The Real Big Social Bubble

Commerce and consumption and social stress near the limit?

We may be entering times of great social unrest. There are too many corporations, selling too many products, with too many varieties, too aggressively!

We, who are able to, are consuming too much, resulting great waste and pollution.

There has been some talk of a long term commercial bubble that is strained considerably and about to burst. Perhaps like previous occurrences when business, markets and spending were pushed too high by investment, business and consumer recklessness. They then slumped and later returned to a more normal trend line. While we may again repeat that cycle there is also concern circulating about double dipping to yet new lows and perhaps worse.

Much of the populace is in worry mode about finances, family, and the environment and what lies ahead for our lifestyles and the world in general. These are both confusing and stressful times if we consider some of the negative trends in the way commerce, government and people are acting and interacting. The circumstances this time might be quite different than in earlier serious setbacks as there have been so many social changes for so many years, both positive and negative.

In my 77 years I have seen so many great advances made in living standards, for most; yet there has not been accompanying success in attaining greater social happiness, world peace or eliminating poverty. Over the past decades in the developed world, our society has turned into a consumption monster where more is never enough. So many excesses have been pumped into the way we live under the intense pressure applied by corporate marketing. Commercial interests are now always in the forefront 'encouraging' us onward.

Have we come too far down the wrong path for a gentle turnaround?

The ideology of free enterprise is total devotion to maximizing profits in any manner allowed and increasingly without fairness. There is also a lack of effective laws to control unethical business practices, or the will to enforce those that exist. This infected free enterprise system is allowed to grow with little obstruction and in such a way that social abuse for personal or corporate gain becomes more acceptable with each passing year. Competition for consumers' money, to increase shareholder value, is always a priority. This has some very undesirable effects on society as corporate methods intensify and become less ethical.

The overall results are obvious. We are living in an era of ongoing dissatisfaction with what we have, and with what we must have. We have been told over and over that we need more stuff - and we believe it. Most of us. We are going to pay the price for allowing this, in our living standard values, and with world social distress and environmental deterioration.

Democracy's 'free enterprise' has been too free as it has allowed the corporate world to design our social habits and standards to their liking and financial benefits. We have been programmed to always expect more, much of which is non-essential or promotes unhealthy or stressful living and resulting in great amounts of waste being dumped every day.

Too many, too large corporations are producing and marketing too many goods and services that do not make life better or may even be harmful. The costs of material and wages are wasted when the production is unneeded whereas they could be directed to producing more goods and services that have social and family values, such as in education, health, peace, poverty assistance and world friendly projects. Regularly today newer products and services are unimproved, of poor quality, defective or unworkable and simple junk. But too often it can be sold for no good purpose other than for profit, depleting and spoiling our world's natural resources needlessly.

Can pumping money into a faltering enterprise system, to encourage more buying to boost the economy and markets really help society? Perhaps.

But we must consider some of the material things that are now aggressively merchandised that are excessive in quantity, size, style and cost; proud possessions such as cars, homes, clothes, appliances, gadgets and toys. Increasingly these have too many features so they can be proclaimed 'New and Improved'. There are too many varieties of too many products, which might not differ significantly but will waste more retail space and fill our shelves at home, perhaps to be trashed unused.

And while exorbitant riches may come from this and be too easily or unjustly accumulated for some, others in this world live in devastating and cruel poverty.

A more valued, equitably distributed lifestyle lies ahead for the world's citizens, but not with the underlying commercial and political strategies of today.

Perhaps we will continue this trend another decade or more until it no longer holds together. An unfortunate outcome, but at some point in time consumers will have had enough. They will become dissatisfied with democracy's hang-ups and begin to regret life's stresses used in the processes of acquiring those things which do not make for a better life at all. In very recent years there has been a backlash slowly arising. The serious issues of global warming and environmental deterioration have had increased attention that will hopefully expand significantly.

But to fix this once and for all we also need to return to a more rational way of existing that is satisfying and fair to all, and sustainable. We cannot continue with our high flying market-consume way of living if we want a society that we can feel good about. Simpler living is one prescription, from the super rich corporate executives, athletes and entertainers, down to so many middle class citizens we need to downsize our artificial desires. And the lives of the unfortunate lower class must be improved and poverty eliminated.

This will require a new way of thinking about ourselves and our place in the world and it will be necessary for citizens to voice their dissatisfaction with the commercially oriented society. We must insist on strong and innovative systems of government for all that do not favor corporations and the elite.

Consumers will become dissatisfied with democracy's hang-ups and begin to regret life's stresses used in the processes of acquiring those things which do not make for a better life at all. In very recent years there has been a backlash slowly arising. The serious issues of global warming and environmental deterioration have received increased attention in recent years and hopefully will become mainstream in future social planning.

But restoring normalcy to the artificial aspects of our way of living will involve less commercialism and consumption. Outlawing excessive and deceptive or harmful advertising would be a good start towards long term social healing. Imagine the changes if there were strict regulations in place, with goods and services purchased more wisely, not by persuasion but out of necessity or by word-of-mouth recommendation.

Marketing and consumerism are due for severe trimming, in this decade or perhaps much further on. Profits will shrink, businesses will suffer and markets will drop as we begin to return to a more natural existence.

Sooner or later, quickly and harshly, or gently over time, a simpler and happier society lies ahead.

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Business in Bad Faith

A Crumbling Corporate-Consumer Relationship

Scamming today's consumers appears to be an increasing and ongoing trend in the manner of doing business. Consumers are being abused at various levels of marketing, sales, product quality and support. It is a common buyer experience to make a purchase only to discover that it is not as was presented by the seller, and that there is little or no recourse. Nor is it much of a corporate public relations concern anymore - everyone else is doing it and there are no repercussions worth worrying about.

More often than not, with costly transactions it is not impossible to find someone to write to, or to complain to in person. If there is, frustrated purchasers are easily turned away with scripted words of fluff.

"... the advertisement meets all legal requirements."
"... subject to the ethical standards in the industry."
"... our intent has never been to mislead and I believe our practices are . . ."

Purchasing products or services that increasingly turn out to be much less than what was expected for the price, or just no good at all, is part of the business model. It is commonly expected and too often accepted by shoppers. A tricked buyer's only reaction might be; "It was stupid of me to fall for that one!" And the retailer rings up another bit of profit in yet another underhanded transaction.

