Most consumer problems never become disputes because people lump or avoid them

Evidence

Suppose you buy a car that fails to perform to your expectations. You might respond to this problem in various ways. You might do nothing, perhaps justifying your inaction by arguing that everyone gets stuck once in a while (“lumping it”). You might also resolve never to purchase another car from that dealer or that manufacturer. Social scientists call such a change in behavior, designed to reduce or eliminate contact with a disputant, “avoidance.” Alternatively, you might go to the dealership and claim that the car should be repaired or that you should be reimbursed for your inconvenience. The dealer might accept your claim, thereby resolving the matter. Or the dealer might make a counteroffer, perhaps to replace defective parts if you pay the labor costs, and a negotiated settlement might be reached. Finally, the dealer may reject your claim, in which case a dispute exists. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1057

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the standard dispute-resolution vocabulary: lumping it, avoidance, negotiated settlement, dispute.
• CANDY: “Lumping it” as the social-science term for doing nothing about a defective purchase is a light, shareable detail.
• XREF: connects to: Only a tiny fraction of grievances ever become lawsuits — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2186

Broader Connections

• Only a tiny fraction of grievances ever become lawsuits #expands (0.90) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2186