What would be the consequences of your business having the freedom to sell products in imperial measures, if you wished?

[JuliaClementsRoche]

We will be submitting a response to the government's open consultation into the choice on units of measurement: markings and sales. The evidence gathered from this consultation will inform the government’s plans to provide a choice on weights and measures for consumer transactions.

There was some useful feedback from the UKBF thread that was started back in May, but if you have any additional thoughts that are specifically in answer to the following questions, please add them to this thread before Sunday 14 August.

1. Are there any specific areas of consumer transactions that should be a priority for allowing a choice in units of measurement, and why?
2. Are there any specific areas that you think should be excluded from a choice in units of measurement, and why?
3. If an item is sold in imperial measures, should there be a requirement for a metric equivalent alongside it?
4. What would be the consequences of your business having the freedom to sell products in imperial measures, if you wished?

 

[fisicx]

1. No. Don't change anything
2. All of them
3. Yes (but don't have imperial measures)
4. None

This is all a pie in the sky idea. Even the US uses metric in many of its factories.

 

[Newchodge]

I replied to the consultation. Why would anyone other than Rees-Mogg want to revert to imperial measures? How are people ever going to be comofrtable using metric for everything if there is always an alternative? Why is metric for everything wrong - it worked just fine for our currency.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

1. Are there any specific areas of consumer transactions that should be a priority for allowing a choice in units of measurement, and why?
   No - don't change anything
2. Are there any specific areas that you think should be excluded from a choice in units of measurement, and why?
   All of them
3. If an item is sold in imperial measures, should there be a requirement for a metric equivalent alongside it?
   No
4. What would be the consequences of your business having the freedom to sell products in imperial measures, if you wished?

• Potentially increased costs of it - programming epos to allow additional different units
• Confusion with consumers thinking they are paying in one format.
• Apparent increase/false decrease of costs due to moving from one to other therefore, potential inflation

 

[StevensOnln1]

I'm in my 30s and imperial weights/measures weren't on the curriculum at all when I was at school, so anyone my age or younger will be completely confused if we have to buy things in imperial.

1. No - none of them
2. All
3. Yes
4. None

 

[DontAsk]

It's just rank stupidity. No need to change anything.

 

[clyde123]

None of the questions are really relevant to my business, as almost everything is service. Other than some consumables which are bought in ready packaged.

However - I could maybe address question 4 with a personal anecdote. When I go to the butcher I will often ask for 'a pound of mince'. The counter assistant understands, bags it up, weighs it in kilograms and charges accordingly. The price tag on the counter is in kilograms.
My point is - I would not want the butcher to have any legal ramification for not arguing with me 'you really want 454 grams don't you?'.
So really, looking from my supplier's angle - no legal ramifications for translating a customer's request from imperial to metric.

 

[japancool]

Only if we bring back shillings, guineas and half-crowns.

 

[MikeJ]

I'm in my 30s and imperial weights/measures weren't on the curriculum at all when I was at school, so anyone my age or younger will be completely confused if we have to buy things in imperial.

1. No - none of them
2. All
3. Yes
4. None

I'm 57 and we were just taught metric.

I'm ok with imperial in some things. I still weigh myself in stone, drive in miles but someone asked me my height yesterday and I replied in metric. However I'd like to think the NHS took my details down in metric now.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I'm in my 50s and learnt and understand both imperial and metric but the descrepies and mistakes between US manufacturers and the rest of the world are undocumented but there have been disasters.
This would result in things going wrong when converting the figures

 

[KM-Tiger]

it worked just fine for our currency

It did work eventually. But when it was first introduced it masked that inflation was just taking off. We were so busy converting prices from new money to old money that we failed to notice that prices were rising.

 

[Newchodge]

It did work eventually. But when it was first introduced it masked that inflation was just taking off. We were so busy converting prices from new money to old money that we failed to notice that prices were rising.

True, but I meant more in terms of people understanding it and not, after a few months, needing to do a mental conversion to work out how much they were paying.

 

[MikeJ]

My mother continued to refer to pricing in "old money". She'd pick up something and say "fifteen shillings for that! I used to pay an old penny".

She's dead now, and so are imperial measures. And so will the Conservative party be if they don't come up with some useful policies instead of this trash.

 

[IanSuth]

True, but I meant more in terms of people understanding it and not, after a few months, needing to do a mental conversion to work out how much they were paying.

My mother and father ran a youth club tuck shop at the time.

The government (and newspapers I believe) printed big posters with equivalent pricings which every retailer tended to have up. As old to new wasn't an exact translation people would pay for some things in lsd and some in £p for a while whilst it was allowed as they "perceived" it saved them 1/3d or the like.

Before they make any changes I want to see a costed estimate from govt on the estimated costs to industry from any changes (reprogramming epos, reprinting labels, staff training etc etc).

When the govt can't afford anything apparently, why do they think the country can afford the vanity project of a "back to the 50's" living theme park in every high street

 

[Newchodge]

My mother and father ran a youth club tuck shop at the time.

The government (and newspapers I believe) printed big posters with equivalent pricings which every retailer tended to have up. As old to new wasn't an exact translation people would pay for some things in lsd and some in £p for a while whilst it was allowed as they "perceived" it saved them 1/3d or the like.

Before they make any changes I want to see a costed estimate from govt on the estimated costs to industry from any changes (reprogramming epos, reprinting labels, staff training etc etc).

