Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

We've gotten to the point where everybody's got a right and nobody's got a responsibility. - Newton Minow

Safety Right to safety Products must not endanger consumers’ lives or health Responsibility to use products safely Consumers are responsible for following directions for proper use and maintenance of products.

What do we expect from flip flops?

Flip Flops! Products coming out of china are now being recalled due to unsafe materials to make products and keep the budget at a low cost. Lead is MIXED in the paint and here is what happened when a customer bought a pair of flip flops, these were CHEMICAL BURNS:

Information Right to be informed Responsibility to use information Business must provide accurate information in advertising, labeling, and sales practices. Responsibility to use information Consumers are responsible for using the information to evaluate product choices.

Choice Right to Choose Responsibility to choose carefully Consumers should have a variety of goods and services from which to choose. Responsibility to choose carefully Consumers should take advantage of product variety by considering many opinions and making rational choices.

Competition keeps prices reasonable Monopoly unfair advantage

Heard Right to be heard The government must consider consumer interests when creating laws. Responsibility to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction Consumers should tell their elected officials their opinions on consumer issues, and inform them of improper business practices.

Redress Right to redress Responsibility to seek redress Consumers should be able to obtain fair remedies to consumer problems. Responsibility to seek redress Consumers should inform businesses of product defects and unfair practices and pursue remedies.

Consumer Education Right to consumer education Sufficient information should be available for consumers to make rational decisions. Responsibility to be an educated consumer Consumers should take advantage of opportunities to gather information and learn how to make rational buying decisions.

Healthy Environment Right to a healthy environment Businesses should avoid polluting the environment and should contribute to the welfare of the community in which they operate. Responsibility to contribute to a healthy environment Consumers should support businesses that operate responsibly and report environmental abuses to authorities.

Who can help? Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Most important federal consumer protection agency Responsible for protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices such as misleading information in advertising or on product labels Stops deceptive advertising

Warranties Company’s promise that the product will meet specific standards over a given time period or the company will repair or replace it, or give a refund Implied warranty – unwritten guarantee Express warranty – a statement which presents a specific quality of performance feature of a product

Who else? Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Protects consumers from dangerous products. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State and local governments

Who else cont. Consumer’s Union tests products and reports on the results in Consumer Reports. Underwriter’s Laboratories checks products for safety from fire, electric shock, and other hazards. State’s attorney’s office handles frauds and misleading ad claims