Consumer (magazine)

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consumer

Area of ​​Expertise Independent consumer information, product and service tests
language German
publishing company Association for Consumer Information , Vienna ( Austria )
First edition 1961
Frequency of publication per month
Sold edition 2014: Regular circulation: 75,000 copies / month + extra circulation for all Tyrolean households in cooperation with AK-Tirol: 260,000 copies / month copies
Editor-in-chief Gerhard Früholz
Web link www.konsument.at
ISSN 1024-1361

The magazine Konsument is the most important publication of the non-profit, Austrian consumer protection organization Verein für Konsumenteninformation (VKI). It publishes product tests and compares services from different providers. The aim of the test magazine is to provide consumers with company-independent information and tips.

The publication is ad-free in order to guarantee absolute independence from the providers. All tests and reports can also be accessed online.

history

1960s

Televisions are one of the main concerns of consumers in the first decade. At this time, your purchase is one of the largest acquisitions made by Austrian households. The degree of motorization in society is also increasing. The consumer advocates start a long series of tests by car workshops and complain about large price differences and unnecessary repairs.

1961: The first edition of Konsument appears at the price of 3 schillings. It is produced on an Olivetti typewriter and a small Rotaprint machine. The first test: Frankfurter Würstel.

1962: Without advertising expenditure, the number of subscribers is 10,000.

1963: The volume is increased to 32 pages. The annual subscription (6 issues) costs 25 schillings to expand the test activity.

1964: Legal gray area: Do comparative product tests violate the (then strict) ban on comparative advertising? Is it even permissible to mention company names? Legal proceedings decide in favor of consumer protection. The way is clear to examine products and services for their value to consumers and to publish the results.

1966: The magazine appears 10 times a year, the circulation increases to 25,000 copies.

1970s

Since its inception, consumers have denounced aggressive sales methods and reported questionable clauses in business conditions . From 1979 the entry into force of the Consumer Protection Act brought new rights for consumers.

One of the central test topics in the 1970s were safety deficiencies in children's products.

1970: Apple test result: 90% of all apples are incorrectly declared.

1971: Long-term test series of cigarettes show results: In future, tar and nicotine content will be stated on the packaging.

1973: Test result Frankfurter Würstel: 62.5% of the samples tested in Vienna are adulterated or spoiled.

1974: The first issue with a colored cover appears. The VKI becomes a member of the European Testing Group (ETG) (today: ICRT), an association of European consumer organizations with the aim of carrying out community tests in order to save time and money.

1976: The test magazine is now published monthly.

1980s

Consumers are increasingly concerned about environmental protection. The test magazine reports on waste avoidance, recycling models, alternative forms of energy, pollutants and environmentally friendly product alternatives.

Food topics are now an integral part of the testing activity - many make it onto the front page (e.g. baby food, salad, mineral water, ...). Sensor technology becomes a recognized part of the overall assessment.

1981: A comparison of "organic" and conventionally produced tomatoes shows that better legal regulations are needed to protect consumers and organic farmers.

Due to poor test results with small welding transformers, a safety test is required.

1984: After a series of tests with miserable results, a quality class regulation for potatoes follows.

1987: Apple Macintosh ranks among the best in one of the first computer tests. Back then: 65,700 schillings.

An internationally recognized detergent test (duration: almost a year, cost: three million schillings) exposes polluters. Since then, detergents have become more environmentally friendly and detergent tests have become routine.

1990s

The test activities will be expanded to include financial services such as insurance brokers, investment advisors, checking accounts, investment funds, etc. In addition to reports on structured sales , pyramid schemes and expenses for international transfers, Konsument issued an urgent warning in 1998 about the incalculable risks of foreign currency loans .

Car crash test scenarios (in cooperation with Euro-NCAP ) ensure that small cars become safer. The standards are now EU law.

1991: Sparkling wine and champagne: In view of the poor performance of some French prestigious brands, the French embassy takes action and protests the test result.

1992: First Austria-wide advertising campaign, the subscription numbers reach their historical high of 102,078 subscribers.

1993: A steam cleaner test reveals dangerous safety deficiencies. Some manufacturers are threatening legal action, and safety regulations are being tightened. The magazine's awareness level is 88 percent.

1994: Still and mild mineral waters: Bacterial contamination is found in some bottlers. The Ministry of Health warns. The scope of the magazine is expanded to 48 pages.

1996: The consumer magazine is now also available on the Internet at konsument.at.

Since 2000

Konsument is the first test organization worldwide to introduce ethics tests. The assessment of working conditions, environmental protection measures and the company's openness to information ( Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR ) is also linked to the tried and tested product tests.

