Final answer:
Federal law requires that warranties must be available for consumers to read before making a purchase, even when shopping online. Warranties serve as explicit reassurance of product quality and are particularly important for e-commerce where physical inspection is not possible. Other forms of customer reassurances like return policies may also be present but are not mandated by federal law. b) Product reviews
Step-by-step explanation:
When shopping online, according to federal law, certain information must be presented to consumers before they make a purchase. The accurate answer is that warranties must be available for consumers to read. This is important because it is a form of explicit assurance provided by the seller regarding the quality and reliability of the product. Warranties can include terms such as money-back guarantees or service contracts, offering a level of protection and confidence for the consumer, particularly for those shopping through mail-order catalogs or online stores, where physical inspection of the product is not possible.
While discounts and promotions, product reviews, and return policies may also be available, they are not strictly required by federal law to be provided as warranties are. That being said, return policies often accompany warranty information as part of the overall customer service strategy to ensure satisfaction and to build trust between the seller and the consumer. These reassurances encourage customers to commit to a purchase with the knowledge that they have some recourse should the product not meet their expectations.
It is also relevant to note that some establishments may offer unstated guarantees or accommodations to maintain customer satisfaction, such as movie theaters offering refunds or restaurants allowing customers to exchange dishes. This flexibility serves as an additional layer of reassurance for consumers, promoting a customer-friendly shopping environment.