A
"consumer" is a person who uses a product or
service and as a user of such product or service has the
legitimate right to expect that it live up to the advertised
and/or promised claims.
There are many
different definitions of "advocacy".
The official definition of an advocate as defined in the
Oxford Dictionary is "one who pleads, intercedes, or
speaks for, or on behalf of another"
Who can be an advocate?
Anyone can be an
advocate. We have all been advocates. For example, advocacy
is as simple as complaining to the manager at your local
drug store, dry cleaner, garage or supermarket about
receiving a poor product or service, or speaking up on
another's behalf if you feel they have been a victim of an
injustice.
A consumer advocate
seeks to remedy injustices in the market place, also to
teach consumers to stand up for themselves.
Why do we need consumer
advocates?
If there were no
consumer advocates there would be more defective products,
more shoddy service and rip-offs in the consumer market
place than there are now.
Advocates help
maintain the checks and balances between the consumer and
the market place.
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