Consumer

A consumer is a person or group of people, such as a

household, who are the final users of products or services.
The consumer is the one who pays to consume the goods
and services produced. As such, consumers play a vital
role in the economic system of a nation. In the absence of
effective consumer demand, producers would lack one of
the key motivations to produce: to sell to consumers. The
consumer also forms part of the chain of distribution.

Reasons of consumer's exploitation

Consumers are exploited by different means and due
to different reasons. The main causes of consumers
exploitation are :

1. Lack of knowledge: The main reason for exploitation
of consumers is lack of knowledge. Several consumers
do not have the knowledge about the price, quality,
services related commodities. Therefore, consumers
simply trust the facts told to them by the sellers
and purchase goods, thus become trapped and are
exploited.

2. Consumers indifference towards the market: There
is a large group of such consumers who behave
indifferently regarding purchasing. There are some
consumers who think as what to do, every thing is
alright, leave it , why to take cash memo, whatever
goods the shopkeeper gives is good, things should be
cheap, good and durable , What is the need of the
standardization marks like <b> ISI and AGMARK </b>
etc. The producers take full advantage of this
indifferent behaviour of consumers and succeed in
exploiting them.

3. Limited Information: In this age of globalization
there are several types of products in the market.
There is no fixed law for quality and rate. There is
lack of knowledge about several aspects of goods like
rate, quality, rules for usage, rules for selling etc.
Therefore a consumer makes wrong choice and suffers
financial loss.


4. Monopoly: Monopoly means the right on the
production and distribution of a commodity of a
producer or a group of producers. In the state of
monopoly producers have arbitrary behavior regarding
the prices and the quality and availability of the
goods. As a result, producers succeeded in exploiting
consumers.

5. Illiteracy and Feeling of satisfaction: When the
consumers are uneducated, the sellers cheat them
very easily. The shopkeeper tells the resembling words
as of branded and sells the goods of poor quality. For
example ABIDAS is written instead of ADIDAS, the
local producers sell it in the price of Adidas.
Sometimes consumers are placid. Consumers think it
was a loss, let it be or it was their fate, now who
will fight etc. This thinking also makes consumers prey
of exploitation. The sellers know consumers mentality
and seller exploit consumer freely.

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities :


Consumer rights are now an integral part of our lives.
These rights are well-defined and there are agencies
that work towards safeguarding them. Some of these
rights are as follows:

Right to Safety
Means right to be protected against the marketing
of goods and services, which are hazardous to life
and property. The purchased goods and services
availed of should not only meet their immediate
needs, but also fulfill long term interests. Before
purchasing, consumers should insist on the quality of
the products as well as on the guarantee of the
products and services. They should preferably
purchase quality marked products such as ISI,
AGMARK, etc

Right to Information
Means right to be informed about the quality,
quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of
goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair
trade practices. Consumer should insist on getting all
the information about the product or service before
making a choice or a decision. This will enable him to
act wisely and responsibly and also enable him to
desist from falling prey to high pressure selling
techniques.
Right to Choose
Means right to be assured, wherever possible of
access to variety of goods and services at
competitive price. In case of monopolies, it means
right to be assured of satisfactory quality and
service at a fair price. It also includes right to basic
goods and services. This is because unrestricted
right of the minority to choose can mean a denial for
the majority of its fair share. This right can be better
exercised in a competitive market where a variety of
goods are available at competitive prices

Right to be Heard
Means that consumer's interests will receive due
consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes
right to be represented in various forums formed to
consider the consumer's welfare. The Consumers
should form non-political and non-commercial
consumer organizations which can be given
representation in various committees formed by the
Government and other bodies in matters relating to
consumers