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Consumer Protection ACT Highlight #2
Consumer right no.1
2011-06-10
This week we will look at consumer's rights as stated by the new CPA. To understand consumer rights we need to understand how the term "consumer" is defined by the CPA.
Consumer:
Consumers are persons to whom goods or services are marketed, who have entered into transactions with suppliers, users of particular goods or recipients/beneficiaries of services.
THE RIGHT TO EQUALITY IN THE CONSUMER MARKET AND PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY MARKETING PRACTICES.
What does this mean for the ordinary consumer?
Your right to free and unlimited access to goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to limit access to goods and services.
- Suppliers are not permitted to prioritise any consumer groups over others when marketing, selling or distributing their goods and services.
Your right to high-quality goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to vary the quality of their goods and services in a discriminatory manner.
- Consumers have the right to query the inferior quality of goods and services.
Your right to fair pricing of goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to charge unfair prices for the same goods and services.
- Consumers should be treated equally, irrespective of gender, race, socio-economic status or geographic location.
Example:
In terms of this section, for example, it would be ‘discriminatory’ not to supply golf clubs to women on the basis that golf is a sport that is only for men – this is discrimination on the grounds of gender in terms of PEPUDA. It is acceptable though to only market goods to men where only a man can use the product in question, for example, men’s deodorant.
Disclaimer:
Please note that we are not giving legal advice, we are merely highlighting certain key requirements in the new CPA that could impact our clients. Please discuss the act with your legal advisor for specific and comprehensive information regarding your legal rights and obligations. The act must be interpreted as a whole and not in part. IT Design takes no responsibility for any loss suffered due to the information distributed in this note.
This week we will look at consumer's rights as stated by the new CPA. To understand consumer rights we need to understand how the term "consumer" is defined by the CPA.
Consumer:
Consumers are persons to whom goods or services are marketed, who have entered into transactions with suppliers, users of particular goods or recipients/beneficiaries of services.
THE RIGHT TO EQUALITY IN THE CONSUMER MARKET AND PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY MARKETING PRACTICES.
What does this mean for the ordinary consumer?
Your right to free and unlimited access to goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to limit access to goods and services.
- Suppliers are not permitted to prioritise any consumer groups over others when marketing, selling or distributing their goods and services.
Your right to high-quality goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to vary the quality of their goods and services in a discriminatory manner.
- Consumers have the right to query the inferior quality of goods and services.
Your right to fair pricing of goods and services
- Suppliers are not permitted to charge unfair prices for the same goods and services.
- Consumers should be treated equally, irrespective of gender, race, socio-economic status or geographic location.
Example:
In terms of this section, for example, it would be ‘discriminatory’ not to supply golf clubs to women on the basis that golf is a sport that is only for men – this is discrimination on the grounds of gender in terms of PEPUDA. It is acceptable though to only market goods to men where only a man can use the product in question, for example, men’s deodorant.
Disclaimer:
Please note that we are not giving legal advice, we are merely highlighting certain key requirements in the new CPA that could impact our clients. Please discuss the act with your legal advisor for specific and comprehensive information regarding your legal rights and obligations. The act must be interpreted as a whole and not in part. IT Design takes no responsibility for any loss suffered due to the information distributed in this note.
Consumer Protection ACT Highlight 1
2011-06-03
"Chapter 2, Part A. Fundamental Consumer Rights
a Supplier of goods or services must not unfairly-
(e) charge different prices for any goods or services to any persons or category of persons"
What does this mean?:
This means that you cannot charge larger consumers more than you would charge a smaller consumer for exactly the same product/service or amount of products/services.
Example:
An apple sold to John Smith for R10.00 should also be sold for R10.00 to Donald Trump (one of the richest men in the world). Prices can only vary if the offering varies.
Conclusion:
There is a trend in the marketplace where larger companies are charged more for the same products supplied to smaller companies.
This practice is not allowed by the new CPA.
Disclaimer:
Please note that we are not giving legal advice, we are merely highlighting certain key requirements in the new CPA that could impact our clients. Please discuss the act with your legal advisor for specific and comprehensive information regarding your legal rights and obligations. The act must be interpreted as a whole and not in part. IT Design takes no responsibility for any loss suffered due to the information distibuted in this note.
"Chapter 2, Part A. Fundamental Consumer Rights
a Supplier of goods or services must not unfairly-
(e) charge different prices for any goods or services to any persons or category of persons"
What does this mean?:
This means that you cannot charge larger consumers more than you would charge a smaller consumer for exactly the same product/service or amount of products/services.
Example:
An apple sold to John Smith for R10.00 should also be sold for R10.00 to Donald Trump (one of the richest men in the world). Prices can only vary if the offering varies.
Conclusion:
There is a trend in the marketplace where larger companies are charged more for the same products supplied to smaller companies.
This practice is not allowed by the new CPA.
Disclaimer:
Please note that we are not giving legal advice, we are merely highlighting certain key requirements in the new CPA that could impact our clients. Please discuss the act with your legal advisor for specific and comprehensive information regarding your legal rights and obligations. The act must be interpreted as a whole and not in part. IT Design takes no responsibility for any loss suffered due to the information distibuted in this note.
Top 10 Website Hints & Tips
2011-04-13
You have tested your website and have visited it a few times. Maybe you have received some feedback and have a bit of data about your visitors. Since you might want to make some changes, here are the top ten issues in website design and usability.
Compare this list to your website and consider what you might want to do to make your site better.
1. The First Glance
In general, people look at the top left corner of your website first. You should have your essential information there: what your offerings are and how your potential customers can get it. Some visitors are at your site only long enough to confirm that you sell what they want, and some are ready to buy. All visitors need to be able to tell what you do right away. Don’t hide behind a splash page or make people wait while something loads – many won’t take the time.
