How Does the Bar Code Affect Package Design?

A 14: The Universal Product Code (UPC) is one of the revolutionary innovations of the second half of the Twentieth Century. There are many wasteful and costly operations in retailing. Pricing of each item individually is not only costly and time consuming but may contribute to reduction of the quantity of merchandise on display. The product is exposed to possible damage during pricing as well. Similarly, checkout at the cashier’s counter is a major bottleneck. Whoever has waited in line at a supermarket or department store cashier has tasted this annoying imperfection in our modern retailing establishment. The merchant is further concerned with the intentional or accidental giveaway at the cash register. Mistakes of one sort or another are common and may cost the store thousands of dollars.