Problem–solving:
You and a friend are planning a summer bicycle trip across your state. You own a very old one–speed bicycle and have decided to shop for a new one to use on this trip. List all the ways you would gather information before making this purchase.
Has your city or county passed any consumer protection laws giving you greater protection than you already had under state and federal laws? If so, what do these laws cover? How are they enforced?
Why does a smart consumer compare shops before buying a bicycle?
Unit 6.
What to Do After Buying
Read and translate the text.
Sometimes even careful shoppers have problems. When this happens, it is important to remain calm and be persistent. Often, 1) smart consumers can solve their own problems. When they can’t, it is very likely that 2) an agency or organization in their community will be able to provide the needed help.
The first thing to do after buying a product is to inspect it. If you do not receive the exact product you purchased or if some defect reduces its value to you, take it back to the seller and ask for a replacement or refund.
In addition, you should always read and follow the instructions provided and use the product only as recommended by the manufacturer. If the instructions are unclear or seem incomplete, contact the seller. Misuse of a product may be dangerous and may also cancel your legal rights! Be sure to report any problem with a product as soon as possible. Trying to fix the product yourself could cancel the warranty.
If you experience a problem with a product, you should always try to contact the seller first. All contacts should be in writing or documented in a log or journal. Reputable business people are interested in a customer’s future business, and most problems and misunderstandings can be cleared up with a face–to–face discussion or a telephone call.
Provide the seller with all the necessary information – identify the item (including model and serial number), give the date and location of purchase, describe when and how the problem arose, and explain what you want done. Be sure to bring along your sales receipt, warranty, or other pertinent information. Be polite but firm. If the seller refuses to help or gives you the runaround, send a written complaint to the owner or store manager. Mention that you will take other measures if you do not receive satisfaction within a reasonable amount of time. Be sure to date the letter and include your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached during regular working hours. Keep a copy of the letter along with any response for your records. To complete your records, make notes about any conversations you had with the seller. Include promises made, if any, and the date of the conversation.
If the seller still refuses to help you, consider contacting the product’s manufacturer. If you don’t know the name of the manufacturer, ask your librarian for the Thomas Registry of American Manufacturers, a volume listing thousands of products and their manufacturers. If the seller is part of a chain store, consider writing to the corporate headquarters of the store. If you don’t know the address of the manufacturer or the corporate headquarters, go to your local library and look it up in Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations.
Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text.
Быть настойчивым, обеспечить необходимую помощь, потребовать замену товара или возврат денег, неправильное использование, непонятная инструкция, попытка самостоятельно отремонтировать, непонимание, связаться с продавцом, торговый чек, бизнесмены с хорошей репутацией, беседа при встрече, дата и место покупки, письменная жалоба, принять меры, штаб–квартира корпорации.
Answer the questions: