Marketing rant

[biosurfer1]

I'm not sure if most people are just stupid enough to fall for marketing crap but there are a few out there that really irk me.

One is the "Price Match" guarantee. I have been shopping for carpet and RC Willey has what we want, but some of the carpet is stocked, and some is by order. Fine, I don't have a problem waiting, the problem I have is they want to charge .40/sq ft more for the stuff they dont stock. This is the EXACT same carpet as they have in stock, just a slightly different color. Sounds like their problem, not mine nor should I have to pay for it. I called another store in town that has the same carpet and they have the carpet I want at a cheaper, though still more expensive than the "in stock" price for RC Willey. I told RC Willey this and the sales persons response was to go get a quote and they would "match it". I asked her why I would drive all the way downtown just to get a quote and come back so they would give me the same price, I'll just go with the new stores price and reward them for the better price in the first place. She just looked at me confused, of course. Now if they had a 110% price match, then we're talking.

The other market gimmick I think is a joke is the "We'll beat any price, of we'll give you the XYZ for free!" Of course you will, because say the item is $1000 at a competitor, of course you'll sell it for $990 (or whatever) as opposed to giving it to the customer for free...almost insulting.

Any marketing that gets you guys?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Any marketing that gets you guys?

Most of it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Sad thing is those techniques work or companies would not do them. It's just one more way stores confront price objections.

What gets me is that certain stores carry one model and other stores carry a slightly different model making price matching impossible.

Or worse, you see a great deal advertised only to get there and that item is sold out and no rain checks are given.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I can say with pretty high confidence that marketing and advertising have not swayed my opinion about a particular product ever. Simply cutting the cord to the television cuts down on a lot of the unnecessary and unwelcome crap that used to stream into my life. I highly recommend it.

[Ducman]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I can say with pretty high confidence that marketing and advertising have not swayed my opinion about a particular product ever. Simply cutting the cord to the television cuts down on a lot of the unnecessary and unwelcome crap that used to stream into my life. I highly recommend it.

Highly unlikely - yes the crap pointed out that started this thread is just that and is easily recognized. The good seamlessly and unknowingly enters your mind and affects you. And there are oh so many clever routes in there now.

Actually just like about every other thing; mechanics, salesmen, doctors, lawyers....the good are good, add value and are welcome because of it. The bad......

[wdfifteen]

Sears. I bought my mother a lawnmower 3-4 years ago. They up-sold me to this particular model because there was a $50 rebate. He sold it on the premise that once I got the rebate the better mower would only cost $29 more than the inferior one. I didn't look at the fine print. When I got my "rebate" in the mail it turned out to be $50 off on a contract with some lawn chemical company. I would only save the money if I spent a few hundred more on a service I didn't want.
I contacted the Ohio AG who said the definition of "rebate" is anything the merchant wants it to be. She told me to start reading the fine print.

[Buckterrier]

ALL of it. Marketing is just as bad if not worse than shyster lawyers. They'll F'ing put anything down. Love the crap at restaurants. Award winning chili. Ok, I asked the waitress what award it won. Of course they are clueless. I could go on & on. The biggest? Sun dried tomatos. There isn't a ******* tomato dried in the sun anywhere!! Suffice it to say F'ing GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Por_sha911]

Marketing is NOT bad. I agree that marketing is designed to entice you into buying a product. Duh?! I'm a salesman and people will try to "accuse" me by saying "You're just trying to sell me something". I believe in my product. I am not lying. I'm honestly trying to put my product in the best light, and you act like that is some big sin? We shouldn't be shocked that someone is trying to sell something.

Sadly, we shouldn't be shocked when the crooks are willing to taint the way they present things to give an impression that isn't correct but if they didn't lie and I didn't ask questions or do proper research then shame on me. I know the crooks are out there and its my job to figure which is which. If they did lie then we need to complain to them or someone who can cause them to change.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Marketing is NOT bad.

When they lie it is. Wait, my bad, that's right it's OK to lie in todays world.

[sammyg2]

How about the parasitic mattress sleeze that says "We’ll Beat Any Competitors Advertised Price Or Your Mattress is Freee!!!”

The trick is it has to be an identical mattress, and every one of their mattresses comes with a custom made tag that only they sell in their stores.

In other words you can find an identical mattress at a competitor's store, but it will have a different tag so they'll claim it's not the same mattress.
It's the same thing, just a different name.
And that low-life has been getting rich for years off that BS.

He can go do a flying sit (and sleep) on the nearest bed post.

[biosurfer1]

Auto dealership "sales" are annoying too. When I worked for Toyota, we had a damn "sale" just about every weekend but rarely were the cars discounted. I found out that, at least at the dealership I worked for, there were really only two genuine sales in the year where cars could be had for lower than typical price. Now that is not to say that a good negotiator can't get those prices the rest of the year but most people didnt negotiate that well.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Auto dealership "sales" are annoying too. When I worked for Toyota, we had a damn "sale" just about every weekend but rarely were the cars discounted. I found out that, at least at the dealership I worked for, there were really only two genuine sales in the year where cars could be had for lower than typical price. Now that is not to say that a good negotiator can't get those prices the rest of the year but most people didnt negotiate that well.

Toyotathon and year-end clearance?

Every manufacturer has their own...

[biosurfer1]

Yep, those are them

Originally Posted by Brando

Toyotathon and year-end clearance?

Every manufacturer has their own...

[M.D. Holloway]

That's what I like about escorts and 'service providers ' you know your getting screwed!

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

When they lie it is. Wait, my bad, that's right it's OK to lie in todays world.

Apparently you didn't read what I wrote:

"If they did lie then we need to complain to them or someone who can cause them to change. "

There are so many people without ethics and they don't believe that there is a higher immovable standard other than whatever feels good... We shouldn't be shocked when we find them out there. Upset and wanting them to change? Yes. Surprised? No.
The truly sad thing is that when caught in a lie, most shoppers will overlook the lie as long as they get a better deal. They have sold out their principles for a few bucks. Do you walk away from a salesman that is caught in a lie when you know you will have to pay more elsewhere? That's putting your money where your mouth is.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

That's what I like about escorts and 'service providers ' you know your getting screwed!

Just look out for the hidden features and future results that come with the product.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Apparently you didn't read what I wrote:

Ummm, yes I did that's why I wrote what I wrote.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

When they lie it is. Wait, my bad, that's right it's OK to lie in todays world.

Its all a lie, ever sense women and men started painting their faces for war or attraction or wearing jewelry or perfume. Worse yet, think of all the various things you say out of pure decorum? None of that is the truth. Its all marketing which is essentially a lie. And why stop there? What of history? Thats nothing more than national marketing - a collective, agreed upon lie.

Don't think 'the lie' is bad, without it you wouldn't have civility, romance or one-night stands...

[M.D. Holloway]

of course....all this gets avoided if one was to buy a certain book! Hmmmm \l/