Retail Price Computing Scales Information » scales

New And Improved S2000Jr’s

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:06:56 +0000

After listening to your requests, CAS Corporation has added new features to the S2000 Jr Price Computing Scale for 2011 available now at the same low price as always. The new version of S2000 JR’s now available include the following features:

Weigh items in pounds, kilograms, or ounces
36 direct speed keys added to pole models
VFD models now equipped with a rechargeable battery
Optional DEP-50 Receipt Printer now works with S2KJR

Certified Scales

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:26:33 +0000

Often consumers search for “certified scales” and they get lumped together with legal for trade NTEP Approved scales. Technically, a scale can be NTEP approved legal for trade and not be “certified”. Often times, the proper procedure for obtaining a “certified scale” is to do the following.

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.

Commercial Scales for the Farmers Market Can Cost over $400

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:31:24 +0000

Legal for Trade Commercial scales can cost well over $400, but if you do a little research, you won’t pay near that much for a set of high quality farmers market scales. Yes, you could get away with using a set of “household” scales, either hanging or digital, but that is ultimately not the way to establish trust and legitimacy with your customer who is buying produce from you.

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

On most summer Saturdays, the Florence-Lauderdale Farmers Market is packed with vendors, but market manager Thurston Harper fears a state crackdown will prevent many farmers from selling at the market. An inspector from the Alabama Department of Agriculture visited the market in late May to test the accuracy of scales farmers use to weigh fruits and vegetables. Harper said the inspector told farmers they must begin using scales certified for commercial use. Read more

Spring time is almost here

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:06:02 +0000

We mentioned this back in January and we want to emphasize it one more time. This month is a great time to take out your old faithful price computing scale and give it a good work out. Plug it in and make sure it powers up and charges if it has a battery. It might even be a good idea to order a spare battery to prepare for the spring. Make sure all the buttons on the keypad work. This is especially important if you type in prices per pound using the number keys. Make sure the displays work on both front and back so that you and your customer are not “in the dark”. Also, please note that Central Carolina Scale in Sanford North Carolina has some outstanding deals on price computing scales this spring, so give them a call.

Hanging Produce scales are a thing of the past

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:31:57 +0000

If you stop and think about it, you’ve seen them at the farmer’s market, the deli, even the grocery store. Digital Produce scales that allow vendors to easily weigh their fruits and vegetables and charge their customers by the pound. In the past, many of these produce scales were mechanical hanging scales. But lately, more and more farmer’s market vendors are choosing digital produce scales for the market. Why? Because they’re relatively inexpensive, are battery powered, and provide the cost per pound of the fruits and vegetables being sold. Also, the scales are NTEP legal for trade.

These digital produce scales are designed to offer all the functions your business needs, with great features like large, easy-to-use keys on a wipe-clean keypad, highly visible back-lit vendor and customer displays. The scales are easier to program as ever and many even include up to 100 Price Look-Up keys and 12 or so hot-shot keys for fast-moving items.

Actually, one of the biggest expenses you will have when you start selling at farmers’ markets is buying your legal for trade scale. Farmers’ markets are a commercial venue and are, therefore, governed by the same regulations as any commercial establishment that buys and sells based on weight. In other words, if you charge your customer by weight, you must have a “certifiable scale”.

In most states, your Department of Agriculture will inspect and certify your produce scale for farmers markets. Regulation requires the scale be NTEP legal for trade and made for commercial use. A legal-for-trade produce scale will be marked with:

• Class III designation on the identification plate or seal.
• All scales must have an NTEP Cert of Conformance (CoC#)

Scales suitable for farmers’ markets will generally have a 0.05 lb, 0.01 pound or 0.02 lb increments with max capacities of 15, 30 or 60 lbs. Many low cost scales such as “office” scales or baby scales marked “Not Legal for Trade” are not acceptable for selling at farmers markets. We would be happy to provide you with a list of certifiable scales so you do not spend hundreds of dollars only to find you have an uncertifiable scale.