Consumer Issues

1
Consumer Issues

• Teen Living Skills
• Unit 5

2
What Are My Rights?

• 30 of 8-17 year olds say they are involved
  in making family purchasing decisions.

3
What Are My Rights (Terms)?

• Consumer anyone who uses goods or services.
• Recall when a manufacturer asks for a product
  to be returned due to a quality, safety, or
  performance issue.
• Redress an action taken to remedy a wrong.
• Right a privilege that is entitled to you and
  that the law will uphold.
• Responsibility a task that a person is
  obligated to carry out and complete.

4
What Are My Rights?

• CONSUMER RIGHTS
• The right to choose.
• The right to be heard.
• The right to be informed.
• The right to redress.
• The right to safety.
• The right to consumer education.
• The right to service.

5
What Are My Rights?

• CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES
• To be alert and aware.
• To be wise.
• To use products properly.
• To make reasonable complaints.
• To use ethical consumer behavior.

6
Think About It

• Teens spent 158 billion dollars in 2005
  - NAA Business Analysis and Research Department,
• Newspaper Association of America

7
Think About It

• Sacrifice giving up an item, money, value for
  another item, money or value that you feel has
  more value or claim at that moment.
• Cost per use the cost calculation that is
  based on number of times the product is used.

8
Think About It

• Cost Factors
• Can I afford it?
• Is it worth the cost per use?
• Is the quality worth the cost?
• Are the additional hidden costs that go with the
  product reasonable?
• If buying it now and paying for it with credit,
  is it worth the extra cost of the credit?

9
Think About It

• Product Information Factors
• Is this the best time of year to buy this type of
  product?
• What do I know about the product?

10
Think About It

• Personal Factors
• Is it a need or a want?
• Will it be worth the financial sacrifices that I
  will need to make in order to purchase it?

11
Think About It

• Quality Factors
• Will it be something I can use for a long period
  or time?
• Will it break or wear out too soon?

12
Buy Me, Buy Me!

• On average a teen spends 74 in a given week.
  Older teens spend more than younger teens in a
  week. Males and females average spending the
  same amount in a given week. - NAA
  Business Analysis and Research Department,
  Newspaper
  Association of America
• 29 of teens research a product online before
  making a retail purchase.
  - Jupiter Research

13
Buy Me, Buy Me!

• Generic a product without a known brand name
  that generally includes the same ingredients but
  may have different proportions.
• Guarantee when a company assumes responsibility
  for the quality of a product.
• Hidden costs costs that arent obvious and that
  arent added into the cost of an item.

14
Buy Me, Buy Me!

• Consider the following factors
• Quality of the product.
• The cost of the product.
• Warranty or guarantee.
• Hidden costs.
• Brand name of the product.
• The media.
• Label information.
• Peers or family.
• Sales associates.
• An appeal to the senses.

15
Words to Know

• Endorsement expression of approval or support.

16
Can I Take It Back?

• 44 of teens have purchased something
  on-line. - NAA Business Analysis and
  Research Department,
  Newspaper Association of America
• Authorization permission.

17
Can I Take It Back?

• Be sure to consider the following factors before
  you buy anything.
• Be aware of the stores return policy before
  making a purchase.
• Return purchase promptly, unused, and in the
  original container.
• Internet and mail order purchases usually require
  a return authorization prior to the item being
  returned. You may have to pay shipping. Most
  stores require a sales receipts for a cash
  refund.

18
Can I Take It Back?

• Stores may not give a cash refund for a purchase
  paid for by check if it is less than ten days
  from the purchase date.
• In-store credit is sometimes given for a similar
  merchandise that was purchased in another store.
• A restocking fee is sometimes charged, especially
  in the electronics and computer areas.

19
Can I Take It Back?

• Many software packages cant be returned if
  opened.
• A store may have a maximum number of days that
  they allow for an exchange or refund.
• Stores going out of business typically post all
  sales final and do not allow for an exchange or
  refund.

20
Lets Save Some Money!

• Teens reported spending 98 of their money
  rather than saving it.
  - Teenage Research Unlimited
• Expiration date the date the product is no
  longer suitable for use.

21
Lets Save Some Money!

• To use coupons successfully you should do the
  following
• Follow the guidelines stated on the coupon.
• Use a coupon if it saves you money on the
  purchase of a product you were going to buy
  anyway.
• Consider using a coupon if it allows you to try a
  product or different brand.

22
Lets Save Some Money!

• Use a coupon if it allows you to buy a better
  quality of product at the same cost you usually
  spend.
• Use a coupon if it allows extra savings due to a
  stores promotion of additional savings on the
  product.

23
Career Corner

• Credit Counselor
• Customer Service Representative
• Credit Manager
• Advertising Representative

• Store Display Designer
• Personal Shopper
• Ad Designer
• Call Center Representative

24
The End