What are the various ways by which consumers get exploited?

1. Warranty/Annual Maintenance Contract : In many cases, though the product will have a warranty or will be under annual maintenance contract (AMC), when a problem arises, the consumer is told that certain parts will not be covered and they will have to pay. 2. False Claims -- Manufacturers make false representations about their products in the media with a view to mislead the consumers. Claiming that use of a particular oil will cure baldness, using a company's fairness cream for a specific period will make one fair, etc., are all typical examples of exaggerated, misleading advertisements. 3. Poor service response. read less

i). Adulteration: Adulteration means mixing or substituting undesirable materials in food. This causes heavy loss to the customers; they suffer from monetary loss as well as spoil their health. ii). False claim: Sellers make false claim about the durability and quality of their product through advertisements. iii). Under measurement: Sellers generally give under measured goods and charge for the actual quantity. iv) . Hoarding and black marketing: Trader generally holds the stock of essential commodities to create artificial scarcity in the market so that they can sell their commodities at higher price. v). Substandard goods: Sellers usually sell inferior quality goods in order to make more profit. vi). High price: Sellers who are dealing in necessities generally charge arbitrary prices. vii) . Duplicate Articles: In the name of genuine parts or goods, duplicate items are sold to the consumers. read less

Some common ways by which consumers are exploited by manufacturers and traders are given below : ?? Underweight and Under-measurements : The goods being sold in the market are sometimes not measured or weighed correctly. ?? Sub-standard Quality : The goods sold are sometimes of sub-standard quality. Selling of consumables beyond their expiry dates and supply of deficient or defective home appliances are generally the regular grievances of consumers. ?? High Prices : Very often the traders charge a price higher than the prescribed retail price. ?? Duplicate Articles : In the name of genuine parts or goods, fake or duplicate items are being sold to the consumers. ?? Adulteration and Impurity : In costly edible items, such as oil, ghee and spices, adulteration is made in order to earn higher profits. This causes heavy loss to the customers; they suffer from monetary loss as well as spoil their health. ?? Lack of Safety Devices : Electronic goods, electrical devices or other appliances produced locally, lack the required inbuilt safeguards. This causes accidents to the consumers. ?? Artificial Scarcity : In order to amass illegitimate profit, businessmen create artificial scarcity by hoarding. They sell it at the later stage at higher prices. ?? False or Incomplete Information : Sellers easily mislead consumers by giving wrong information about a product, its price, quality, reliability, life cycle, expiry date, durability, its effect on health, environment, safety and security, maintenance costs involved, and terms and conditions of purchase. Cosmetics, drugs and electronic goods are common examples where consumers face such problems. ?? Unsatisfactory after-sale Service : Many of the high cost durable items, such as electrical or electronic equipments, home appliances and cars, need adequate after-sale care. The suppliers do not provide the satisfactory after -sale services despite the necessary payments. ?? Rough Behaviour and Undue Conditions : In matters like LPG gas connection, fixing of a new telephone line, procurement of licensed items, etc., consumers are often harassed and undue conditions are put before them. read less

I have also noted that when the warranty is about to expire in 1 week to 15 days the suppliers do not send staff for after sales service and wait for the warranty period to end so that they are able to charge a big sum after the period is over. Also the digital photos printed on some food and namkeen packets appear very tempting but when the packet is opened the consumer finds himself cheated. read less