I sold POS systems for about 10 years and am qyite versed in them.
I talked to, but never sold to a couple of tackle shops, mainly because they did not feel the bother was worth it in the long run. Now that was through the 90's, and things may have changed, but the biggest problem was 90% of their goods had no UPC code, or any easy way to attach a barcode.
I'll give you my standard speach here - a barcode is just a quicker way of typing in an item number. While everyone uses the term UPC code, many products with barcodes do not use UPC. The next most popular is 3 of 9, which you can print yourself on commonly available labels. Virtually all POS programs will do this right from the software. You can even (and I suggest this) print barcode/price labels when you complete a purchase order and then use the labels to check in the order. Extra labels - short order. Short labels, wrong items? or extra items.
I do not suggest QB POS. QBis an accounting program, not an inventory management program. You can get virtually no significant inventory data from QB. I won't go on and on about it, or get into a discussion with others who are happy with QB, but the fact is that inventory was an "add-on" for QB, which is an Accounting Program. POS programs are desigend to manage inventory, as well as sell. Turnover statistics, etc. Gross profit by item. Much more.
Anyhow, you can use Access. But I don't suggest it. You can program the scanner to do a Carrige Return after the scan - which moves it to the next field, or no CR which leaves it right where it is. But not much more.
You can buy good POS software for about a grand. A scanner, cash drawer and receipt printer about another $ 500, if that.
I suggest POSitive, which you can buy, without the actual computer, with the items I mentioned above in the $ 1500 rnage, about the same as the QB POS bundle, and you will get a much better product.
www.pointofsale.com will get you there. You can probably lease it, if you chose.
If you want to work up a file, scan into the file then edit access, you can. It would be just a text file that looked like -
12345, 2 <CR>
67890, 4 <CR>
87543, 2 <CR>
etc.
Again, the problem in your business is lack of UPC's, having to print your own 3 of 9 codes, and then sticking the labels on all those buckets and bins of bobbers and bait.
If you need a program for doing the 3 of 9 labels, check here -
http://forummembersservices.com/HTML/smartbuspack.html