In the UK, the most common scales used in supermarkets are of 15 kg capacity by
5 g divisions.
Other patterns commonly found are 6 kg by 5 g and 6 kg by 2 g.
The scales that are used for trade must comply with Class I, II or III (Class I
being the most accurate with the smallest scale interval)
A Class IV (bigger scale interval) machine would not be suitable for
supermarket use.
As Class III machines are cheapest, they tend to be the default choice, but
more accurate machines are sometimes found.
--- On Sun, 3/8/09, Jeremiah MacGregor <jeremiahmacgre...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
From: Jeremiah MacGregor <jeremiahmacgre...@rocketmail.com>
Subject: [USMA:43496] Re: Jerry's questions regarding "imperial" fuel & fish
sales in the UK.
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 4:41 PM
John,
Are you sure the scale read 486 g? I was under the impression that the scales
only display to the nearest 5 g. So the best you can see is either 485 g or
490 g, depending on which way it rounds. This being the case, then it is
impossible for anyone to get exactly one pound if that is what is asked for.
Since the display will only show 450 g or 455 g, but never 454 g, then the
person at best can only get a little over or under.
The next time the server insists on telling you pounds, then ask him/her what a
pound is? You may also want to inquire as to why they would think you want to
know about pounds when you requested an amount in grams. Instead they should
be telling people who ask for pounds how many grams they got and make them feel
that asking for pounds is an extra step for them and it would be easier to ask
for amounts the scale can display.
This reminds me of a scene I that was in the recent movie The Wrestler. The
main character, "the Ram" was working in a supermarket deli counter. An old
lady asked for a pound of German potato salad. He scooped it in the container
and placed it on the scale to which she responded "a little less". Then he
went back and took some out, placed it on the scale and she said "a little
more". He added a little more to which again she replied "a little less", to
which he went off in the corner, stuck his finger in the container and pulled
out some potato slices and ate them. This time she was happy with the amount
in the container.
I just wonder after thinking about that scene how many UK consumers are able to
know if they are getting what they ask for in pounds if the scale only shows
them grams and how many will not be satisfied with what the server gives them
until they get exactly what they asked for.
Jerry
From: j...@frewston.plus.com
To: usma@colostate.edu
Subject: [USMA:43437] Re: Jerry's questions regarding "imperial" fuel & fish
sales in the UK.
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 17:57:42 +0000
#yiv2078007994 .ExternalClass DIV {}
To be honest Jerry, I have not actually checked whether they get it right - I
simply look at the scales (in metric), and ignore their conversions. They
never use a calculator - these are busy deli counters, so I assume they guess.
When I order in metric (e.g. 500 g of pork and egg pie), they will not convert
it at that point, but simply cut off their own estimate (which is usually quite
close, so they must know how much 500 g of pork and egg pie looks like), and
then say to me as they put it on the scales something like "That's just over a
pound - is that OK?". To which I reply on the lines of "You've weighed me 486
g, that's just fine".
The receipts are ONLY in metric - that is the law.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeremiah MacGregor
To: j...@frewston.plus.com ; U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: [USMA:43410] Re: Jerry's questions regarding "imperial" fuel &
fish sales in the UK.
Even though they try to convert to imperial for you, how close do them come to
getting it right? Do they use a calculator to do the conversion or do they
just give you a guess? What do they usually say when you order in metric?
Do you get a receipt of your purchase and is it metric only or dual?
Jerry
From: John Frewen-Lord <j...@frewston.plus.com>
To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2009 10:52:47 AM
Subject: [USMA:43410] Re: Jerry's questions regarding "imperial" fuel & fish
sales in the UK.
My local Tesco in Grimsby weighs ONLY in metric units for trade purposes (at
the deli and fish counters primarily).. Yes, the customer-use weigh scales are
dual marked, with metric as the primary (outer) scale, and imperial as the
secondary (inner) scale. All our other local supermarkets (Morrisons,
Sainsbury's, ASDA, Somerfield) only retail weigh products in metric, this is
the law. Annoyingly, some counter staff insist on converting it to imperial
for me (even when I have asked for it in metric), but that is sporadic.
