... take it to one of about four weighing machines scattered around the produce area, hit the particular code number for that product"

Yep...that would ease things, but they haven't figured that out yet. Somewhere, they employ cheap labor to actually affix small code stickers to EACH piece of EACH type of apple...etc. Thus, they expect you, at the checkout, to enter (not scan) the code, and weigh each item. Flaws? They don't do that with bananas, assuming I suppose that they carry only one type...and for items like that you must look up the code in a little screen that tabs thru different produce! (with vague little images to guide you)
So... while I sometimes use the hand-held scanner, and sometimes the "check it out yourself" lanes, I usually do NOT if I have produce.

Then...they have a sale table in the back for dented and discontinued items...but all they do with these is put a sticker over the bar code and hand-write the discount price! Try showing that to a scanner! **grin**

I knew the minute they installed some of these 'advances' that there would be problems...but this chain was bought a few years ago by a Dutch company called "Royal Ahold" who pretend to 'manage' things by decree from afar. (want to guess what the nickname for the company is?)