Handling POS sales for items without bar codes

The Point of Sale module is designed for rapid sales using a bar code scanner, but it can be slower than a normal cash register for items that can't be scanned (e.g. entering "Other Charges" for miscellaneous items or selecting inventory items from a list).

For things that don't have UPC bar codes on them already here are a few ideas to speed up sales:

- Print bar code labels to stick on the items.  You'll need a bar code font if you're good with Word and can design your own label, or else you'll need software to print bar codes -- we sell a package for $99 that will print bar code labels or sheets.

- Print a sheet of bar codes for common things like ice, candy, day passes, etc -- you may have seen these the hardware store for bulk items like nails.  Then you just scan the bar code on the sheet for that item.

- For the inventory item code, use a text or numeric code that you can type in easily (e.g. 3-digit product codes or words like "ice" and "wood").  If the inventory database only has one item with that exact "item code", it will auto-add it just like bar coded items so you don't need to use the mouse.  If you have too many of these to remember, put the codes on the products as a labels (like on the apples in grocery stores), or print a reference list the way some grocery stores handle produce.