Consumer Awareness

The benefits of the consumers Information based on Comparative Testing is one of the most important tools a consumer organization can use to strengthen the position of the consumers.

Consumer Awareness Through Comparative Product Testing

Comparative Testing is a process of testing branded consumer goods and services to provide consumers with unbiased information on the characteristics of these products in a bid to enable them to make a rational buying choice.
Comparative product testing came to India in the beginning of the 1990s when an NGO, Voluntary Organisation In the interest of consumer education (VOICE) started conducting testing of the products available in the national market and publishing the results there of for the benefits of the consumer at large. The results of all such tests are provided to the national media with the objective that the same gets disseminated among the consumers. Simultaneously, each issue of a bi-monthly magazine brought out by Voice, Consumer VOICE" also carries the test results of these tests in details.
Sometimes manufacturers threaten to take legal action also. When test results on dry cell batteries showed BPL" as a better buy than Duracell" the multinational objected. Consumer Voice" went ahead prepared for a legal battle that never came. Similarly, one of the comparative tests conducted by VOICE has proved that the less popular flatbed scanner Epson Perfection 1200 photo" provides the best results as compared to the most popular brand HP Scan Jet". Another tests done on various Laptop computers provided information to the consumers on why Dell Inspiron" is the best choice as compared to others in the market.

In a competitive market, testing of any manufactured product is essentially aimed at determining whether it conforms to the expected quality standards. Comparative testing means, subjecting different products/brands offered for the same purpose to a common set of tests; the results of which provide consumers with unbiased information on the characteristics of these products. An organization that carried out these tests, selects the products for the purpose depending upon their nationwide availability, market share and price range.
Objectives:

·   To provide consumers unbiased information to enable them to make a national choice among major brands available in the metropolitan markets. To communicate to government, regulatory and standard authorities the test results for appropriate action against malpractices (if any).
·   To educate consumers about the types of products that will be most likely to suit their needs. Consumers would then pressurize the producers to improve the quality of their products.
·   To draw public attention to unsafe goods and unfair trade practices.
·   To verify the product claims of different brands of products as per available national standard.

Laboratory Testing
Laboratory testing is the backbone of the CT programmes. The following points are taken care of while submitting products for testing in laboratory.
Products are purchased from the open market.
Brand names are concealed, wherever possible, laboratories work only with coded samples.
The project officer is then supposed to take appropriate action, which may involve re-testing, checking or buying other samples for testing or checking the results with the manufacturers.
Laboratories undertaking CT should not have any dealings with the manufacturers.
The results thus obtained from laboratories are converted into a comparative Test Report that provides the details of methodology involved in testing, test conditions, instruments used and parameters considered. The test report also specifies the degree of accuracy to which tests were carried out and gives an estimate of the extent to which the test-results can be reproduced.
The benefits of the consumers
Information based on Comparative Testing is one of the most important tools a consumer organization can use to strengthen the position of the consumers. It also helps manufacturers to improve the quality of their products.
To continue with its commitment to provide consumers with the information on ins and outs of all the products. Future tests to be carried out by VOICE include Refrigerators, toothpastes, Ceiling Fans, geysers etc.
    
For further enquiries please contact F-71, Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi-24
PH: 6918969, 6315375 or visit the website www.consumer-voice.org