Talk:Price look-up code/Archives/2012

What PLU codes should be included in the list on this page?

There are over 13000 of them, so clearly the list cannot be comprehensive. Perhaps groups containing only common citris, apples, et cetera? ~CS 22:39, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

No, there are over 1300 of them, as of July 2012. Even with 1300, instead of 13,000, I think that linking to PLU code reference sites or documents, which are publicly accessible, no pay walls, is sufficient. Well, with a distinction made between four digit and five digit PLU's, and those five digit PLU's that begin with an '8' versus a '9', of course! --FeralOink (talk) 09:09, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Include Organic PLUs (that is, information such as the preceding '9')? --207.22.49.218 07:01, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

Much too Specific…

This article would lead one to believe that the only use of PLU is for produce sales in US stores. PLU is a much broader concept, as mentioned above. For example, all varieties of fish sold in the US have a set 4 digit PLU code that is part of the longer random-weight barcode. In addition, if the produce part is kept as part of a larger article, some mention should be made of who issues the codes. Maybe this page should be retitled "Produce PLU Codes"? Futurehouse (talk) 23:38, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

This article is not about a concept but a specific, standardized system which only covers produce, as detailed in the article and the linked references. If you think there is another topic that goes by this name, you can start an article on this topic. ike9898 (talk) 00:58, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Yes, this is my impression as well, Ike. --FeralOink (talk) 09:09, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Which countries does this apply to?

Is this for the US only, or Canada, Mexico, Europe, or global? The article needs to make it clear. Bards (talk) 12:25, 10 July 2011 (UTC)

A good point! The PLU's are for global usage per the IFPS (International Federation for Produce Standards), which is the standards authority for PLU's. There is an updated reference document and user's guide that I just noticed on the IFPS website. It was released with an effective date of July 2012. There is specific language in it which describes the scope of PLU's within the U.S.A. versus the rest of the world. The primary motivation for that distinction appears to be the U.S.A.'s usage of the "Imperial System" of measurement, as opposed to everywhere else. Insofar as I could tell, the IFPS seems to have stronger origination ties to several European nations than to the U.S.A. I mention that only because of my own initial impression that the IFPS was U.S.A.-centric, which I am now less certain about. Note that I said "less certain"! I have no expert knowledge, merely what is provided as authoritative by the IFPS website and member organizations. --FeralOink (talk) 08:47, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Article needs to be renamed

This article needs to be renamed to either "Price Look Up System - Produce" or "Produce Price Look Up Code System". PLU is a very broad term covering all types of industries and goods. It is NOT produce specific. In addition, this article presents information about Produce codes in the United States only, while not making that clear. I do not know how to rename an article, (and I am not sure I have rights to do that) or I would do it. Futurehouse (talk) 22:28, 12 August 2011 (UTC)

Although that seems intuitively correct, I am not certain if it is true. This is from the PLU code website, FAQ page:

"IFPS is a coalition of fruit and vegetable associations from around the globe that joined together in 2001 as equal partners to introduce a global standard for the use of international Price Look-Up (PLU) numbers. The group's work is coordinated by the Produce Marketing Association, and the federation's founding members are based in North America, South America, Europe/Africa, and Asia/Pacific... to improve the supply chain efficiency of the fresh produce industry through developing harmonized international standards."

On the other hand, I can't tell whether or not "PLU" is uniquely associated with produce. It isn't an ISO standard. It doesn't seem to be a trademarked name. So if there were other, distinctly NON-produce associated product look-up codes that used the abbreviation "PLU", then it would make sense to name this page "Price Look Up Code (Produce)" and other price look up codes to have their own appropriately named articles. Such a change would need to be confirmed first, regarding trademark status or lack thereof, and second, doesn't seem necessary until or unless there are other PLU code related articles that need disambiguation or a uniquely named article. --FeralOink (talk) 09:03, 6 September 2012 (UTC)