Patent ID: 7026556

Claim:
A method for selectively printing different messages on labels printed by an in-store scale system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an in-store scale system including a label printing mechanism with a supply of labels, and a communications link for receiving information from a site external to the store; (b) configuring the scale system label printing mechanism in a first state; (c) during the first state, for each label output by the scale system label printing mechanism, printing both: (i) at least one of product name and price information for a product to which the label will be applied, and (ii) a first message pertaining to a predetermined product which is different than the product to which the label will be applied, (d) receiving, by the scale system, a message control signal via the communications link which configures the scale system label printing mechanism in a second state; and (e) during the second state, for each label output by the scale system label printing mechanism, printing both: (i) at least one of product name and price information for a product to which the label will be applied, and (ii) a second message, different than the first message, and also pertaining to the predetermined product which is different than the product to which the label will be applied.