Title:

A Consumer Society

Publish Date:

September 2011

ISBN:

978 1 86168 599 5

Covering Ages:

11 to 14 years

Issue Description

It can often seem as though the message to ‘buy buy buy’ is everywhere in our society. Everything from food to electronics can now be bought with just the click of a mouse – meanwhile, personal debt is soaring, consumers are increasingly the victims of fraud and identity theft, and the high street is suffering as more people take advantage of online bargains. There is also the thorny problem of how to be an ethical consumer to be considered. This book looks at the issues surrounding consumerism and rights, and at how we can shop in a more ethical way.
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper articles, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.

Price:

£5.95

Quantity:

Key Facts

• Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, if you pay for goods worth more than £100, even partly, on a credit card then the credit card company is equally liable with the retailer. (page 1)
  
  
• British consumers are the most enthusiastic online shoppers in Europe, but one in four worries more about shopping this way than through traditional offline outlets. (page 2)
  
  
• 80% of Internet users knew it was possible to claim their money back from a credit card company if the goods or services are not delivered. (page 3)
  
  
• ConsumerIntelligence conducted a study in which it discovered that 27 per cent of people who have shopped online then chose to go back to the high street after being dissatisfied with their experience. (page 7)
  
  
• From a boycott of sugar by anti-slavery protesters to Chinese campaigns against American goods in 1905, calls for consumers to act on political issues can be found throughout history. (page 16)
  
  
• Since World War II, more of what we buy has been produced or manufactured overseas. (page 17)
  
  
• The value of UK ethical consumerism in 2008 was £36 billion. This compares to just £13.5 billion in 1999. (page 18)

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Table of Contents

Chapter One: Consumer Issues

Know your consumer rights, Online shoppers ‘unaware of consumer rights’, Retail key facts, Consumers see little difference between national and store brands, Irritated shoppers ditch online grocery services, Are consumers turning away from credit?, Identity fraud and identity theft, Spend-emic hits British men and women, Activities.

Chapter Two: Ethical Shopping

Ethical consumerism: how we got here, Empty shops are killing UK’s high streets, Life without supermarkets: escaping choice overload, Ethical labels add millions to cost of food, UK consumers support ethical retail but don’t follow through, The big names behind your food brands, Activities.

Key Facts
Glossary

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