1. Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
Chapter 23

2. The Consumer Bill of Rights
Outline by President John F. Kennedy in 1962
The Right to Be Informed
The Right to Choose
The Right to Safety
The Right to Be Heard
The Right to Have Problems Corrected
The Right to Consumer Education
The Right to Service

3. Consumer Movement
Movement to pass laws protecting consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices.

4. The Right to Be Informed
You have a right to accurate information about products.
Businesses are required to give you certain information about products
Ingredients in food
Interest rates for loans

5. The Right to Be Informed
Energy Guides inform us of the estimated energy consumption and the estimated yearly cost of operating the product
Clothing labels provide information about what the garment is made of, how to care for it, where it is made, and what size it is.
Food labels give us useful information about the food we eat

6. The Right to Choose
Consumers have the right to choose from a variety of goods and services.
Competition gives consumers more choices of goods to buy
Federal government regulates the market to keep it competitive
Anti-trust laws: designed to keep monopolies from forming

7. The Right to Safety
Consumers have the right to products that are safe to use.
Product Liability – manufacturers have a legal responsibility to make a safe product.
Can you think of any safety devices or warning labels on the products that you use?

8. Warning labels How about… Cigarette Label CD Labels ATV Label
       
Cigarette Label
CD Labels
ATV Label
Warning Labels Video

9. McDonalds Coffee Lawsuit
In 1994, $2.9 million was awarded to an 81-year old woman who was scalded by McDonald’s coffee.
While removing the lid to add cream and sugar, she spilled it causing third-degree burns to her inner thighs
Judgment was later reduced to $430,000
What changes do you think occurred after the verdict?

10. As a result… Batman: The Animated Series Armor Set Halloween costume:
PARENT: Please exercise caution—mask and chest plate are not protective; cape does not enable wearer to fly.
Conair Pro Style 1600 hair dryer:
WARNING: Do not use in shower. Never use while sleeping.
Instructions for folding up a portable baby carriage:
Step 1: Remove baby.
On packaging for a Rowenta iron:
Do not iron clothes on body.
More Funny Warning Labels

11. The Right to Be Heard
Consumers have the right to complain about products or services
“The customer is always right”
Many businesses rely on satisfying their customers to stay in business
Do you have an example of a time when you complained about a product and the business responded positively?

12. SPAM emails for free gifts
The Right to Be Heard
Bait and Switch
Store advertising an item at a low price to lure you in
Then the product is not available
They attempt to sell you a more expensive item
Fraud
deliberately misleading the consumer
Vacation Scams
SPAM s for free gifts

13. Vacation Scams

14. The Right to Have Problems Corrected
Many large businesses have customer service departments
Companies want to keep your business and will usually correct any problems that you’ve had
How would your respond if you purchased an item that was defective, and the company did not rectify the situation?

15. The Right to Consumer Education
Customers have the right to know how the economy works
Orientation to Business
Be an informed consumer
Read
Consumer Reports
Watch the news
CBS News Consumer Alerts
Comparison shop
Consumer Websites

16. The Right to Service
Consumers have the right to be treated in a respectful and courteous manner
Consumers have the right to expect fast delivery of goods or services
Consumers have the right to be served without discrimination
What could you do if you feel you are not being treated fairly?

17. Your Responsibilities as a Consumer
We have 7 rights as consumers, but we also have responsibilities as consumers too
Responsibility to be informed
Responsibility to choose carefully
Responsibility to use products safely
Responsibility to speak out
Responsibility to learn consumer skills

18. The Responsibility to be Informed
As a consumer, you have the responsibility to be informed and educate yourself
Before making a major purchase, do your homework.
Consumer Reports
Read Fact Sheets

19. The Responsibility to Choose Carefully
Make comparisons to find the best product or service at the best price
Find out about the product choices
Which product has the best guarantee
Which product fits your budget and your needs?
Choose products that don’t hurt the environment
Pollution – contamination of air, water, and land
Conservation – process of preserving, protecting, and planning the management of resources.
Recycling – collecting products for processing so they can be used again

20. The Responsibility to Use Products Safely
Government has passed many laws to make products safe
You have a responsibility to read information about a product and use the product the way it was intended
Extreme Home Makeover Video`
Consumers must follow the instructions given by the manufacturer for the safe use of products
What is the recommended dosage?
How should chemicals be stored?

21. The Responsibility to Speak Out
You have a responsibility to report unfair, unsafe, and illegal business practices
Boycott – refusing to buy a good or service
A modern boycott was the blacklisting of the country band The Dixie Chicks after one of the members made a derogatory political comment about President Bush.
Many country music stations in the U.S. refused to play their music as a result.
List of active boycotts

22. The Responsibility to Seek Remedy
You have a responsibility to seek remedy for a defective product
If you plan to exchange an item or get a refund:
it’s your responsibility to bring the item with you
It’s your responsibility to bring the receipt
and bring any warranties or guarantees that came with the item.