Scales

This might be silly, but what kinds of scales do you have to weigh your packages? I can't seem to find any low priced ones.... I am thinking it would be really, really useful to have one around.

I have a scale that I picked up at a local restaurant-supply place. It's accurate to the nearest quarter-ounce, which works for me! I think it's referred to as a 'portion-control' scale. It was about $25, and I use it when I cook and bake, too.

Very cheap (less than $5) plastic kitchen scale I bought at a grocery store.

If you have a Bed Bath and Beyond, wait for a 20% off coupon, and purchase it then. You can get a nice scale for around $15-20

... I have no scales (I just use the one at the PO...), but from time to time I've been know to use the postage scale at my work. It's very accurate.

I received a free scale when I signed up for stamps.com; I use that one.

I was given an electronic kitchen scale for Christmas as I requested one; have wanted one for a long time. It measures up to 5 kg / 11 lb, gives weight in grams, kg, ounces, and pounds and ounces (anything over 5 kg would ruin the scale, but I'm not weighing anything very heavy anyway). It has a detatchable glass top that's flat, so I can use it for parcels and cooking (zero the container and then add ingredient to weigh). It included 2 x CR2032 batteries and needed a tiny screwdriver to undo the battery compartment. My family tried another sort but had problems with it being too inaccurate. There are a whole range of scales out there however!

I use a very cheap kitchen scale (not digital). I just weigh the book in its envelope and then add an ounce for safety.

I have a *great* kitchen scale that I asked for as a birthday present this year. My intention was also to use it to weigh my books. Tee hee!

It's expensive, though (about $50). It's a digital scale with a button for a tare weight (to weigh food in a bowl). It gives readings to tenths of a number and converts to either the regular or metric system. My hubby got it at Bed Bath & Beyond, and it's made by Salter.

@8 -- adding an ounce is smart!

I use a cheapie digital kitchen scale. Don't recall what it cost, but I know it must've been the cheapest one available. :)

Elizabeth ('fullmoonblue')
http://www.bookmooch.com/m/bio/fullmoonblue

I bought a cheap one off ebay for a few quid, use it for all national postage and havent had one problem yet.

I just bought my mother a kitchen scale from Amazon. It's great, despite some people saying it wasn't accurate. (We haven't had any problems and have tested it.) If you search it, it's their #1 scale for about $20 (or less) and it comes in seven different colors.

I don't really use it for book weighing, I just go to the post office with all my packages during my lunch hour, but I'm sure it would work well for that.

Until a month ago I was using a kitchen scale I found at the Salvation Army for a dollar. During the Thanksgiving holidays I was in Linens and Things which is going out of business and found a digital Salter scale there. Everything in the store was 50 percent off and I had some left on a gift card. It only goes up to five pounds so anything heavier than five pounds will have to be weighed at the post office. The majority of the books I have average about 1 1/2 pounds or less.

I generally just look the weight of the book up on Amazon.

The weight on amazon is often incorrect. So are page numbers.

Thanks everyone.
On Amazon I am trying to decide between these scales... the PO scale I like because I think there is more surface area to actually weigh something, but the other scale has a lot of reviews, some good, some bad. What is your opinion? Does anyone use these to weigh their books?

1) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007GAWTG/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encod...

2) http://www.amazon.com/USPS-PS-100-Desk-Postal-Scale/dp/B001EJF9PM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=...

If you get the first one, it has a tare feature (which deducts the weight of the container when weighing food) - so you can use it for cooking as well! I've never used that particular brand of scale, though.

Hmm.. That is something to consider... I am going to have to make a decision by noon tomorrow, I think in order to get the gift I am ordering with it in time for my friend's birthday... Anyone have any last suggestions?