Consumer's Education

Who Is Consumer?

  • A person who has indicated his or her willingness to obtain goods and/or services from a supplier with the intention of paying for them.
  • Someone who has purchased goods and/or services for personal consumption

A person or group of people, such as a household, who are the final users of products or services. The consumer's use is final in the sense that the product is usually not improved by the use.

Responsibilites Of Consumers

  • Buying quality products at reasonable price.
  • To check the weights and measuresbefore making purchases.
  • Reading the label carefully.
  • To procure the bill, cash received warranty, etc.
  • Shopping carefully and wisely.
  • Understanding the terms of the sale.
  • Reading and following instructions.
  • Getting guarantees in writing
  • Saving receipts.
  • Asking questions at point of sale.
  • Keeping informed about new products.

RIGHT TO HEALTHY ENVIRNOMENT

Businesses and governing bodies have the responsibility to establish policies, both in the production and regulation of goods and services, that do not harm the natural world. These policies should help ensure consumers live in a clean, safe, sustainable and healthy environment.

How Consumers Are Exploited

  • Under-weighing and Under-Measurement.
  • Selling sub-standard quality goods to consumers.
  • Charging higher prices for the product.
  • False and duplicate items sold.
  • Adulteration in food items for higher profits.
  • Artificial scarcity by hoarding.
  • Misleading advertising, false or deceptive marketing practices

Factors Causing Exploitation of Consumers

Limited Information: In a capitalist economy, producers and sellers are free to produce any goods or services in any quantity and there is no regulation on the prices. In the absence of information about different aspects of the products, namely, price, quality, condition of use, etc., the consumers are liable to make a wrong choice and lose money.

Limited Supplies : The consumers are exploited when the goods and services are not available in the required quantity or numbers. This gives us rise to hoarding and price-escalation.

Limited Competition: When only one producer or group of producer or a group of persons controls the production and supply of a product, and is in a position to restrict the availability of supplies, there is a possibility of manipulation in prices and availability.

Illiteracy: Illiteracy is one of the major drawbacks that lead to the exploitation of consumers. The level of literacy directly affects the level of awareness about products and the market.

Right To Redress

Customers must have an avenue to receive compensation for the unsatisfactory performance of services and inferior products, or damage inflicted from their use.

Right To Consumer Education

Programs and information must be made available to consumers, enabling them to make informed decisions about products and services.

Responsibilities Of Consumers

The Three R's Of a Dutiful Consumers

Reduce: Purchase products that require less packaging or to limit the waste you are producing.

Reuse: Use a travel mug or reusable water bottle and avoid single use bags.

Recycle: Paper, plastic, glass, magazines, electronics, and more can be processed into new products while using fewer natural resources and less energy.

Need Help?

HERE'S WHO TO CALL OR EMAIL

Consumers Association of Pakistan

Telephone: 021-32639729-30

Email: consumerspk@gmail.com

Web: www.cap.org.pk

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/- Consumers AssociationofPakistan/