大学英语综合教程：Unit2 Economic Life

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2.AnEnglishSong3.WordWeb4.Consumers’Rights1.Warm-upQuestions5.ModernConsumersBR1-Warm-upQuestions1Warm-upQuestions1.Whatdoyouthinkofthesaying“ConsumersareGod.”?2.Whatarepossiblefactorsaffectingconsumers’choicesofproducts?3.Whatdoyouthinkareconsumers’duties?Areconsumersalwayshonest?BR1-anenglishsonglfyousearchforitisn’thardtofind.Youcanhavetheloveyouneedtolive,butifyoulookforyoumightjustaswellbeblind.Italwaysseemstobesohardtogive.Honestyissuchaword.Everyoneissountrue.HonestyishardlyeverheardandmostlywhatIneedfromyou.tenderness___________,truthfulness__________,lonely_______AnEnglishSong—HonestyBR1-anenglishsong2IcanalwaysfindsomeonetosaytheyIfIwearmyheartoutonmybutIdon’twantsomeprettyfacetotellmeprettyAllIwantissomeonetobelieve.Honestyissuchalonelyword.Everyoneissountrue.HonestyishardlyeverheardandmostlywhatIneedfromyou.Icanfindalover.Icanfindafriend.Icanhaveuntilthebitterend.Anyonecanwithpromisesagain.sympathize___________.sleeve_______,lies______.security_______comfortme__________Whenl’mdeepinsideofme,don’tbetooIwon’taskfornothingwhilel’mgone.Butwhenlwanttellmewhereelsecanlturnbecauseyou’retheonethatldependupon.Honestyissuchalonelyword.Everyoneissountrue.HonestyishardlyeverheardandmostlywhatIneedfromyou.concerned_________.sincerity_______,IknowIknowlknowohoh...BR1-wordwebWordWebDirections:

Findasmanywordsaspossibleabouthonesty.honestysincerityintegrityuprightfrankstraightforwardgenuineheartyfaithfulcordialwholeheartedBR1-consumers’rightsConsumers’RightsDirections:

Listentothepassageandanswerthefollowingquestions:1.Accordingtothepassage,whatarethebasicrightsofconsumers?2.Whatkindofproductsmaycauseconsumers’injuries?BR1-consumers’rights2Consumers’rights:Thebasicrightsofconsumers,assetforthbyU.S.PresidentJohnF.Kennedyinhis1962messagetoCongressonconsumerism,arethefollowing:(1)therighttosafety;(2)therighttobeinformed;(3)therighttochoose;and(4)therighttobeheard.Eachoftheserightsisofmajorimportanceintheobjectivesoftheconsumer-protectionmovement.Productsofferedforsaleshouldnotposeundue(不适当的)riskofphysicalharmtoconsumersortheirfamilies;yetinarecentyear,forexample,some33millionpeopleintheU.S.werereportedinjured—and30,000werekilled—inproduct-relatedaccidents.Productsthatcauseinjuriesincludeimpurefood,defectivelymanufacturedautomobilesandtires,thedrugsthathaveharmfulsideeffects,andunsafeappliances,etc.BR1-modernconsumersModernConsumersBR1-modernconsumers2Globalizationisonlyoneforcechangingthewaycompaniesmarkettheirproductsorservices.Anotherinvolveschangesintheveryinterestsanddesiresofconsumersthemselves.Consumerstodayaremoresophisticatedthanthoseofthepastgenerations.Theyattendschoolforamuchlongerperiodoftime;theyareexposedtonewspapers,magazines,motionpictures,radio,television,andInternet;andtheyhavemuchgreaterinteractionwithotherpeople.Theirdemandsaremoreexacting,andtheirtastechangesmorevolatile.Marketstendtobesegmentedaseachgroupcallsforproductssuitedtoitsparticulartastes.“Positioning”theproduct—thatis,determiningtheexactsegmentofthepopulationthatislikelytobuyaproduct,andthendevelopingamarketingcampaigntoenhancetheproduct’simagetofitthatparticularsegment—requiresgreatcareandplanning.Thistypeofcampaignisknownastargetmarketing.GR-MAINGlobalReading2.FurtherUnderstanding1.PartDivisionoftheText3.RolePlayForPart2MultipleChoiceForPart3TrueorFalseForPart1QuestionsGR-PartDivisionoftheTextPartDivisionoftheTextPartsParagraphsMainIdeas1231~34~1617~19Howconsumersshouldactinthemarketplace?Whatisethicalandunethicalconsumerbehavior?Whyanunderstandingofone’sresponsibilitiesinthemarketplaceisevenmoreimportanttodaythanitwasinthepast?GR-QANDAWhatarethefactorsthatmayinfluenceconsumers’choicesofproducts?Whyareconsumerswillingtobuysomeproductsofhigherprices?Whatarethedutiesandresponsibilitiesthatconsumersshouldhave?1.2.3.

