http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4435339.stm

See! Going metric didn't hurt them one bit! In fact it may have helped them. A sign to all that metrication makes money.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=209958&messageid=1113137946&lp=1113137946


ROTFL!!

Funny, this report doesn't mention their use of pounds and ounces as a reason for this success

;-)

Get with the times, Andy!

That was a contributing factor of the *start* of their dominance in 2000!

Jeesh!

;-)

(Although I did make a point of it on a chat show on BBC Radio London, highlighting that they listen to their customer, so their customers become more numourous!)

re (Eric No Bra): "A sign to all that metrication makes money..."


REPLY: Not if you use £1 billion of taxpayers' money, needed for health, hospitals, education etc. and waste it on converting 1.5 million road signs, that everyone is perfectly happy with, to an alien system of measurement.

P.S. I hear that Charles Kennedy's baby weighed in this morning at 6 lbs. 9 oz., what's that in, er that other system of measurement?

"""P.S. I hear that Charles Kennedy's baby weighed in this morning at 6 lbs. 9 oz., what's that in, er that other system of measurement?"""


Check the actual hospital records if you want to know what the baby really weighed in at. Also while you are at it, check the actual balance used to do the weighing and you won't find lb or oz on it. You will see g instead. Someone's valuable time that could have been used to save a life or tend to a patient in need was wasted to convert numbers to satisfy some luddite need. What a shame!

I'll bet the real mass as seen on the records is 3 kg exactly.

Get with the times, Andy!

That was a contributing factor of the *start* of their dominance in 2000!

Jeesh!

;-)

(Although I did make a point of it on a chat show on BBC Radio London, highlighting that they listen to their customer, so their customers become more numourous!)




The following post to the USMA shows that Tesco operates in the metric system. The scales at the deli counter and cashier are only metric and the till receipts are only metric. So the public must be satisfied with this stae of affairs. See:


http://www.mail-archive.com/usma@colostate.edu/msg22923.html

There were a variety of reasons given for the big profits, a big factor was the branching into other areas of business.

There is a "have your say" topic on the BBC web site about this news item. When I looked not one person mentioned their imperial pricing as a reason for shopping there.

Whatever you think about it its nothing more than a side show.

"""When I looked not one person mentioned their imperial pricing as a reason for shopping there."""


Because the imperial pricing is so limited, you have to be like SteveH and go hunting for it. Most people don't. Plus if people really were strongly into imperial, they would demand the receipts show imperial. When you get home you may not remember what you saw on a hand painted sign somewhere in some corner of the store, but you can always check your receipt to see what you paid for products weighed in your presence. If the metric on the receipts don't frighten customers away then the metric usage is not an issue at least not anymore.


As some have noted, some Tesco stores are starting to phase out imperial. No one seems to notice except those who have an interest in metric. It won't be long before you don't see imperial at all. Not providing imperial when it is no longer needed will save money and have a positive effect on future profits.

<<<When I looked not one person mentioned their imperial pricing as a reason for shopping there>>>

I would suggest that probably there is not a single person who shops there because of imperial pricing.

Andy,

Initially a lot of people moved to Tesco once they "switched back".

All that has happened is that they have retained their customers.

I shopped at Asda the other day - it was quite strange not to see the imperial pricing.

No-one is going to comment too much on the imperial pricing policy they have simply because it's a default thing that most will not pick up on.
In the same way as people won't comment on how much nicer the air is in Tesco.

I agree with Stan that Tesco branching into things like insurance, credit cards, white goods etc will have an influencing factor.

However, the multitude of things that make Tesco Tesco (like imperial pricing) contribute to it being more popular than all the other supermarkets put together.

Apparently one in every four pounds (money) is spent in a Tesco.

That's a lot of people being "accustomed" to imperial pricing.

Why complain/compliment such a situation where most will see it (the use of imperial) as subliminally "in the background" or, dare I say it, "habit"?

Personally - I would comment on their "finest" range. Very nice!

P.S. My decision to spend a lot of money purchasing Tesco shares was based upon the "populist" and (quite frankly) media-grabbing move by Tesco to "go imperial".

That heralded the initial surge in market share (as in - *it really did*).

Now check Tesco's share price over the last few years.

Another reason for me to be grateful of Tesco!

(Plus the air 'miles' on my missus's loyalty card!)

