Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 8 Consumer Services 211
To enforce their basic rights, consumers have certain responsibilities
they should uphold. These include the following:
• Use products properly. Products are manufactured to meet
specifi cations. If a product is abused or used in a way that is
not intended, the consumer may not have the right to ask for
compensation.
• Utilize information. Most products, especially electrical products,
come with user instructions and cautions or warnings. Consumers
are responsible for following the usage instructions and safety
warnings to prevent injury or other harm to people and property.
• Make careful choices. Consumers are responsible for making wise
choices in products. One way to do this is to be a comparison
shopper. Comparison shopping involves looking at different makes
and models of a product at various stores (Figure 8.9).
• Speak up about likes and dislikes. Unless service providers or
manufacturers get feedback, they have no way of making corrections
or offering to redress. Consumers should speak to someone as soon
as they notice the problem.
• Take action to have a wrong corrected. Usually, there are time limits
for returning products or getting a warranty repair or replacement.
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Figure 8.8 Consumer laws that prevent price gouging or cutting prevent unfair advantages
and ensure more choices for consumers. What do you think would happen if these
consumer laws did not exist?