QuestionsBChoosethebestanswers.GR-Textmutiplechoice1.Whichofthefollowingdoesnotbelongtoethicalbehavior?A)Sendingbacktheproductsthathavenotbeencharged.B)Buyingproductswhichhavebeenmispricedtobecheaperwithoutinformingtheclerk.C)Demandingareplacementofproductswhichhavebeendamageduponarrival.D)Payingthebillsthatthebookclubsendsyou.___________________________ADGR-Textmutiplechoice22.Sometimesconsumersarenotafraidofbeingsuedbymanufacturersbecause.legalactionmaycostmuchmorethantheamountthatmanufacturerstrytomakeconsumersrepayB)theyhaven’tdoneanythingunethicalC)theywouldapologizetomanufacturersD)thecourtdoesnotacceptsuchcases_____________3.Ifoneconsumerdoesn’tpayforthebenefitshereceives,whohastopay?Manufacturers.Sellers.Retailers.Otherconsumers._______CBGR-Textmutiplechoice34.Whichofthefollowingisnotoneofthereasonswhyairlinesoverbookflights?Somepassengersmaycanceltheirplannedtrips.Somepassengersdonotshowupatthelastminute.Airlineswanttosellmoretickets.Somepassengersmakemultiplereservations.5.Thenuisancesuitwasoftensettled.bylawoutofcourtbyinsurancecompanybyconsumers________AGR-Textmutiplechoice46.Consumerscansuesellersandmanufacturers.ifinjuriesarecausedbyimproperproductdesigniftheproductisnotsealedtightlyifmanufacturerssettheproductatahighpriceifconsumersdonotknowhowtousetheproduct____TFTTFGR-trueandfalseWearenotpayingenoughattentiontoourresponsibilitiestowardotherstodaybecausetoday’smarketismoreandmoreimpersonal.Nowadaysmosttransactionsareconductedfacetoface.Consumers’unethicalbehaviormayleadtotheresultthattheycannotenjoythestore’sserviceanymore.Consumerswouldfeelguiltyiftheyknowthepersonoftheirfraudinthemarket.Computernetworkinthemarketmayhelpestablishpersonalrelationshipbetweenbuyersandsellers.()Inthepastmosttransactionswereconductedfacetoface.()()Computerizednetworksareincreasinglyhidingtheidentitiesandbehaviorofindividualbuyersandsellersinthemarketplace.()()GR-roleplayRolePlayFormapair.Youandyourpartnerorderedbymailacellphonefromadepartmentstore.Severaldayslater,youdroppedthephoneonthegroundbyaccidentandyoudecidedtoreturnthedamagedcellphonetothestore,claimingthatitwasdamagedwhenitarrivedbymailanddemandingareplacement.Yourpartnertriedtodissuadeyoufromactingdishonestly.RogerLeRoyMillerandAlanD.StaffordTEXT-S-1-2WhenAmericansmakeconsumerdecisions,theyusuallyconsidermorethanthepriceandqualityofproductsofferedforsale.Otherfactorsthatmayinfluencetheirchoicesincludewhereandhowtheitemswereproduced,iftheyweremadebyunionlabor,andwhethertheyweremadeinanenvironmentallyresponsibleway.Forexample,youmightchoosenottoshopatastorethatyoubelievediscriminatesagainstwomenorethnicminorities.Manypeoplearewillingtopayhigherpricesforproductsmanufacturedorofferedforsaleinwhattheybelievearesociallyresponsibleways.Inasimilarwayconsumersoftenmakechoicesthatreflectvaluestheyhavesetfortheirpersonalbehavior.Howoftenhaveyouseenastoreclerkmakeamistakethatwouldhavecausedyoutopaylessthantheactualpriceforwhatyouwerebuying?Didyoutelltheclerkthatheorshehadmadeamistake,ordidyoutakeadvantageofthesituationtopayalowerprice?EthicsandtheConsumerTEXT-S-2-3Ifyoubrokeadishbyaccidentinachinastore,wouldyoufeelresponsibletopayforit?Ifyouwereharmedbyadefectiveproductyouhadpurchased,wouldyousueforanamountofmoneythatwasgreaterthanthevalueofyourloss?Althoughsomepeopledothesethings,manyAmericanconsumerschoosetobehaveinwhattheyregardasasocially/morallyresponsibleway.Allconsumershavedutiesandresponsibilitiesthatcanbesummarizedinonesentence:

