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. fiphtoto/Shutterstock.com 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?