Competencies

Define consumer terms.

Define agencies and
publications that deal
with consumer
protection.
Recognize what it
means to be a wise
consumer.

Personal
Consumer
Rating

1. If you were given $1,000 today, what

would you do with it?
2. Do you check your receipts to make
certain that you have been charged
correctly?
3. Do you count your change to make
certain that it is correct?
4. Do you compare different prices and
brands of the same item at more than
one store, then select the best value to
purchase?

5. Do you compare the warranties of

different brands when selecting a brand
to purchase?
6. If you feel you have been wronged by a
business, do you complain to the
business and attempt to right the wrong?
7. Do you find your self buying things that
you had not planned to buy?
8. Do you save money regularly?
9. Do you often find yourself borrowing
money from parents, friends or siblings?

10. Do you keep a record of what you earn

and what you spend?
11. Do you shop sales?
12. Do you read the instructions for use
and care of a product and follow them?
13. Do you keep your sales receipts,
warranties, and instructions?
14. Do you read the stores return and
exchange policy before making your
purchase?

Rating
On question #1, give yourself five points if you
selected something to do with your money that
is consistent with your goals and values in life.
Give yourself two points for each question you
answered as follows:
#2 Yes
#6 Yes
#10 Yes
#3 Yes
#7 No
#11 Yes
#4 Yes
#8 Yes
#12 Yes
#5 Yes
#9 No
#13 Yes
#14 Yes

What your score means!

25-31 points Great! Keep up the good
work!
19-24 points Fair. You should begin to
make some changes.
14-18 points Not too good. Consider
making some big changes.
Less than 14 Take good notes during
this unit, youll need them!!!

Gathering Consumer
Information
You will make a more
satisfying purchase if your
research your alternatives!

1. Quality
Is the product well constructed?

2. Cost
What is the
lowest price
for this
product?

3. Availability
Where is it available? Is it in stock?

4. Warranty
If Im not
satisfied, may I
return the
product for a full
refund?

5. Reputation
Reputation is the general opinion
people have of a person or company.

Sources of Information
Information about products
and services is available from
a variety of sources:

1. Family and Friends

2. Advertising

I Love Adult Roles

and Responsibilities.

3. Sales and
Informational Brochures

4. Catalogs

5. Magazines and
Newspaper Articles

6. Consumer Product
Testing Organizations

Juggling
Money

Juggling Money
You will be broken up into groups of 8-10 people.
Each group will be given a set of balloons.
The goal in this activity it to keep all of the
balloons up in the air and off the floor.
Each group will add one balloon at a time until all
of the balloons have been added to the circle.
Each group will be given one additional balloon
that says bankruptcy on it. No matter what dont
let that balloon hit the floor.

Juggling Money Questions

1. Did you find it difficult to keep the all of
balloons in the air? Why?
2. Was it difficult to keep one balloon in the air?
Why?
3. How can you compare this experience to
money management?
4. Was it difficult to keep the bankruptcy balloon
in the air? Why?
5. Can you see why people have a difficult time
managing money?

Consumerism: Vocabulary Words

You will be going down to the Writing
Lab to obtain these definitions.
Go through the power point
presentation as outlined.
If two people want to work per
computer I am fine with that.
Good luck and have fun!!
A work sheet will be provided
for you working ease.

Consumer
Anyone who uses goods or services
or buys goods or services.

Better Business Bureau

(BBB):
A non-profit organization sponsored by local
businesses. It offers a variety of consumer services at
no charge to help with consumer complaints. It can
provide consumer education materials, answer
consumer questions, and provide general information
about a companys consumer complaint record,.

Food and Drug

Administration FDA:
A Federal agency that was formed to set and enforce
safety standards for food, drugs, and cosmetics. They
have the authority to stop the sale of an item under
their jurisdiction, if it is found to be harmful or
hazardous. They may also require safety warnings to
be placed on harmful or hazardous products. This is
the agency which tests new drugs and medications
before they are put on the market.

Consumer Product Safety

Commission (CPSC):
A federal agency that was formed to set and
enforce safety standards of products such as
household appliances, toys and tools. If a
product under the jurisdiction of the CPSC is
found to be harmful or hazardous, they can
prevent that products from being sold, or they
can require the manufacturer to repair or replace
the product. The CPSC will also investigate
complaints from consumers about products.

Federal Trade
Commission (FTC):
A federal agency which was formed to protect
consumers against false advertising, illegal sales
schemes, and all unfair trade practices.

Bureau of consumer
Protection:
A federal agency which provides sate and local
consumer protection offices which help answer
consumer questions or problems. Many offices
enforce consumer protection and fraud laws. They
can help resolve consumer complaints and provide
consumer education materials.

Warranty
A statement made by a manufacturer or seller of a
product or service concerning the responsibility for
quality, characteristics, and performance of the
product or service.

Unfair Trade Practice:

Any business practice which is considered
unethical or illegal.

Supply
The amount of goods and services available for
sale at various prices at stated times.

Second
A product that does not meet the standard
requirements. It is sometimes labeled irregular and
may contain minor flaws of imperfections.

Service
Work performed to meet the needs of those buying
the work, such as repair work, personal grooming
services, house cleaning, and transportation. This
also includes the professional services of doctors,
lawyers, teachers, etc.

Monopoly
A market situation in which only one organization
produces the entire output of an industry or sells a
product or service for which there is not substitute.

Needs
The basic items a person must have to survive.

Impulse Buying
Unplanned consumer purchases, usually done on
the spur of the moment usually involving items on
display or at reduced prices.

Comparison Shopping
Looking at different brands and models of the same
item in various stores to compare price, quality,
features, and store services before buying.

Name Brand
A brand name that is widely recognized and sold in
many different stores. Because of extensive
advertising, the name is associated with quality..

Store Brand
A brand owned by a particular store or chain of
stores. The store will either manufacture their own
product and put their name on it, or purchase the
product from a manufacturer with the right to place
their own name on the product. For example
Albertsons/Albertsons brand Harmons/TV,
Thriftway/ Western Family, Smiths/Smiths brand

Generic Brand
Surplus products purchased form many different
manufacturers and then labeled with plain white
and black labels stating what the product is and
giving necessary information. Since the product
comes from many different manufactures, the
quality varies greatly.

Full Warranty
Repair or replacement must be free, in a
reasonable amount of time, without placing
unreasonable demands on the consumer.

Limited Warranty
May require the consumer to pay labor fees or
handling charges and may require the consumer
to ship the product to the seller or an authorized
service dealer for repairs.

Implied Warranty of
Merchantability:
The product actually is what it is called and does
what its name implies.

Implied Warranty of
Fitness
The product is fit for any performance or purpose
promised by the seller and that there are no defects
in the product at the point of sale.

Turn in your
WS!
Celebrate!!
You made
it!