I accept that retaining imperial pricing won them some short-term popularity - but the emphasis is on the short-term, because eventually Tesco will fall in line with everyone else, and their customers will have to go through the whole changeover process again, whereas customers of other supermarkets have already got used to metric ages ago.

However, I do not believe that *ANYONE* chose to shop at Tesco purely for this reason.

There are far too many overriding factors. For example, I prefer Tesco, even with my strong views on metric v imperial - but I actually usually end up at Sainsbury's because it is much more conveniently located for me.

<<I accept that retaining imperial pricing won them some short-term popularity - but the emphasis is on the short-term, because eventually Tesco will fall in line with everyone else, and their customers will have to go through the whole changeover process again, whereas customers of other supermarkets have already got used to metric ages ago.>>

You don't know Tesco that well do you?
We shall see! :-D

<<However, I do not believe that *ANYONE* chose to shop at Tesco purely for this reason.>>

Initially it will have been an influencing factor, after that all they had to do is retain them.

<<There are far too many overriding factors. For example, I prefer Tesco, even with my strong views on metric v imperial - but I actually usually end up at Sainsbury's because it is much more conveniently located for me. >>

I must admit that my closest store is a Tesco and its less than 2 miles away. Hence my surprise whilst at an Asda some time ago.

<<<I accept that retaining imperial pricing won them some short-term popularity - but the emphasis is on the short-term, because eventually Tesco will fall in line with everyone else, and their customers will have to go through the whole changeover process again, whereas customers of other supermarkets have already got used to metric ages ago.>>

You don't know Tesco that well do you?
We shall see! :-D
-----------------------------------------------

Think about it. Every other supermarket has been 'forced' to go metric, market traders have been 'forced' to go metric. Imagine the implications if the government didn't apply these rules to Tesco?

I doubt that Tesco will put up much resistance next time, as its easier for them to work in one set of measurements, and with every other supermarket already metric, they will have already 'done their bit' for their pro-imperial consumers by delaying the inevitable.

But yeah, we shall have to wait and see...

"Think about it. Every other supermarket has been 'forced' to go metric, "

I'm not so sure - quite a lot of supermarkets still show dual (if not all of them).

"market traders have been 'forced' to go metric."

Now that I cannot agree with. A walk through the Wycombe market on a saturday will show you that.

"Imagine the implications if the government didn't apply these rules to Tesco?" "

Tesco = billions of profit.




Taxable profit


!!



"But yeah, we shall have to wait and see..."



Correctamundo!

Share holder eh?

Got him sussed lads. All that stuff about Tesco being the greatest thing since sliced beard. Winding us up about imperial pricing so we'd shop there out of curiosity ...

Beranger has already reported that his local Tesco is heavily metric. So Tesco is in practice operating very metric. Since their profits are up it only means that shoppers have adjusted to metric shopping and don't notice when imperial is not present.

Their statement about reverting to imperial some years back was just a gimmick to shut the imperialists up.

"Share holder eh?

Got him sussed lads. All that stuff about Tesco being the greatest thing since sliced beard. Winding us up about imperial pricing so we'd shop there out of curiosity ..."

Oooh! think about that Stan!

Next time you pick up a pound of apples you are helping me to get more wealthy!

Sorry, that was naughty of me.

Anyway - take care not to be crashed into by an idiot trying to avoid viewing imperial pricing and wordage!

Know what I mean? ;-)

(Still, he could always avoid the WHOLE COUNTRY!! LOL! LOL!)

"""Next time you pick up a pound of apples you are helping me to get more wealthy!"""

That is not possible! Apples are sold by the kilogram. Check your till receipt for verification. You won't see the word pound on any official documents.

Erin

Be fair. Steve could buy a prepacked bag of apples marked 454g/1lb.

OK, they would have been weighed in metric & the imperial equivalent only marked as a supplementary indication, but it would still state "1lb" on the packaging.

Steve

I was in Tesco today. The metric prices on the advertising boards in the fruit & veg section are definitely larger than the imperial equivalents. Does the same happen in Valleyslam South yet?

"""Erin

Be fair. Steve could buy a prepacked bag of apples marked 454g/1lb."""

And I'm sure he would as a way to avoid actually buying them loose which would mean buying them in metric. Problem with those prepackaged apples, they always taste stale.


