1. Buy a NTEP Approved Legal for Trade Scale. In most cases, you do not receive any paperwork saying your scale is “certified”. All you receive is your scale, with the certificate of conformance number (CoC#) stamped on the side of the scale.
2. Have the scale checked and calibrated in your store or at your produce stand, in other words in its final working location — by either a local scale company or the state weights & measures. At this point, in most cases, you receive paperwork showing the test results.
3. Have the state weights & measures come by and “certify” your scale and place their sticker on the scale.

So as you can see, in most cases you can search for and buy “certified scales” but they aren’t quite certified until you do a little homework upon receiving your scale.  The reason for this is simple. A scale can be NTEP approved and have a CoC# but that doesn’t mean it is 100 percent accurate. Perhaps the scale was calibrated in a different region of the country and gravity has changed just enough to throw the calibration off. Suppose the delivery company decided to use your scale as a football? That can very easily throw off the calibration of a scale. That is why it is always a good idea to buy your NTEP Approved “certified scale” and get it checked and calibrated locally to ensure you comply with your state regulations.

Do some research and buy a legal for trade price computing scale that can be certified by the state.  In most states it is a requirement.  However, sometimes due to budget restraints and manpower, merchants get the idea that they can get away with not purchasing a legal for trade scale.  Sometimes every now and then you hear comments from sellers of fruit and vegetables who sell produce at farmers markets, that they don’t worry about bending the rules of the State Weights and Measures Department.  The thought process basically being, “we are not a priority for the Department of Agriculture.”  Need proof, take a look at the article below

What if you know the weight of your container already? What if your container is full of strawberries and can’t be weighed empty? We have a solution for that too. It’s called keyboard tare or preset tare.  To perform this function, on most scales you would enter the known Tare value (up to the scale capacity, and in increments of the scale readability) via the numeric keypad, then press “Tare” button. The Weight display will show the Tare as a negative net value (with the pan empty), and the NET annunciator will turn on as the Tare weight is registered.

It is important to note that not every price computing scale offers the keyboard tare / preset tare. If this is an important feature that you need in your business, it might be a good idea to ask your salesperson if the scale you are interested in has this feature.

Finally, take a look at the selection of price computing scales currently available this winter.  You may find a deal too good to pass on.  Plus, you can always use a good backup unit or add a second scale to your produce stand so that your customers are able to purchase produce from you as fast as ever.

These are just a few of the questions that folks ask when purchasing a retail price computing scale.  Basically, the easiest thing to do is determine what is the typical weight amount you are going to be weighing.  For most people that amount usually falls well below 30 pounds.  However, there are times when you may need a larger capacity like 60 pounds.  When that happens, it’s great to have a scale like the CAS S2000 JR price computing scale.  The 60 lb model features a 60 lb max capacity with 0.02 lb readability.  However, this same scale also features the same readability up to 30 lbs that a typical retail scale with 30 lb. capacity would have, 0.01 lbs.  So, you get the best of both worlds in one scale.

The S-2000 JR scales feature a “dual range” capacity. This is a nice feature that means you get increased readability that you probably wouldn’t get on most other price computing scales. For example on a 60 pound capacity price computing scale from most other manufacturers, the scale will increment up/down from zero to 60 pounds in 0.02 lb increments. The 60 lb. S2000 JR displays weight from zero to 30 lbs in increments up/down in 0.01 lbs. Then from 30 to 60 lbs, the scale will increment up/down in 0.02 lb increments.  Add a DLP-50 label printer and you have an affordable price computing scale with label printer.

You can also buy a price computing scale that takes six “D” batteries.  In most cases you can use regular alkaline batteries.  Battery life will depend on how long you use the scale, if you have “auto off” turned on, and if you are using backlight function.  You can buy rechargeable “D” batteries w/ an external charger as well.  

The choice is really up to the end user.  Both versions of scales are popular and both generally work well.  The main goal should probably be to choose a price computing scale that is within your budget, has the features you desire, and has a good reputation.