Can not speak for Tennessee in particular but ours have to have a scale that is marked "Certified for Retail Sale" or something to that effect. That rules out most of the cheap home type scales. In Illinois there is a state agency (Weights and Measures division of the Department of Agriculture) that actuall inspects the scale for accuracy with check-weights each year. They slap a sticker on it and your good to go. I assume that your state has a similar program probably through the Ag Department. We have a pair of Tosheba TEC series scales (one 10 lb and one 25 lb) we use and like. They are pretty bulletproof and run off of D cell batteries or AC. They can be found for about $130 new online but can be found places like Craig's List and E-Bay used fairly reasonable.

yea what i keep seeing is "legal for trade"

so you have too get your scale checked every year??? is there a large fee for that???? im not sure we have too do it every year but i do know it has to have a sticker on the back. i guess my best option would be to go to the courthouse and ask them be for i buy one. if i can get an old one and have it certified rather than buying a new one i might be able to save a few bucks

In Indiana, NO fee, just have it checked with the Weights and Measure's dept. The scale needs to state on it "Legal for Trade". That tells you that it can be certified. Yes you can buy a used scale. I bought one off of ebay for less than $100. Mine is digital, price computing. It makes it alot easier than to measure then go to the calculator and price it out. I have 2, 1 is Mettler Toledo runs on Dcell batteries or AC, and 1 that I don't remember what brand it came with 2 special batteries that you charge up or use AC.

In most states, there isn't a fee or just a small fee for weights and measures to check the scale. The scale needs to state on it somewhere "Legal for Trade" NTEP approved and have a Certificate of Conformance (CoC#). That tells you that it meets certain guidelines and can be certified for buying and selling based on the weights. A scale with price computing function is the way to go. It makes it alot easier than to measure then go to the calculator and price it out. Most come with built in rechargeable battery now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Certified Scales