Whether you are purchasing prepackaged meat at the meat counter, boxed cereal at the grocery store or fragrance at retail, the amount contained inside the package must be printed clearly and in a specific location on the label. Weights and Measures officials play a central role in the marketplace to assure the consumer that packaging and labeling requirements are met. Paying only for the product and not the packaging is another example of consumer awareness in the market place. When you buy apples in a plastic bag, you should only pay for the weight of the apples and not the plastic bag you place the apples in. If you buy potato salad at the deli counter or chicken legs, you should pay only for the salad or the chicken legs, not for the weight of the container.
Many stores use electronic scanners to figure the price at the checkout counter.
These scanners are linked to a computer that reads the price of the item. 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. Weights and Measures officials inspect scanners for accuracy to make sure you are charged the correct price. If scanners are inaccurate, consumers and businesses can both lose money.