In my small business I needed to weigh medium to large items and boxes on a floor scale for shipping. Rather than pay way too much for an industrial model, I used a digital bathroom scale. I found it to be close enough for the rough accuracy I required when over 15lbs (7kg), as well it measures up to 330lbs (150kg). Way more than I can lift.
I was frustrated because the display was always hidden under the item I weighed. Sure the result locked in but only if you got lucky, blindly timing it right and quickly moving the box after.
Convert an Electronic Bathroom Scale Into A Shipping Scale for <$1 - Link
12 thoughts on “Bathroom scale to shipping scale”
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Bathroom scales aren’t legal for trade purposes, though. Good luck getting that one certified by your state’s standards bureau (or paying the fine for using that scale for trade without the certification).
Actually, most couriers such as fedex and UPS suggest zeroing out a bathroom scale, then weighing yourself, then weighing yourself while holding the package, then taking the difference to estimate the weight for shipping. This simply takes the middle man out of the equation.
Paul,
Wouldn’t a scale only need to be regulated if it’s used to compute prices or amounts for third parties? For instance, measuring the weight of the goods you’re selling so when you say you’re selling ten pounds you are. I can’t imagine that saying, “hey, I wonder how much cash I have to put in my wallet before I go to FedEx, let’s use that bathroom scale” would be illegal.
I have no idea at all, but I always assumed that the purpose of standard weights and measures was to prevent fraud not protect busniess from using faulty data for their own decisions. What does the law say?
I saw the picture before reading the words, and thought this was going to be a way to see your weight when you’re too fat to see past your own gut…
Was glad to see that it had a more sensible motivation. Or maybe the “parcels” story is just an excuse :-)
Never mind bathroom scales aren’t legal for trade.
Paul,
Yes, we heard that. To summarize, I asked what does “legal for trade” mean?