2. Navigation
When your customers want and need more information, they’ll stay and look for it. Make sure they can find it easily. Put your navigation in the usual places, and make it very obvious what your visitors need to click in order to find each section. Don’t have more than 5-7 choices in your main navigation and keep it consistent on every page. Let your creativity and uniqueness show in some other way – follow the rules when it comes to navigation.
3. Contact Information
Can customers (and search engines) find you when they need you? Your contact information must be clear and accurate. It must also be easy to find. Visitors will visit your website several times before they choose to go for your services or purchase. Don’t make it hard for them to contact you when they’re ready.
4. Call To Action
What do you want your visitors to do? It should be easy to find out how to complete an order through your website or get more information. Regardless of the content of the page make sure that you include a clear call to action. Make it easy for visitors to purchase or request information from you. Just be sure to make it very clear.
5. Above the Fold Focus
Many visitors won’t scroll; most won’t scroll unless you have already convinced them that it’s worth their while to do so. Make sure important aspects are above fold. The unimportant things – why are they on your page? This is especially important on the home page. Visitors who’ve reached your FAQs page or your blog are probably interested enough to spend some time reading.
6. Inviting Content
To develop relationships with your clients, you need to have them visit more than once. In fact, most people won’t commit themselves the first time they come to your website. You need to offer them something of value so they’ll return. Do you have a blog, or frequently-updated featured products? Have you got any useful information that you could offer your customers?
7. Well-Organized Pages
Don’t make your visitors search. Always ensure that your page layout is clear, concise and gives the visitor exactly what they want without having to search for it. Try to put yourself in your customer’s position and use what you learn from testing. Decide what you want to say and plan its organization before you write, so you can be sure to have coherent paragraphs.
8. Visual Appeal
While the content on your page is the most important thing, an attractive page will be more enjoyable and appealing for visitors. Choose colours that work well together, leave some open space so it’s not too busy, and make sure you have everything lined up nicely. Even if you have not got artistic skills you can make a good impression – and you should.
9. Sincerity and Trustworthiness
The internet is all about trust. If you can ensure that your website is trustworthy, people will be more likely to complete an order. What’s more, the search engines also base your rankings on how trustworthy they think your page is. Don’t undermine your future success by trying to trick the search engines or mislead your visitors.
10. A Polished Finish
Do your links work? Make sure you check your grammar, spelling and layout are correct? Is all the information up to date and accurate? Your visitors would prefer to shop in a well kept and clean shop in the high street. They would prefer to purchase in a clean and well kept website too. They’ll have less faith in you if you have errors on your website.
You have tested your website and have visited it a few times. Maybe you have received some feedback and have a bit of data about your visitors. Since you might want to make some changes, here are the top ten issues in website design and usability.
Compare this list to your website and consider what you might want to do to make your site better.
1. The First Glance
In general, people look at the top left corner of your website first. You should have your essential information there: what your offerings are and how your potential customers can get it. Some visitors are at your site only long enough to confirm that you sell what they want, and some are ready to buy. All visitors need to be able to tell what you do right away. Don’t hide behind a splash page or make people wait while something loads – many won’t take the time.
2. Navigation
When your customers want and need more information, they’ll stay and look for it. Make sure they can find it easily. Put your navigation in the usual places, and make it very obvious what your visitors need to click in order to find each section. Don’t have more than 5-7 choices in your main navigation and keep it consistent on every page. Let your creativity and uniqueness show in some other way – follow the rules when it comes to navigation.
3. Contact Information
Can customers (and search engines) find you when they need you? Your contact information must be clear and accurate. It must also be easy to find. Visitors will visit your website several times before they choose to go for your services or purchase. Don’t make it hard for them to contact you when they’re ready.
4. Call To Action
What do you want your visitors to do? It should be easy to find out how to complete an order through your website or get more information. Regardless of the content of the page make sure that you include a clear call to action. Make it easy for visitors to purchase or request information from you. Just be sure to make it very clear.
5. Above the Fold Focus
Many visitors won’t scroll; most won’t scroll unless you have already convinced them that it’s worth their while to do so. Make sure important aspects are above fold. The unimportant things – why are they on your page? This is especially important on the home page. Visitors who’ve reached your FAQs page or your blog are probably interested enough to spend some time reading.
6. Inviting Content
To develop relationships with your clients, you need to have them visit more than once. In fact, most people won’t commit themselves the first time they come to your website. You need to offer them something of value so they’ll return. Do you have a blog, or frequently-updated featured products? Have you got any useful information that you could offer your customers?
7. Well-Organized Pages
Don’t make your visitors search. Always ensure that your page layout is clear, concise and gives the visitor exactly what they want without having to search for it. Try to put yourself in your customer’s position and use what you learn from testing. Decide what you want to say and plan its organization before you write, so you can be sure to have coherent paragraphs.
8. Visual Appeal
While the content on your page is the most important thing, an attractive page will be more enjoyable and appealing for visitors. Choose colours that work well together, leave some open space so it’s not too busy, and make sure you have everything lined up nicely. Even if you have not got artistic skills you can make a good impression – and you should.
9. Sincerity and Trustworthiness
The internet is all about trust. If you can ensure that your website is trustworthy, people will be more likely to complete an order. What’s more, the search engines also base your rankings on how trustworthy they think your page is. Don’t undermine your future success by trying to trick the search engines or mislead your visitors.
10. A Polished Finish
Do your links work? Make sure you check your grammar, spelling and layout are correct? Is all the information up to date and accurate? Your visitors would prefer to shop in a well kept and clean shop in the high street. They would prefer to purchase in a clean and well kept website too. They’ll have less faith in you if you have errors on your website.