Also to confirm - all fuel, whether petrol (gasoline) and diesel at the pumps,
or the fuel oil we buy for our heating system, is sold in liters ONLY. Even
aircraft fuel is calibrated in liters (a friend of mine works at my local
airport). I have NEVER seen automotive fuel in other than metric.. Same for
Canada - since conversion in 1978, all gasoline can be dispensed ONLY in liters.
The UK is primarily metric (e.g. the laptop computer I am typing this out on is
shown as weighing 3.5 kg, no imperial equivalent), and officially all
government is metric, even though there is some backsliding. Only the road
signage, and pints in the pub, are not metric. These are the sole areas that
those who resist metric conversion are holding out on.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ken Cooper
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 2:23 PM
Subject: [USMA:43401] Jerry's questions regarding "imperial" fuel & fish sales
in the UK.
As you suggest, Jerry, one individual on one website seems to believe that
liquid fuel in the UK is dispensed in "air miles" rather than litres. I think
that his views can safely be ignored.
I can assure you that UK law still states that litres MUST be used whenever
liquid fuels are sold by retail in the UK.
My view of the law is backed up by my own experiences in filling my car at
pumps in dozens of filling stations throughout the UK, and in passing hundreds
of other filling stations with large roadside price displays marked solely with
prices per litre.
UK petrol pumps normally have 3 active displays at any one time. One tells the
price per litre, one tells the number of litres dispensed and one tells the
total price to pay.. Some pumps omit the price per litre & a few omit the price
to pay.
In every case, however, there is a requirement that the pump shows the number
of litres dispensed.
I'm sure that other UK contributors to this site can confirm my findings.
With regard to Tesco's supposed return to using imperial scales at their fish
counter in their Loudwater store, I would point out that this information is
provided by the same individual on the same website I mention above. This tine,
he makes a claim that Tesco are using dual scales for trade purposes in this
store.
Unfortunately, he refuses to provide any meaningful detail about the scales,
making it impossible to verify whether he is telling the truth or not. I've
never been in the Loudwater Tesco, so I cannot comment on that particular store.
However, during the last 12 months or so, I have visited Tesco stores in Dundee
(4), Edinburgh (3), Glasgow (2), Helensburgh (2), Arbroath, Ayr,
Budapest(non-UK!), Campbeltown, Dumbarton, Dublin(non-UK!), Inverness,
Lochgilphead, London, Oban, Perth & Stirling.
None of these stores use dual-marked weighing equipment for any trade purposes
(a few have dual non-trade customer checkweighers in the F&V aisle). Each and
every one of those stores had weighing and/or measuring equipment in use for
trade. Without exception, the equipment indicated in metric units only.
Again, I would ask other UK contributors to post their experiences in Tesco
stores. I'm pretty sure that only one person will claim to have seen such a
scale, yet will prove to be surprisingly reluctant (or perhaps unable) to
provide any real proof that it exists.
--- On Sat, 3/7/09, Jeremiah MacGregor <jeremiahmacgre...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
From: Jeremiah MacGregor <jeremiahmacgre...@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Re: [USMA:43385] Re: USC units spread to the UK - and no-one notices!
To: k_cooper1...@yahoo.com, "U.S. Metric Association" <u...@colostate..edu>
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009, 1:48 AM
Ken,
I've heard a rumor recently that the UK no longer uses the liter for dispensing
gasoline but has instead switched to a new unit called "air miles". Can you
provide some further information on this?
I also understand that some super markets are now re-introducing scales in
pound units that are being used to weigh goods asked for by customers. I
believe that a Tesco located in the town of Loudwater has already changed
over. Can you provide some further information on this reversion?
Jerry
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