Congratulations on starting your small business! If you need to price some of your products by weight and are overwhelmed by the various trade-approved options, including price computing scales, you might be wondering which type is best for you. To help you decide, there are seven key factors to consider while shopping. Let’s explore them.
What’s a Trade-Approved Scale?
What’s a Price Computing Scale?
It’s crucial to note that a price computing scale is a specialized type of trade-approved scale. While both price computing scales and standard legal-for-trade scales are certified for commercial use, price computing scales are specifically designed for retail environments. They not only display weight but also show the unit price and total cost for the customer. Additionally, these scales often come with extra features like extensive memory to streamline various processes. Our Swift Price Computing Retail Scale stands out as a unique option in our product lineup.
Which Option is Best for Your Small Business?
Every small business is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are several key factors to consider when choosing the right scale for your new business.
1. Necessary Capacity
We offer eight models of the Swift Price Computing Retail Scale, available in both pillar and non-pillar designs. These scales have capacities ranging from 1.5kg to 30kg, making them suitable for most average-sized products. If your products are lighter, you might consider the Highland Approved Portable Precision Balance, which provides greater precision for smaller capacities and is ideal for high-quality work in the jewelry industry. Conversely, for products heavier than 30kg, our higher capacity options like the GFK-M or PTaM Platform Scales are excellent choices.
2. Your Environment
The Swift Price Computing Retail Scale is equipped with a stainless-steel pan for easy cleaning and features drip channels that direct spills away from the internal components. It’s an excellent choice if you don’t require extensive protection against water or dust.
For businesses that deal with frequent spills or require more robust cleaning capabilities—such as catering or restaurants—we recommend our Gladiator Approved Bench or Floor Scales. These scales are IP68 rated, offering full protection against water and dust, making them ideal for damp, dirty, wet, or humid environments.
3. Business Operations and Efficiency
For very small businesses with a limited product range, a trade-approved scale without price computing capabilities can be a practical choice due to its straightforward operation. Manual pricing will be less time-consuming with such a scale. For medium to larger small businesses, the Swift Price Computing Retail Scale offers greater efficiency.
The Swift features an extensive memory system with 161 Product Lookups (PLUs). This allows you to store unit prices for up to 161 products, either per 100g or per kilogram. This makes pricing quick and efficient: simply enter the product reference number, weigh the item, and the Swift will immediately calculate the total price for your customer.
While setting up the Swift may require some initial effort to input all your product information, it is well worth the investment if you manage a larger inventory. This setup will save you significant time by automating price calculations in the future. Once your product details are entered into the Swift, updating prices or adding new items is straightforward and hassle-free. The Swift will handle these changes automatically, so you won’t need to remember or manually adjust prices.
4. Multifunctionality
Some scales, like the Cruiser CKT-M Approved Checkweighing Scales, offer multifunctionality, making them ideal for businesses with a mix of products priced by weight and those sold at fixed prices.
For instance, if you sell individual fruits and vegetables by weight but offer boxes of produce at a set price, the checkweighing feature can help ensure that each carton, such as cartons of blueberries, is uniformly weighted.
Additionally, the CKT-M provides capabilities for parts-counting, check counting, accumulation, and percentage weighing, making it a versatile tool for various tasks beyond just price computing. In contrast, the Swift is primarily focused on price computing and standard weighing functions.
5. Customer Experience
All our trade-approved scales perform exceptionally well behind the scenes and in everyday operations. However, if your business involves direct customer interactions, the Swift offers unmatched benefits in enhancing the overall customer experience.
With displays on both the front and rear of the scale, the Swift ensures that the product’s weight, unit price, and total cost are clearly visible to both you and your customer. This transparency builds trust and allows for immediate feedback and communication. Any issues or discrepancies can be addressed and corrected before the transaction is finalized, ensuring a smooth and reliable checkout process.
Additionally, nobody enjoys waiting in line. Customers often have other tasks, appointments, or jobs to return to, and the pressure of manually calculating prices with a line of impatient people can be overwhelming. The Swift helps alleviate this stress by streamlining each transaction, allowing you to focus on building relationships with your customers rather than worrying about calculations.
6. Data and Reporting
Our trade-approved scales, including the Swift, need additional accessories like the ATP 2 Thermal Printer or the DU Data Collection Software to effectively handle data reporting. Without these tools, records will need to be maintained manually.
The ATP 2 Thermal Printer allows you to print weighing results directly, providing receipts for customers or keeping them for your own inventory and record-keeping. This reduces the risk of errors from manual entry, whether handwritten or typed. The Swift enhances this capability by including not only the weight but also the unit price and total price in the printout via the RS-232 interface, ensuring comprehensive and accurate documentation.
The DU software is a sophisticated tool that can connect up to eight scales simultaneously. It offers in-depth data analysis, allowing you to make informed business decisions and track sales efficiently.
7. Cost and Budget
If you’re just starting out or operate a smaller business, the Swift might appear to be more than you need in terms of both scope and cost. For a limited number of products priced by weight, a compact, bench, or floor scale that meets legal-for-trade requirements can be a cost-effective and practical choice.
However, if you’re planning to expand or already manage a large inventory of weight-based products, investing in the Swift can be highly beneficial. The initial expense will be offset by the time savings, increased efficiency, and fewer errors it provides over the long term.
With their proven precision, quick stabilization times, and long-lasting batteries, you can confidently choose any of our legal-for-trade or price computing scales for your small business. If you need further assistance in selecting the right model, feel free to contact us— we’re here to help.
