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.
Anatone is an unincorporated community in Asotin County, Washington. Because it is not tracked by the U.S. Census, a Census population estimate is not available. However the citizens of Anatone perform a population census themselves and update the sign (pictured right) every summer. Anatone is assigned the ZIP code 99401. It is a working class agricultural area. Primary crop grown in the area is wheat. There is a cafe at the south side of town, otherwise no other services are available. As of 2000, an estimated 221 people lived in areas served by the Anatone Post Office, in 167 housing units. As of January 1st, 2010, there are 38 people in the town of Anatone, WA. Anatone is part of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.