Access & Analyze/Good Use

of Technology

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Dear Advice Line,

I buy a brand-name shampoo that costs twice as much as the store brand. The ads for the expensive shampoo say that it keeps your hair healthier. My mother says that the store brand is just as good. Who is right?

Which shampoo would you buy and why?

Healthy Choices

• Consumer-buys products or services for personal use• Products

• Services

• Information

Products• Consumable-need to be

purchased again & again• Improve personal

looks• Improve social well-

being• Hair care/skin

care/drinks• Clothes

• Durable-last for a long time before they wear out

• Right equipment for sport

• Curling irons• Cars

Learning Log

• Look at the ads • Which products are consumable?

• Which are durable?

Products

• Factors to consider before consuming• Safety

• Food allergy/Side effects

• Cost

• Warranty

• Repair or replace product?/What does it cover?/How long does it cover?/Is it worth it?

• Consumer Testing

• Government agencies & private groups/Publish results/Endorse products

Learning Log

• Product Cost• Product A $3.99 for 60 pills

• Product B $2.49 for 35 pills

• Product C $4.59 for 75 pills

• Which product cost the least per pill?

• Does the extra price really matter?

You have a choice of three brands of pain relievers. The three

brands have the same strength, so they should choose the brand with the lowest unit price.

Services

• Nail Salon-Infection

• Health Club-Injury from poor advice• Does the person have the required educational degree, license or

certification?

• Does the person have references? Names and telephone numbers.

• Have any complaints been filed with your state’s Attorney General?

Information

• Evaluate information about product• Is it accurate?

• Is it useful?

• Does source have a bias? Are they trying to sell product or service?

• Dairy Products

• Is information current and up to date?

Advertising

• McDonald’s ad

• Advertising is the public promotion of a product or service.• Ads appear on television and radio, in newspapers and

magazines, on billboards, and in movie theaters.

• Ads also pop up on the Internet.• Ads can let you know what products and services are

available, but they rarely provide the information you need to make wise choices.

Learning Log

• Have you ever bought a product based on the ad? If so, how did the ad convince you to buy the product?

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Scientific Approach

Bandwagon Approach

Testimonial Approach

Comparison Approach

Emotional Approach

Price Approach

Health Fraud

• Fraud-a person tells lies to obtain money or property

• Quackery-People who sell useless medical treatments or products

• Promise miracle treatments or products

• Can keep someone from receiving proper treatment

QUACKERY

• Depend on lack of knowledge

• Diseases are targets• Cancer/arthritis/obesity

• Warning signs• Only possible way to be treated

• Too good to be true

• Cure many different ailments

• “special” or “secret”

• When in doubt talk to doctor

Consumer Rights

• Right to information

• Consumer protection

• Right to complain• Identify problem

• Decide on goal

• Collect documents

• Identify person in charge

• Complaint in writing

Complaint in Writing

• Products serial number

• Location & date of purchase

• Specific complaint & suggested resolution

• Name, address & phone number

• Summary of conversations had in person

• Reasonable date by which you feel action should be taken

Slide 23 of

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Vocabularyconsumer Someone who buys products or services for

personal use.

warranty An offer to repair or replace a product if there is a problem with the product.

advertising The public promotion of a product or service.

fraud An illegal act that involves telling lies to obtainmoney or property.

quackery The selling of useless medical treatmentsor products.