business - rights and responsibilities of consumers in the marketplace

one function of government in the market place

what is the situation if there is a large number of sellers competing for customers

current law that regulates competition and the rights of consumers in the market place

five other examples of Australian bodies that have the power to enforce the law

Explain why consumers are often at a disadvantage when it comes to buying goods and services

2. Describe the aim of Australian Consumer Law

3. Define the expectations of sellers under the Australian Consumer Law

Misleading or Deceptive Conduct

Unconscionable conduct

Offering gifts and prizes and not providing them

Conduct that may mislead the public

Bait advertising

Referral selling

Consumers wish to satisfy their and .

When they go looking for and they are

usually eager to make a purchase. This means that an unscrupulous seller could
take of them. Consumer makes it compulsory for

sellers to provide all available to consumers, and to ensure that
buyers and sellers have equal rights in purchase.

Any contract or agreement that a consumer enters must be fair and balanced

Contracts do not need to be written in clear language.

Contracts need provisions to allow the seller to change the conditions of the agreement.

A mobile phone contract can allow the service provider to make changes to prices and charges without notifying the customer.

For all transactions over $75, a receipt is compulsory.

A consumer has the right to ask for a receipt for any transaction.

Anyone attempting to sell goods or services door to-door or over the phone can do so between 7 am and 8 pm on weekdays

Anyone attempting to sell goods or services door-to-door or over the phone can do so between 7 am and 8 pm on weekdays

These types of sales are not permitted on Sundays or public holidays

This rule does not apply when consumers have agreed in advance to an appointment time for the seller to visit their home.

A salesperson must leave immediately if requested and must not contact the
consumer again for at least ten days (with that same product).

The consumer does not have any right to cancel an agreement and must pay in full no matter the circumstance.

Lay-by agreements must be in electronic format (email)

All businesses have the right to display ‘No refunds’.

If a product is faulty or is unfit for its usual purpose a refund must be offered to the buyer

A business may refuse to provide a refund if the consumer has simply changed his or her mind and there is nothing wrong with the product.

7. Define a guarantee or warranty

8. Describe what happens when a manufacturer or seller does not provide a written warranty

legal ownership

Goods must match

Goods must be of acceptable quality

Products must be fit for a particular purpose

Repairs and spare parts must be available

Servicing

1. If a consumer believes a breach of the Australian Consumer Law has occurred, identify the appropriate actions that a consumer would need to take and address them in priority order

11. Explain what would happen if the business fails to resolve the problem

If a consumer has a complaint, they should first try to resolve it directly with the seller

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If the legal action is successful, the business may be forced to compensate the consumer, and they may also be fined for breaching consumer laws.

4. Identify three elements of a good consumer product.

6. A good consumer product has integral honesty. This means it:

7. Will consumers choose value over price in a recession? What does the research show?