"""OK, they would have been weighed in metric & the imperial equivalent only marked as a supplementary indication, but it would still state "1lb" on the packaging."""

I'm just wondering how they get them to weigh exactly 454 g. Do they include a portion of an apple to make the weight come out exact? Suppose an apple has a mass of 100 g. Do they package 4.54 apples to make the mass figure come out right? If they put in 5 apples for a totalmass of 500 g, wouldn't it make sense to label it as 500 g?

I would think that prepackaged frutis that can vary in size would have a label similar to what one one see with prepackaged meats. That is a price per 100 g, the mass in grams and the total cost. It isn't that hard for someone in the store to weight the prepackaged products packaged elsewhere and have a price based on the exact weight and not on a set weight that isn't even close to being exact.

"""Steve

I was in Tesco today. The metric prices on the advertising boards in the fruit & veg section are definitely larger than the imperial equivalents. Does the same happen in Valleyslam South yet?"""


You have got to be kidding! Do you really think Steve would admit to that? I'd say yes they do! If they didn't Steve would make sure everyone here was a aware of it if it was. Every so often Tesco will hang a hand painted sign giving a price in imperial. The first thing Steve does when he returns home is to run to the computer and log on to bwmaonline.com and post a new message like: Tesco is selling apples by the pound. Since we don't see too many of these posts, I'd assume the situation doesn't arise that often.

Steve is still trying to convince himself that Tesco returned to imperial. You keep showing us that they never really did. What Tesco may have realised that they need to slowly phase out imperial, step by step. People eventually get use to the lack of imperial and don't miss it when it is gone. This way when 2010 rolls around, no one will even notice when the last remnant of imperial disappears.

Berenger,

I think I know what you mean.

The signs that show both lb and kg prices in the loose food department seemed to have made the signs show both units in what appears to be same-sized characters.

If they are differently sized then I can't make it out, thus it could only be a millimetre or two at most.

However they still use the "big advert style" price-per-pound only boards too.

I note you say 'bags of apples' - I don't buy apples by the bag (I buy them loose by the pound). I assumed the bagged apples were in metric only. Cheers for highlighting that the choice is there on bagged apples - I didn't know that.

Berenger - Do you expect to have a reasonable discussion about Tesco with Erin (John) who wouldn't know what a "Tesco" was if it came up and bit him on the a**e? I only ask because the other pro-mets tend to not touch him with a bargepole.

I mean - "Problem with those prepackaged apples, they always taste stale" !! What a desperate and bizzare way to discredit a method of measuring the weight of some apples that you'd like to eat! And look at the desperation in his attempts to get you "on his side" lol!

I hope that you're merely baiting him rather than risking your reputation as someone who is "properly" and "normally" pro-metric!

:-D


Funnily enough - I have an apple right here now!

I kid you not, it's an "Empire" one!

BTW, Berenger.

Here's your new friend ;-) being talked about here:

http://www.mail-archive.com/usma@colostate.edu/msg22991.html

""Problem with those prepackaged apples, they always taste stale""

It has nothing to do with them being prepackaged, it's because of the Imperial measure. Something I'm quit sure of is that all food packaged by the pound or ounce doesn't taste right. I made myself a 250 g hamburger the other day because it would be 1/2 pound if I ate out. I just knew that if I had made it 1/2 lb it would taste rotten, thankfully my gram scale saved me from having to eat rotten imperial food.

ROTFL!!

Whoever you are KEEP IT UP.

(But I wouldn't be altogether surprised if it was NoBrains having an "episode" - I think that's what they call them)

Steve

I was only pointing out to Erin that (contrary to his assertion) 1lb would actually appear on a bag of apples.

"......units in what appears to be same-sized characters. If they are differently sized then I can't make it out, thus it could only be a millimetre or two at most. However they still use the "big advert style" price-per-pound only boards too."

Yeah, agreed - the shelf talkers are still equally sized metric/imperial.

My Tesco still has a few "big advert style" imperial only boards, but they appear to be being replaced with dual boards with metric larger than imperial.

"wouldn't know what a "Tesco" was if it came up and bit him"

I think his point re handwritten signs proves your point!

"I don't buy apples by the bag (I buy them loose by the pound)."

Are you implying that your Tesco has imperial scales? I would suggest that that is extremely highly unlikely!