So many clever and deceitful techniques flourish in the market place with new ones appearing regularly. Double-dealing is a creative booming business.

I have read of large retailers that were fined for unethical marketing practices like bait and switch. In this scenario you are attracted to a store by an advertisement for a bargain-priced product. Even though you rush to the store on the first day of the sale you discover that the product is sold out or otherwise not available as perceived in the ad. While there you may be tempted to purchase a similar product at the regular price; they expect.

Not much hinders business from using dirty tricks in marketing. On the rare occasion where they are charged and fined the public is unaware. The company will simply tweak the sales technique for the next ploy, to its advantage.

There are many sleazy methods such as deceptive ads, displays and price tags. One must study the complex words and look for double meanings. And then there is the use of fine print that is immensely popular with corporate marketers including many of the largest, most successful companies.

The communications, credit and some large retail corporations quickly come to mind as leaders of the pack.

Admittedly there are still a great many shoppers that do not pay attention to price at all and gladly pay top dollar with little concern if the item or service is overpriced or unsatisfactory. These deficiencies are the retailers' advantage and if it does not work out these customers simply buy something else. The rest of us feel cheated and are upset. We know from experience that an adjustment or rebate may not be a possibility or is not worth the annoying effort required in dealing with the issue.

Such is our free enterprise system, allowing business almost freely to take advantage of individuals. But heck, it's good of commerce.

But that's the way it is, and that is the direction in which a more or less self-regulating market has taken us. And it will continue as sellers want more sales and profits and the competition is vigorous. It is unfortunate that there is little negative publicity about bad business ethic and the dwindling consumer reaction. Thank private media and owners. Shoppers today expect bad treatment in certain industries and must be studious and alert or be sorry.

So the business-consumer relationship continues to evolve in a very negative way.

The 'good old days' is somewhat of a misnomer because so much in our lives is so much better now than then. Some things however, are very much worse.

55 years ago I had just purchased my first car and I was ordering insurance for it, over the phone. After supplying the details to the agent and completing the transaction verbally, I then asked how they considered the information adequate and truthful when not related to them in person.

He replied that the transaction was conducted in good faith.

As I recall businesses were more trustworthy back then and customer complaints were taken seriously. There were easily accessible complaint departments and public relations personnel. A familiar store motto was; "The customer is always right."

Where have these nice business principles gone?

What is good faith? It's trust of course, but what we have in our present day consumer world is bad ethic and greed. I don't long for the good old days but it's time for a corporate trend back to transacting honestly and kindly and in good faith. Positive change will not be happening until the nature of government changes to reflect a deeper interest in citizens rather than in corporations.

Free Enterprise: Free to conduct business and maximize profit in any creative manner, preferably without being convicted of breaking the law. - Grampa Ken

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Greed And Credit

The intensely marketed credit business is a big mean money making machine.

  

Credit card companies are lined up for those account interest charges and have conscripted retailers to join the pack. With so many businesses involved and competing for the same loan interest profits, costs have escalated and in some areas ethics have nose dived.

Borrowing is a necessary part of living for many today where it provides assistance in buying basic necessities. Purchasing a first home or transportation for example. But taking on credit can be a drag on one's financial and personal well being, and it can be much worse when goaded into debt overload.

Credit marketers and other industries spend vast amounts of money emphasizing consumers 'need' to require more, much more than they truly need. And they make it sound easy - just charge it and own it now.

Sellers of credit work frantically to maximize profits while not necessarily providing fair value to consumers. As has been reported in the news, businesses along with their loan marketers have used some ruthless strategies in obtaining handsome profits. Slick tactics to encourage borrowing even when it is potentially hurtful is a cruel business.

These tactics have resulted in financial hardships and disasters for so many who may have been encouraged into unnecessary bad credit usage. The classic example has been the slick sales efforts of greedy companies who sold mortgages they knew were risky. But similar efforts are popular in many areas of lending and can be crippling to individuals and families who have been talked into excessive credit usage.  

MORTGAGES - Can you read this? You qualify!

Refused by bank, bad credit, bankrupt? Loans guaranteed.

  
Price gouging is not new to enterprise, in fact it can be seen regularly throughout the shopping experience. It is free enterprise where you can charge whatever someone is willing to pay. One of those gouging experts must have created the expression; "Greed is good" - though it be noxious, corrupting and hurtful. Sadly though, greed is profitable and can create wealth.

Much of the credit rates charged to borrowers have been excessively high for years, even while investment interest returns are historically low. With bank savings and term accounts paying 0.2% - 2.2% borrowing rates can be extremely higher. Retail credit card interests take off and can run as high as 29.9% on unpaid balances.

WOW! No wonder the massive marketing campaigns. Stores and others, as well as major credit card providers are circling around shoppers like a pack of wolves.

And so the continuing promotions; gross amounts of junk mail from major credit card companies, financial institutions, supermarkets, department stores and miscellaneous associations who can all issue their version of a major charge card for a fraction of the profit.

"Use your customer charge card and earn extra loyalty points." is one 'encouragement'.  But it gets worse.

Think you can entirely avoid owning and using your department store's credit charge card? It may not be that easy in the future as shrewd sellers are finding new ways to 'persuade' consumers to use their card to buy their products. I see a trend developing where increasingly the bargain price of a store item is tied to the store's charge card. No charge - no discount.

A recent trip to a department store sale had displays with products discounted in the area of 20%-30%. On some displays there were larger signs:

Use your customer charge card and earn extra loyalty points

So what are you going to do? Pay double?

You may never miss a payment but the poor soul who is struggling from payday to payday will sink deeper into debt and suffer the consequences of giving in to the persuasions.

Sure corporate mouth pieces may defend these exorbitant charges in saying their costs are high but that is largely because of the massive advertising expenditures. And then there are defaults where the trapped debtor could not pay and has declared bankruptcy.

Loan contract trickery may include confused, bloated wording and fine print; and a bag of costly surprises for the buyer after the transaction is made. This is a winning strategy for ruthless companies and now widely popular.

More negative consumer credit experiences may be coming in the news, brought on by always creative forms of corporate greed. It will be on the backs of low income families.

