Back to Table of Contents pp Chapter 23 Consumer Rights and Responsibilites

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 2 of 57 Learning Objectives After completing this chapter, you’ll be able to: 1.Name 1.Name the seven rights of consumers. 2.List 2.List the basic responsibilities of a consumer. continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 3 of 57 Learning Objectives After completing this chapter, you’ll be able to: 3.Explain 3.Explain how you can conserve resources. 4.Describe 4.Describe ways you can learn consumer skills.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 4 of 57 Why It’s Important As a consumer, you have rights about the safety and the quality of the products you buy. Along with those rights, you also have responsibilities to choose and use products wisely.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 5 of 57 Key Words consumer rights consumer movement product liability bait and switch fraud pollution continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 6 of 57 Key Words conservation recycling boycott

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 7 of 57 The Consumer Bill of Rights In 1962, President John F. Kennedy outlined what he called the Consumer Bill of Rights.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 8 of 57 The Consumer Bill of Rights The four basic consumer rights are: The right to be informed The right to choose The right to safety The right to be heard

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 9 of 57 The Consumer Bill of Rights These rights received much attention from the consumer movement, a movement to pass laws protecting consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 10 of 57 The Consumer Bill of Rights Over the years, three more rights were added. These rights are: The right to have problems corrected The right to consumer education The right to service

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 11 of 57 Figure 23.1 WHAT ARE YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS? The government outlines consumers rights. On a separate piece of paper, match the statement to the consumer right.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 12 of 57 The Right to Be Informed Consumers can make wise decisions only if they have the information they need. As a consumer, you have a right to accurate information.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 13 of 57 The Right to Be Informed Businesses are required to give you certain information about their products. Packaged foods must list all ingredients starting with what they contain the most.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 14 of 57 The Right to Choose Consumers can choose from a wide variety of goods and services, because the United States has a market economy.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 15 of 57 The Right to Choose When one company controls the market, it has a monopoly. Competition means there are choices. Lack of competition hurts the consumer.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 16 of 57 The Right to Choose The federal government has the power to keep markets competitive. The government can use antitrust laws to stop monopolies from forming or to break them up.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 17 of 57 The Right to Safety The legal responsibility that manufacturers have to make a safe product is called product liability.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 18 of 57 The Right to Safety Products that might be dangerous if used improperly must have instructions for correct and safe operation.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 19 of 57 The Right to Be Heard Consumers who have complaints about products or services have a right to be heard.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 20 of 57 The Right to Be Heard If you’re not happy, businesses generally want to hear about it so they can fix the problem and keep you as a customer.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 21 of 57 The Right to Be Heard Bait and switch consists of advertising an item at a low price to lure you into the store. Once you’re there, the salespeople tell you they’re out of the item and try to get you to switch to a more expensive item.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 22 of 57 The Right to Be Heard There are a number of laws to protect consumers from fraud, or deliberately misleading business practices.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 23 of 57 The Right to Be Heard You can turn to various government or consumer organizations for help if you have a problem.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 24 of 57 The Right to Have Problems Corrected Usually if you take a defective item back to the store with your receipt, the business will replace the item or refund your money.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 25 of 57 The Right to Have Problems Corrected If a business refuses to correct a problem, you can write to the manufacturer to find out how to get the problem resolved.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 26 of 57 The Right to Consumer Education Consumers have the right to learn how a market system works. When you decide to buy an item, you should know that different stores might charge different prices.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 27 of 57 The Right to Consumer Education Some sources of consumer education are: Comparison shopping Labels and fact sheets continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 28 of 57 The Right to Consumer Education Consumer education classes Magazines such as Consumer Reports Consumer organizations

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 29 of 57 The Right to Service Customers have a right to be treated in a respectful and courteous manner.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 30 of 57 The Right to Service You have the right to expect fast delivery of goods or services and that they meet the standard of quality a business claims.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 31 of 57 The Right to Service You have the right to be served without discrimination on the basis of your race, gender, income, or age.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 32 of 57 Fast Review 1.How are the ingredients in packaged food listed? 2.What is a manufacturer’s legal responsibility to make safe products called? continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 33 of 57 Fast Review 3.What is bait and switch? 4.Interpret and explain the rights of consumers.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 34 of 57 Your Responsibilities as a Consumer As a consumer, you have the responsibility to educate yourself.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 35 of 57 The Responsibility to Be Informed Before making a major purchase, read Fact Sheets from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can also get product information on the Internet.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 36 of 57 Figure 23.2 HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION The local newspaper runs these stories. As a consumer, what is your responsibility after reading these headlines?

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 37 of 57 The Responsibility to Choose Carefully Responsible consumers make comparisons to find the best product or service at the best price.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 38 of 57 Pollution The environment is threatened with all kinds of pollution, or contamination of air, water, and land. Consumers (and producers) must do their part to cut down on pollution.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 39 of 57 Conserving Resources Conservation is the process of preserving, protecting, and planning the management of resources. Every consumer should be aware of the limited supplies of resources and adjust their consumption accordingly.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 40 of 57 Recycling Recycling involves collecting products for processing so that they can be used again.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 41 of 57 Recycling It’s the responsibility of all consumers to: Reduce the use of disposable materials Reuse products when they can Recycle materials to reduce waste

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 42 of 57 The Responsibility to Use Products Safely Consumers must follow the instructions given by the manufacturer for the safe use of products.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 43 of 57 The Responsibility to Use Products Safely You can have safety problems if you buy products from an unreliable source.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 44 of 57 The Responsibility to Speak Out You have the responsibility to report unfair, unsafe, and illegal business practices.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 45 of 57 The Responsibility to Speak Out You can boycott, or refuse to buy, a company’s goods or services. You can let the company know if you don’t approve of its products or policies.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 46 of 57 The Responsibility to Seek Remedy You have a responsibility to seek remedy for a defective product.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 47 of 57 The Responsibility to Learn Consumer Skills Some tips for making smart consumer decisions are: Read information on labels and packages. continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 48 of 57 The Responsibility to Learn Consumer Skills Compare prices at different stores and look for sales. Pay attention to the media to become aware of illegal practices. continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 49 of 57 The Responsibility to Learn Consumer Skills Read consumer information publications. Attend classes or workshops on consumer issues and problems.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 50 of 57 Speak out Speak out Speak out Speak out Speak out Graphic Organizer Being a Responsible Consumer Graphic Organizer RESPONSIBLE CONSUMERS

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 51 of 57 Fast Review 1.Why is it important to read product labels? 2.Would you choose not to buy a manufacturer’s products for ethical reasons? continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 52 of 57 Fast Review 3.What are three things you can do to conserve resources? 4.Interpret and explain the responsibilities of consumers.

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 53 of 57 How much money could your family save in five years if you used energy-efficient appliances? continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 54 of 57 How will the increased use of public transportation and bike lanes help everyone? continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 55 of 57 Hand washing a car is an example of which consumer responsibility? continued

Introduction to Business, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Slide 56 of 57 What consumer responsibility are you demonstrating by trying to improve the environment?

Back to Table of Contents pp End of Chapter 23 Consumer Rights and Responsibilites