Sadly, more true than you think spijker.
Part of the problem is that even the file sizes aren't standardized - I have file folders that are two millimetres too short for A4, and file cabinets that just barely hold those small file folders.
I still buy RC glossy locally in 9.5x12 for proofing.
A lot of the supplies sold in Canada are designed for the entire North American market, and so suit US tastes. When the big push came for metrification, the metric commission was a bit too pushy and got a push back. I still remember the oposition party setting up at a gas station just outside Ottawa, as "freedom to measure" and selling Gas by the (Imperial) gallon.
The end result is a lot of industries have only gotten to "soft conversion" even after all these years, just look in the food store and see how many things are sold in 454g packages.
Unfortunately with NAFTA, most products have to be compatible with expectations south of the St Lawrence river, and so we are likely to be in that state until Obama takes up the cause of standardization in his second term.
I don't think the US will ever change, the American measure is too ingrained into their society, it's one of the trinity of American beliefs along with the flag and dollar. I think you would have an easier time abolishing the president, senate and congress and replacing them with a despot.
In 20-30 years, we may even be ready to buy gas by the liter.
We're changing, just very slowly (considering that metric has been legal for trade for 50ish years).
When I was a kid in the '60s, nothing I can think of was sized in metric units (may have been double labeled). But what's the last time you saw a 1/2 gallon soda bottle on sale? Wine and liquor (at least the ones I buy) are all in metric. Globalization is making metric parts (screws, etc) pretty common.
In 20-30 years, we may even be ready to buy gas by the liter.
What they should have done was invent a couple of intermediary measurements, like the metric pound which is ½kg, considering that it's a mere 46g more then an imperial pound, it would make sense.
It has been many many years since I was in the states, but I recall last time I was there some brands sold by the litre, while others sold by the US gallon. At the time the price had recently stabilized at more than a dollar a gallon, and I saw some staions maked "half price" - I was gravely disappointed to learn that they ment that the pump was set to half the price of the gas, and so if you pumped 15 dollars worth by the pump they wanted you to pay 30. I have often wondered if those pumps were replaced by ones calibrated in Litres.If you buy gas in Point Roberts, Washington you will buy it by the liter.
Matt
In Canada I recall that sort of thing being proposed, but it was shot down as one of the objectives they were trying to achieve was to prevent the conversion to be an excuse for companies to jack up prices by switching to a Smaller metric pack. Thus they wanted the conversion sizes to be a Clean Break, while still being useful for consumers.
Where they got into trouble was they also had the goal of reducing the number of different sizes sold so that consumers could make price comparisons without needing a calculator. They pushed standard sizes like 50, 100, 250 ml for toothpaste which got the manufacturers upset as they were quite happy to sell "medium" tubes that got slightly smaller every time the price went up, and bigger when the New-improved version at a higher price came out.
The industry push back came with some reason, they had standard package VOLUMES for detergent for example ( because consumers use it by volume) as well as standard weights as it had been traditionally sold by weight. In pushing back ideals like that a lot of the other changes proposed also fell off the table.
Perhaps the stangest conversion that others had mentioned was milk, which used to be in 3 packs of one quart, and is now sold in three packs of slightly larger bags (which still fit the bag holder) totaling 4 Litres, so each bag is 4/3 of a litre.
How does a question about the availability of 11x14 paper get turned into a discussion about the metric system and purchasing gasoline???????????????????????????????
Put your thinking cap on. 11x14 commonly turns into a 12x16 discussion and from there we go to US vs Europe sizes, etc.
In regards to the toothpaste example previously given - don't they already have to state the volume right on the container? I realize it's not the same as pre-expected volumes, but surely the calculation is easy (vol/price).
I know this is a somewhat naive question, but what are milk bags? Do they distribute the milk in bags rather than cartons? That's seems like a good idea and we should consider that in America as well. Packaging is a huge amount of waste. One thing I question is plastic vs recycled paper, however (bag vs carton). Although the larger sizes still use plastic.
I know this is a somewhat naive question, but what are milk bags? Do they distribute the milk in bags rather than cartons? That's seems like a good idea and we should consider that in America as well. Packaging is a huge amount of waste. One thing I question is plastic vs recycled paper, however (bag vs carton). Although the larger sizes still use plastic.
Put your thinking cap on. 11x14 commonly turns into a 12x16 discussion and from there we go to US vs Europe sizes, etc.
In regards to the toothpaste example previously given - don't they already have to state the volume right on the container? I realize it's not the same as pre-expected volumes, but surely the calculation is easy (vol/price).
I know this is a somewhat naive question, but what are milk bags? Do they distribute the milk in bags rather than cartons? That's seems like a good idea and we should consider that in America as well. Packaging is a huge amount of waste. One thing I question is plastic vs recycled paper, however (bag vs carton). Although the larger sizes still use plastic.
I sometimes wonder if a good way to package liquid developers, would be similar, except with a stiff cardboard outer box, to protect the bag from puncture. Add a plastic seal where you screw in an optional small tap. Open the tap to remove the contents, the plastic bag then shrinks so that no air gets inside. The cardboard and plastic are made recyclable.
I sometimes wonder if a good way to package liquid developers, would be similar, except with a stiff cardboard outer box, to protect the bag from puncture. Add a plastic seal where you screw in an optional small tap. Open the tap to remove the contents, the plastic bag then shrinks so that no air gets inside. The cardboard and plastic are made recyclable.
The dutch maker Amaloco sold some paper developers and fixers in a system called "cubitainer", basically what many of you know as "bag-in-a-box" from the wine shop; a mylar bag in a carton box, the content is poured out, the bag shrinks and protects the liquid.
most of us don't buy our developer 19 liters at a time.
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