Consumers need fairness and protection in dealing with this type of business and it can only begin with governments that stand up for their citizens. They can investigate commercial behavior more closely, encouraging consumer input, and applying fixes that will require fair and ethical treatment of their citizens.

If they should ever care to.


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Consumer Complaints vs Customer Service

Consumers are frustrated shoppers when they purchase poor products or disappointing services, particularly if the marketing has not been entirely truthful. The irritations rise when consumers attempt to resolve the problem with the retailer or manufacturer and are unable to get any satisfaction; not unusual in today's shopping experience.

Where is the customer relations department? The good will?

The poor quality of purchased goods and services is a fairly common topic in casual discussions these days. Selling at the maximum price, the least cost, and achieving the best profit, is the basis of the free enterprise system. It seems fair, yet as years pass there has been steadily increasing corporate competition for dales, and business ethic is a-changin'.

Where it is no longer practical to further increase the selling price, then operating costs can be reduced to achieve a net gain. This can be accomplished with production, delivery and sales efficiencies. Unfortunately for the consumer, these reductions may also be severely limited, and so the lowering of product or service quality enters the picture. This appears to be a growing practice for even some long established companies and the limit on this is when the product becomes near useless to the buyer. It is sad when we see the deterioration in good honest value in some retail areas.

Short changing buyers with poor quality at high prices and the popular use of deceptive advertising and sales methods must be working well for business judging from their spreading usage. The most callous of merchandisers are not much concerned about negative consumer reactions as their customer relations service can be non-existent, difficult to contact, or entirely unhelpful with empty acknowledgments.

Where it is no longer practical to further increase the selling price, then operating costs can be reduced to achieve a net gain. This can be accomplished with production, delivery and sales efficiencies. Unfortunately for the consumer, these reductions may also be severely limited, and so the lowering of product or service quality enters the picture. This appears to be a growing practice for even some long established companies and the limit on this is when the product becomes near useless to the buyer. It is sad when we see the deterioration in good honest value in some retail areas.

Short changing buyers with poor quality at high prices and the popular use of deceptive advertising and sales methods must be working well for business judging from their spreading usage. The most callous of merchandisers are not much concerned about negative consumer reactions as their customer relations service can be non-existent, difficult to contact, or entirely unhelpful with empty acknowledgments.

This hardhearted treatment of consumers should not have deteriorated to this state; where has government been? Free enterprise will no longer be a good political model if repairs are not soon made to the way good business ethic is disappearing. Commercial greed must be arrested in some way and interaction with the public made friendlier once again. It will require changing the apathy of consuming citizens of course, but also improving the integrity of politicians and the ethic of business people. A tall order indeed!

As the seller-buyer relationship has trended downward for so many years consumers have become complacent. Complaints have dried up considerably as many consumers have given in and try to shop more suspiciously. If stung they accept that they were trapped once again and then carry on, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed that they were outsmarted. But this is a mistake that only encourages more of the same bad treatment. We must not take this; we need to tell them that we won't be treated in this greedy and unkind manner.

If we feel that a sales offer has been misleading or a purchase unacceptable and it appears to be a local problem, a complaint should be made to the local manager. However, if it is an obvious deceptive advertisement or display the effort may not be worthwhile. After all, if it was planned that way why wouldn't they make excuses and defend their actions?

In this scenario concerns should be directed to the corporate office, but finding a contact is not easy. Customer relations departments are not a popular business concept today. An internet search or asking at the local outlet should find a person and place to write to. There is often a related business association to consider contacting; however it exists for its business members. It is therefore unlikely to be helpful if the members in the industry of your concern are all marching to the same beat.

Does any industry come to mind?

My experience in writing complaints did not achieve much except to get it off my chest. I did observe that by addressing the letter to someone high in the organization, it could always be delegated downward. Also referring to the word 'ethical' seems to get attention and I once received a rebuttal from a corporate CEO. Yet the gooey replies are so often empty and discouraging.

"... the advertisement meets all legal requirements." - Legal yes, but I am being cheated.
"... subject to the ethical standards in the industry." - Painted with the same dirty brush.
"... our intent has never been to mislead and I believe our practices are . . ." - Liar!

Writing to a government agency or a consumer's group may be more helpful. Again not easy as there is not usually a clear direction or satisfying process in place. Canada's Competition Bureau carries out investigations and levies fines on businesses for bad practices such as bait and switch selling. However when I submitted a complaint I was informed of its receipt but that there would be no further correspondence with me on the matter. Persisting by letter a few months later, I received a phone call (no record) stating the same policy. No more information would be made available.

Letters to the editor can relieve some frustration if they get published and read by interested people. Yet if it is a complaint about a company that is a regular advertiser in the publication the chances of seeing it in print could diminish rapidly.

But we can't just give up if we want improvements to how we are treated in the marketplace. If we won't take the time to complain in person, by letter, phone or online, then we should expect worse from these corporations.

The public needs an advocacy system including a government consumer complaint submission department that will encourage participation from citizens. But will commerce oriented politicians ever do anything so helpful for its citizens?

Meanwhile let's talk it up at ground level; complain to the business, your next door neighbor, your friend, co-worker or anyone who will listen

Don't take it anymore!!

Writing a complaint letter:
You must keep receipts for all purchases where there is the slightest chance that you will need them later.
Describe the purchase: name of product, serial number. Include date and place of purchase.
State the problem and give history. Ask for specific action. Enclose copies of receipts and documents.
Keep copies of all your letters, faxes, e-mails, and related documents.

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Gambling: A Sick Greedy Tax

Grampa's Ethical News Today
Government greedily markets lotteries and casino gambling.
Little concern shown for the harm and destruction caused.

Money is the root to all evil. A very old saying but how true today is this adage from the past?

In these highly commercialized times, as businesses viciously connive for consumers' money, there are many varied examples of evil marketing practices. The manners in which many corporations attack consumers for sales now appears to be near bottom on the ethic scale as they regularly display a lack of basic genuine fairness.

Just when this gluttonous trend seems to have gone far enough a new low occurs. In this case it's the many government bodies that leave morals behind and resort to new ways in which to increase revenue through the spread of gambling.

Why do these elected representatives of their people actively promote gambling as a source of revenue when it is known to be so harmful to so many? It is common knowledge that gambling can be addictive and harmful, and can destroy or take lives, yet they want that revenue.

