Weights and Measures
WEIGHTS & MEASURES
Hancock County Auditor’s Office
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You don’t carry a scale or measuring tape with you to check the weight or measure of everything you buy. How do you know you’re getting what you pay for?
Scott Wilson, the Hancock County Weights and Measures Inspector, works behind the scenes to protect consumers, businesses and manufacturers from unfair practices. Using highly accurate equipment he inspects scales, meters, scanning equipment and packaged products at supermarkets. He also inspects weighing and measuring equipment and packages at warehouses, feed mills, and gasoline stations. Mr. Wilson serves as a third party to help maintain fairness and keep the marketplace in balance. By knowing your rights and responsibilities as a consumer, you too, can help the market work at it’s best.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
When buying products in the store…
- Watch the scale and the amount registered. The scale should be placed so you can see the weight, price and other information.
- Make sure the scale shows a zero or minus sign before anything is weighed. Pay ONLY for the product, NOT for the packaging.
- If you have any questions about how a store weighs or measures products, ask the manager for information first. The manager should answer your questions.
- Look for unit price labels on shelves or signs near the item.
- Compare the unit prices of similar products to find the best buy.
- If the unit price is incorrect or missing, report it to the store manager. Ask the manager to post or correct the unit price information.
- Watch as the price of the item shows on the checkout register.
- Ask the clerk to check the price if you think the scanned price is incorrect.
- If the scanned price does not agree with the posted price, ask the store manager to correct it.
- Save the cash register receipt in case you have questions or a problem later on.
When buying gasoline…
- Be sure the correct pump is being used. The octane rating and the price per gallon or liter should be clearly marked on each pump.
- Be sure the pump is set to zero before any gasoline is pumped.
- Check the price by multiplying the number of gallons or liters by the unit price. Be sure this shows as the total due.
- Figure the cash discount, if any. Check that the right amount is being charged.
- If using a credit card, check the receipt to be sure the amount billed is the amount on the pump. Take the card and any carbon paper from the credit slip.
When buying heating fuel…
- Home heating fuel and propane are also sold by volume or weight. When delivered to a home, the seller must present a "delivery ticket" showing the name and address of the buyer & 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 special arrangements with the seller have been made.
When buying firewood…
- Get a receipt, which shows the seller’s name, address, telephone number, 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 appears there is less than a cord.
- Contact the seller before burning any wood if there is a problem.
If there is a problem with a weights & measures issue…
- Talk with the store manager or owner.
- Give the manager or owner a chance to correct the problem.
- If the manager can’t or won’t resolve the problem or answer questions to your satisfaction, call or write:
Scott Wilson, Inspector Weights and Measures
Hancock County Courthouse
300 S. Main St.
Findlay, Ohio 45840
(419) 424-7240
weightsandmeasures@co.hancock.oh.us