Consumer protection refers to the laws designed to aid retail consumers of goods and services that have been improperly manufactured, delivered, performed, handled, or described. Such laws provide the retail consumer with additional protections and remedies not generally provided to merchants and others who engage in business transactions, on the premise that the consumers do not enjoy a sufficient bargaining position with respect to the businessmen with whom they deal and therefore should not be strictly limited by the legal rules that govern recovery for damages among businessmen. The overarching goal is to protect individuals and the interest of the public in general from unfair and misleading activity in business and commerce (such as false advertising and deceptive trade practices) and scams perpetrated by criminals (such as identity theft and pyramid schemes) that harm a substantial number of consumers.
Squires is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Missouri, United States. Squires is located about eight miles south of Ava on Route 5. The original Post Office application was filed by John Squire, an Englishman, who wanted to establish the Post Office of "Squire's, Missouri" to be housed in his general store. The the request for a Post Office was granted March 21, 1888. Thus, Squires, Missouri became the name for a crossroads location where cattle were corralled nightly by Arkansas farmers who were taking their cattle to market in Springfield, Missouri. Squires has not changed much in the past 20 years. However, in the late 1800s, Squires was a thriving community with all the prospects of becoming a nice sized town. Today, Squires is home to Spurlock's Store (a hundred-year old family business), Squires Post Office, Squires Volunteer Fire Department, Porter's Cafe, Porter's Garage, and the Douglas County Livestock Auction Barn. Nearby is a Fire Lookout Tower which is maintained and operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation.