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