Post by Bozur on Apr 10, 2005 16:49:50 GMT -5
Consumers unaware of their rights
Government pledges information campaign; Greeks worry over prices, want longer store hours
ANA
Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas (l) and Deputy Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou marking World Consumer Day at Syntagma metro station.
The vast majority of Greek consumers are unaware of their rights, a survey published yesterday, World Consumer Day, shows.
The survey, conducted by specialized firm ICAP, was presented at a special event organized by the General Secretariat for Consumers, which belongs to the Ministry of Development. According to its results, 78 percent of respondents declared themselves to be not at all or only slightly informed about their rights. The great majority of respondents (65 percent) also declared that television is their main source of information on consumer issues; only 3 percent have contacted state agencies and just 1 percent have gone to consumer groups.
Greek consumers are not only unfamiliar with their rights, they do not fight over them either. Among the survey respondents who declared that they had bought spoilt foodstuffs over the past two years (27 percent) or other defective products (19 percent), only one in 10 returned them, although six out of 10 protested in some way.
About half of the respondents (47 percent) said that the operation of the consumers’ hotline (1520) was a positive development, although, to judge from their other responses, very few are in a position to know since they have never used the service. Also, almost two-thirds (64 percent) were unaware of the fact that the Development Ministry has imposed fines on businesses that have violated consumer protection laws. Thanassis Skordas, secretary-general for consumers at the ministry, said that over the past year, over 10,000 inspections had been made at retail outlets, resulting in the imposition of fines totaling half a million euros.
Top ministry officials said they were aware of the lack of consumer awareness and pledged to undertake initiatives to educate consumers.
“The state is primarily responsible for the lack of information and the non-existent consumer culture,” said Deputy Development Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou, who added that informed consumers are the most effective weapon against excessive price rises.
The ICAP survey also showed that most consumers are acutely aware of rising prices and that they are often willing to sacrifice quality in favor of lower prices. About 31 percent of respondents said the primary factor in choosing a product was price, irrespective of quality. These are mostly city dwellers with medium-to-low income. Another 21 percent, apparently even lower on the income scale, shop only from discount offers and buy some items, such as clothing and footwear, only during the twice-a-year sales periods. A further 22 percent are looking for an optimal combination of quality and price, while 26 percent, which includes the wealthiest respondents, say they only buy the best-quality products, irrespective of price. The more price-conscious of the respondents are also the likeliest to shop at the many discount shops, most of Chinese ownership, which have sprung up over the past few years.
Papathanassiou defended his position for an extension of shops’ opening hours, saying this would create jobs and bring in investment. He dismissed concerns over the fate of small shops, saying that there was not a shred of supporting evidence and adding that most consumers favored longer opening hours.
However, unions and shopkeepers’ associations yesterday called for a four-hour stoppage (noon to 4 p.m.) in Athens tomorrow that would also affect transport. In some cities, such as Thessaloniki, Patras and Iraklion, there will be 24-hour stoppages.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=54097
Government pledges information campaign; Greeks worry over prices, want longer store hours
ANA
Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas (l) and Deputy Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou marking World Consumer Day at Syntagma metro station.
The vast majority of Greek consumers are unaware of their rights, a survey published yesterday, World Consumer Day, shows.
The survey, conducted by specialized firm ICAP, was presented at a special event organized by the General Secretariat for Consumers, which belongs to the Ministry of Development. According to its results, 78 percent of respondents declared themselves to be not at all or only slightly informed about their rights. The great majority of respondents (65 percent) also declared that television is their main source of information on consumer issues; only 3 percent have contacted state agencies and just 1 percent have gone to consumer groups.
Greek consumers are not only unfamiliar with their rights, they do not fight over them either. Among the survey respondents who declared that they had bought spoilt foodstuffs over the past two years (27 percent) or other defective products (19 percent), only one in 10 returned them, although six out of 10 protested in some way.
About half of the respondents (47 percent) said that the operation of the consumers’ hotline (1520) was a positive development, although, to judge from their other responses, very few are in a position to know since they have never used the service. Also, almost two-thirds (64 percent) were unaware of the fact that the Development Ministry has imposed fines on businesses that have violated consumer protection laws. Thanassis Skordas, secretary-general for consumers at the ministry, said that over the past year, over 10,000 inspections had been made at retail outlets, resulting in the imposition of fines totaling half a million euros.
Top ministry officials said they were aware of the lack of consumer awareness and pledged to undertake initiatives to educate consumers.
“The state is primarily responsible for the lack of information and the non-existent consumer culture,” said Deputy Development Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou, who added that informed consumers are the most effective weapon against excessive price rises.
The ICAP survey also showed that most consumers are acutely aware of rising prices and that they are often willing to sacrifice quality in favor of lower prices. About 31 percent of respondents said the primary factor in choosing a product was price, irrespective of quality. These are mostly city dwellers with medium-to-low income. Another 21 percent, apparently even lower on the income scale, shop only from discount offers and buy some items, such as clothing and footwear, only during the twice-a-year sales periods. A further 22 percent are looking for an optimal combination of quality and price, while 26 percent, which includes the wealthiest respondents, say they only buy the best-quality products, irrespective of price. The more price-conscious of the respondents are also the likeliest to shop at the many discount shops, most of Chinese ownership, which have sprung up over the past few years.
Papathanassiou defended his position for an extension of shops’ opening hours, saying this would create jobs and bring in investment. He dismissed concerns over the fate of small shops, saying that there was not a shred of supporting evidence and adding that most consumers favored longer opening hours.
However, unions and shopkeepers’ associations yesterday called for a four-hour stoppage (noon to 4 p.m.) in Athens tomorrow that would also affect transport. In some cities, such as Thessaloniki, Patras and Iraklion, there will be 24-hour stoppages.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=54097