Tesco use EC "stickered" weighing equipment rather than UK "stamped" equipment. I don't think there are any "imperial only" machines of this type. I'm currently racking my brains to try to remember if there are any EC dual imperial/metric scales

Erin

"I would think that prepackaged frutis that can vary in size would have a label similar to what one one see with prepackaged meats. That is a price per 100 g, the mass in grams and the total cost. It isn't that hard for someone in the store to weight the prepackaged products packaged elsewhere and have a price based on the exact weight and not on a set weight that isn't even close to being exact."

They could, but (in the UK) they don't.

Do you honestly think that very large packers fill bags by hand and weigh them on scales?

I have not seen this with apples (Scotland is not famous for growing apples) but I am aware of a potato packer that used a machine where you poured the potatoes into the top.

The potatoes went into tubes which connected to small scales. At any one time, approx 40 potatoes would be on individual scales. A computer program would then choose the number of potatoes that added up to 1.5kg (or just over) and open the correct tubes accordingly. The potatoes went into the bags, which were then closed by another automatic machine.

The machine was fast - it took 6 people to pack the bagged output.

"Are you implying that your Tesco has imperial scales? I would suggest that that is extremely highly unlikely!"

Yoiks! Check out the customer facing scales before we continue otherwise we'll have Erin posting as "HevetS" making himself look like a total loser again while he claims to know more about Tesco than you or I do.

Again.

"""Check out the customer facing scales before we continue..........."""


Geeeezzzzzzzzzzz!


We are referring to the LEGAL scales used to make the actual sale. Those scales you refer to can be hundreds of grams in error and are only meant to be an approximation.

The ones at the cashier station that you pretend don't exist.

Steve

"Check out the customer facing scales before we continue"

Do you mean the Salter spring balance beside the fruit & veg aisle? Salter have been marking these scales in both imperial & metric for years. They aren't particularily accurate, and do not constitute "use for trade" as "money or money's worth" (to quote from the Act) is not calculated by reference to their weight reading.

If you mean the scales at the checkout, these are the scales "in use for trade". The Tesco's that I have shopped in since 1/1/2000 have used metric-only scales at the checkouts. Are you aware of any Tesco's using dual (indicating both imperial & metric) or imperial-only scales at the checkouts?

Beranger

Steve is definitely referring to the dual scales that are "not legal for trade" used for approxomating a purchase and not the cashier scales. Steve KNOWS the cashier scales are metric. Steve thinks because these stores have dual scales, even though highly inaccurate, that show imperial then he can claim that Tesco is selling in imperial.

I think a store like Tesco can actually increase sales this way. If the approxomation scales read lower then true weight a person may tend to increase their purchase amount. If they look at the pound amount and ignore the metric (like Steve does), they won't notice they actually bought more then they thought as the cashier scale will display only the gram amount.

If these scales were metric only, people would be able to compare between the approximation scale and the cashier scale and make a mental note of the difference and the next time they shop make an effort not to add more. Tesco using this type of dual scale has less to do with giving the customer what they want and more to do with using little tricks to increase sales, playing on shopper's ignorance. This is why the stores are making no effort to teach the consumer to be a smart metric shopper. They prefer the confusion. No wonder their profits are up!

"We are referring to the LEGAL scales used to make the actual sale. Those scales you refer to can be hundreds of grams in error and are only meant to be an approximation. "

Whahay! Sound the horns! An admission!!!!
At last he admits there ARE scales with lb/oz on them in Tesco!!!

I await a climb-down!!


Back to the 'normal' poster on this thread:
"Are you aware of any Tesco's using dual (indicating both imperial & metric) or imperial-only scales at the checkouts?"

No I am not. If yo ulook behind the counter at where the lady (or gent!) is sitting you can make out that they use metric scales.
What ErrorNoBrains cannot comprehend is that someone would go into Tesco and ask for a pound of beef and then be happy with receiving a pound of beef. For some reason he thinks that the customer would need to inspect every move the assistant makes, right down to him inspecting the machine behind the meat counter. Then at the exit to tesco he believes that UK customers stare at disbelief at their receipts (rather than chuck them in the bin or stuff them in the bag)!!

Back to nutcase:
"This is why the stores are making no effort to teach the consumer to be a smart metric shopper. They prefer the confusion. No wonder their profits are up!"

