Consumer Problems

1
Consumer Problems
Do Now Write- What is the worst product you or
a family member bought? Did you take any action
with the seller (example-return it)?
2
History of the Consumer Bill of Rights

• Before the mid-twentieth century, consumers were
  without rights with regard to their interaction
  with products and commercial producers. Consumers
  had little ground on which to defend themselves
  against faulty or defective products, or against
  misleading or deceptive advertising methods.
• By the 1950's, a movement called consumerism
  began to gather a following, pushing for
  increased rights and legal protection against
  malicious business practices.

3
History of Consumer Bill of Rights

• gather a following, pushing for increased rights
  and legal protection against malicious business
  practices. By the end of the decade, legal
  product liability had been established in which
  an aggrieved party need only prove injury by use
  of a product, rather than bearing the burden of
  proof of corporate negligence.
• In 1962, President John F. Kennedy presented a
  speech to the United States Congress in which he
  extolled basic consumer rights, later called The
  Consumer Bill of Rights.

4
Consumer Rights

• Right to Safety.
• Right to be informed (fair labeling).
• The right to choose.
• The right to be heard.
• The right to redress
• The Right to Consumer Education
• The Right to service.

5
Steps to Resolving Consumer Problems

• 1. Check your Warranty.
• Warranty
• -Written promise to repair or replace the product
  it it does not work as claimed.
• Implied Warranties
• The legal obligation a seller has to sell you a
  product that do what it is intended to do.
• Limited Warranties
• May have time, part or owner limits.
• Full Warranty
• Product failure should be completely covered for
  a reasonable amount of time.

6
Steps to Resolving Consumer Problems

• Take your product, all packaging and records to
  the stores customer service department

7
Steps to Resolving Consumer Problems

• Write to the Retailer or
  Manufacturer.
• Write to the Better Business Bureau.
• 5. Legal Action.

8
Write an Outrageous letter to the Better Business
Bureau

• You will each write a fictitious letter to the
  Better Business Bureau to complain about an
  outrageous issue you product or service issue.
• Use the letter format on page 266 in your book.
• Better Business Bureau
• 150 White Plains Road, Suite 107, Tarrytown, NY
  10591

9
Outrageous Letter to Better Better Business Bureau

• Format-
• Paragraph 1-Summarize your issue
• Paragraph 2-State the steps you have taken
• Paragraph 3-State what action you would like the
  Better Business Bureau to take.
• Paragraph 4-Finish up with a thank you.