1. Household Consumer

2. What is a Consumer A consumer is anyone who buys goods or services for their own use.

3. What is a good Consumer • Try to buy goods that are good value and good quality. • Check the prices in a number of shops before deciding where to buy. • Keep their receipt on a safe place. • Know their legal rights. • Know who to go to for help if they have a problem • Avoid impulse buying.

4. Class Task As a good consumer discuss the important factors that should be taken into account before Deciding which mobile phone to buy?

5. Brand names

6. Brand names A brand is the identity of a particular product. It usually refers to the manufacturer of the product.

7. Have you ever heard people at home or on television talking about different brands?? Examples

11. Choosing a brand • The price of each brand of the product. • The quality of each brand of the product. • The features included in each brand. • The ingredients and additives used if it is a food product. • If a guarantee is included and the length of the guarantee. • Special offers available from certain manufacturers.

12. False Economy A false economy is a situation where we buy something that costs less than other brands or seems to be better value but turns out to be more expensive in the long run Example: Buying a cheap battery that costs 50cent and Only lasts for 3 hours instead of a better brand of battery that costs €1 and last for 10 hours.

13. Consumer Protection Sometimes consumers experience problems when they purchase goods or services. These problems may include the following: • The goods a re faulty and do not work • The quality of the goods is not up to the standard we expected or paid for. • The goods purchased are not the same as how they were described in the advertisement. • The service received was not up to standard.

14. The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 The sale of goods and supply of services law lays down certain rules that apply every time goods or a service is provided. A set of rules must apply under this act

15. The rules • All goods sold must be of merchantable quality(good quality). • All goods sold must be fit for the purpose intended by the buyer. • Goods received must be the same as the description. • When consumers are shown a sample of something you must receive the product that does exactly that. • The person supplying a service must have the necessary skill. • They must do the job properly • Any materials they use must be of good quality.

16. Solution • Refund • Replacement • Repair • Credit note It is important to remember however that the Consumer is not entitled to any of the solutions listed Above if: • They do not return the goods within a reasonable period of time after they have purchased them. • They simply changed their mind and no longer want the good. • They caused the fault themselves through misuse or accident. • The goods were marked “seconds” or the fault was pointed out at the time of purchase.

17. A Guarantee A Guarantee is a promise from the manufacturer to offer a refund or a replacement to consumers who have purchased faulty goods.

18. A Warranty A warranty is an additional promise by a Manufacturer or seller to repair damaged goods Within a stated period of time.

19. A Credit note A credit note is a document (voucher) given by the retailer to the consumer for the value of the goods returned. It allows the consumer to purchase other goods from that shop equal in Value to the goods returned.

20. Steps involved in solving a consumer problem • Return to the shop where the goods was purchased or contact the supplier of the service. • Bring along the faulty good and the receipt or some kind of proof of purchase laser card receipt • Ask to see the manager and give them full details of the problem. • Tell the manager the remedy you would like to receive. • If you are not satisfied with the action taken by the manager seek advice from consumer association of Ireland. • As a last resort you should consider going to court.