Yeah guys, use those DCPI #'s when you can. Jot them in a tablet and keep it handy... I now have a collecting notes tablet I keep in my car's visor for just these kinds of things.
I've read someone finding them on the shelves, but only one person so far that I'm aware of in the general collecting community. Got mine by asking a girl who probably wishes she hadn't asked me if I needed help finding something.
My method is usually to ask one person. If denied, I go to another... If denied, maybe another or at the very least I ALWAYS try the customer service person on the way out since they tend to be the most helpful. In general the CSR's are better trained to be attentive to the wants/needs of a customer.
Also, may I suggest you lie if you really have to... A classic I've used is, "Oh, I called and someone I talked to said to come down and they'd help me get this since it was in stock... I live like an hour away so it's hard for me to get out here..." blah blah blah
Not that that was a lie when I used it, but once I saw that it worked I've used it since and it's worked again.
Also, if your store is missing the scanners or they're broke, I used an employee's scanner gun once that they left in cart. Likely get bitched at for that if you get caught, but hey... whatever.
Don't let Target win. They have been on my bad side lately, and even though I prefer them overall to Wal-Mart, I really think they're giving collectors a screw-job lately. Perhaps it's to battle "scalpers", but I feel jipped lately and I know they're definitely spiking prices to where I don't want to bother shopping there.