Aklanon consumers should exercise their vigilance in buying products to keep some ill-meaning business establishments from getting away with fraud and other deceitful means in selling their merchandise.
This is the message of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to Aklanon consumers as the country celebrates the month of October as Consumer Welfare Month.
Deana Ruiz of DTI-Aklan, advices the Aklanon consumers that before buying any product from an establishment, he should inspect it well to see if there are damages or defects.
"If you find that something is wrong with the product you bought, go back to the establishment first and present your problem. There are establishments that change the product outright, but there are also some who ask many questions and air doubts to your claim of damaged products," Ruiz said over IBC-DYRG, Kalibo, Aklan.
"Please help the DTI monitor defective products," Ruiz also appealed. Ruiz also reminded consumers to make sure that their complaints are valid.
"Consumers have eight (8) basic rights. However, they also have responsibilities, but they cannot enjoy those rights without responsibilities," Ruiz said.
These rights, according to Ruiz, include the right to basic needs, safety of products, right to information, right to choose, right to representation, right to replacement of products, consumer education and right to a healthy environment.
In Aklan, Ruiz disclosed that one product which is mostly the subject of complaints at the DTI is the cellphone.
"People come to us because the cellphones they bought from some stores in Kalibo are defective. Our advice to them is to opt to buy brand new cellphones not reconditioned one because the former have warranties while the latter have none, being repaired or second hand," Ruiz said.
On the other hand, Rene Retiro, also of DTI-Aklan, called on Aklanons to be sure that they are buying safe electrical products especially during this coming Christmas season. "Be sure the Christmas lights have ICC marks," Retiro warned.
He emphasized, however, that Christmas lights from 2008 up to the present with ICC marks are the only ones allowed to be sold to the public now. He also revealed that the DTI will also be monitoring prices of "Noche Buena" products soon.
DTI’s consumer rights campaign over radio stations is part of DTI activities in observing Consumer Protection Week, with this year’s theme "Consumers:Green Multipliers. (Venus G. Villanueva) /MP
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