(a) "Appliances" means any device or instrument operated by electricity, gas or otherwise, and designed for personal, family or household use. Appliance includes but is not limited to vacuum cleaners, televisions, tape recorders, radios, record players or any other consumer equipment.
(b) "Consumer" means a person who seeks or acquires real or personal property, goods or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
(c) "Consumers Council" means the North Royalton City Council.
(d) "Director" means the Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and that any and all duties, powers, authority and responsibilities vested in the Director of Consumer Affairs in the Codified Ordinances is hereby vested in the Mayor.
(e) "Goods" means all movable things and fixtures whether or not in existence at the time of the transaction except money, securities and chattel paper, but including merchandise certificates.
(f) "Merchant" means a person who regularly deals in real or personal property, goods or services in a manner which results or is intended to result in consumer transactions. Merchant includes but is not limited to a seller, lessor, manufacturer, his or her assigns or successors. Merchant includes all other persons who are responsible for any act or practice prohibited by this Code.
(g) "Person" means any individual, partnership, partner, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents, assigns, employees or successors.
(h) "Services" means and includes, but is not limited to, work, labor and other personal services, privileges and all other accommodations which are primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
(i) "Transaction" means any oral or written agreement, sale or bargain entered into or intended to be entered into between a merchant and one or more consumers, whether or not it is a contract enforceable at law.
(j) "Price gouging" gross disparity between the price of goods or services and their value measured by the price at which similar goods or services are readily obtained by other consumers; the act of raising prices to take advantage of consumers during times of crisis.
(Ord. 01-148. Passed 10-2-01.)