Shhhh! If everyone realised that Tesco where doing that then my shares might go down!!

Keep it to yourself - let the UK populous choose Tesco out of sheer ignorance, eh?

(twit)

<<<What ErrorNoBrains cannot comprehend is that someone would go into Tesco and ask for a pound of beef and then be happy with receiving a pound of beef>>>

And what I can't comprehend, is why it is so difficult to go into Tesco and ask for half a kilo of beef instead of "a pound"

When you cut through all the nonsense, that is what it boils down to!

Amazingly enough, Sainsbury's customers have somehow managed to adapt to this massive change in their lives, and the words 'pound' and 'ounce' are rarely heard these days at the deli counter.
One can only conclude that their customers are more intelligent than Tesco's customers..
;-)

Indeed.

That must be it.

(sorry for the brevity but I'm currently laughing at someone else's expense. Clue: check the marathon debates! You've got to allow me that one, Andy!)

<<<sorry for the brevity>>>

No problem. Just glad we can finally agree on something ;-)

Andy,

We have agreed on many things.

On this I do not.

Unless I should admit to being intelligently impaired!



Hmm, that sentence itself can have many meanings....


I digress.

No, you are wrong!


;-)

I visited my local branch of Tesco over the weekend just to see if there had been any change.

In conclusion I'd say no, not so as you'd really notice although I didn't see any of the more flagrant challenges to the Price Marking Order with large billboard adverts devoid of unit price per kg.

The fresh meat, cheese and fish counters were stalwartly dual priced using equal sizes for the lettering. Weighing and selling in metric as always with metric only in till receipt.

Some of their own brand prepacked meat (e.g. bacon) in the chilled food area was also dual marked for weight (grams/oz) though interestingly a retrospective conversion - 250g/8.83oz - so if the imperial minded customer has problems with decimal they will be dissapointed.

On the whole though I couldn't help but observe the ambivalence Tesco really has in spite of their press release 5 years ago. The vast majority of what they sell is all marked in metric like anyone else. They deviate over fresh milk but nothing special in that.

All the tins boxes jars plastic bottles for food and non-food items are metric only. I didn't get an overwhelming feeling that I was in imperial Noddy land as they'd have you believe.

I'm afraid I just don't get it. If people really can't cope with all this nasty foreign metric they wouldn't get much relief from it even in Tesco.

"""One can only conclude that their customers are more intelligent than Tesco's customers.."""


Or just one particular customer who has selective hearing and vision.

Don't you mean:

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"

Stan,

Maybe Steve will sell you a pair of blinders like he has. They work wonders for filtering out metric and making everything appear imperial.

26.2 miles?


"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS" !!!!


LOL!!!!

Heh!

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=209958&messageid=1113914266&lp=1113914266

Ahem, "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"

A reminder:

----------------
.....huge sign with 36 km shown on it! You mean the signs were metric and no miles were present?

Does this mean the marathon is a true metric sport and not imperial as Steve wants us to believe? And there is the possibility that millions on TV saw this sign too and now know the London Marathon is measured to an exact 42.195 km?


YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
================


ROTFL!!!!!

I said (re the Salter spring balances)

"They aren't particularily accurate"

I also said they are dual imperial/metric.

Erin said

"can be hundreds of grams in error" and advanced an argument for stores ripping people off by setting the scales to read <<slow>>

3 points re Erin's argument

1) They are dual scales. They read in both imperial & metric at all times
2) By less accurate, I meant "work in 1oz/20g divisions" as compared to the 5g divisions at the checout
3) Even if they are not in use for trade, I understand that many TSO's will throw a couple of weights on & inform the store manager if they are misleading.

"""No I am not. If yo ulook behind the counter at where the lady (or gent!) is sitting you can make out that they use metric scales."""

Can someone verify something for me? In my supermarkets the deli scales are on top of the deli counter so the customer can read the display. Steve here is trying to imply that the deli scales are not visable to the customer. I highly doubt that as that can encourage cheating. Can someone state for sure that the deli scales or the display portion is visable to the customer? I would think otherwise would be illegal.

In the supermarkets that prepackage their own items, the stores do have "hidden scales" that the customers don't see. Those are for a different purpose.