For their citizens?

MONEY TRAP CASINO
SPECIAL SENIORS DAYS
Laugh - Have Fun - Play
Free lunch while you win
Know your limits play within them

Gambling might have a place in society for people who want to play games of chance but it should not be marketed as a benefit. Ideally any gambling should be non-profit with the participants playing with and winning or losing money to each other. At the very least it should not be heavily marketed by the country's caretakers, as is now happening in this money mad society.

As a young man I played poker with friends and on my first job in a mining camp, every night was poker night. I left camp with a decent net result but there was another young man that was much less fortunate. On payday he always wanted to get the game started but was broke two days later. The foreman finally held his check back until the next float plane arrived, fired and sent him home, for his own good.

He was addicted. So are many that traipse into the casinos and lottery ticket booths, and the government advertisements scream out to come back for more, sucker! When the government reports the gambling income from lotteries and casinos they should balance the books and show the loss by players, their citizens, and their families.

Through marketers they use sly techniques borrowed from business shysters to entice more playing. Glossy lottery commercials constantly pop up showing just how easy and wonderful it will be to win an enormous amount of money.

"Play now and get super rich". Perhaps broken gamblers would like to get back the money that they have lost but the odds are stacked against them. They need help not encouragement to play more!

As if to justify this often cruel business promotion they post warnings, "Gambling can lead to financial and legal problems, loss of career and family, and other serious issues." No kidding! Well cease and desist!

And, "Call this help line if you have a gambling problem." But it's too late if you have lost everything!

You might expect this sleeze from telecommunications or credit marketers, but from our leaders? What is wrong with them? What is wrong with a system that attracts these people to manage our affairs? Government is supposed to be there for the good of the people. If these actions are acceptable perhaps our politicians could introduce the pressure selling of alcohol, tobacco and light drugs. But, "Know your limit. Drink, smoke and get high within it."

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Resources

Psychologist Stanton Peele investigates, thinks, and writes about addiction.
Is Gambling an Addiction Like Drug and Alcohol Addiction?
As compulsive gambling and problem gamblers attract continued and increasing attention — due to state reliance on gambling for revenues and government and private marketing of the gambling experience — conceptions of compulsive, or addictive, gambling have evolved....

Robert Fulford in The National Post November 2008. Convincing research indicates that about one in 20 gamblers is an addict or in danger of becoming one -- "a problem gambler," as sociology says, or "a degenerate gambler," as Mafia characters on TV say. Commercials for Lotto 6/49 and other scams present gamblers as happy, fun-loving folk, but addictive gamblers live stress-filled and often wretched lives. Read more...

Quebec settles gambling addiction lawsuit. A multi-million dollar settlement has been ironed out between Loto-Québec and thousands of problem gamblers over the cost of treating their addiction. The agreement settles a class action lawsuit brought against Loto-Québec by nearly 120,000 gamblers in 2001. Read more...

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

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Ads, Contracts and Fine Print

Small, hard to read print with many confusing words and details are popular marketing strategies in advertising, agreements and contracts. Hiding important information from a prospective buyer can complete a sale where there would not be one, and it can save a company money when consumer dissatisfaction arises later. In short, this sly business practice is to increase profits, and in a nasty way.

Notice: Important buyer information lies lurking
"Accepts no responsibility... Terms are for one year after which... Use of this product is entirely...
"Warranty does not include... Valid only with the activation of... Company reserves the right..."

Usually camouflaged in befuddling text there will be strict details explaining what you need to know, and if it was easier to read and understand you might likely walk away from the transaction.

That is why it is disguised and made fuzzy.

Ignoring these areas of a contract or promotion can be a regrettable and costly experience for the shopper when the new purchase is not at all as expected, or the warranty is void. Yet we so regularly do neglect reading those little words because it is just too difficult and time consuming.

This is yet another unfriendly and mean manner in which much of business is treating today's consumers. Fine print is appearing everywhere and is even standard practice in certain industries. Scammy marketing and foul treatment of customers is no longer a rarity. The dear valued customer has become the dear valuable scapegoat.

Again our governments are letting us down to the corporate advantage. So Consumer Beware!

Fine print is in print advertising, TV commercials, food package labels, information lists, customer contracts, and wherever there may be vital negative information to conceal. We should expect that if we do not read all or do not comprehend the transaction conditions, we will be helping the merchandiser to sell us a regrettable purchase, to increase markup, or save refund money after the sale is completed and complaints arise.

We have come to expect this business trickery in our everyday shopping and particularly with costlier transactions, but unfortunately we have become somewhat complacent when it comes to complaining. It is common for many consumers to accept and regret it, perhaps even feeling a bit embarrassed about getting trapped.

Or we might be furious when we get stung as we have with so many other shady retail transactions. But business does not seem too concerned about this reaction anymore, the use of deception in marketing is quite common and apparently acceptable.

So get out your magnifying glass and read the fine print slowly and watch for deceptive expressions; if you can it will be worthwhile.

Regrettably most of us won't take the trouble - it's just too annoying.

Fine print is sometimes so small that it simply cannot be read. The little text might also be in grey, the opposite of bold, and fuzzy to read, like the conditions on the back of my credit card statement. The words, "IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT" are quite prominent. The gross account agreement is lengthy and takes up two sides of legal size pages and is printed in grey.

How obvious are their intentions?

Service contracts, credit agreements, insurance plans and 'too good to be true' ads need to be carefully scrutinized. If these promotions and documents are not easily understood consider an alternative. Like a credit union instead of a bank.

Some telecommunication advertisements have conditions at the bottom that are printed so small that it appears to be a joke. But nobody is laughing. The consumer would need to very carefully ask the right questions when dealing and hope to discover the traps before buying.

As long as business needs to sell to compete, and there are no strict guidelines to stop this type of marketing, expect that treatment of consumers will only worsen. When we get stung with inferior purchases or unexpected costs we simply lick our wounds, and do not complain. Because we do not complain fine print is common in business today and will likely be around for some time.

Perhaps our governments will get concerned. However if, as here in BC,
the marketing for their gambling revenue uses fine print
- Know your limit, Play within it - what should you really expect?


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Selling Bad Health to Kids

Only in a mean society.

