Question

What are consumers responsibilities when they buy a product such as hot coffee or hot hamburgers? How does a company give consumers what they want and yet protect them at the same time? Minimal. 500 Words

Answer 1

This discussion came to lime light from the case of McDoland's. Where customer bought some hit coffee and she spilled it over her causing burns. For this, she has lodged a complaint against McDonald's. We will discuss the above question based on this case law.

Both the parties have their own responsibilities. Consumers must be more cautious. They must be situationally aware and should know what they are doing. They should not try to penalize the company for every mishap. They must act with reason. They know that the coffee or hamburger are too hot to get in contact with skin and must take necessary care in placing them. They should handle the product with care based on the type of product. They may also ask the seller regarding any possible dangers associated the product. They must also dispose them safely. The responsibility with the sellers will be they must act fairly in everyway possible. They must warn the consumers on the possible mishap. Either they may say it oral or label it on the product visibly. The prior responsibility for any business man is their consumers safety. The responsibility must be on both the sides (on consumer and on company).

In liebeck vs McDonald's restaurants case, liebeck placed the hot coffee cup in between her legs and also didn't leap out of the seat. This lead to coffee slip into clothes and cause her burns. Liebeck has filed the case and argued that a 170 degree hot cofee can cause second degree burns. The jury decided the case in favour of Liebeck and asked the McDonald's to pay compenau to Liebeck.

The company while giving the customers what they want they should warn the customers about any precautions to be taken with regard to the product (hot coffee & hamburger). Besides this they should also use proper packing (wrapping) of the product and take extra care in supplying them and handling (in cases or cups) like types of materials used and their durability. But these require extra cost and thus the price will be increased. The company must make the Customers aware of such increase and reason for such increase. This makes the company supply what the customers want and yet protect them at the same time.