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.
Steptoe is a small unincorporated rural community in Whitman County, Washington, United States. Steptoe is 11 miles north of the county seat, Colfax and is 43 miles south of Spokane. It is named after Colonel Edward Steptoe for a battle located north of Steptoe near Rosalia, Washington. Steptoe has an elementary school consisting of students 1st through 8th grade, a post office (zip code 99174), a gas station catering to the local community. Local tourist attractions include Steptoe Butte. Steptoe's main roads include U.S. Route 195 and State Route 23.