The first customer service centers designed to help people in rural areas operate and maintain new home appliances has opened in north China's Liaoning Province.

Demand for the centers follows a government-funded project to help farmers and villagers buy modern refrigerators, stovetops, fans and heaters.

Appliance sales in rural areas spiked after the project was announced, but some people were reluctant to take part, fearing the products would be second-rate or too costly to maintain.

Soundbite: Wang Shuai, villager of Liaozhong county, Liaoning Province "I was wondering if the quality of the home appliance is just the same when I heard that the county's government will pay for 13 percent of the total fee for us. I was afraid that they will sell us products which have been stored for a long time.But I'm very assured when I saw the right's protection pamphlet. The consumers' association is backing us."

The service centers will give out information on consumers' rights as well as clear contact information in the event an appliance doesn't live up to expectations.

Soundbite: Li Bing, General Secretary of Liaozhong Consumers' Association "We printed the rights protection service cards for the home appliance. The service cards together with products introduction and invoice will be handed to buyers. The rural consumers can dial the number for any quality related problems. We will make sure that they get well-made products."

Dozens of service centers throughout Liaozhong County will open over the next few days. The centers will be operated by the Shenyang Industrial and Commercial Bureau and Consumer Association.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)