Retailing and Consumer

Consumer Education, Protection and Privacy

Consumers sometimes feel overwhelmed and, in some cases, victimized by unscrupulous marketers. In this section we look at issues of consumer education and protection. Additionally, we consider the growing concern of customer privacy, especially privacy issues that deal with online activity.

Marketing Stories for Topic Area

Privacy on the Web: Is It a Losing Battle? Knowledge @ Wharton
Charter Scraps User-Tracking Plan After Privacy Flap (internet provider backs off tracking plans) ECommerce Times
Tough Cookies for Web Surfers Seeking Privacy (use of cookies for Internet tracking still rules) Los Angeles Times
Industry Group Releases Online Privacy Guidelines (group responses to US government request) AdLaw
A Company Promises the Deepest Data Mining Yet (privacy concerns raised for method of tracking web users) New York Times
Supermarket Breach Exposes 4.2M Accounts USA Today

Click Here to See All 14 Stories for Topic Area

The Weblinks Collection

AnnualCreditReport.com *US consumers can request a free copy of their credit report from the main credit reporting services. This site makes it easy to request reports though as the site name suggests, consumers can only receive reports from each service once per year.
Better Business Bureau *Well-known non-profit consumer interest group has good information for both consumers and businesses. Has search function for locating BBB member companies.
Consumer.gov *With links to nearly all important consumer-related agencies, this site is an excellent starting point for finding consumer protection information. Or go directly to one of the US Gov't sites listed below.
DoubleClick Opt-Out *Leading online advertising network company DoubleClick allows consumers to Opt-Out of ads served within their network supposedly preventing user's online habits from being tracked beyond basic Internet statistics.
The Consumer Law Page *Offers links to articles, brochures and other resources pertaining to consumer legal rights.
US Gov’t - Consumer Product Safety Commission *Information covers product recalls, child product safety and other safety information. Also offers some of their reports as podcasts, video clips and audio clips.
US Gov’t - Department of Education *Information covers financial aid and student loans, education guides and other publications.
US Gov’t - Environmental Protection Agency *Find materials dealing with air and water pollution, product recyling, and other special environmental programs.
US Gov’t - Federal Citizen Information Center *Site for locating thousands of US Government produced publications on numerous consumer topics.
US Gov’t - Federal Communications Commission *Information at this site covers television, radio, Internet and other media issues.
US Gov’t - Federal Trade Commission *The US Federal Trade Commission offers a large number of how-to and information articles focusing on many advertising issues covering all forms of media, many industries and advertising techniques. Information covers advertising, promotions, salespeople and selling methods, telephone solicitation and other forms of advertising and promotion.
US Gov’t - Food and Drug Administration *Information covers food testing, cosmetics, over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
US Gov’t - Securities and Exchange Commission *Information covers stocks, bonds and other security issues.