How to cheat electronic scales

Outdated methods of weighing products have been replaced by electronic devices, and technological progress does not stand still. However, cunning and dishonest traders use all sorts of mechanisms to deceive customers, and underweight in markets and stores still takes place.

Why do they use deception on scales in stores?

Each person tries to find advantages from the work or activity in which he is engaged, thus trying to gain additional profit or other advantages. Knowing how to do cunning manipulations with scales, the seller has the opportunity to sell less and get more. To do this, it is enough to ensure that the measuring instruments show the mass of the product is greater than it actually is. Each store employee develops his own techniques and tricks during his work and applies them skillfully and mechanically. Changing the weight of products in different types of retail spaces is one of the opportunities to get extra money at the expense of inexperienced customers.

Ways to cheat on regular scales

Standard devices are equipped with a special handle that holds the counter in the zero position. It contains segments corresponding to knocking down the “zero” by 100-200 and 300-500 grams. A skilled tradesman can reset the “zero” to a specified value while weighing goods.When removing food, the handle returns to its previous position.

IMPORTANT! In the menu settings there is a section called “Calibration”, which is so loved by unscrupulous sellers.

When choosing it, you can see the recommendation on the screen to place exactly 1 kg on the surface. The system remembers the weight and updates the settings. As an experiment, you can add apples weighing 900 grams. The display will show 1 kg, since the system has already memorized this figure. The buyer will pay for 1 kg, and the display will also display 1, but in reality the weight will be much less. The most unpleasant nuance is that when the mechanism is turned on, the data is zero and it is impossible to guess that the seller was able to “tweak” the value on the scales.

REFERENCE! Placing food on the surface is one of the quick, simple and frequently used methods. Usually everyone is in a hurry and rarely waits until the arrow stops or the numbers stop flashing.

How to cheat on electronic scales

The presence of electronic scales in stores gives customers the confidence that electronics cannot be fooled and, accordingly, they will not add extra grams of product. Let's look at the manipulations with devices that traders love:

• Cellophane bag and other packaging wrappers. Very often you can see a plastic bag on the scales, secured to them using adhesive tape. From a hygienic point of view, this is completely justified. To add weight to the product, simply pull the package to the side, which creates additional pressure on the scale. It is quite difficult to follow the dexterous hands of the seller at this moment.
• Adhesive tape. You can only use one piece of tape. In this case, the seller acts quickly and deftly.At the same time as the product, he places a small piece of tape on the scale and pulls it on. When the products are weighed, it quickly peels off.
• Overlays. The scales have special pads that are an integral part of the scales. Many sellers specifically calibrate them in such a way as to include this device in the weight of the product.
• Magnet. This method is one of the simplest ways. Magnets are attached to the inner surface, which customers cannot see. It may look like a small coin or a record. Magnetic knives are often used. Sometimes large and strong magnets are glued to cigarette packaging and placed in close proximity to the scales. Such a magnet adds up to 50 g of weight to the product.

How to avoid being deceived

When purchasing groceries, you need to focus your interest not only on the quality of the product, but also on the behavior of the store employee. To better understand the instrument readings, wait until the needle stops completely or until the numbers on the electronic menu stop jumping.

ATTENTION! You can buy yourself an electronic scale specifically for household purposes. They are truly an irreplaceable thing in every household, and they can be used to double-check the weight of products. In this way, you can figure out the store that is cheating and never go there again.

When going to the market, you can take a proven steelyard with you and simply hold it in your hands while shopping. A psychological factor can work here: seeing an experienced buyer in front of him, the seller will not have the desire to deceive or argue.

It is better to know the possible tricks and tricks of unscrupulous sellers so as not to be deceived.We hope that this article will be useful and help avoid possible misunderstandings and unnecessary waste of money.