Why is it important to check the expiration dates on products?

Checking the expiration dates on products is crucial for several reasons, primarily related to ensuring product quality and customer safety. Products that are past their expiration dates may not perform as intended, leading to potential quality issues, such as diminished effectiveness or spoilage. This is particularly important in categories like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, where the deterioration of a product can have serious health implications for consumers.

Ensuring that products are within their expiration dates helps maintain the integrity of the items being sold, which reassures customers about their purchases. This practice not only fosters trust with consumers but also protects the retailer from liability issues related to offering expired or unsafe products.

In contrast, evaluating stock levels for reordering, deciding on discounts for expired items, and determining the popularity of products do not directly address the immediate safety and quality concerns that expiration dates represent. While these factors play a role in inventory management and sales strategy, they are secondary to the primary focus on customer health and product efficacy.