CONSUMER INFORMATION

CONSUMER INFORMATION

Many consumer organizations provide databases of information on the Internet. At those sites you can read the latest product reviews, search for new pharmaceuticals that cure diseases (or alleviate symptoms of them), and access safety information for products such as automobiles and children’s toys.

These types of sites are invaluable to you for a number of reasons. First, they can help you be better informed and make more intelligent decisions when making product and service purchases. Second, you’ll also find these sites a good resource when writing term and research papers. Sites such as Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org), Consumer World (www.consumerworld.org), and Consumer Information Publications (www.pueblo.gsa.gov) post a wealth of information you can use in your personal and academic life.

Pick a product you’re interested in purchasing, do some looking around on the Internet at consumer information sites, and answer the following questions.

1. What sites did you review? Which were helpful and why?

1. Is the information opinion only, completely factual, or a combination of the two?

1. Who supports the sites you reviewed? The government? Not-for-profit organizations? For-profit organizations?

1. How important will this type of consumer information become as electronic commerce becomes more widespread on the Internet?