UK supermarket scales go 404 on shoppers

In Coventry, UK, a set of scales at a Tesco store displayed the number 404. The scales, belonging to the Avery Berkel XT series, were spotted by a reader named Rowan Archer. Instead of weighing produce, the 404 number acted as a metaphorical message, similar to a "not found" error in web browsing. While 400 and 403 codes generally indicate client mistakes or forbidden access, 404 is associated with a resource not located on a server.

The scales likely run a version of Linux and feature a large color touchscreen for customers to select the produce they wish to weigh. The touchscreen can also display video advertisements aimed at boosting sales. Although the memory capacity of the device seems excessive for its purpose, it represents an advancement over traditional mechanical scales.