The marketing of cheaply produced, unhealthy junk food to kids is another blight on our prosperous society. It does not make sense: advertising and selling food products that are known to cause health problems later in life - directly to children.

How is this acceptable to caring people?
Where has the corporate friendship and ethic gone?
Why aren't governments more concerned about kid's lives?

I do not believe that the fault lies entirely with parents. Partly because they may have been brainwashed too, after many years of being subject to the massive corporate persuasion efforts. But the finger is commonly pointed to moms and dads, especially by business when confronted about their crude marketing tactics. Parents should know all about unhealthy food choices and the grief that can follow later in life, and they should educate their kids. But there are armies of advertisers with a wide ranging supply of tricks to conscript tots and teens to a life of poorer health with such as diabetes and stroke.

This is free enterprise but it is a flawed and cruel system if it can be used in this way. Allowing big business to reap profits from promoting product sales that knowingly cause personal harm should be severely restricted or made unlawful. But the will of politicians does not seem to be there. There is always the commercial connection popping up when there is discussion about troubling situations and government's lack of positive action on an issue.

Governments and corporations of this era will not be looked upon favorably in the history books.

Picture the big juicy burger with added cheese and dressing, or a tall, icy, sugar laden refreshment - appearing repeateadly during youth and child TV programming.

How about the cereal aisle in the supermarket, cartoon alley easily gets the attention of the little ones.

The continuous efforts of marketers are coming through strongly to kids and adolescents via many hours of watching TV or surfing the internet. The cleverly designed ads also show up in print, on buses, food packages, clothes, toys, and wherever it will get good exposure to children. The young will eat it all up; they don't have the experience to know better. They are ripe picking!

With all the finely tuned slick methods marketers use how easy can it be for parents to compete with the onslaught on their young loved ones? Even with good intentions there is peer influence, all the other kids are into it. Yes it is possible but difficult, and requires serious effort.

The emphasis and pressures that corporations put on kids for current and future sales revenue is by far a most lucrative selling technique that many companies now rely on. Catch the kids young and hold them for life. Establishing brands for food, clothing and tech gadgets at an early age can last a lifetime - very profitable and increasingly popular with the big manufacturers.

Sugar, salt and fat, the big bad three in food, they taste good and bring in lots of money. These ingredients and other additives can be very unhealthy when consumed in excessive amounts, yet they are very commonly over used in packaged foods and in restaurants, especially fast food outlets. They can be there to preserve product or simply to enhance taste.

The junk food industry has produced an epidemic of childhood obesity and other serious ailments. Even with food related health problems now well known they keep rising as the greedy efforts to market and sell more continues. It is the most 'rewarding' strategy used for increasing profits now and well into the future. But why isn't this a crime?

And where is there a balance? Campaigns for healthy eating exist but big money is not behind them, it is directed to the merchandising strategies that make the quickest profit. One suggestion is make unhealthy food costlier through taxing, and good food cheaper with subsidies. But why is there no action?

Free enterprise needs adjustments to fix this and provide our kids, future parents, a life free of avoidable sickness.

Speak of it when you can.

A few resources.
There are numerous related posts on this site.

The FCIC has a nice site with informative articles: The Road to a Healthy Life. These are the basic guidelines for eating a healthy diet and being physically active and may be viewed online and downloaded from the Internet. Topics include:
Go back to your roots: Eat all types of healthful food each day!
Food groups, using the Nutrition Facts label.
Nutrition and calories count! How many calories do you need?
Physical activity, food safety, and more.

A Scripps Research Study Shows Compulsive Eating Shares Same Addictive Biochemical Mechanism with Cocaine, Heroin Abuse.

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Advertising Ethics, Truth and Lies

Lies: false statements intended to deceive; untruths; falsehoods.
Ad traps: legally true words intended to deceive for purpose of gain.

Consumers beware the words of advertising.

Commerce is a mainstay of our society today allowing us the basic necessities in life, and a standard of living much above that, for those of us who are fortunate. Advertising is the fuel used to keep this machine running; it increases sales and profits, creating more jobs and a healthier economy in the process. But something has run amok with the general expansion of business, its use of marketing and the consequences we are faced with.

The very widespread and excessively intense marketing in our daily lives has convinced us to strive harder to accumulate more, bigger, better and newer things; things our friends and neighbors might also have or are themselves striving to acquire. Perhaps our programmed desires to catch up have extended to where we now wish to be in the lead with owning newer objects or the latest designs or devices. It is a never ending race around the commerce-consumption circle.

Yet surely, someday, society will have had enough of this. If not, then imagine.

The main purpose of advertising was once the introduction of something new, or of some valuable improvement to an existing service or product. This has changed drastically and today's ads are there mainly to convince consumers to buy this from one seller rather than that from another, or to buy when there is not a need to buy at all. It consistently applies mind capturing pressures to convince of the necessity to own.

There has been an escalating and prolonged competition between companies doing business with their many products and varieties. The fight to get the consumer has become quite fierce - towards the shopper. In trying to outdo each other, commercial advertising has been expanded in frequency, ingenuity, intensity, and shrewdness. In recent years misleading ads have become quite common in merchandising.

It is discouraging to see what some of the industry has become ethically, and how they are treating families and society in general. Business is overpowering consumers and looking to the future by attracting children to their wares with toys, tasteless commercials and shock appeal. The big players are showing how it's done professionally and successfully with expanding global profits. Unfortunately there are increasing adverse effects on our physical and mental well being and the lowering of our social values in the process.

Particularly upsetting is the lack of basic honesty and goodwill of many companies. The reckless and competitive use of advertising is degrading the standard business ethic, and dragging citizens along by the nose. Sure there are some regulations that require certain standards but they are often week and not well enforced. Governments don't seem to care all that much as long as the economy continues to grow.

Advertising associations don't help much either, their guidelines are only 'guidelines' and they are not consumer associations. Companies do not usually criticize their peers for questionable behavior, not when they too are using the same cunning and deceitful marketing strategies successfully. And so the ethic of an entire industry will sink further.

Consumers may not get all that excited because unscrupulous dealings are so common, and they have become accustomed to bad treatment in their shopping ordeals. They may grumble and try to be smarter and more careful to not allow this to happen again. But it does as the shrewd marketers are always one step ahead with slick new ideas.

