: RegisterGuy http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12706 RegisterGuy Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:20:52 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12706 Oh my goodness ya gotta give these poor little cash registers some credit! Oten it comes down to price when someone chooses a cash register. But there are some great registers available for around $500.00 But here is the big problem, the first role of a cash register is counting and calculating, however the 2nd goal of a register (sometimes the 1st) is security. So if the used many of the features you mentioned store owners would be open to even more fraud then they are already. Most theft comes from the inside, and where does the cash meet the potential thief? At the register of course! My site has many registers and a free support blog at http//www.cashregisterguys.com Thanks, and I enjoyed reading your post! Oh my goodness ya gotta give these poor little cash registers some credit! Oten it comes down to price when someone chooses a cash register. But there are some great registers available for around $500.00 But here is the big problem, the first role of a cash register is counting and calculating, however the 2nd goal of a register (sometimes the 1st) is security. So if the used many of the features you mentioned store owners would be open to even more fraud then they are already. Most theft comes from the inside, and where does the cash meet the potential thief? At the register of course! My site has many registers and a free support blog at http//www.cashregisterguys.com

Thanks, and I enjoyed reading your post!

]]> By: Dad http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12700 Dad Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:56:34 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12700 I think Curtis is on the right track. That and the reluctance in some areas to make ANY changes. When HP introduced its first business calculator, it did not have a backspace key but it did have a clear error key to let you rekey a bad entry. I asked why because I found backspace a great feature on other calculators. I was told that business people didn't like backspace. I guess it wasn't intuitive to them and making corrections makes fraud a bit easier. Look in the grocery store. If the cashier makes a mistake s/he has to call for a supervisor to do a void. Changes in this area seem to come very slowly. I think Curtis is on the right track. That and the reluctance in some areas to make ANY changes. When HP introduced its first business calculator, it did not have a backspace key but it did have a clear error key to let you rekey a bad entry. I asked why because I found backspace a great feature on other calculators. I was told that business people didn’t like backspace. I guess it wasn’t intuitive to them and making corrections makes fraud a bit easier. Look in the grocery store. If the cashier makes a mistake s/he has to call for a supervisor to do a void. Changes in this area seem to come very slowly.

]]> By: Looby http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12644 Looby Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:53:50 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12644 When I worked in retail we had a cash register that was hooked up to the computer, so it was a qwerty board and you could go back a screen etc. I think we used it because it took up less counter space than a computer and till separately (and knowing the store owner I imagine it was a lot cheaper). Most of the stores round here seem to use the same system and I noticed our library does too when I had to pay a fine (*hangs head in shame*). The only place I have seen traditional cash registers recently is the grocery store. When I worked in retail we had a cash register that was hooked up to the computer, so it was a qwerty board and you could go back a screen etc. I think we used it because it took up less counter space than a computer and till separately (and knowing the store owner I imagine it was a lot cheaper). Most of the stores round here seem to use the same system and I noticed our library does too when I had to pay a fine (*hangs head in shame*). The only place I have seen traditional cash registers recently is the grocery store.

]]> By: Andrew Stevens http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12640 Andrew Stevens Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:43:27 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12640 Back when I used a cash register, the transaction you described wouldn't have been a void. The cash register thought you should have received $10 which is the amount you actually did receive, so everything should have balanced. The fact that it thought you were putting in $200 and removing $190 instead of putting in $20 and taking out $10 wouldn't have been relevant. So I would have just given her her $10 and ignored the fact that I had mistyped it. In fact, I typically used to just hit the exact change button and calculate the change in my head rather than bothering with the register, since I was more likely to make a mistake if I keyed it in. Back when I used a cash register, the transaction you described wouldn’t have been a void. The cash register thought you should have received $10 which is the amount you actually did receive, so everything should have balanced. The fact that it thought you were putting in $200 and removing $190 instead of putting in $20 and taking out $10 wouldn’t have been relevant. So I would have just given her her $10 and ignored the fact that I had mistyped it. In fact, I typically used to just hit the exact change button and calculate the change in my head rather than bothering with the register, since I was more likely to make a mistake if I keyed it in.

]]> By: fathersez http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12638 fathersez Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:31:22 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12638 THis is interesting. I have never operated a cash register before. I didn't know there were so many complications. Now that you have mentioned this, I also wonder why technology has not reengineered this as yet. THis is interesting.

I have never operated a cash register before. I didn’t know there were so many complications. Now that you have mentioned this, I also wonder why technology has not reengineered this as yet.

]]> By: Curtis http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12632 Curtis Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:36:38 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12632 Don't forget, part of the job of a cash register is to track the money in and out of a the drawer for an owner/manager who is not around to oversee things. Making it too easy to "correct" mistakes also makes it easier to steal money. People are expected to make an occasional mistake and need help fixing it. If you aren't doing that, something is probably wrong. Look out for those people who never mess up a transaction on their cash register. They are the one's taking you to the cleaner. Don’t forget, part of the job of a cash register is to track the money in and out of a the drawer for an owner/manager who is not around to oversee things. Making it too easy to “correct” mistakes also makes it easier to steal money.

People are expected to make an occasional mistake and need help fixing it. If you aren’t doing that, something is probably wrong. Look out for those people who never mess up a transaction on their cash register. They are the one’s taking you to the cleaner.

]]> By: Fiscal Musings http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12629 Fiscal Musings Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:13:00 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/26/why-cash-registers-need-to-be-more-like-computers/#comment-12629 They already have computers to handle this, but it depends on if the owner is willing to buy them. They already have computers to handle this, but it depends on if the owner is willing to buy them.

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