Consumer power...should it be more of a thing.

[Daygloboo]

Consumer power is incredible power. I've never understood why ppl dont collectively use their consumer power more strategically when businesses are engaged in very clear cases of customer piss taking. Why isnt it more of a thing. This is not unreasonable thinking, is it. Considering democracy is not what it used to be and individual votes dont feel like they count, and ' big business' is seemingly becoming more powerful rhan governments, isnt the pound in your pocket the new cross on your ballot paper .

Unfortunately in the UK in particular there is such a focus on price that enough people will put up with poor service if something is cheap or perceived to be.

Also there is no one focus for consumer rights in the way that thirty years ago there was with That's Life. I hated the programme's format but acknowledge it's impact.

We really need something like that again.

As you say, more of a focus so that ppl know where to go and what to get behind. The consumer is really having the wee taken out of them these days....more than ever.

Unless there is no choice but to go with a specific product, for example a particular water company because that is the only one there is where you live, then why can people not communicate better in designated places to get behind and buy from those companies that really do give the customer a good deal...and show respect for the customer....and vote with their feet against those that dont.

I wonder this too. I haven’t bought cadburys products, Costa or Starbucks for years. I think they are poor quality over priced and a symbol of the enshitification society is subjected to.

I buy a lot less chocolate mind you as ethical brands are expensive, I don’t get why others still buy things like Cadburys or quality street. It doesn’t taste the same and lord knows what the health implications are from consuming palm oil products. It’s not exactly an essential product either compared to things you need to pop into your weekly shop. So the reasoning that low income households have to buy cheaper palm oil containing products falls flat here to me.

I totally agree. I remember when a certain person was behaving very badly and suddenly ppl didnt want to buy their vehicles any more. I just donr understand why this doesnt happen more often, because there are always good deals and ethically produced products to be had from good businesses. I think consumers are really missing a trick not to be more organised about this.

Most chocolate nowadays is disgusting. I refuse to buy it.

I do wonder if sales have gone down as I know lots of people feel the same. However I guess not significantly enough if they have because nothing has changed!

I have also stopped going to Lush following their TWAW stance.

But how, for example, did you find out about that, and was your decision an individual one or was it part of a campaign or ' push' by a group to do that. Like I said, I dont understand why this doesnt hapoen more when consumers dont approve of what a business is doing. I remember a supermarket recently put up its prices for really questionable reasons and i was amazed that there wasnt an outcry and ppl saying lwt's not go there until they show more respwct for the customer.