In general, education is widely regarded as one of the most essential part on the
daily lives of each person. The vast development and improvement of mankind are all made
possible with education. When it comes to purchasing products and services from sellers or
suppliers, education is equally as important to consumers in order to cultivate them about
their rights and importance as buyers. Hence, consumer education is required to provide
proper education to the buyers before they decided to purchase any goods or services.
Consumer education is an act in which a prospective purchaser acquiring knowledge about
the goods or services he or she is contemplating on purchasing. There are many ways to
learn, from reading a label to attending a course in a subject like personal finance.
Every business and brand has its own unique set of issues, thus there is no limit to
what consumer education can include. To that end, it is indeed a good idea to provide all
the buyers with some basic consumer education. First and foremost is all the relevant
financial information should be included. This is because in order for customers to make
informed purchases, they must be financially literate. This means that the sellers should be
aware of both the product's base price and any additional costs. Providing clients with this
financial information is simple when they have transparent pricing and regular updates on
price changes, discounts, and special offers available to them.
Besides, brand-specific information should be included as well. Customers need to
know about policies, sales channels, and brand practises that are exclusive to their own
brand. As a result, this could include things like return policies, the marketplaces where the
products are sold, and the quality of the goods. Not only that, market report is needed too.
Some sectors' product values shift with the tides of the market. NFTs, for example, have a
high value. Market trends and activities are critical for customers to make educated
selections and purchases in this situation.
Customers' rights and informed purchasing decisions have long relied on consumer
education. Customers benefit from being educated on all aspects of their purchase, from
fees to return procedures. For this reason, brands are now held accountable for their
business policies and product quality. As a result of better consumer education, scammers
and other bad actors have a more difficult time stealing money and private information
from consumers. As a result, a company must devise and implement a customer education
programme that emphasises safety and security. Consumption of goods and services over
the internet continues to increase at an alarming rate, making it difficult for customers to
keep up with the ever-changing industry and avoid becoming victims of it. Customers who
are not well-informed about online frauds run the risk of losing their money and trust in
your company, therefore it is critical to educate them.
Educating, mobilising, and advocating on behalf of consumers are all aspects of
consumer protection. The goal of consumer protection is to give customers the information
they need to make well-informed decisions and to provide them with recourse should things
go wrong. Businesses, on the other hand, should refrain from deceiving or harming
customers in any way. It is up to consumers to be aware of their rights and to be able to
assert them on their own. Consumer organisations serve a critical role in educating the
public and promoting the interests of consumers. It is the goal of consumer protection to
help customers avoid frequent risks in their industry or market. Educating consumers on
how to avoid scammers, counterfeiters, and other bad actors is a great way to keep them
secure. Customers' rights and informed purchasing decisions have long relied on consumer
education. Customers benefit from being educated on all aspects of their purchase, from
fees to return procedures.
Meanwhile, under the umbrella term "consumer education", nutritional practises,
advertising, the environment and a variety of services are just a few examples of the many
topics. We as consumers are inundated with a wide variety of services and products from a
variety of brands in the modern world. In today's technological world, we are constantly
bombarded with commercials and incentives designed to boost sales. Consumers,
particularly children and teenagers, are readily swayed by advertising, and they will gladly
part with their money for a product they don't even need. Food advertising, particularly
those for fast food, have an impact on Malaysians' eating patterns. Chronic illness rates in
Malaysia have risen as a result of this and the rising number of young Malaysian smokers.
Education about consumer issues should be incorporated into school curricula. As a
start, teachers can be taught about consumer education so that they can better educate
students. Teachers can attend a seminar on consumer education to learn the most up-to-
date information and strategies for incorporating it into their classroom instruction,
regardless of the subject matter they teach. Canned drinks, for example, have a lot of sugar
and additives that might be damaging to your body. A math teacher can use this information
to demonstrate students how much money is spent on drinks that have no health benefits,
while a science teacher can use this information to warn them about the dangers of drinking
them.
However, a teacher of moral education may be able to talk about the impact of soft-
drink commercials which convey the sense that soft drinks improve happiness in life.
Students who have a quality education in consumer affairs are better equipped to evaluate
the many facets of their everyday life and make more informed decisions. As a result,
students are given the opportunity to enhance their critical thinking skills by examining a
topic from various perspectives.
Edelman, D. (2022, March 24). Definition of consumer education. Pocketsense. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from
https://pocketsense.com/definition-consumer-education-6299903.html
Consumer protection. consumer. (n.d.). Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.aseanconsumer.org/cterms-
consumer-protection
Online, T. S. (2022, May 29). Make time for consumer education. The Star. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2022/05/29/make-time-for-consumer-education
