Comments on: National Consumer Week – an underwhelming event?

By: John Frewen-Lord

John Frewen-Lord — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:39:08 +0000

Shaun:

I think you perhaps misread what was actually said. It is not the metric unit that must be displayed “… no less prominently than the imperial unit”, but the metric unit PRICE. I don’t believe there is anything to stop a retailer from displaying whatever metric unit he deems appropriate (per 100 g, per kg, per 100 mL, per L, etc), as long as the price accompanying that unit is no less prominent than any equivalent imperial price.

Going back on what has been said before, I still get annoyed at supermarket deli counters and the like when the counter assistant insists on converting the displayed measured weight into imperial units. When they something like, “That’s just over a pound,” I always respond with, “No, that’s 475 grams, just as your scales show.” They are often confused – as if they wonder why anyone would want to deal in metric! We still have a long way to go.

By: Philip Bladon/ SI Metric-Matters

Philip Bladon/ SI Metric-Matters — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:47:27 +0000

In response to Shaun, a metric unit price can be shown per 100 grams,
for example Â£x / 100 g or y pence / 100 g.
Consumers should not be expected to work out the best value with prices in different measurement systems, for example a stall displaying a price for 1/4 lb with a different stall showing a price for 100 g.

If dual pricing is displayed on a stall, Trading Standards officers have a duty to check and ensure that the equivalent prices shown are correct.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:54:05 +0000

I don’t see why metric prices should only be displayed in large quantities. Woolworths display the price of pick and mix sweets per 100g so why not offer other goods in small amounts aswell. If metric quantities are only legal in larger amounts compared with imperial why not legalise smaller ones?

By: lee kelly

lee kelly — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:15:53 +0000

of course a kg seems more! its twice the weight as a lb because there is 2.2 lbs in a kg, thats what they should put that information in markets & shops so people are not confused? if some one is confused (as i always use kgs) i just say in bags of sugar as they are 1 kg per standard bag then people are not confused!