Marketing and Politics - It's All the Same

db5 · Post by **db5** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:14 pm

Marketing is the art/pseudo science of selling something that was advertised but often does not meet the customer’s expectations. It may be downsizing the product in a bigger box with “New and Improved” or other words to deceive. It can involve reducing the size of the container without obviously appearing to do so. Sell a million at a 5% savings in quantity and you have made an additional 5% on the top line. Not bad. Each savings on volume means more profit.

A pound of coffee was once 16 oz. Now it is 12 oz. Can size is the same but volume is 25% less and the price goes up. We have accepted the new size because no one objected. We bought it instead of punching a hole in the top of the can so the retailer had to return it to the distributor. Hey, there’s an idea – punch a hole in the can. You all do have Swiss Army Knives, right?

Two recent examples are from Reddi Whip (offered previously at 15 oz. and now in the same size can at 13 oz. with a price increase. I should have taken a picture of the previous can.

Now Hormel, which has eliminated it’s round containers for some more compact ones which appear to be round. Not for your convenience in handling but for greater profit. These marketing people are obviously learning from politicians. What you expect from advertising is not what you get in reality. You get whatever they can push on you, gradually, so that you may not notice.

There is an old story about the Pole who had salami and a Russian wanted it. He didn’t just take it but sliced of a little and took it. Not enough to start a war over. Much like Putin in the Crimea. He came back later and sliced off some more. Not enough to start a war over – but you know where this ends. The Russian had the whole salami. Russians, politicians and marketers do what they do.

As when my wife became angry because our dog grabbed her hamburger (which she sat on a coffee table in front of the dog) and I told her that dogs do what dogs do. It wasn’t the dog to blame but the one who created the opportunity. She still blamed the dog. There is a lesson here for those who read and perceive and do nothing. For those who don’t learn, your hamburger, like the salami will soon be gone. And you’ll blame the dog not your own inaction by ignoring the problem.

I can understand that. “Hey, one slice of the salami is no big deal.” Nor is one rape of the wife or the daughter. No big deal, right?

If you have access to Obama please forward this.

swampgator · Post by **swampgator** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:56 am

The radio ads in the 1950's was to come to the furniture store, auto repair or whatever and Save! Save! Save! I was a child and the logic didn't work. So, I asked my grandpa how could you save while spending. He chuckled and said, "You're a smart one!" Rarely do I listen to an ad on TV and never on radio. Only radio I get to hear is a local college station either here in Pensacola or Mobile. Don't care for the others. But, I think I need to go to a local store so I can Save!

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:11 pm

My wife wanted to go shopping yesterday. I said why and she said that they were having a sale and that she could save 20%. I said why don't you stay home and you can save 100%. She didn't appreciate my humor.

Bill V

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:43 pm

wa2crk wrote:My wife wanted to go shopping yesterday. I said why and she said that they were having a sale and that she could save 20%. I said why don't you stay home and you can save 100%. She didn't appreciate my humor.
Bill V

What humor?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:54 pm

So, what is magic re 12, 13, 14 1/2, 30 oz?

1 lb makes sense, one quart makes sense, half pound makes sense, pint makes sense, half pint makes sense.

Any 'package' that is slightly smaller than the 'make sense' size that used to be the 'make sense' size is the victim of that which started this thread.

Another victim is anyone with recipes that used the 'make sense' size ingredients.

Yes we be fools to put up with that crap, but sadly the fool count is far greater than those with a nickels worth of sense count.

Sneaky? Yes.

Dishonest? Legally no. IMHO yes!

See what happens when you put lawyers in charge of legality!:D

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:57 pm

So what is the weight on a bag of sugar these days? WAS five lbs, dropped to 4 lbs YEARS ago.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:12 pm

Caveat emptor.

On the plus side, the shelf tags in grocery stores nowadays always display the price per unit of the goods. At least here in Ohio. Is this required by law?

I like those tags. They save me the mental arithmetic, and I've already trained my teenagers to use them. The wife, I'm not so sure about.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 4:57 pm

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Caveat emptor.

On the plus side, the shelf tags in grocery stores nowadays always display the price per unit of the goods. At least here in Ohio. Is this required by law?

I like those tags. They save me the mental arithmetic, and I've already trained my teenagers to use them. The wife, I'm not so sure about.

While we are on this diatribe, why do the larger 'economy' sizes cost more per 'unit'? Still some folks pay more for a '24' pack than two '12' packs.

I think it is a federal requirement. They only work when different 'packages' are given in the same 'units'.

FWIW, that mental arithmetic keeps the mind greased!

beatnik · Post by **beatnik** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:44 pm

10 for 10 dollars.

I'm going to eat my huge bag of air I bought that came with some chip crumbs in the bottom with dip from that large container. The one with the huge inverted bowl shaped base.

All this started years ago with laundry detergents. The box is smaller, but you get the same amount. Huh, say that again ?

I live on store brands, gotta find the good ones.

davebodner · Post by **davebodner** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:27 pm

Shrinking products are a minor annoyance, not the end of Western civilization. That being said, politicians have been marketed in this country since the beginning.

Tipacanoe and Tyler too.
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.