"""What ErrorNoBrains cannot comprehend is that someone would go into Tesco and ask for a pound of beef and then be happy with receiving a pound of beef."""

They'd be happy getting anything. If they got 500 g they would not even notice. You would, but no one else would care. I can just imagine you running back to the vegetable area to use the approximation scales then running back to the deli counter in a tiff screaming that you got 500 g when you asked for a pound. I'd love to have someone tell you right to your face that 500 g IS a pound.

Keep the insults coming... it just proves I'm right and you are wrong.


For some reason he thinks that the customer would need to inspect every move the assistant makes, right down to him inspecting the machine behind the meat counter. Then at the exit to tesco he believes that UK customers stare at disbelief at their receipts (rather than chuck them in the bin or stuff them in the bag)!!"""

''' I'd love to have someone tell you right to your face that 500 g IS a pound.'''


Erin, I guess it doesn't faze you that if someone said that they would be lying; either that or in ignorance making themselves look a fool. It may be close to pound; and for my own purposes I use the bad approximation of 500 g per pound and a 250 g per 1/2 pound. But the fact remains that it isn't a pound nor is it a half pound.

Erin, 16 av. ounces is 1 av. lb. Is it also true that 17 av. ounces is 1 av. lb? I assume in your thinking it must be so since a '500 g av. lb.' is 46.4 g larger than an av. pound. If your referring to a 'metric pound, a completely made up non-existent unit' (Though a good fast conversion factor for my cooking purposes!) then that is not the same thing as an av. pound and it would be foolish to think that you could convince people it is. Just as foolish as convincing someone that a av. pound can be 16 troy ounces, or 12 av. ounces, or 500 g or what ever you fancy.

Your logic could be extended to me saying that a metre is really just a yard because it's close enough. Of course that would be foolishness. Close enough maybe for the purpose of converting. But not close enough for it to be the truth. I'm very pro metric, but what you claim is the ramblings of a fool.

Or further yet, couldn't a pro-pound person go on to claim that your kilogram is realy just 2 pounds and deny your unit the correct acuracy? Or that a Pound is the same as 500 g (as in the pound is the correct weight and your grams are made to fit 500 per true pound)?

Slipery slope indeed. Let's not change the pound or the kilograme; let them exist as they are. Better yet get rid of the pound and only keep the kilogram; but don't rewrite history and change the historic pound!

''''They'd be happy getting anything. If they got 500 g they would not even notice. You would, but no one else would care. I can just imagine you running back to the vegetable area to use the approximation scales then running back to the deli counter in a tiff screaming that you got 500 g when you asked for a pound. I'd love to have someone tell you right to your face that 500 g IS a pound.'''''

Erin, at $12.00 per pound of shrimp I wouldn't want the person at the scale to weigh out over 17 ounces of shrimp unless I wanted him to. He also wouldn't try to, he might ask if the 17 ounces is alright and I'd probably agree if he did. But in reality the person removes and adds one shrimp at a time untill it is as close to the exact amount I requested.

Likewise, if I ask for 453.6 g of Shrimp and he over weighs by 46 g then yes I would be upset if the person pretended that it was 453.6 g he gave me. I would expect him to attempt to get to with in the weight of a shrimp of what I asked. If the person said to the person '500 g, that alright?' then It would be fine. If the person said 'okay, exactly what you asked for' then they would quickly loose business and the trust of there customers.

I will admit I've never shopped at Tesco and can only imagine that stores in the UK are the same as my local Publix in trying to give the customer what he wants; and not trying to 'pull one over' on the customer to sell more and risk running them off. But then again, I'm sure you in your brilliance know everything about Tesco and the stupidity of the British people not knowing if someone is giving them more than they asked for.

In fact, it's really quit amazing that I actually get 16 oz of shrimp when I ask for a pound being that I'm in the US. You'd think that our ugly fat selves wouldn't remember 16 oz equals a pound, huh? Ow well, guess I'm off to spend my dollars on shrimp today since tomorrow they'll be worthless. Wow I'm getting fat eating shrimp; and ugly...like all other Americans.

'''Keep the insults coming... it just proves I'm right and you are wrong.'''

Keep reminding us of how right you are, ow wise one of the metre. Tell us how the use of Imperial and US Customary destroys people. Tell us about those wonderful 302 mm records. Tell us about the glorious Euro and evil dollar.