The magazine takes on another pioneering role in the field of health and is now also scrutinizing doctors, pharmacists and clinics.

The reporting on consumer law issues (current court rulings, collective campaigns, test cases) is increasing. Consumers who have suffered damage can take part in the collection campaigns via the Konsument.at or verbübersrecht.at homepage (website of the VKI legal department).

2007: Pollutants and suspected manipulation of olive oil: The test gives the magazine a sales record at the kiosk with over 12,000 copies sold. For the first time in seven years, the issue price has been increased: an issue now costs 4.50 euros (instead of 4 euros), a consumer subscription costs 45 euros (instead of 39.24 euros).

2009: Kernel oil: In many of the oils tested, the kernels do not come from Styria, but rather from Styria. a. from China.

2010: The VKI introduces a fee for the temporary use of its test badges. The price for a consumer subscription will be increased from 45 to 48 euros.

2015: The price for a consumer subscription is increased from 48 to 52 euros. In addition, a subsidy subscription for the price of 100 euros is being introduced, with which subscribers can express their appreciation. The subsidy subscription for the online edition costs 50 euros.

The test magazine KONSUMENT 2014:

  2014
Retail sales figures (average per month) 4,441
Print subscriptions approx. 53,000
Online subscriptions approx. 9,000
Testing costs (self-tests + cooperations) approx. € 360,000
Products tested per year approx. 2,000
Website visits per month approx. 300,000

Price development

  • 1961–1962: 3 schillings (öS)
  • 1963-1973: 5 öS
  • 1974: 8 öS
  • 1975: 10 ATS
  • 1976: 12 öS
  • 1977–1980: 15 ATS
  • 1981–1982: 18 öS
  • 1983: 20 öS
  • 1984-1988: 25 OS
  • 1989-1991: 30 ATS
  • 1992: 35 öS
  • 1993-1994: 38 OS
  • 1995-1996: 42 OS
  • 1997-2000: 50 ATS
  • 2001-2007: 4 euros
  • 2008-2014: 4.50 euros
  • since 2015: 5 euros

Evaluation scheme

The following quality ratings are awarded in a typical product test:

  • "very good"
  • "Well"
  • "average"
  • "Less satisfactory"
  • "not satisfactory"

The test and evaluation criteria can be viewed at Konsument.at.

Website

Konsument.at is the website of the Austrian test magazine Konsument and has provided access to all magazine content since 1999. In addition to paid access to tests and reports, the website offers a range of free information offers such as current reports (e.g. product recalls, court judgments and Collection campaigns), short tests, online extras (e.g. food quality label overview), legal information (e.g. warranty and guarantee, right of residence) including case studies and sample letters as well as regularly updated overviews of forms of savings and savings interest.

The food check, a cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry of Health, is also located at konsument.at .

Updates on the most important test series (e.g. cell phones, TV sets, digital cameras, ...) are increasingly published on the website before they appear in the print magazine. Online access to tests and reports costs 25 euros per year (as of 2015). Subscribers to the print magazine have free access to all content on the homepage.

Books

In addition to the monthly Konsument, the VKI also publishes books on consumer topics. The expert knowledge conveyed in the guides is intended to make everyday life easier for consumers (technology, health, internet, ...) and to provide practical assistance in financial and legal issues (estate, tenancy law, house purchase, neighborhood law, etc.) in understandable language.

In 2014 the publishing program comprised a total of 61 titles.

The books are available from Konsument.at but also from bookshops and well-stocked tobacconists.

Test badge - advertising with test results

Awareness of the consumer test badge is very high in Austria, and advertising with the test results from consumers is subject to a license and fee. The price range for a test badge ranges from 800 euros per advertising channel (print, packaging, POS , TV, WEB) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to 4,800 euros for all 5 channels. The test badge can be renewed annually for 80% of the previous price.

The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) takes legal action against improper advertising with test results.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.konsument.at Brochure: 50 years of CONSUMER
  2. ↑ Reports on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
  3. ↑ Test of olive oil In: Konsument 9/2007
  4. ↑ Report Pumpkin Seed Oil In: Konsument 6/2009
  5. ↑ http://www.konsument.at Brochure: 50 years of CONSUMER
  6. ↑ http://www.konsument.at/vki VKI Activity Report 2014
  7. ↑ http://www.konsument.at/vki VKI Activity Report 2013, p. 18
  8. ↑ http://www.konsument.at/testplakette Information for companies
  9. ↑ http://www.konsument.at Abusive advertising with test results