This trend towards doing business in a less honest and kindly manner is very costly to society and creates social tensions. In the desire for citizens to acquire more of what is unnecessary, so much is taken from the good life. And the wasteful use of our precious natural resources produces mountains of junk at such a great cost.

Considering that excessive advertising promotes artificial social characteristics and is so destructive to the environment, why isn't there more noise from citizens? Without more concern and complaints from the people, there is little possibility for effective, positive social change. Corporations will continue to run the show, their ethic will decline further, and so will our quality of living.

Should free enterprise be this free?

What is the difference between unethical and ethical advertising?
Unethical advertising uses falsehoods to deceive the public;
ethical advertising uses truth to deceive the public. - Vilhjalmur Stefansson

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Consumer: Corporate Enemy?

Misleading ads, credit scams and widespread deception.
Sly contracts, unhealthy food and disinformation campaigns.
Fine print, bad customer service, switch and bait selling.
Price gouging, and nastiest of all - marketing to children!

An arsenal of meanness is pointed at citizen consumers.

The trend towards using trickery in capturing sales for increased profits has been expanding competitively for decades. It's our present day version of free enterprise. Scamming consumers may not be such a big deal anymore because competitors are doing it and there is not a lot of harmful publicity if exposed. Besides when consumers are cheated they usually will not complain - because it's just not worth the effort and they are becoming used to it.. They might even blame themselves for getting trapped once again when they should know so very well to watch out for double-dealing when they shop.

It's understandable that a corporation's competitor might become its enemy if the one-step-ahead routine gets out of hand. But what about the beloved consumer as the new corporate enemy? Think about how you are treated in some of your consuming experiences. It used to be a scam would likely have occurred with someone selling a watch on the street corner but this has moved up to the big players in business.

Some corporations believe in the principal that it's only a crime if you get caught - and convicted. Even then the consequences may not be so severe and thus worth the effort. And so the manner in which many companies produce and market their products and services continues its long term downhill trend ethically, with little resistance demanding positive change.

NEWS Item: SCAM CORP agreed to pay a $333,000,000 fine.
They did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement.

In the past it was a common declaration of how most companies expressed their dealings with consumers. They were proud to say so and backed it up with easily accessed customer relations personnel that were there to correct or to explain. Things have turned 180 degrees when dealing with many businesses in today's marketplace.

NEWS Item: SCAM CORP announces company name change to SLY ENTERPRISES.

Gone are those days with many companies or sometimes entire industries. Customer service often may not be there, difficult to access, bankrupt of fairness or expressing large amounts of fluff in answer to buyers' concerns.

A new business axiom could well be "Beat the competition and the consumer in any manner within the law." There are so many marketing, sales and service methods used by businesses that do not appear to meet basic ethical standards.

Exaggerated and deceptive advertising is now very widely used, some questionable, other deceitful and mean. This can appear in various media or store display tags and signs. Trick labels require careful word by word study by the shopper to get the true facts. It may yet be difficult and the resulting purchases surprising and disappointing.

The techniques are creative, varied and widespread.

The purchase of unsatisfactory products and services is the purchaser's loss when the fine print in a contract is just too hard to read or understand, or is excessively long. Fine print is a very popular business tool.

Credit gouging is so common and it takes terrible advantage of those who can least afford it, often causing family devastation. Luring of the unfortunate marches on through media and mailbox, trapping them into paying excessive rates and fees.

The marketing of unhealthy food should have been stopped dead in its tracks years ago yet we still see enticements toward cheap, tasty junk food. Much of this is directed at kids and can set them on a path to serious health problems later in life. Packaged food can contain excessive taste enhancers and preservatives to extend shelf life and profit.

Shock entertainment and commercials catch attention and sell product but soil social standards going forward. Shock for attraction is a relatively newer marketing strategy that seems to be increasing in use and intensity.

Shamed into buying. This marketing method involves creating an 'acceptable' vision for the prospective purchaser. Everyone else will look better and be better than you unless you too acquire their product. You might even be embarrassed or shamed if you do not.

Unethical promotions like bait and switch have been used by large retail store chains. Here you are attracted to a bargain at a store but it is sold out even when you get there early. A similar, costlier item is there. Incidents of this surface but are buried very deeply somewhere, not likely in the popular news, and it is also quickly forgotten with stepped up advertising.

People don't complain much because it turns out to be so useless so often. If it is an obviously deceptive sales promotion complaining will be fruitless, after all if it was purposely designed that way what would you expect? Responses to my complaints vary: " Standard practice in the industry" . . . "The warranty only applies . . . " "Valid with the activation of . . . " "our intent has never been to mislead and I believe our practices will bear me out." . . ." "Terms are only for the first six months . . ."

And well discussed these days is the massive world pollution and environmental destruction of our cities, our land and seas, and our world. These are the results of the continuous and excessive production of wasteful products that do not enhance life or social values but provide profits.

The picture is gloomy as society seems to be generally accepting all this including the programming of the next generation to a life centered on consumption. The marketing area of economics has shaped society to what it is today, materialistic and artificial in many ways, to those who have accepted it.

Do we want to allow this? While we may think it a waste of time, if we don't like what is happening commercially and socially, or are unhappy with our governments, we need to speak up. Corporations must be made to use decent ethics for the good of society. Complaining to business and government needs to be made easy by encouraged submissions of complaints. Consumers as citizens need strict enforced guidelines, fairness and protection from corporate bullies and it can only come from governments.

Required: a federal department that uses marketing to encourage consumers to speak out on unjust business practices, and then act strongly on it.

Alas if business and government are too well knitted together to expect any improvements we can at least sound off to our friends and anyone who listen. There are many websites appearing that together could begin a movement for positive corporate and social change, but this will face great opposition backed by mountains of money.

"Corporation, n, An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility." - Ambrose Bierce

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Store Shopping: Feels Like Theft

Store scams trick and cheat shoppers at the checkout.
Retail outlets scamming consumers with mean tactics.

It was another great sale and I was running a purchase through the clothing department checkout of a large retail chain store. "That item is not on sale", I was informed. This sounded familiar; anyway I needed this, paid the regular price and left.

A few months later I was at the same till with a 'discounted' package of socks and was again told that it was not on sale, it was another brand. Beginning to get a little wiser, finally, I returned to the display with the socks to study the situation. Several brands were mixed in a prominent display which loudly shouted 40% OFF at the top. Small words indicated the brand name that was on sale but that product was not prominent in the display, and it was not what I was holding.

As I was putting the package back I heard a man at the checkout, "but the sign says . . ."

The methods are creative with bright signs and small print like, "Does not apply to items with prices ending in .96 or .99", brand xyz excluded. Then off to the side a smaller notice; "when purchased with our store charge card."

How common is deceptive in-store marketing?
On becoming more concerned about the increasingly deceitful treatment of shoppers I began to pay more attention to ads and store displays, carefully studying the words. Often with an advertised sales event the messages were difficult to understand, purposely to entrap the buyer I concluded. On one of my tours through a mens clothing department sales event I heard a senior clerk explaining to a junior how a particular item was not on sale.


Obfuscation: the concealment of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, intentionally ambiguous, and more difficult to interpret. - Wikipedia

As I later wandered through the department store's shoe department an elderly lady and store clerk were looking at a sign 7 feet above which listed the runners that were included. The clerk was trying to explain to the nice little old gal why she was not holding a bargain.

"Our computer must not have been updated."
I'm amazed how this has suddenly become so popular in my shopping experience lately. The regimen goes like this: On the store shelf is an item at 30% OFF but at the checkout it rings up full price. Perhaps some people do not pay attention to the cost, while others just swallow it and go on their way donating a few dollars to the store.

Again, when this began to sound familiar to me I started paying close attention. The routine played out twice at a one national department store's branch and twice at their other outlet. I did get the displayed sale price but when I complained and I notified them that there was no excuse for this to happen with any frequency. I was told that they were probably just busy and forgot to update the computer.

Note: As I was winding up this article I revisited this store to pick up a few things including a 6-pack of Scotties Tissues reg: $6.99 for $5. You guessed it, $6.99 on my receipt list. I returned for an adjustment and the familiar response; "The computer... and this on the last day of the sale!

Supermarkets are in on the tricks and traps game where the advertised produce may be way back in the corner and a very similar product is in-your-face as you enter the store. There was a big special last Christmas on certain turkeys but they were difficult to pinpoint. As the regular price rung up I told them to take it back and that their efforts were devious. The other sneaky display routines are widely used in some supermarkets that I do not frequent anymore.

Catching consumers at the checkout is just one of many varied ways merchandisers can cheat customers out of their hard earned money. It's shrewd, unethical and fairly easy to get away with. Most buyers aren't looking for scams or might feel embarrassed about making an issue of the pricing if they are not sure.

CHECK THAT RECEIPT PRINTOUT!

Grampa Ken - Author of 32 Keys About Life and social issues blogger at Social-Fix.

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Greed to Maximize Profit

You too! Can make a career of lying!

Cunning: skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving; craftiness; guile.
While this is written in 'fun', if you have been stung recently you might not be laughing.

Shrewd ways to maxing business profits. A short summary of sly marketing tips.

• You do not need good product if you have good marketing.
• Fibs and lies - to maximize. Beat the competition and the consumer.
  
• Repeat an ad til they're sick of it and they will remember.
• Anything goes to complete a sale except blatant theft if you might be caught.
• Exaggerate. Never say it just as it is.
• Hook them early in life when it is easier, effective and permanent.
• Remember: The customer is always fair game.
• Public relations access should be non-existent or at least difficult to locate.
• Be fluent in talking fluff, a necessity for deflecting serious complaints.
• Print boldly on labels and in advertisements the really good things, even if there aren't any.
• Do not preview difficult instructions about the product. They can find out later.
• Sub-contract for lower production costs and to evade responsibility for delivering shoddy products or services, or inhumane labor practices.
• Do not display unflattering details on the product package unless required by law. If required by law make it difficult to read or understand.

So you can make much money! If you attract, shock, annoy, deceive.

But would your mom be proud of you?

Hopefully these suggestions will not be used as sales success guidelines by anyone anxious to move 'up' quickly in the competitive business world.

These ideas are not far fetched, not in the commercial environment in which I wander with my eyes wide open.

Note to marketers: You may think this picture unfairly misrepresents the business ethic and yourself. Probably it does with you and your area of business, and commerce should not be all painted with the same brush. But I see a trend here that should be reigned in if it is not already too late.

Look at this from the view of the consumer who has just purchased something that is totally unacceptable and is upset at the distasteful, deceptive or annoying manner that was used in selling it. There are associations with standards and these standards need to be followed. Violations and unethical practices of competitors need to be reported. Associations need to enforce their guidelines and improve them where they are lacking so that they will provide a totally honest business to consumer relationship.

Fix your industry or accept that consumers will increasingly consider themselves victims of foul play in their business experiences.

Related greedy posts

This Creative Commons article is free to copy with the following hyperlinked byline.
Grampa Ken - Author of 32 Keys About Life - and blogger for change at Social-Fix.

Retail Store Scams

The customer is always fair game.

The old motto in merchandising used to be; "The customer is always right." Not any more!

Misleading ads and contracts, credit greed, fine print, deceptive promotions are just some of the unsavory selling methods that are used to increase corporate profits. There are trends in areas of the retailing of goods and services which appear to play the consumer as an enemy whose money is to be captured. Varied sly and innovative tricks abound.

An example is an increasing trend by some retailers to trap the buyer in the store, at the checkout. There are sales items cleverly placed in mixed displays. The reduced items are there but so are several other similar products that are regular priced and very prominently displayed. Almost caught again, I was at a large chain department store checkout and discovered the unexpected actual cost of a pair of socks. I refused to accept this and returned to the display to put it back. At another checkout I heard a man saying: "But the sign says . . .". I have checked on this and the scam is regularly used in this large department store and also by other retailers.

Some of us may not pay attention to the cost at the till if we have bought other items, or are perhaps we are embarrassed to make an issue of it.

Raising the price of an item immediately before putting it on sale is another scam for which some major companies have been fined in recent years. Whether or not this is a hindrance to them in trying this again, or some other ruse, is dubious. There is not a lot of publicity, the public seems unconcerned and they are later dragged back with more 'clever' marketing.

