TODAY.AZ / Business

Eyub Huseynov: "Literacy level of US consumers is low"

15 October 2008 [15:37] - TODAY.AZ
Our trip to the United States was sanctioned and financed by the US department of state, said chairman of the Union of free consumers Eyub Huseynov.

He said during the visit they held over 50 meetings including in state and business structures of the United States, in different NGOs of this country.

"In my speeches, I spoke of the situation in the sphere of consumer rights in Azerbaijan, combat with pirate production, which filled not only the local but also the world market," said he and added that the main difference, revealed during discussions was that West fights with this production for protection of business, while he considers that the consumers' rights are more important in this sense.

"By the way, there are numerous pirate products in the United States, especially from China. But not only this moment attracted my attention during the conference", said he.

According to the chairman, prices on foodstuffs are 2.5-6 times higher than in Azerbaijan, but a liter of gasoline in the United States makes 80 cents.

Moreover, the prices of clothes, brought from India and China, are lower than in Azerbaijan.

"As for the situation with consumer rights, they are constantly violated in the United States. I have personally been a witness to one of such cases. A client at a US cafe picks out different products, including French fries, salad, cheese, meat and takes it to the cash desk. The cashier counts the price by taking into account the cost of the most expensive product. But he ordered not only meat but also salad. US cashier does not care about it. She is more concerned with the gains, completely ignoring the consumers' rights. And I have witnessed numerous cases of the kind", said he and added that despite existence of numerous NGOs, fighting for the rights of consumers in the United States, the consumer policy in the United States and the consumer literacy level is too low.

"This is deteriorated by the redtape of the US system, in particular, in the sphere of correction of mistakes, negatively influencing the consumers.

I would list another example: my collegue from Moldova wanted to buy a ticket for the US subway. The cost of a ticket is $2. He put $20 into the facility but got no ticket and no exchange. When we complained to the administration of the US subway station, we were told that we will have a right to appeal about the incident to the court in two days. Its consideration will take a month. If upon expiration of this term it will be revealed that our rights have been violated our $20 will be returned.

But what a person should do if this is his last $20 and he has no money to live on?", asked the chairman and noted that the US system openly ignores the consumers' rights.

He said the economic crisis does not cause panic among the US population, but added that anyway, the world economic crisis will affect the Azerbaijani economy, including consumers.

"It would enough to visit some local shops to see that the imported products make a greater part of the production. It means that if the world financial crisis affects producing countries, the price hike on goods can be expected, which will naturally affect the local consumers", concluded he.

/Day.Az/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/48247.html

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