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The shadow over consumers
Press Release: U of Alberta ^ | September 7, 2005 | University of Alberta

Posted on 09/09/2005 6:00:53 PM PDT by Cautor

New research from the University of Alberta reveals just how self-conscious and easily influenced consumers can be. Through a series of carefully controlled experiments at a campus bookstore, researchers learned that consumers will, in every case studied, spend more money to buy a brand name item when someone they don't know is standing near them at the time they choose their purchase. Consumers also tend to spend more money when a group of people is standing near them but are more inclined to buy cheaper items when no one is near.

(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: brands; consumers; social
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Is this a phenomena that affects FReepers, or only the weak-minded, like DUmmycrats?
1 posted on 09/09/2005 6:00:54 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor

It doesn't affect me.


2 posted on 09/09/2005 6:03:11 PM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: Cautor

Must be a Canadian disease.


3 posted on 09/09/2005 6:03:54 PM PDT by 302damnfast
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Perhaps it is a phenomena that only affects college kids--we know how impressionable they can be. Don't take it from me, ask all the lefty professors who mold them into new minted DUmmys every day all over the land.


4 posted on 09/09/2005 6:05:01 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: 302damnfast

"Must be a Canadian disease."

Like hoof in mouth. There are a lot of liberal Canadian pols who suffer from that.


5 posted on 09/09/2005 6:06:42 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor

I can't believe people actually do that.

I must live in a different world.


6 posted on 09/09/2005 6:06:45 PM PDT by adorno
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To: adorno

"I can't believe people actually do that."

I think easy credit (I'm talking plastic here) makes things like this possible.


7 posted on 09/09/2005 6:10:07 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor

Gee. I buy Natural Light with no shame. Can I afford Bud Light? Yes, but I like value along with taste.


8 posted on 09/09/2005 6:27:00 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season ( if there is a season)
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To: Cautor

Gee. I buy Natural Light with no shame. Can I afford Bud Light? Yes, but I like value along with taste.


9 posted on 09/09/2005 6:27:36 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season ( if there is a season)
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To: buccaneer81

"Natural Light with no shame"

I've knocked down a few of those and think its very good beer. I also like Busch and Rolling Rock in bottles.


10 posted on 09/09/2005 6:30:09 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor
spend more money to buy a brand name item when someone they don't know is standing near them at the time they choose their purchase.

There must be some very insecure people there.

I am a cheapskate and proud of it.

I buy a brand name only when it is actually better then the store brand. I shop at the Dollar Store for any number of things.

11 posted on 09/09/2005 6:31:34 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Vote for the Constipation Party! They will never pass anything)
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To: Cautor
I've never known a group of people around me to influence my buying habits. I'll have to keep an eye open for that.

I'm pretty brand loyal, however. I'm also a victim of marketing -- snazzy graphics and the promise of "NEW TASTES" will always drive me. I'm almost always disappointed, but I never learn from it.

And then if it's a brand that I'm loyal to, making a "NEW TASTE" promise, I'm sunk. I've tried EVERY flavor of Pepsi introduced in the past 15 years, as well as EVERY flavor and type of M&M
12 posted on 09/09/2005 6:34:23 PM PDT by birbear (Admit it. you clicked on the "I have already previewed" button without actually previewing the post.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
"Dollar Store for any number of things"

I agree. Their prices on many every-day items are very hard to beat. It's just that I'm embarrased to be seen going in there...aw, just kidding.
13 posted on 09/09/2005 6:40:50 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor
've knocked down a few of those and think its very good beer. I also like Busch

I used to drink Busch (great value) until it gave me the runs. Natural Light has treated me well... so far ;-)

14 posted on 09/09/2005 6:44:33 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season ( if there is a season)
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To: birbear

Most of us are susceptible to those things...otherwise the vendors wouldn't waste money on advertising and all that. I'm a sucker for those J. Peterman-type glossy catalogs we get in the mail every day. I can always see myself in that leather flight jacket sitting in an obscure bar somewhere along the road to Mandalay.


15 posted on 09/09/2005 6:48:53 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: buccaneer81

"gave me the runs"

Bush...are you shi**ing me?


16 posted on 09/09/2005 6:50:19 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: Cautor

LOL!


17 posted on 09/09/2005 6:51:04 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season ( if there is a season)
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To: Cautor

I'm just too damn old (42) now for the major beer thing. When I was 20, back in college, well let's just say I should have been locked up ;-)


18 posted on 09/09/2005 6:53:44 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season ( if there is a season)
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To: Cautor
*snerk!*

Actually you can pick up some interesting stuff at those places and at Big Lots. Cloudberry jam at eight bucks a jar at an imported food store, no way. Cloudberry jam a dollar a jar at Big Lots, why not?

I like to try new stuff and am as susceptible to advertising as the next person I guess but I can think of nothing more silly then to spend more money for something just to impress someone who doesn't know me from Adam.

19 posted on 09/09/2005 6:58:04 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Vote for the Constipation Party! They will never pass anything)
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To: buccaneer81

Heck, you're really over the hill. So you liked that German brew huh? Ursa Major Beer I think they called it by its full name. We drank a lot of Pabst when I was in college, often in 16 oz cans which we referred to as a "tall Blue." Our guts were able to handle a lot of things then than give us the...well...you know....now.


20 posted on 09/09/2005 7:01:30 PM PDT by Cautor
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