The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 20, 1978, Page Page 5, Image 7
r
Camp
text cl
iswhoi
By Bernard Sinkler
Oamccock Staff Writer
The USC Campus Book Store is
the first college campus book store
in the nation to use a completely
computerized check-out system,
bookstore officials say.
In addition to recording the price
of an item, the system stores information
on inventory and
produces daily sales analyses. The
computerized system ties in to
USC's main computer.
CAMPUS BOOK STORE
Director Ben Swanson said this tiein
aids the store in making more
accurate estimates of textbook
orders based on the Computer
Assisted Registration's projected
student enrollment for the coming
semester.
"The success of the computerized
system is based on the
efficiency of the completeness of
the (price) tagging operation,"
Swanson said. "The tagging
operation is extremely important."
The book store began using the
computerized system in May. By
July, the magnetic scans or
"wands" were put into operation
AS honks wai'o nrlro tnaaoA fr\v ?Ka
? ? ^ AVA U1V
first time.
SWANSON SAID the bookstore
uses the system in three stages.
Stage one involves the pricetagging
of textbooks. Stage two is
price-tagging the novels and other
non-textbooks, and stage three is
price-tagging school and art
supplies, greeting cards and gifts.
"The complete implementation of
the system will not be until 1979,"
Swanson said.
Another function of the computer
system is to keep better track of
inventory. "We know there is a
trpmpnHnno nmnnnt nf 1'
V* MII1VU1II VI pilft\^l ClgCy
Swanson said. Since the computer
is able to keep inventory records
by unit, he said he hoped the book
store can reduce stealing.
The computer system also will
make it possible to take a complete
inventory in one work day. Before
the new system, taking Giventory
would have lasted six weeks,
Swanson said. "The inventory time
is reduced tremendously."
THE CAMPUS BOOK STORE
! Mftwi
?iiunma
A I^OFAJ u lillMBM
ffKTu SHOWS AT:
lUi 3:30 5:30
7:30 9:30
nTrrma
ANW1|
^AfVM ^
| A rt*vuus nxrwo
VSiOHNMBMMMVaHailMMaiMM
us Books
i eck-out i
Fill
computer will also prevent bad
checks from passing through the
check-out cashier, Swanson said.
The tie-in to the USC main computer
gives the book store access to
a list of "bad-risk check
categories," Swanson said.
If the cash register rejects an
individual's check, the person is
referred to the book store's
USC Campus Book Store employee
Barbara Sumpter is shown
imitlff thp npw hnnlr r?H?xnlr_ru?f
system, which is the nation's first
totally computerized one.
r Mwmumm
C(i)RI)
V?7 Of PHIL AOi
sy<v* ^ " ''" V"4W''.
tore's
>ystem
iterized
customer service. George Adams,
assistant financial director for the
book store, said a customer is
referred to customer service when
a cashier doesn't know what to do
about a check the computer
rejects. Either he or Swanson
decides whether to accept the
check, depending on treasurer's
office records, he said.
The university has a list of
outstanding checks. Most students
whose checks are not allowed to be
cashed say they were unaware of
the negative balance in their
checking account, Adams said.
"There has been ample
notification going out to him,"
through bank statements and
treasurer's office letters, he said.
"It's not fair to those who are
honoring their checks," but "it's a
business precautionary measure."
Swanson said.
After a student has cleared his
debt with the university, he is
cleared in the computer system
and may cash checks at the
bookstore, he said.
There are no real problems with
the new computer system,
Swanson said, but recently some
items were mistakenly tagged,
resulting in pricing errors. Besides
that incident, "We had almost ho
problem with pricing errors in the
textbook area," Swanson said.
"Every textbook is tagged now."
Gordon Make
\ JI ^ |||| Wonderfully
nPHil HP* Three put toge
? V"?ckedswee
"OPEN o*C? \JkrC Qy/ HAPPY
" H??"
Mob, thru Sat. 4-7
Monday: All Beer 2 tor 1 all nite
Tuesday: Ladies Nite - Free Champagne
Wednesday: All Mixed Drinks $1.50 all nite
?II k B 1 ^ - ? -
muriuny: ^onege iNue - BIT Draff b:^U Until
I Friday: We have All nite Disco to 5:00 AAA
DISCO 6 Nites A Week
1824 Edmund Dr. Airport Blvd.
AAAMHAV O WICIHMECI\ A \# AI
mviibrn I at VfCLlltUUMT ^rCLIML
50* off any steak dinner with valid
USC ID - student and faculty.
Good all day Mondays and Wednesdays.
1000 KNOX ABBOTT DR.
CAYCE 791-4220
I Now...'til Christmas
20% discount
|3 to all USC students
I with valid student I.D.
fllE L^jdDER -
FOREST CAKE SHOPPING CENTER j j
L
W*
\
i
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
| ERNO LASZLO INSTITUTE
I
s the Difference
Hrxisomc knockabout wear for town and country iMrxj
(hers to live in all day Pleated flannel pant. $52;
iter. $34; and a soft crepe de chine blouse. $34
Monday-Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm