Consumer InformationDo you ever wonder...? Equity protects both buyer and seller. The buyer is assured that they get what they pay for and the seller is assured of a marketplace based on fair competition. The County of Ventura's weights and measures program is a cooperative effort of the State of California enforcing a single State law. The weights and measures programs are a critical part of California's infrastructure, protecting every consumer and every business. To assure accuracy in commercial transactions, the State of California and the County of Ventura, as well as other county and local weights and measures officials, annually inspect thousands of scales, gas pumps, and other types of devices. They also inspect thousands of different packaged commodities including those packed at the retail store and those packed at factories both nationally and internationally. |
| Getting a true measure Consumer Information Tips It's hard to be a smart consumer today. Think about the products you buy and the amount you can spend. Can I afford this? Is this the best buy? Am I getting my money's worth? Almost everything we buy is sold by weight, volume, length, count, or measure. For example, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, a liter of wine, a yard of cloth, a pound of hamburger and a cord of firewood are all sold by either measurement, weight, volume, or length .Without standard measurements, it would be difficult to do even simple things like use cookbooks or buy carpeting, laundry detergent, and fabric. |
Keeping the market in balance |
| Know your rights and responsibilities Consumers have rights and responsibilities in the marketplace. The following information provides important ideas about how to use weights and measures information. |
| Read the label 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 pay only for the weight of the apples. If you buy potato salad at the deli counter, you should pay for the salad and 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 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 inspectors visit stores to inspect and weigh prepackaged products. They also check the accuracy of the scales being used. What you can do: If you have any questions about how a store weighs or measures products, ask the manager for information first. He or she should answer your questions. |
Compare products and prices, and use unit pricing If apples sell for $.89 per pound, you know that 5 pounds will cost $4.45 (5 pounds x 89 cents). If potato salad sells at the deli counter for $2.59 per pound, you know that 2 pounds will cost $5.18 (2 x $2.59). Unit pricing is most helpful when the price per unit isn't so clear. For example, your favorite brand of corn flakes is sold in three different sizes: the 14-ounce box is $2.52; the 20-ounce box is $3.00; and the 2-pound (32-ounce) box is $5.12. Which one is the best buy? Unit pricing helps. (In this case, the unit price is the price per ounce.)To figure the unit price, divide the price by the number of units (in this example, it's the number of ounces.) The unit price for the 14-ounce box is 18 cents per ounce ($2.52/14) The unit price for the 20-ounce box is 15 cents per ounce ($3.00/20) The unit price for the 2-pound box is 16 cents per ounce (2 pounds = 32 ounces; $5.12/32) In this example, the 20-ounce package is the best buy because it costs less per ounce. Remember, the larger package in not always the best buy. It pays to know the unit price.Corn flakes are also sold in the bulk food section for $1.44 per pound (one pound = 16 ounces). Divide $1.44 by 16, and you know the cost per ounce is 9 cents.How does the unit price of the boxed corn flakes compare with the unit price of the corn flakes sold in the bulk food section? In this example, the unit price shows that the corn flakes from the bulk food section are the better buy. What you can do: If the unit price is incorrect, report it to the store manager. Ask the manager to correct the unit price information. |
When buying gasoline The octane level, which may affect the performance of your car. The amount you buy. Any discounts offered. 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. Also check to be sure you are comparing the same unit of measurement. Is the price per gallon or liter? Compare the price of a gallon of gasoline at one station to the price of a gallon of the same octane at another station .Weights and measures inspectors routinely check gasoline pumps for accuracy. In many areas, they also check gasoline storage tanks to be sure that stations are selling the octane level 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 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 to 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. To figure the cash discount in this situation: Multiply the number of gallons or liters you purchase by the credit price per gallon or liter. This should be the total price showing on the pump. Multiply the cash discount times the number of gallons or liters you purchase. This is your total cash discount. Subtract the total cash discount from the total price shown on the pump. What you can do: If using a credit card, check your receipt to be sure the amount billed is the amount on the pump. Take your card and any carbon paper from the credit slip. |
When buying propane |
When buying firewood When you buy firewood, ask the seller to stack the wood (you may have to pay extra for this service) or stack the wood yourself. Get a receipt that shows the seller's name, address and phone number, and the price, amount and kind of wood purchased. Write down the license number of the delivery vehicle. Measure the wood before using any. Take a picture of the stack if you think there is less than a cord. If you feel you have a problem, contact the seller before you burn any wood. |
Weights and Measures is everyone's business Look for the County of Ventura decals If you have a problem with weights and measures or motor fuel quality, talk to the store manager or owner. Give them a chance to correct the problem. If the manager can't or won't resolve the problem or answer questions to your satisfaction, contact the Ventura County Weights and Measures by calling our hot line listed on the decal: 805-654-2444. Click here for a Complaint Form. |
Angela Godwin
Resource Management |
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