Nowadays consumer goods have become the most important part of people’s lives. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Consumer

goods are so convenient and easily available that they are here to stay. Yet, there has been a constant debate on the harmfulness of some aspects of

consumer

goods between producers and critics of these goods. Usually the criticism is about the manner in which these goods are made available to the end-user. Some of the advantages of

consumer

goods have to do with their pricing, availability and packaging.

Consumer

goods are reasonably priced, so it’s easy to buy them in bulk and stock-up. They are conveniently available in your local retail store. These retail stores are usually one-stop shops from which you can purchase everything that you need for the month. Easy availability means that you don’t have to buy from the producer directly, which

also

means that you can find goods which could have been produced in another city or even country.

Consumer

goods are safely and conveniently packaged. The packaging keeps the item from spoiling, contamination or being attacked by bugs. The portions are optimal for weekly or monthly

use

, in storage friendly packaging, so that you don’t have to open a big bag of something you need and

then

worry about storing the contents of the now open bag. The disadvantages have to do with added preservatives, single

use

packaging and misleading advertising among others. Adding chemical preservatives to increase the shelf life of the product, has the side-effect of being harmful to the body of the

consumer

, which compounds with long-term

use

. As regards packaging, most packaging materials are plastic or plastic derivatives, which are discarded after

use

. Single

use

plastic packaging of

consumer

goods accumulate in large numbers and pose disposal problems, which in turn poses a pollution hazard. Advertising of

consumer

goods is aimed at creating a need where there is none.

Hence

the content of advertisements is aimed at emotions rather than providing full or useful information on the product. When you weigh the disadvantages against the advantages of

consumer

goods and their importance in people’s lives, it is evident that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. All the advantages mentioned here have to do with the convenience to the

consumer

. The disadvantages

in contrast

, can be addressed cause or will cause the

consumer

inconvenience and harm him in the long run.

However

the situation can be alleviated with some creativity, innovation and methods of full disclosure, so that consumers can exercise their right to choose and buy with discernment and without harm to them. As convenience to the

consumer

is of prime importance, producers will do well to innovate in the areas of using neutral preservatives, providing multi-

use

packaging and full product information. It will certainly help them stay in the ever-expanding market of

consumer

goods. The customer is king and h

is

objective male pronoun, used to refer to a male human or animal

he

needs and wants will drive his purchasing behaviour, and

consumer

goods have raised his expectations of what is possible. The critics lobby has served to inform him of his safety and his rights to demand a better deal, which in turn will make the right kind of

consumer

goods even more important to him.