Evaluate how well a Bathroom Scale meets your needs and compares to competing products
If you've completed step one you've identified what you need in a bathroom scale and you've learned about the different features of bathroom scales. While you were doing your research, you probably started the process of determining which features - and thus which type of bathroom scale - will best meet your needs. Now you are going to continue that process, but in greater detail.
In this step you will
evaluate the bathroom scales available on the market to determine how well they meet your personal needs and establish, by a process of elimination, an initial short-list of contenders. Then you will compare these short-listed bathroom scales to find out which ones stand out from the competition.
Evaluate how well a Bathroom Scale meets your needs
Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available bathroom scales in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any bathroom scales that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any bathroom scales that clearly exceed your price limit.
It is important to understand what your personal (or collective) goals are when considering a bathroom scale. Bathroom scales can perform many functions, including a simple weight measurement, a body fat measurement and even a weight water measurement.
Tip:
Consider a bathroom scale that is powered by long-life Lithium batteries. Without being recharged or plugged in, these bathroom scales can function properly for up to ten years.
There are many display types included with bathroom scales. Some scales sit on the floor with a blank screen, requiring you to tap your foot on one of the bottom corners to activate it. Other displays use LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology. This technology will work even in the dark and is always on. Most LCD displays include the clock function, making it highly versatile for all types of uses and functional at all times of the day or night.
Tip:
If you purchase a bathroom scale that can be run through an outlet (AC Adapter), the cords and adapter are usually included. While these bathroom scales can still be run with batteries, the batteries would have to be purchased separately.
While most well-known bathroom scales simply sit on the floor, platform and display included, it is important to consider other options. For a minimal additional investment, you can purchase a waist-high bathroom scale. These scales are set up with the platform in its standard position on the floor, but with the display waist-high and much easier to read.
If you know you will appreciate your display higher off the ground, there are also 2-piece bathroom scales. These are different than waist-high bathroom scales, because the display is moveable and you can place it wherever you wish. The removable display usually comes with hardware to mount on the wall, but can also, just as easily be placed on the back of the toilet, the countertop, or a nearby dresser or table. These types of scales can be a great choice for people with mobility difficulties.
If you or one of your family members have a more serious eye-sight problem than can be corrected by the waist-high or wall-mounted bathroom scale, there are also bathroom scales that will literally tell you what your weight is for the day. You can purchase bathroom scales that speak in a male or female voice.
Tip:
Your bathroom scale can contribute more to a room than a wellness tool. Consider a bathroom scale that includes the clock feature.
If you're looking for a minimal investment and you will be the only user, customer care may not be a high priority for you. However, if you or your family member will be embarking on a serious weight-loss program, you are probably considering a more expensive model. Bathroom scales that are available for the morbidly obese and models that use manual adjustments to obtain accurate measurements generally require more maintenance. You want to be confident that your scale accurately portrays your weight, body-fat, and water-weight measurement. Make sure you understand how your scale functions and how often it will have to be calibrated. Bathroom scales also have to be calibrated more often if there will be multiple users.
Tip:
Worried about the look of your bathroom scale? With bathroom scales becoming more affordable for individual use, bathroom scales are now being manufactured in sleek designs with multiple colour options. You are almost certain to find a bathroom scale that will compliment your bathroom decor.
When you were considering your requirements in a bathroom scale it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as digital or dial monitor, style, construction materials, weight capacity and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price.
Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various bathroom scales meet your personal needs:
Features Checklist
Types
- Floor scales - standard stand-on
- Waist-hight scales - easy to read, waist-high monitors
- 2-piece remote monitor scales - able to remove monitor and place where you want.
- Option to removable display on floor-scale - like the remote monitor, you are able to place the monitor wherever you want on the wall or on a near-by table, but the display can also set in the platform on the floor.
