Wiser Buyer

Question 1

Magazine positives

Answer 1

Relatively inexpensive

Info can be kept and used at a later date

Some specialist magazines offer reliable, independent advice

Question 2

Magazine negatives

Answer 2

Many published to entertain and can be difficult to obtain factual info

Some specialist magazines involve expensive subscriptions, inaccessible to some consumers

Many funded by advertising revenue, difficult to determine independence of info

Question 3

Consumer programme positives

Answer 3

Presented in entertaining format

Experts often used to present specialist info

Info is well researched and factual

Question 4

Consumer programme negatives

Answer 4

Have to plan to view them

General rather than specific info

Info can be presented too quickly to be useful

Question 5

Newspaper positives

Answer 5

Inexpensive and readily available

Broadsheet journalists are often experts in their field eg finance

Tabloids can be presented in an easy to understand format, in use friendly language

Question 6

Newspaper negatives

Answer 6

General rather than specific info

Potential for info to be biased or sensationalist

Difficult to determine quality of info or qualifications/expertise of journalist

Question 7

Friends and family positives

Answer 7

Relaxed and informal

Can ask qs for specific info

Another person’s experience can be valuable

Question 8

Friends and family negatives

Answer 8

Unqualified knowledge

Biased or inaccurate info

Question 9

Experts positives

Answer 9

Trained staff can give specialist info

Can also demonstrate a product/service

Can explain technical info accurately, in a way consumers understand

Question 10

Experts negatives

Answer 10

Info can be technical and complicated

Staff can be hard to access eg in busy shops

Sales staff may not be specially trained, inaccurate info

Question 11

Internet positives

Answer 11

Extensive range of info

Info can be accessed in comfort of own home

Quick way to compare products/services from range of shops

Question 12

Internet negatives

Answer 12

Can be slow and time consuming

Difficult to judge which websites offer reliable info

IT skills needed to make full use of it

Question 13

The Kitemark

Answer 13

The British Standards Institute (BSI) Kitemark…

• assures consumers that a product is safe and reliable
• conforms to relevant safety standards
• independently tested by BSI
• BSI has given permission to manufacturer to use mark

Question 14

Where would you find the Kitemark?

Answer 14

IT equipment 
Gas hob
Car windscreen
Tumble dryer
Electric oven
Electric blender/carving knife

Question 15

The CE Mark

Answer 15

• product meets European safety/environmental standards

- allows manufacturers to sell products within Europe

Question 16

Where would you find the CE mark?

Answer 16

Toys
Telephones
Light bulbs
Computers

Question 17

Harmful or irritant

Answer 17

• may be harmful if inhaled or swallowed

- impact on health could include skin/breathing problems

Question 18

Where would you find the harmful/irritant symbol?

Answer 18

Bleach
Dishwasher powder
Cleaning products

Question 19

Toxic

Answer 19

• product contains ingredients which would be extremely dangerous if inhaled, swallowed or in contact with skin
• if misused, could cause serious harm or death

Question 20

Where would you find the toxic symbol?

Answer 20

Bleach
Paint stripper
Weed killer

Question 21

Highly flammable

Answer 21

The product or its fumes will catch fire easily if it’s near heat, flames or sparks

Question 22

Where would you find the highly flammable symbol?

Answer 22

Fireworks
Nail polish remover
Aerosol cleaning products

Question 23

The British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) trademark

Answer 23

• electrical safety mark

- has been independently tested and evaluated against European and international safety standards

Question 24

Where would you find the BEAB trademark?

Answer 24

Toaster
Microwave
DVD player

Question 25

The Fairtrade mark

Answer 25

• a registered certification label for products sourced from producers in developing countries
• fair prices paid to producers
• community investment
• safe and healthy working conditions
• environmental protection

Question 26

Where would you find the Fairtrade mark?

Answer 26

Bananas
Coffee
Cotton
Chocolate
Tea bags
Flowers

Question 27

The Soil Association symbol

Answer 27

• sets standards for organic production and processing
• promotes biodiversity, recycling and waste reduction
• in the case of food products, they have been grown without use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers

Question 28

Where would you find the Soil Association symbol?

Answer 28

Fresh, organic veg eg tomatoes

Question 29

The Recycling symbol

Answer 29

Material used for packaging can be recycled

Question 30

Where would you find the Recycling symbol?

Answer 30

Plastic bottles
Tin cans
Cereal boxes
Milk cartons 
Glass bottles

Question 31

Energy labels

Answer 31

• shoes how energy efficient white goods such as washing machines are
• A = most efficient
  G = least efficient

Question 32

Where would you find energy labels?

Answer 32

Washing machines
Fridges
Ovens
Tumble dryers

Question 33

What is the purpose of safety and environmental labels?

Answer 33

These labels will help the consumers to make informed choices when they are buying the item.

Question 34

What are the key consumer organisations?

Answer 34

Citizens Advice Bureau
Independent Advice Centres
Belfast Consumer Advice Centre
Consumer Focus - formerly National Consumer Council
The Consumer Council
Trading Standards Service
Consumerline
Which?

Question 35

Consumer organisations info

Answer 35

Learn from booklet