The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show held in February each year is one of the world's largest gem, fossil and mineral shows. Over 3,500 dealers from around the world participate in this well-known event. Compliance Officers from the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures regularly visit many of the dealers at the show looking for scales that are neither licensed by the Department nor approved by the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP).
"We focus on these types of events to protect both consumers from fraud and retailers from unfair competition. Most of these dealers come from another state or country but still must abide by Arizona law." stated Chief Compliance Officer, Dennis Ehrhart.
The Department only licenses NTEP approved scales since these scales have gone through extensive testing and have received a nationally recognized stamp of approval: the Certificate of Conformance.
Consumer Tips For Shopping at Gem Shows
Although the Department is actively inspecting dealer scales at the show, Tucson Gem Show shoppers, and shoppers at any gem show in Arizona at any time of the year, are advised to look for the following:
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Check the scale! Make sure there is NOT a label on the scale that reads "NOT LEGAL FOR TRADE." You may NOT get what you pay for if you buy merchandise weighed by one of these devices.
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Bathroom and baby scales are definitely NOT legal for trade! Neither are produce estimating scales.
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Ask to see the dealer's Weights and Measures device license.
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Make sure you can see the scale display and that it reads 0 before anything is placed on it.
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If you are at the show and believe an illegal scale is being used, contact the Department of Weights and Measures at (602) 255-5211 or 1-800-277-6675.
Information provided by The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures, used with permission.