- Mechanical vs. non-mechanical
- Physician's scales
Types of monitors
- Digital scales - available in all types
- Dial - available in all types
- Large-dial - available in all types
Display size
Display type and features
- LCD - uses very little power, so is ideal for bathroom scales that run solely off of batteries
- Bright, lighted
- Push-button memory recall
Power type
- Long-life lithium battery (can last up to 10 years)
- standard batteries
- AC Adapter
Platform material
- Tempered glass
- Rubber
- Impact resistant
- Chrome
- Glass
- Cast-iron
Capacity
- 330 to 800 pounds (150 to 360 kg)
Weight increments
- 8 oz to 0.5 lb (50 g to 0.2 kg)
Base Dimensions
- 11 to 24 inches x 11.5 to 24 inches
- 14 inch diameter - circular option
Additional Features
- Nylon carrying case
- Soft-touch rubberized finish for a non-slip feel
- 2 to 10 user memory
- 40 recent readings
- PIN # user protection
- Body-fat monitoring
- Body-water monitoring
- Microprocessor - memory chip
- Balance Leveler Technology
- Clock
- Graphical goal-tracking
- Tap vs. no tap
- Talking feature for visually impaired (male and female voice)
- Wheels for easy manoeuvrability of your bathroom scale
- Removable base cover
- Height-rod
- Mother-baby function
- Non-slip mat
- Handle vs. no handle
Customer Care
- 2 to10 year warranty
- Calibration
- Online health program recommendations
- Diet and exercise recommendations
There are a lot of features listed here, and some of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your bathroom scale needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require in a bathroom scale.
Once you have finished evaluating the bathroom scales available for sale in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the bathroom scales one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out.
Evaluate how well a Bathroom Scale compares with competing Bathroom Scales
Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best product we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of bathroom scales that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list of bathroom scales that stand out from the crowd.
Questions to ask yourself:
Which bathroom scale on my short-list offers the best value for money?
Which of these bathroom scales best meet my needs?
Which of my short-listed bathroom scales has the best warranty?
Which bathroom scale is the easiest to use?
Which of the bathroom scales seems of the highest quality?
Which bathroom scale do I like best?
By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating bathroom scales that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short-listed products measure up in the following areas: Physical Quality, Warranty Conditions and Accessories & Extras.
Physical Quality
Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the bathroom scale, you need to find an opportunity to examine the product to evaluate how well it is made, and to check that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the materials, and how well the bathroom scale is put together. Check the assembly - is the bathroom scale solidly constructed? It's also important to examine the bathroom scale from the perspective of ease of use. How easily is the bathroom scale prepared for cleaning and maintenance? Are the controls easy to use? Make sure the bathroom scale fits you physically, and that it is user-friendly - some bathroom scales look great on paper, but unexpected problems will show up when you finally get your hands on them.
Physical Inspection Checklist:
- Materials - quality, appearance
- Assembly - all parts held together securely, good quality fittings
- Solidly constructed - stable, no loose components
- Controls - visible, easy to use, accessible, clearly labelled
- Size - appropriate for surroundings and purpose - fits user correctly
- Appearance - well finished, appropriate color, neat fittings etc
- Easy and comfortable to use
Warranty Conditions
Similar products may be available with significantly different terms and conditions, and you want to get the best deal you can. Parts and labor are often covered under separate warranties, for different time periods; sometimes there can be a significant difference in the warranty offered with one model compared to that offered with the next model up. It is particularly important to investigate any conditions that might void a warranty, such as if you use overload the scales with more weight than recommended.
Warranty Checklist:
- Duration - check the specifics
- Parts, Labour, Mechanical, Electrical
- Exactly what is covered
- Exactly what is excluded
- Conditions or actions that may void the warranty
Accessories and Extras
When evaluating similar products, it is a good idea to include accessories in your assessment. You need to be clear about exactly what accessories are necessary to run the product to its full capacity, and whether these are included with the purchase. What other extras are required - do you need a non slip mat, for instance?
Accessories Checklist:
- Accessories - included or extra cost?
- Compatibility issues - will it work with your existing products?
- What else will you need to fully utilize this product?
Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of bathroom scales that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:Price comparison and reviewsOver 300 reviews of different scalesPrice comparison of bathroom scalesPrice comparison of electronic bathroom scalesPrice comparison of body fat composition scales