Comments on: Book Review: The Consumer Trap http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/ personal finance that makes cents Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:23:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Get Rich Slowly » Beware the Insidious Power of Marketing http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-74579 Get Rich Slowly » Beware the Insidious Power of Marketing Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:36:13 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-74579 [...] Paul Bausch recently gave us a guest review of Michael Dawson’s The Consumer Trap: Big Business Marketing in American Life. Bausch wrote: Beyond emotional and demographic research, it was fascinating to read about Product Management techniques like planned obsolescence where products are specifically built to last for a limited time so markets for those products will continually renew themselves. [...] [...] Paul Bausch recently gave us a guest review of Michael Dawson’s The Consumer Trap: Big Business Marketing in American Life. Bausch wrote: Beyond emotional and demographic research, it was fascinating to read about Product Management techniques like planned obsolescence where products are specifically built to last for a limited time so markets for those products will continually renew themselves. [...]

]]> By: Princess_Manners http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57964 Princess_Manners Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:18:42 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57964 Great, insightful review. I am better-informed on this topic just from having read it, and will check out all the links. Bravo. Great, insightful review. I am better-informed on this topic just from having read it, and will check out all the links. Bravo.

]]> By: betamax http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57382 betamax Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:02:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57382 oops..."affected by it..." oops…”affected by it…”

]]> By: betamax http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57380 betamax Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:02:01 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57380 Even if you're aware of how you're being manipulated by advertising, you're still subtly affected it just the same. Even if you’re aware of how you’re being manipulated by advertising, you’re still subtly affected it just the same.

]]> By: Filip http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57230 Filip Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:29:24 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57230 While on the topic of books, if you haven't read it already, you could check out (and possibly link to on the front page for everyone?) Robert H. Frank's "Luxury Fever". Maybe do a list of such "oh crap" books, that once you read them, change your perspective on your place in the world and its economy. While on the topic of books, if you haven’t read it already, you could check out (and possibly link to on the front page for everyone?) Robert H. Frank’s “Luxury Fever”.

Maybe do a list of such “oh crap” books, that once you read them, change your perspective on your place in the world and its economy.

]]> By: Nu http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57148 Nu Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:33:36 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57148 An excellent review, thanks. This is why we don't have a TV connected to the outside (lots less advertising sneaks in that way). For a Finance site however, I suggest the extrapolation of the concepts to we who are stock market "product users". In particular, I mean anyone who buys stocks other than ETFs and no-load, index mutual funds. Its a paradox that the product that's best for virtually all consumers is the product that gets little marketing put into it, because the amount to be made by the market makers selling no-load index mutual funds is far smaller than actively managed mutual funds with loads, higher costs, (always) lower returns, and marketing feed. This market has the potential to be the biggest "consumer trap" that I can think of outside the sale of government policy. An excellent review, thanks. This is why we don’t have a TV connected to the outside (lots less advertising sneaks in that way).

For a Finance site however, I suggest the extrapolation of the concepts to we who are stock market “product users”. In particular, I mean anyone who buys stocks other than ETFs and no-load, index mutual funds.

Its a paradox that the product that’s best for virtually all consumers is the product that gets little marketing put into it, because the amount to be made by the market makers selling no-load index mutual funds is far smaller than actively managed mutual funds with loads, higher costs, (always) lower returns, and marketing feed.

This market has the potential to be the biggest “consumer trap” that I can think of outside the sale of government policy.

]]> By: Angie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57055 Angie Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:53:03 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-57055 Sounds like a fascinating (and infuriating) read. About the last line of the review--wouldn't it be great if everyone in America regarded themselves as *citizens* rather than *consumers*? Sounds like a fascinating (and infuriating) read.

About the last line of the review–wouldn’t it be great if everyone in America regarded themselves as *citizens* rather than *consumers*?

]]> By: Gaming the Credit System http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-56891 Gaming the Credit System Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:34:20 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/29/book-review-the-consumer-trap/#comment-56891 Sounds interesting. I will be sure to look for this one at my local used bookstore. Sounds interesting. I will be sure to look for this one at my local used bookstore.

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