Consumer vs User
We think we know the meanings of the words consumer and user. Of course, we do, as consumers are people who consume (literally) or make use of a product in the household. So if a person buys a LCD TV for use in his family, all members of the family are end consumers of the product. User is a word that also denotes a similar meaning. If you are making a product and selling it in the market, there are many who buy it and use it. Because of overlapping between the meanings of the words user and consumer, many confuse which one to be used in which context. This article tries to make things clear as far as the words consumer and user are concerned.
Consumer
Anyone who consumes the goods or services produced by another company is called consumer. He is the most important person in the economy of a country as it is consumer who creates demand for products and services, and responsible for the demand and supply chain. There are researches on consumer behavior; there are consumer protection laws, and there are consumer forums to protect the interests of consumers. However, people find the use of the word consumer for them is offending, as they prefer the use of the word customer for themselves.
User
People using the products and services of companies are termed as end users. If a person buys a bottle of shampoo and makes use of it daily, he is said to be the user of a particular brand of shampoo. In this case, he is both the consumer as well as the user of a product. However, the word user is all encompassing as when used in conjunction with development of a gadget or electrical appliance. We talk of user interface that is the ease or difficulty of using a device. You must have heard of user reviews that appear in many websites, and meant to share the opinions and views of end users with all potential customers.
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What is the difference between Consumer and User? • Both the words consumer as well as user refer to the last person who utilizes the product or services after paying money. • However, consumer is a broader concept as it refers to all members who use the same product or service though one member of the family has bought the product. • Consumer may or may not be actual user of a product or service as he may avoid a particular product after hearing poor review from others. • A consumer may be a person absorbing some aspect of the product or service without actually making use of the product.
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