Weights & Measures440 Third Street • Room 305 • Columbus, IN 47201 Consumer TipsKNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES… Consumers have rights and responsibilities in the marketplace! This website section offers you, the consumer, important ideas on how to use weights and measures information. By knowing what to do, you, too, can help the market work at its best. Package labels give consumers helpful information. The amount of the product or the net quantity in the package is marked on the label. The quantity is shown as a weight, measure, or count, such as ounces, pounds, quarts, liters, or square feet. Pay Only for the Product, Not the Packaging When you buy apples in a plastic bag, you should only pay for the weight of the apples. If you buy potato salad at the deli counter, you should pay only for the salad, not for the weight of the container. In many stores, the electronic or computerized scales used at the check-out counter are set to automatically deduct the weight of the packaging. On other scales, the sales clerk must adjust the scale to deduct the packaging materials. Scales must be placed so you can see the weight. If you have a question, ask to have the package weighed again before you buy. Ask if the weight of the packaging has been deducted. Weights and measures officials often visit stores to inspect and weigh prepackaged products. They also check the accuracy of the scales being used.
COMPARE PRODUCTS AND PRICES, USE UNIT PRICING Food is a large part of a family budget. To make
the best choices and to get the most for your money, it is important
to compare the price, amount, and quantity of similar products.
Unit pricing can help. The unit price tells you the costs per "unit"
(such as per ounce, per pound, per sheet) to buy the product. To
figure the unit price, divide the price by the number of units.
In this case the number of the units is "ounces." In this example,
the 20-ounce package is best because it costs less. ($3.00 / 20
= 15 cents per ounce). back Many stores use electronics scanners to figure the price at the check-out counter. These scanners are linked to a computer that reads the price of the item. Some scanners are hand-held and the clerk runs the scanner over the price tag. Other scanners are on a counter and the items are passed over an electronic reading device. The scanner reads a code on the product or the tag and the computer computes the price. Many weights and measures officials inspect scanners to make sure you are charged the correct price. If the scanners are inaccurate, consumers and businesses can both lose money.
Good measurement is also important when you buy gasoline and motor fuel. These fuels are sold by volume in gallons. The price you pay for gasoline will depend upon:
A computer in the gasoline pump calculates what you owe based on the amount and the unit price of the gasoline. When comparing prices, be sure to compare gasoline with the same octane rating. Usually, the higher the octane rating, the higher the price. Compare the price of a gallon of gasoline at one station to the price of a gallon of the same octane at another station. Many weights and measures officials routinely check gasoline pumps for accuracy. In many areas, they also check gasoline storage tanks to be sure that stations are selling the octane lever advertised. If violations are found, the seller can be fined and the product can be removed. Gasoline stations may offer a discount if you pay with cash instead of using a credit card. This 'cash discount' is usually 2 to 8 cents per gallon off the regular price. On some pumps, you may be able to push a button automatically show the discounted price. In some cases, the attendant must figure out the cash discount and deduct it from the price showing on the pump. Pay Attention to Your Gasoline Purchase… A Buyer's Nightmare! Pay close attention to the type of gasoline you put in your automobile. Diesel fuel is sometimes offered in the same island that contains the regular, blended, and premium gasoline. Expensive damage can occur to many non-commercial vehicles if diesel fuel is used. Advertised Price Vs. Pump Price The price per gallon posted on the billboard must agree with the price per gallon shown on the gasoline dispenser. When a price change occur, some stations cannot make the change on the billboard and the gasoline dispenser simultaneously. Make sure you check both prices before you begin your purchase.
Home heating fuel and propane are also sold by volume
or weight. When these products are delivered to your home, the seller
must give you a 'delivery ticket' showing the name and address of
the buyer and the seller, the delivery date, the amount and type
of fuel delivered. The unit price of the fuel should also be on
the delivery ticket unless you have a special arrangement with the
seller. back Some people heat their homes with firewood. Firewood is sold by a measurement called a cord. A cord is 128 cubic feet of firewood. To be sure you have a cord, you can stack and measure the wood. For example, a cord of firewood, when stacked, could be a pile that is either: 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 8 feet long (4 x 4
x 8 =128); or You can stack the wood in other ways too. If the width times the height times the length (all in feet) equals 128 cubic feet, you have a cord of firewood. A seller may not use terms such as "truckload," "face cord," "rack" or "pile."
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