DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have worked retail and customer service jobs for about 20 years. Whenever an item is not scanning, out comes the old joke that if it doesn’t scan, it’s free.

I just looked at a customer and informed him that even on my very first day of retail, that joke has never been funny. He then told me I do not have a sense of humor.

Why, WHY do people think jokes like that are funny? They really are not. And some people, instead of joking, are even being serious! If the item doesn’t scan, rather than try and get a price for the item, they want the cashier to just give it to them! No matter how much it might cost!

Why do people think either of these is OK? What is going through their minds? I certainly have no clue.

GENTLE READER: Deep breaths. Clearly, the customer is not always right, or amusing, but there is another retail maxim that applies here, which is not to take out one’s frustrations (with the scanner, in this case) on the customer.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.