Ben goes to the Mall! Lesson 1: Advertisements and Shopping

This is Ben. Ben is moving to a new apartment, but he needs to fill it with furniture and other items. Let’s help Ben navigate the world of advertising and shopping malls.

But wait! Ben needs to understand the basics of shopping and advertising laws. What is a consumer? What is a consumer transaction?

The law to help consumers… Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) protects consumers from unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable practices in consumer transactions. – Ohio Revised Code

Check out the deals! Ben checks out the advertisements. He discovers exclusions and limitations must be listed in ads. What are exclusions and limitations?

Exclusions and limitations What are some examples of exclusions and limitations that have to be in ads*? – Terms and conditions including: Extra costs Limited times of sale Whether or not pictured items are included in the sale – *Many of the terms and conditions can be found after the asterisk!

Ad 2: A TV! Ben sees an advertisement for a great deal on a TV. When he goes to the store, he finds out that the TV is not available for the advertised price. The salesperson offers him a similar TV that costs $200 more than the advertised TV. Do you think the company should be able to do this?

Advertisers and sellers cannot… Use bait-and-switch techniques! Like in fishing, where the bait lures the fish onto the hook, bait-and-switch techniques lure people into stores!

Video: Ohio Attorney General’s Office’s 2012 Take Action High School Video Contest, 1 st Place: I Knew You Were Lion e=player_embedded&v=DzvJ2lN1F_4

Ad 3: Pans! Ben needs some cookware. He sees an advertisement online stating “buy one pan, get one free.” The regular price of the pan is $40. Ben arrives at the store and the cost of one pan is $80. Is that free?

Free and Prizes When items are advertised as free they truly have to be free! Also, sellers may not advertise a “prize” if the consumer must pay to receive it.

Some other issues Ben needs to look out for: Used items may not be sold as new. – A company that sells electronics may not advertise or sell a computer as new when, in fact, it has been used and refurbished. Price comparisons must be truthful. – A seller may not advertise that its TVs are “Regularly $5,000, Now $3,000,” unless $5,000 actually is the regular price of that particular kind of TV

Review Questions What are some advertising practices that are considered deceptive under the CSPA? How does Ohio’s consumer law protect Ben when viewing advertisements?

Ben makes his way to the mall…

Ben buys furniture! Ben purchases a couch, bed, and some chairs. He gives the money to the business and waits for the furniture to arrive. How long does the business have to deliver the furniture before it is considered “failure to deliver?”

Failure to deliver The CSPA says it’s deceptive for a seller to accept a consumer’s money and go 8 weeks without doing one of the following: – Delivering the goods/ services – Providing a full refund – Telling the consumer about the delay and offering a refund – Substituting similar goods/services of equal or greater value

Ben uses gift cards!! Ben needs some other supplies, and he has gift cards! How long does Ben have to use old gift cards before they expire?

Ben can’t find everything at the mall… He needs to do some shopping online. What are good tips for him to stay safe?

Some ways to be a smarter shopper online include: Not wiring money or sending prepaid cards Reading and understanding policies and fees before buying or clicking the “I agree” button Using a credit card Not giving out personal information Using a secure connection (http“s”)

Video: From OnGuardOnline.gov CayM&feature=youtu.be CayM&feature=youtu.be

Ben should also: Always ask about refund policies before buying. Stores aren’t required to accept returns. Try to save enough money to buy an item outright. Rent-to-own transactions can end up being more expensive. Ask about restocking fees before buying a product. Some sellers charge consumers for returning items.

Review Questions What law protects consumers from deceptive practices? What protections do consumers have when shopping? How can you shop online with less risk?