When the govt can't afford anything apparently, why do they think the country can afford the vanity project of a "back to the 50's" living theme park in every high street

It probably would have been less inflationary if the base had been £1 = 10/-, so an old £ would have been worth 200 new p, but that's just detail.

 

[The Byre]

1. Are there any specific areas of consumer transactions that should be a priority for allowing a choice in units of measurement, and why?

All of them and we must be forced to include US at well as UK measures. That way the confusion will be even greater and I like me a bit of chaos and confusion! That way nobody will know what the F they are doing, buying or measuring!

1. Are there any specific areas that you think should be excluded from a choice in units of measurement, and why?

No - all three types of measurements must be included at all times! And where possible, pecks and chains and other more obscure weights and measures. And US acres are slightly different from UK acres, so always site both!

1. If an item is sold in imperial measures, should there be a requirement for a metric equivalent alongside it?

As above - not just metric but also the US equivalent!

1. What would be the consequences of your business having the freedom to sell products in imperial measures, if you wished?

Not just feet and inches, but how about light-nanoseconds? Then there is the much used 'horse' which is divided into a head, a neck and a nose. Never mind litres, that's far too clear - how about a butt of wine, which is of course two hogsheads? Now that's much more confusing and therefore much more fun!

My weight by the way is about 1.6 faggots, though that depends on whether we are talking about US faggots or Imperial faggots.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Before they make any changes I want to see a costed estimate from govt on the estimated costs to industry from any changes (reprogramming epos, reprinting labels, staff training etc etc).

I don't think the idea is to enforce Imperial measurements but merely to permit them. The market will sort out which to use.

 

[IanSuth]

I don't think the idea is to enforce Imperial measurements but merely to permit them. The market will sort out which to use.

The market can not do it for nothing. It is introducing an inefficiency and therefore has a cost.

Some companies will feel they have to do it to keep certain types of customer happy therefore there is a cost to the economy.

I want it estimated and published so those advocating the change can see the cost of their suggestion

You can currently use Lbs, stone , bushel weights or whatever on your labelling you just have to include the metric equivalent as well. Therefore what are they suggesting - companies can leave off the metric to confuse customers ? Would you prefer a US peck of peppers, a UK Peck or 10 litres ?

I would like to sell my scottish estate, it is 2 Davoch in size and the finest grouse moor, I an only wanting 1.2 million guineas which I am sure you will agree is a bargain- do you want it ?

(everyone surely knows there are 8 oxgang to the ploughgate and 4 ploughgate to the davoch, with an oxgang the amount of land you can plough each season with 1 ox drawn plough so dependant upon soil type)

 

[japancool]

Mustn't forget the Commonwealth, let's start measuring things in lakhs and crores or whatever it is.

Unless I've completely misread my history, the Empire ceased to exist in 1948 (or 1946, depending on whether you date it from the point where George VI ceased to use the title "Emperor of India" or when Indian independence happened).

 

[Paul Norman]

There would be no benefits at all in using imperial measurements in my business.

It might, possibly, cause some confusion, but probably not much.


Not using metric alongside would be a massive own goal. Since around 1969 most, if not all, schools have taught metric measurements.

However, the whole consultation on the topic is a great way of a ridiculous government spending a ridiculous sum of money on a non topic.

I will continue to use metric, because it is what I grew up with. Others will continue to use imperial. It really only causes any debate when someone decides to pointless stir it up.

 

[japancool]

Can we also start measuring speeds in kph instead of mph please? Or will that be too confusing for most people?

 

[IanSuth]

Can we also start measuring speeds in kph instead of mph please? Or will that be too confusing for most people?

actually it might slow people down a bit as over 100kph sounds a lot faster than over 60mph

 

[fisicx]

actually it might slow people down a bit as over 100kph sounds a lot faster than over 60mph

Once upon a time speedometers used to have both mph and Km/h marked on the dial.

 

[IanSuth]

Once upon a time speedometers used to have both mph and Km/h marked on the dial.

All mine still do - but i know a lot of the modern LCD ones are one or the other only.

I remember mates getting grey import bikes and having to either buy a 5/8 reduction gear for the speedo cable or stick stickers on their speedo face as well (later doesn't adjust odometer to mph)

 

[MikeJ]

Can we also start measuring speeds in kph instead of mph please? Or will that be too confusing for most people?

Ireland managed to convert ok. The old miles signs were around for about 20 years, but slowly replaced with km signs. They had a different design, so it was easy to tell which one you were looking at.

 

[Bob Morgan]

I charge a 30% Premium for preparing drawings in Imperial for clients in the Former United States of America.

 

[Picture Bute]

Anyone fancy reading the gallon price on petrol station forecourt signs ???

 

[Kerwin]

Anyone in a STEM business will know that using imperial would be a death certificate. It just isn't an option.

 

[IanSuth]

Anyone fancy reading the gallon price on petrol station forecourt signs ???

That would be a cost for business as surely soon we will breach the £10 a gallon mark and they will need an extra character on the digital signs

 

[Clodbuster]

Metric is by far better - everything in multiples of 10, how simple. Why on earth go back to the dinosaurs - unless you are Rees-Mogg then I understand. I'm 67 and never knew imperial. Buy fuel in liters and drive in miles - how ridiculous.