Another technique that I find irritating and unacceptable are brightly colored price tags that look exactly like the sale price tags but are not sale priced. Tricky! This is gaining in popularity because it works! When I sent a complaint letter to a drugstore chain head office I received a reply from the president no less. (Use the word 'unethical' in your letter to get attention). He stated how hard they work to show integrity and fairness and to save money (same tag style) etc. "I can assure you our intent has never been to mislead . . ." And other fluff.

Yet another new scam is appearing and may well become popular. A flyer or shelf item is sales discounted but at the checkout it is rung up at full price. I assume that we are not supposed to notice, but when questioned the response is that the computer must not yet be updated for that. However I have experienced this at one department store three times. After the last occasion I left for the adjacent supermarket where the same thing occurred.

Advertising flyers will often have regular priced items cleverly mingled with specials so if read too quickly purchases are made because they seemed to be on sale. Another newbie trick experienced just a few days ago: An eight page flyer displaying a Week Long Sale on the front page had a small ad on one page with several items on sale Friday and Saturday, and another at the end with a Monday and Tuesday date. This was the same large department chain store that seemed to lag with the computer updates so frequently.

This and other forms of the hostile treatment of 'dear valued' consumers will trend onwards in this deceitful manner until adequate checks are in place and penalties and publicity are stronger. This will only begin when consumers voice their displeasure in large numbers, and when there is an easy way to do so.

Related S-F posts

This Creative Commons article is free to copy with the following hyperlinked byline.
Grampa Ken - Author of 32 Keys About Life - and blogger for change at Social-Fix.

The Declining Business Ethic

We know there is a downward trend in corporate management ethics because it has attained prominence in the news in recent years. It is more widespread than for the personal gain of a few. The commercial marketing and retailing of goods and services has become increasingly shoddy, sometimes bordering thievery. This is often engineered by large corporations.

It seems the public has come to accept this trend towards deteriorating ethics in marketing. Casual discussions generally suggest some degree of anger and that this is just the way it is. Wise consumers are becoming much more suspicious and are exercising caution when considering purchases. Those that don't proceed carefully may pay for an unexpected unpleasant experience.

Ethics: principles, moral values, conscience.

How widespread are questionable or unethical business practices?
Very! Here are a few generalities covering some wide areas of deceptive marketing and disappointing products and services.

• Marketing to kids: morally wrong yet progresses creatively and vigorously.
• Selling unhealthy foods which are cheaper to produce and more profitable.
• Fine print advertisements and contracts that are too hard to understand.
• Inferior product quality that is often just no good but marketed aggressively.
• Sub-contracting production to hide unethical use of cheap or inhumane labor.
• Merchandising environmentally unfriendly, wasteful or useless products.
• Junk mail, spam, telemarketing - annoying, excessive, costly advertising.
• Trick labels require careful study word by word to get the true facts, maybe.
• Trick ads that make you think you're getting something you aren't getting.
• Store sales displays catch you at the checkout with the unexpected regular price.
• Shock entertainment and commercials sell, but soil social standards.
• Credit enticements and payments gouging.

And so much more greed in our free-enterprise society.

We got problems. Big serious long-term problems with commerce and society, and government.

Exacerbating the continual spread of greed in retailing is the fact that there are too many enterprises competing for the same overextended consumers' purchasing desires. And which corporations want to lose market share? Each works questionably harder to increase those consumer desires and generate more sales.

There is also the passivity of consumers. We just don't take the time to complain and seldom discuss our gripes with one another. Nor do we resist the commercial persuasions and opt for a wiser and happier social life style.

And then there are our governments, they don't seem to care, perhaps because there are too many business interests governing government.

So what to do about the deterioration of business ethics?

We need to think more about what's happening, talk it up with others, and read about the facts and solutions. It's important that we send comments and letters to businesses, associations, government officials and talk to people like ourselves. We may have gone too far in the wrong direction but we can do something for the newest generation, in education and by example.

Democracy - Yes! Free enterprise - not this way!

Other posts on ethics

This Creative Commons article is free to copy with the following hyperlinked byline.
Grampa Ken - Author of 32 Keys About Life - and blogger for change at Social-Fix.

Brainwashed Generations

It irks me to see advertisements indicating the necessity to maintain status by purchasing bigger and better products or certain brands. These procurements do not make a better person although we could be inclined to believe they do with the success of this type of marketing in past years.

The business ethics of many corporations are becoming meaner as they are allowed a rather free reign on their methods. A sad example is the advertising directed at kids which I view as a loathsome way to do business.

We may be 'lucky' enough to be living in an over-commercialized, over-consuming and somewhat artificial part of the world, but there is something very wrong here. The young are being programmed for life, for corporate profit and we seem to be accepting this as a standard way of living in today's society.

Our richer economies are based on corporate expansion and there is much promotional drive to attain it. The marketing which is very competitive is well near saturation as we acquire everything we realistically need, and more. New inroads to consumers are needed by hungry enterprise and they have targeted kids to keep the ball rolling.

From Media Scape:
An American marketer in the 1980s described children’s television as a business based on three simple ideas: Keep the audience up Keep the costs down Keep the regulators out. (Schneider, 1987, p5) Then television producers found they could get someone else to pay for children’s television: toy companies. They have never looked back. The ‘demographic’ of children has become the new marketing gold rush. In the two decades since the 1980s, little people’s fun has become big people’s profit! Children’s popular culture is commercialized whether we like it or not.
Read more . . .

A New Internationalist article discusses the targeting of kids as a way to greater profits.
Catch ’em young and brand ’em!
The ad biz bombards children and young people because the bottom line is cold hard cash. They’d rather chase urban trend surfers with brass in pocket, but their crossfire hits all kids. The children they’re gunning for not only have purchasing power but significantly influence their parents’ purchases. In the US, teens spend more than $300 billion a year and influence parental spending to the tune of $1.8 trillion. Between 1990 and 2000, the amount of money spent targeting children grew tenfold.
Much more here . . .

Government could fix this mean and greedy targeting of young minds but are slow about positive social changes, appearing to have a bias towards expanding commerce. If consuming families are upset with the trends in marketing they are also generally passive, being caught up in this web along with so many others.

As merchandising 'ingenuity' intensifies each year just where will another generation be taken?