Weighed foods and paying for packaging

craigba

craigba

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
131
Reaction score
14
Location
Edenvale
Hey Y'all,

I remember a good few years ago something on Carte Blanche about Deli's and Butchers (especially at Supermarkets) charging customers for the packaging on their products. For example, the 2 Kgs of chicken you buy (packed at the store, not from a Supplier) is weighed after it is wrapped, hence you are paying for the packaging at the rate of the meat.

Since seeing the story I always checked, and most places weigh then package now...
I say most as a big Fruit and Vegetable Chain are still charging for packaging. I won't give their name as I am waiting to resolve this issue.

I'm not talking about the little plastic they use when you pick the fruit and it gets weighed - the same principle applies, but the amount that they get from that is minimal... What I am referring to is the little trays and the packaging - we are being charged for this.

I have previously brought up something about rounding with fuel and was raked over the coals for it...

Is it reasonable to expect them not to charge for the packaging - my calcs roughly reveal about R2 - R5 depending on the products price per Kg? Or am i just being nit picky? I mean it's a small amount, but on a big excursion that's a whole lot of beer I'm unable to buy...
 
My cheap electronic kitchen scale can be zeroed with a container on it before weighing quantities, maybe the shops have something similar built into their POS scales to allow for packaging?
 
Normally on food packaging (The imported ones) It will say the nett weight prior to packaging.
 
Yes MickZA - the ones at Pnp and Checkers do this, but the weight and price is already marked on the product - for example pre-packed meat...
 
craigba said:
Yes MickZA - the ones at Pnp and Checkers do this, but the weight and price is already marked on the product - for example pre-packed meat...
Click to expand...
Sorry I wasn't clear, I was wondering if a weight of container allowance (2g, 5g, 10g etc) was built into the scales dependant on the PLU entered prior to weighing - eg: chops = 21011, 5g package allowance.
 
The cost will be less than 1% in most cases I can think of and if they start weighing it without the packaging they will just increase the cost to account for that so you will pay for it whichever way you go.
 
morkhans said:
As I understand it, it is illegal to charge you for the packaging. The scale should be calibrated with the weight of the packaging included and then zeroed so you only pay for the product. I recall a local PnP getting into hot water in a local paper for this a few years back. Here is a related article: http://www.iol.co.za/blogs/wendy-kn...e-glazing-on-the-prawns-1.628877#.VXqSVEaAvrw
Click to expand...
I'm surprised Pick 'n Pay were caught again. Some years back their Constantia flagship store was busted by metrology and they had to repack every single portion in the meat section. They were fined per pack as well.

I found every scale in the shop showed a different reading for whatever you placed on it, by as much as 60g. They are supposed to balance the scales every day but they don't/didn't.
 
AntiGanda said:
I'm surprised Pick 'n Pay were caught again. Some years back their Constantia flagship store was busted by metrology and they had to repack every single portion in the meat section. They were fined per pack as well.

I found every scale in the shop showed a different reading for whatever you placed on it, by as much as 60g. They are supposed to balance the scales every day but they don't/didn't.
Click to expand...

I think it was the Claremont PnP in the article I read, but I can't recall now.
 
So they cant charge for packaging? Do they get those trays and the plastic for free then?Howcome they charge for plastic packets?
My issue pertains to polystyrene trays and the 1 or 2 wraps of plastic that goes around it - not referring to the article in which visible ice is in the box of prawns.
 
MickZA said:
Sorry I wasn't clear, I was wondering if a weight of container allowance (2g, 5g, 10g etc) was built into the scales dependant on the PLU entered prior to weighing - eg: chops = 21011, 5g package allowance.
Click to expand...

Nope it's not...

Just FYI for everyone: I'm glad I didn't mention the store's name. The Head Office called me apologised and confirmed that it is illegal. They will rectify this...
 
craigba said:
Nope it's not...

Just FYI for everyone: I'm glad I didn't mention the store's name. The Head Office called me apologised and confirmed that it is illegal. They will rectify this...
Click to expand...

What's wrong with mentioning the name? And how will you find out if they actually did anything about this?
 
Batista said:
So they cant charge for packaging? Do they get those trays and the plastic for free then?Howcome they charge for plastic packets?
My issue pertains to polystyrene trays and the 1 or 2 wraps of plastic that goes around it - not referring to the article in which visible ice is in the box of prawns.
Click to expand...

It amounts to the same thing. The weight on the product needs to reflect the content excluding the packaging and other inserts.

Paying for the plastic packet you get at the till is a fixed price and different legislation. The tray you pay for as part of the total weight (which you shouldn't) then has a variable cost depending on the cost per kg of the product you purchase.
 
craigba said:
Nope it's not...

Just FYI for everyone: I'm glad I didn't mention the store's name. The Head Office called me apologised and confirmed that it is illegal. They will rectify this...
Click to expand...

And yet, they get away with it until someone catches them out.
 
Slootvreter said:
What's wrong with mentioning the name? And how will you find out if they actually did anything about this?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with mentioning the name, but I feel it's unfair to do that without giving them a chance to rectify it. If they ignore me and carry on, then it's a different story. I know I prefer people to come to me to resolve a problem before taking it to the internet :)

I won't really know until I go there again (probably a week or two) - most of the stock should be cleared by then in any case (Best Before Dates). If it isn't really sorted I will complain again (and perhaps take it further)

Who would we report this to though?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X