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.
Preston is a small community located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. The post office was established December 13, 1909. It was named for an Okmulgee oilman, Harry Preston. Unrecognizable from the past, Preston was once a highly prosperous community, thriving mainly from the oil boom as did many of the surrounding communities. Later on, as the oil industry quieted in Preston, it served as a station for restocking trains and running cattle trails, loading water from Frisco lake. Many remnants of the station may be found throughout parts of Preston. Additionally, many old cattle trails and roads, though overgrown, are still distinguishable as such due to the heavy use and traffic. It currently has one school, three churches, a single gas station, feed store, heating and a/c shop, and an acclaimed small hamburger shop. Today, many of its occupants enjoy life there, but typically work elsewhere in the county.