Theconsumerhasadutytoacthonestlyandethicallywhenpurchasingproductsandservices.Anage-oldaphorismholdsthat“whatgoesaroundcomesaround.”Inthecontextofconsumerdealingsthismeansthatifenoughconsumersactdishonestly,pricesofconsumerproductsandserviceswillrise,harmingallotherconsumers.TEXT-S-4-5Ethicalbehavioressentiallymeansactinginaccordancewithone’smoralandethicalconvictionsastowhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Manycommonlyheldethicalconvictionsarewrittenintoourlaws.Butethicalbehaviorsometimesrequiresustodomorethanjustcomplywithlawsinordertoavoidthepenaltyofbreakingthem.Insomecircumstances,onecanbreakthelawandbefairlycertainnoonewilleverfindoutaboutit.Imagine,forexample,thatyoupurchasedanumberofitemsfromyourlocalWal-Martanddiscoveredwhenyougothomethatthecashierhadfailedtochargeyoufora$16CDyouhadchosen.Whatisyourobligation?Obviously,theCDdoesnotlegallybelongtoyou—youhavenotpaidforit.Butwhyshouldyouhavetotakethetimeandtroubletoreturntothestoretopayfortheitem?Afterall,itwasn’tyourfaultthatthecashierdidnotringupthepurchasepriceoftheitem.Whatwouldyourdecisionbe?Woulditmakeadifferenceiftheitemhadamuchhigheroramuchsmallerprice?WhatIsEthicalBehavior?TEXT-S-6Consideranotherpossiblesituationwhereyouknowsomethingiswrongbeforeyouactuallygetaproducthome.Supposeyouregularlybuyaparticularbrandofspaghettisaucethatyouknowcosts$2.19perjar.Onedaywhileshoppingataconveniencestore(thatdoesnotuseabarcodescannertodetermineproductpricesatthecheckout)youseeseveraljarsthathavebeenmispricedat$1.19.Whatwouldyoudo?Wouldyoutrytobuyallthejarsatthelowerprice,onlyoneortwoofthem,orwouldyoutelltheclerkthatamistakehadbeenmade?Thistimeyoucannotrationalizeyourdecisionbysaying“Ididn’tknow.”Butthenitisn’tyourfaultamistakewasmade.Whatdoyoubelievetheethicalconsumerchoicewouldbe?TEXT-S-7It’sNotAlwaysEasyTheseexamplesillustratethatit’snotalwayseasytodothe“rightthing”—oreventoknowwhattherightthingtodoisinagivensetofcircumstances.YoucouldbeprettycertainthatinthecaseoftheCDnoonewouldeverknowyouhadobtainedtheproductwithoutpayingforit.Wal-Martofficialssurelywouldn’treportyoutothepoliceorcomeknockingatyourdoor.Theyhavenoideawheretheirmerchandisegoesto.Thecaseofthemispricedspaghettisauceisonlyalittledifferent.Ifanyoneaskedyouabouttheprice,youcouldsimplysayyoudidn’tknowwhatthepriceshouldhavebeen.Incaseslikethese,thereisatemptationtotakethe“gift”offeredtoyoubyfate.Inadditiontohavingmoremoneyleftovertobuyotherproducts,yoursterlingreputationinthecommunityasanethicalpersonwouldnotbemarredintheslightest,becausenooneelsewouldeverknowwhatyouhaddone.Butyouwould.Andthisiswhatethicsisallabout.TEXT-S-7--8Attheheartofethicaldecision-makingisdeterminingwhetheryoupersonallyfeelthatagivenactionisrightorwrong,andactingaccordingly.Afterall,you’retheonewhohastolivewithyourconscience.SomebodyHastoPayWhentryingtodeterminetherightnessorwrongnessofagivenaction,itishelpfultoconsidertheconsequencesofeachalternative.Keepinmindthatifyoudon’tpayforbenefitsyoureceive,someoneelsewillhaveto.Aseconomistsarepronetoemphasize,thereisnosuchthingasa“freelunch.”Inotherwords,somebody,somewhere,hastopayforallthatisproducedandconsumed.Andthatsomebodyisanotherconsumer—or,rather,otherconsumers.Thisisbecausesellerswhoabsorbtheseaddedcostswillpassthemoneventuallytoallpurchasersintheformofhigherprices.

text-S-9Whilemostconsumersactresponsiblyintheirpurchasetransactions,theyareobviouslynotsaintsanymorethanbusinesspersonsare.Andexamplesareplentifulofconsumerswhogiveintothetemptationtoevadetheletterofthelawinordertoget“somethingfornothing.”Consider,forexample,thefollowingscenario:JeannieordersbymailanewNikoncamerafromFlashElectronics,adiscounthouseinadistantcity.Thecameraarrivesbymail,andJeannieimmediatelyusesittotakephotographstobeincludedinthebooksheiswriting.Afewdayslater,shedropsthecameraandbreaksthecasing.Shedecidesto“passthebuck”tothesellerandreturnsthecameratoFlashElectronics,claimingthatthecamerawasbrokenwhenitarrivedanddemandingareplacement.ExamplesofUnethicalConsumerBehaviorTEXT-S-9-10Jeannie,whoeventuallyreceivesthereplacementcamera,hasjustsavedherselfthecostofrepairingthebrokencamera—attheexpenseofthediscountfirm,ofcourse,orthemanufacturer.Butshesuffersfewpangsofconscienceaboutherdishonesty.Afterall,shereasons,FlashElectronicsandNikonarehugeandprofitablebusinesses.WhereastherepairbillwouldbebutadropinthebucketforFlashElectronicsorNikon,itwouldrepresentJeannie’sentirefoodbudgetforaweek.WhatJeannieoverlooksinherreasoningisthelong-runconsequencesofherbehavior.Intheshortrun,yes,thediscounthouseorthemanufacturerwillpayfortherepairs.But,ultimately,whopays?Otherconsumers,likeJeannie,whobuycamerasorotherproductsfromthediscounthouseandNikonandwhohavetopaymorebecauseofJeannie’sfraud.ButJeanniemightstillrationalizethatthecostofthecamerarepair—whenspreadoutoverthousandsofconsumers—wouldrepresentnorealburdentoeachindividualconsumer,whichistrue.TEXT-S-10-11-12Ittakeslittleefforttoimaginedozensofotherwaysinwhichconsumershavebehaveddishonestlyorunethicallytogainapersonalbenefitattheexpenseorinconvenienceofothers.Welookhereatjustafewvariationsofthistheme.SoSueMeMostconsumersperiodicallyreceiveinthemailinvitationstosubscribetocertainmagazines,orto“signhere”andreceiveaproducttotryoutfor30days,andsoon.Atypicalofferistosignupformembershipinabookclub.Allyouhavetodoissignandsendacardtoreceive,say,fourbooksforwhichyouwillbebilled$1atsomefuturedate.Ofcourse,havingsignedupformembershipintheclub,youwillbeobligatedtopurchaseagivennumberofbooksperyear—oratleastnotifytheclubeachmonthifyoudon’twantaparticularbookorbooks.Youreceivethefourbooksand,afterafewmonths,havereceivedseveralmore.But,ifall—orevenasubstantialnumberof—consumersactedsimilarlytoJeannie,whatthen?TEXT-S-12-13Youhaven’thadtimetoreadthebooks,don’treallywantthem,anddon’treallywanttobeamemberoftheclub.Butyou’rebusyandfailtodoanythingaboutit.Eventually,thebookclubbeginstosendsterndemandsforpayment—youowethem$69.Youareastrugglingstudent,shortofmoney,andyouignorethebill.Itcertainlydoesnottakepriorityinyourbudget.Iftheywanttosueyouforcollection,fine.Youarenotworriedaboutitbecauseyouknowthattheamountistootrivialtojustifyanylegalactionagainstyoubythebookclub.Eventually,toyourrelief,theystopsendingyouanybillsatall—youraccounthasbeenwrittenoffasa“baddebt”—alongwithhundredsofothers.Andyouhaveacquiredsix“free”books.MeFirst,PleaseManyconsumershavebeeninconveniencedbydelaysandothertravelcomplicationsbecauseofoverbookedairlineflights.Theycouldnotboardtheirdesignatedflight—forwhichtheyhadreservations—becausetheplanewasfull.TEXT-S-13-14Airlinesoverbookflightsbecausetheycanpredict,basedonpastflightrecords,thatacertainnumberofpassengerswillcancelorchangetheirreservationsatthelastminuteorsimplynotshow.Somepassengerspayhigherratesfortheprivilegeofchangingflightsatthelastminute,ifnecessary.Otherpassengerscanceltheirplannedtripsowingtounforeseencircumstancesthatarise.Butpartofairlineoverbookingisduetoconsumerswhomakemultiplereservations.Althoughairlines,byrequiringadvanceticketing,havecurbedtheproblemscausedbymultiplereservationssomewhat,itisstillestimatedthatbetweenone-thirdandone-halfofoverbookingisdonebecauseofmultiplereservationsmadebyconsumers.More“MeFirst”Tonibuysanexpensivenewdressforaspecialpartyshehasbeeninvitedtoattend.Shewearsthedresstotheparty,receivesmanycomplimentsonit,butdecidesitwasreallyfartooexpensiveapurchase.Shereturnsittothestoreforarefund.text-S-14-15Thesalesclerkdoesnotinspectthedresscloselyandfailstonoticethegingeralestainsonthefront.Tonigetsherrefund.Theresult?Eitherthenextpurchasergetsaslightlysoileddressinsteadofthebrand-newgarmentshepaidfor,orthestoremustdiscountthepriceofthedressheavilytosellitifthestainisdiscovered.MaketheManufacturerPayInthepasttwodecadesAmericancourtsandconsumer-protectionstatuteshaveincreasinglysoughttoprotectthe“littleperson”againstthepowerfulcorporateentityorbusinessfirm.Thishasbeenaboontoconsumerswhoareinjuredbyfaultyproductstheyhavepurchased.Itallowsthemtosuesellersandmanufacturersforcompensation,intheformofmoneydamages,forinjuriescausedbycarelessnessinproductdesignorproduction.Butnowandthenaconsumerwilltakeadvantageoftheselawsandofthecourtsystemtoseekdamagesfromtheproductmanufacturerorretailer.Assume,forexample,thatJohn,aminibikeenthusiast,purchasesminibikesforhistwosons,ages9and11.racingwithanotherfriendonaminibike,theoldestson,Chad,carelesslyrunsthreestopsignsandthenentersafourthintersectionwhilelookingbackwardtowardhisfriend.Chadcarelesslyrunsthreestopsignsandthenentersafourthintersectionwhilelookingbackwardtowardhisfriend.Chadishitbyatruckandinjured.Johnsuesthemanufactureroftheminibikefordamages,claimingthattheminibikeisadangerousproductandshouldnothavebeenplacedonthemarket.text-S-15Intheinstructionmanual,andclearlyindicatedinlargelettersonthebikesthemselves,areinstructionsnottousethebikesoncitystreetsandalwaystowearahelmetwhileridingthem.Nonetheless,Johnallowshissonstorideonthecitystreetswithouthelmets.Oneday,whileTEXT-S-16Sellersarealsooftenfacedwithso-callednuisancelawsuits.Atypicalonemightinvolvethefollowingseriesofevents:Jerry,inadazeabouthislatestgirlfriend,walksthroughahardwarestore,carelesslytripsoverastepladderbeingdisplayedveryclosetoawall(anddefinitelynotahazard),falls,andfalselyclaimsthatheinjuredhisback.Allegingthattheownerwasnegligentbyhavingthestepladderdisplayedasitwas,hesuestheownerfordamages.Similarly,Janesuestheownerofanationalchainstorefor$10,000,allegingthatacanofpaintdisplayedonashelfintheowner’sstorefellonhertoeandinjuredit.Andonandon.Suchsuitsareoftensettledbythestoreownersoutofcourt,becauseitwouldcostthemmoretodefendthemselvesincourtthantosettle.TheNuisanceSuitTEXT-S-16-17Intheincreasinglyimpersonalandmechanizedmarketplaceoftodayitismucheasiertolosesightofourresponsibilitiestowardothersthanitoncewas.Thisisbecauseintoday’sconsumerworld,the“others”areusuallyabstractentitiesandnotpeopleweknowpersonally.Inthepast,whenstoresweresmallerandmosttransactionswereconductedfacetoface,consumersweremoremotivatedtoacthonestlyandethicallybecausetheyalsofacedtheconsequencesoftheiractionsdirectly.Imagine,forexample,thatJeannieinthecameraexamplehadlivedin1900insteadofthe1990s.Eventhoughmoststoreownerscarryliabilityinsurance,outofwhichsuchclaimsarepaid,theinsuranceisnotfreetothestore—andthepremiumswillrise(andtheyhaverisendramaticallyinrecentyears)asmoreclaimshavetobepaidbyinsurancefirms.EthicsinanImpersonalMarketplaceTEXT-S-17-18Afterbreakinghercamera,shereturnedittoherlocalcamerastore,claimingthatitwasalreadybrokenwhenshepurchaseditfromtheseller.Verylikely,thesellerwouldrememberthetransaction,wouldknowthatthecamerahadbeeningoodcondition,andwouldknowthatJeanniewasactingdishonestly—regardlessofwhetherhecouldproveit.Jeanniemightbedeprivedof—oratleastfaceareducedqualityin—theservicesofthatstore,andherreputationinthecommunitycouldbeaffected.Becauseofthesepossiblenegativeconsequences,itmightnotevenoccurtoJeannietodefraudtheseller.Moreover,ifsheknewthemerchantquitewell,shemighthavesomestrongethicalreservationsaboutrequiringthemerchanttopayforthebrokencasingforwhichshealonewasresponsible.Nowlet’sreturntothepresentandtoamuchdifferentmarketplace.WhenJeanniereturnedthecameratothediscounthouse,sheknewthatshewasbeingdishonest,butshewouldnotlosesleepatnightoverthe“victim”ofherfraud—whowasnotarealpersonbutanXquantityof“others”.Moreover,andperhapsmostsignificantly,Jeanniewasquitesurethatshewouldneverbe“caught”.Noonewouldeverknowofherdishonesty,andshewouldfacenonegativeconsequences.Theworstthatcouldhappenisthatthediscountstorewouldrefusetorepairorreplacehercamera.Inshort,Jeanniefeltlittleincentivetobeethical.Becausetherearefewerexternalconstraintstoguideustowardethicalconsumerbehavior,anunderstandingofone’sresponsibilitiesinthemarketplaceisevenmoreimportanttodaythanitwasinthepast.Hugechainstoreoperationsandcomputerizednetworksareincreasinglyhidingtheidentities—andthebehavior—ofindividualbuyersandsellersinthemarketplace.Andifweareslightlydishonestorviolateourownethicalstandardsoccasionally,whowillknow?TEXT-S-18-19TEXT-w-1-2WhenAmericansmakeconsumerdecisions,theyusuallyconsidermorethanthepriceandqualityofproductsofferedforsale.Otherfactorsthatmayinfluencetheirchoicesincludewhereandhowtheitemswereproduced,iftheyweremadebyunionlabor,andwhethertheyweremadeinanenvironmentallyresponsibleway.Forexample,youmightchoosenottoshopatastorethatyoubelievediscriminatesagainstwomenorethnicminorities.Manypeoplearewillingtopayhigherpricesforproductsmanufacturedorofferedforsaleinwhattheybelievearesociallyresponsibleways.Inasimilarwayconsumersoftenmakechoicesthatreflectvaluestheyhavesetfortheirpersonalbehavior.Howoftenhaveyouseenastoreclerkmakeamistakethatwouldhavecausedyoutopaylessthantheactualpriceforwhatyouwerebuying?Didyoutelltheclerkthatheorshehadmadeamistake,ordidyoutakeadvantageofthesituationtopayalowerprice?EthicsandtheConsumerRogerLeRoyMillerandAlanD.StaffordTEXT-W-2-3Ifyoubrokeadishbyaccidentinachinastore,wouldyoufeelresponsibletopayforit?Ifyouwereharmedbyadefectiveproductyouhadpurchased,wouldyousueforanamountofmoneythatwasgreaterthanthevalueofyourloss?Althoughsomepeopledothesethings,manyAmericanconsumerschoosetobehaveinwhattheyregardasasocially/morallyresponsibleway.Allconsumershavedutiesandresponsibilitiesthatcanbesummarizedinonesentence:Theconsumerhasadutytoacthonestlyandethicallywhenpurchasingproductsandservices.Anage-oldaphorismholdsthat“whatgoesaroundcomesaround.”Inthecontextofconsumerdealingsthismeansthatifenoughconsumersactdishonestly,pricesofconsumerproductsandserviceswillrise,harmingallotherconsumers.TEXT-w-4-5Ethicalbehavioressentiallymeansactinginaccordancewithone’smoralandethicalconvictionsastowhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Manycommonlyheldethicalconvictionsarewrittenintoourlaws.Butethicalbehaviorsometimesrequiresustodomorethanjustcomplywithlawsinordertoavoidthepenaltyofbreakingthem.Insomecircumstances,onecanbreakthelawandbefairlycertainnoonewilleverfindoutaboutit.Imagine,forexample,thatyoupurchasedanumberofitemsfromyourlocalWal-Martanddiscoveredwhenyougothomethatthecashierhadfailedtochargeyoufora$16CDyouhadchosen.Whatisyourobligation?Obviously,theCDdoesnotlegallybelongtoyou—youhavenotpaidforit.Butwhyshouldyouhavetotakethetimeandtroubletoreturntothestoretopayfortheitem?Afterall,itwasn’tyourfaultthatthecashierdidnotringupthepurchasepriceoftheitem.Whatwouldyourdecisionbe?Woulditmakeadifferenceiftheitemhadamuchhigheroramuchsmallerprice?WhatIsEthicalBehavior?TEXT-W-7Theseexamplesillustratethatit’snotalwayseasytodothe“rightthing”—oreventoknowwhattherightthingtodoisinagivensetofcircumstances.YoucouldbeprettycertainthatinthecaseoftheCDnoonewouldeverknowyouhadobtainedtheproductwithoutpayingforit.Wal-Martofficialssurelywouldn’treportyoutothepoliceorcomeknockingatyourdoor.Theyhavenoideawheretheirmerchandisegoesto.Thecaseofthemispricedspaghettisauceisonlyalittledifferent.Ifanyoneaskedyouabouttheprice,youcouldsimplysayyoudidn’tknowwhatthepriceshouldhavebeen.Incaseslikethese,thereisatemptatio