Consumers, their expectations and their problems

Consumers are the final buyers of goods and services. A consumer product is any article for personal, family, institutional or business use. Consumer behaviour is how a buyer decides. A consumer forum is a place or body where consumers discuss products and are sometimes protected.

Consumers expect: reasonable prices, enough information, correct weights and measures, genuine goods, quality and purity, and honesty in selling and advertising. A country's level of consumer awareness and protection is a sign of its development.

Problems consumers face:

• Substandard goods.
• Adulteration: substances added or removed, harming health.
• High prices: some sellers overcharge people who do not know better; a high price does not always mean quality.
• Lack of information about rights and laws.
• Wrong or too little information from makers: misleading labels, empty ads, packaging used to tempt (oversized packs, a 'new pack' with the same product inside).
• Incorrect weights and measures: look for the seal or verification stamp.
• Duplicate and imitation products with similar names and packs.
• Tempting sales schemes: exchange offers, bonus, lucky draws.
• Poor services from utilities, banks and insurers, and poor after-sales service.

For example, a packet of biscuits in a big box may hold far fewer biscuits than it looks. Know what you should get; notice when you don't.