Prime USA Scales offers 5 easy Steps to buying a scale. These steps below will ensure you get a good working scale for your business.
What is NTEP (Legal for trade)? And do I need this for my business?
In any business where you buy or sell using a scale based on weight, the laws requires you to use an NTEP approved (Legal for trade) scale. Common places you will find NTEP scales are: recycling companies, grocery stores, meat markets, produce stands, distilleries, and many other businesses. Scales need to be calibrated at the place of business and sealed by weights and measures officers in reference to handbook 44. Make sure to speak with a scale technician prior to buying a scale to determine if you need NTEP or not. This will save you time and money from purchasing the wrong scale.
2. Who should I purchase my scale from?
In 2018 many options for purchasing scales can be from: Amazon, Ebay, Walmart, Google, and many other online stores as well as scale companyâs . The important key to purchasing a scale is making sure itâs being purchased from a scale company. Why is that important? For service, warranty, and parts. If you are purchasing from a scale company they are going to take much better care of you, their customer. If you need service, warranty, and parts scale companies are going to be the experts. Itâs always best to speak with someone that knows scale products inside and out for any future help or us this is where mistakes are made. Having an expert in your back pocket when you need help will save you time, money and the frustration of getting the run around.
3. What should I look for when buying a scale?
Price, quality, and service are the most important factors when purchasing a scale. First we must think of the application your business will be using the scale for. Are you using the scale for shipping, animal weighing, counting products, weighing cars, crane overhead weighing, or weighing aircraft? How often will you be using your scale? Are you a company using the scale 3-4 times a week? Or are you a shipping company using your scale every day in and out. Also, what is the environment it will be used. This is important based on your companyâs situation as some companyâs have very rough conditions from trucks, fork lifts large animals, large heavy pallets, employeeâs that are rough on scales…because quality can be a much more important factor according to the conditions your scale will be used in these environments . To avoid downtime, problems, and issues with a lower quality scale it is much better to spend that little extra money to ensure you donât lose your hard earned money. However, if you are using the scale only 3-4 times a week sometimes price can be one of the most important factors because you wonât need to use it as often. Buying any scale whether your using 3-4 times a week or everyday. Itâs best to buy from a company that can offer not just great advice and good products but also local service. If your scale is having issues with accuracy, or technical problem with an indicator or ramp or load cells, or accuracy then a warranty could be something that will save you a lot of hassle by buying from a scale company. Having a local company can minimize downtime, avoid shipping the scale back to the manufacture, and having parts locally to keep your scale working at all times.
4. How do I know what company to buy from?
The best option is to do your research on the company. Find some google reviews by searching the company name. Ask the company there return policy and how the warranty works on there products. Find out what cities they offer service in. Asking these simple questions and doing your research will make ensure you are getting the product from a reliable company and the service you will need eventually. Rule of thumb is make sure the company offers a 30 day return policy, make sure the product they sells parts (Load cells, junction boxes, indicators, and cables), and always ask what is covered under the warranty?
5. What to avoid when buying a scale?
Donât make the mistake of not talking to an expert prior to buying a scale. Anyone can order a scale online and have it delivered to your business and this is probably the biggest mistake most companies make. 99% of any online company canât answer technical questions, or be able to answer the customerâs questions about the applications they will be using the scale for, thereby wasting your time and money by getting the wrong scale. When you jump onto a call with a scale company you can quickly gauge how they handle customer service, how they talk about a product, and the advice they can offer. Remember that buying a scale will always require some technical knowledge, support, and service and nothing is better then avoiding the hassle of buying a scale from the wrong vendor. ‘
Contact Prime USA Scales today at: 800-917-7205 or sales@primeusascales.com. Our customer service team can answer any technical questions and make sure you get the right scale the first time.