Your words are sweet nectar to my ears. The truth hurts me, ow yes. But I need to know! And I need it repeated often as I'm likely to forget it! I'm American you know, and where not too bright (kinda like the british, ow and especially the backwards Welch) So do kindly continue to enlighten us and forgive our stupidity in not agreeing with you as we ought. Have pity on us!

Hmm,

Poor "Erin" is pretty much isolated once again.

I wonder what it must be like to be in the lonely camp of non-pro-imperial, non-pro-metric and non-pro-choice?

A team of "one".

Time to throw a few more insults, Erin, and tell us more about Greek London Olympics "YESSSS", Vinyl records in metric and a Tesco that sells a pound of mince at 500 of your "special" grammes.

Keep ignoring the resident TSO expert, keep ignoring those who have actually BEEN to a Tesco, keep ignoring all but your own stories.

One day you'll convince us and we will all "convert".

Obviously!

:-D

(I feel much happier about the pro-metric "side" when pro-metric people show up people like "Erin" for what he is, "unsupported by all"!!)

Keep 'em coming!

''' I'd love to have someone tell you right to your face that 500 g IS a pound.'''


"""Erin, I guess it doesn't faze you that if someone said that they would be lying; either that or in ignorance making themselves look a fool. It may be close to pound; and for my own purposes I use the bad approximation of 500 g per pound and a 250 g per 1/2 pound. But the fact remains that it isn't a pound nor is it a half pound.

Erin, 16 av. ounces is 1 av. lb. Is it also true that 17 av. ounces is 1 av. lb? I assume in your thinking it must be so since a '500 g av. lb.' is 46.4 g larger than an av. pound. If your referring to a 'metric pound, a completely made up non-existent unit' (Though a good fast conversion factor for my cooking purposes!) then that is not the same thing as an av. pound and it would be foolish to think that you could convince people it is. Just as foolish as convincing someone that a av. pound can be 16 troy ounces, or 12 av. ounces, or 500 g or what ever you fancy."""

When you take a trip to a France or anywhere in Europe for that matter and visit a shop or market and are one of the few to ask for a pound, you will be given 500 g and not 454 g. Thus a pound of 500 g does exist. Even though in Europe, as well as the UK, the pound is not a legal unit for trade, it still is interpreted as 500 g in many places. A person who buys a pound in France and gets 500 g and accepts it would also accept a 500 g amount in the UK. I highly doubt anyone would notice if they got 500 g instead of 450 g.


"""Your logic could be extended to me saying that a metre is really just a yard because it's close enough. Of course that would be foolishness. Close enough maybe for the purpose of converting. But not close enough for it to be the truth. I'm very pro metric, but what you claim is the ramblings of a fool.

Or further yet, couldn't a pro-pound person go on to claim that your kilogram is realy just 2 pounds and deny your unit the correct acuracy? Or that a Pound is the same as 500 g (as in the pound is the correct weight and your grams are made to fit 500 per true pound)?"""

They can claim whatever they want. But the metric units are legal for all applications and have legal guaranteed definitions. Imperial units do not, and in most cases, the imperial units are not legal units for trade. The UK may define units differently then France (454 g vs 500 g), but in neither case are the pounds legal trade units and there actual definitions are really a moot point.

"""Slipery slope indeed. Let's not change the pound or the kilograme; let them exist as they are. Better yet get rid of the pound and only keep the kilogram; but don't rewrite history and change the historic pound!"""

Equating the pound to 500 g for trade is not meant to redefine the pound as the pound is no longer a legal unit for trade applications but to offer 500 g as an alternative to the pound when a pound is requested.

"""Erin, at $12.00 per pound of shrimp I wouldn't want the person at the scale to weigh out over 17 ounces of shrimp unless I wanted him to. He also wouldn't try to, he might ask if the 17 ounces is alright and I'd probably agree if he did. But in reality the person removes and adds one shrimp at a time untill it is as close to the exact amount I requested."""

In the UK the shrimp would be weighed in grams. Those shoppers who do continue to request pounds are more likely not to know what the equivalent is in grams and most likely would not know the difference between 450 and 500 g. The pound has no legal status as a unit of trade. Thus a trader is free to interpret a customers request any way he/she sees fit. The trader is only required to ask the customer if the amount is satisfactory to the customer. If the customer says yes, the the sale is concluded. No cheating or deception takes place unless the customer paid a different price from what was advertised. Thus if shrimp is 2.50 $/100 g and the person paid 12.50 $ for 500 g, then the sale was legal.


"""Likewise, if I ask for 453.6 g of Shrimp and he over weighs by 46 g then yes I would be upset if the person pretended that it was 453.6 g he gave me. I would expect him to attempt to get to with in the weight of a shrimp of what I asked. If the person said to the person '500 g, that alright?' then It would be fine. If the person said 'okay, exactly what you asked for' then they would quickly loose business and the trust of there customers."""


Not everyone is that anal when they shop. Most ask for an amount, the trader weighs it out, then asks if the amount is ok, the shopper says yes, the package is wrapped, a price sticker is attached, the person pays for the product at the cash register and the sale is concluded. When the trade is giving you something other then what you asked for, they usually will ask if it is ok. To which most will say fine. If enough customers don't seem to mind getting 500 g when a pound is requested, then the trader will feel it is ok to continue the practice. He would prefer this as he sells about 10 % more. If too many people say no, then he can reduce the amount he vends for about to say 470 g and go from there.


"""I will admit I've never shopped at Tesco and can only imagine that stores in the UK are the same as my local Publix in trying to give the customer what he wants; and not trying to 'pull one over' on the customer to sell more and risk running them off. But then again, I'm sure you in your brilliance know everything about Tesco and the stupidity of the British people not knowing if someone is giving them more than they asked for."""

Shops are in business to sell products. If they can sell you a little more then you ask for, then they will. You would never make it in this business. I can see that from your dim responses.

"""In fact, it's really quit amazing that I actually get 16 oz of shrimp when I ask for a pound being that I'm in the US. You'd think that our ugly fat selves wouldn't remember 16 oz equals a pound, huh?"""


Most people don't, including people who work in the business. Next time ask for something in ounces and don't be surprised if the salesperson asks you state your request in pounds.



"""Ow well, guess I'm off to spend my dollars on shrimp today since tomorrow they'll be worthless. Wow I'm getting fat eating shrimp; and ugly...like all other Americans."""

You'd be better off buying euros. You will need them to live on after the dollar economy hyperinflates. You might also want to invest in a wheelbarrow to carry your worthless dollars around in. Stay away from the stock market, it is showing some major instability now.

This way if you stay away from the expensive shrimp you might lose some of your excessive weight. Or you can wait about 1.5 years and when you can't afford to buy food, then the weight problem will vanish.

''''Most people don't, including people who work in the business. Next time ask for something in ounces and don't be surprised if the salesperson asks you state your request in pounds.'''''


That's great! Being that they sell things by the ounce I'd imagine they wouldn't have a problem vending by the ounce! In fact on the edge of the shelf it shows the unit price of every item in the store in price per ounce as a convenient way of comparing prices. You're very amusing. But you would know better than I would, I guess; even though you've never been to my grocery store. I can guaranty that I can ask for 8 oz or half a pound and get the same amount. If I thought it wouldn't be pointless I would ask for 24 ounces of Shrimp the next time I go to the store instead of 1 1/2 pounds just to report back to you that I got 1 1/2 pounds. (Ow, and to show how 'smart' the man at the scale is, it's a decimal pound scale; but he still wouldn't have a problem knowing that he needs to weight 1.5 lbs to get 24 ounces. Really amazing when you consider that he is an American, and no joking actually is fat.)

''''Not everyone is that anal when they shop. Most ask for an amount, the trader weighs it out, then asks if the amount is ok, the shopper says yes, the package is wrapped, a price sticker is attached, the person pays for the product at the cash register and the sale is concluded.''''

I must shop at an exceptional grocery store. I dont have to get 'anal' about it, they automaticly get as close as possibe to the requested amount without trying to sell me more than what I asked for.

''''You'd be better off buying euros. ''''

And when the fiat Euro collapses I'd be no better off than when/if the dollar collapses. I'll stick to real money, you know Ag & Au.

Get some real money, Erin. Don't put so much faith in the youthful Euro. (I honestly doubt that you've ever touched or owned a Euro in your life though.)

Yes I agree that the dollar might not last, though I don't predict it to be 'any minute'. Li