In Response to Cody Crawford's May 2nd Post

Image taken from: http://nintendoeverything.com/52392/toys-r-us-buy-2-get-1-free-game-sale-starting-this-weekend/

Why do you think so many consumers such as myself fall into the trap of bundling?


Bundling and deals are both a good and bad thing; they are good in that the consumer can get more for their dollar, yet bad when considering the overall higher amount of money spent than originally intended. As a consumer, I both enjoy and hate these types of "sales," yet as a marketing student, I admire the company for their tact with these deals. All in all, the deals really are just that - a deal - that can't really be passed up. My father is notorious for falling into these bundling traps. Whenever there is a sale on meat, he comes home with more than we have room for in the freezer. However, in the long run, these bundles are beneficial for both the consumer and the company, due to the increase in profit (be it monetary or physical in form) for both sides. One just has to be careful - it's easier than you'd think to buy something just because it's on sale, even when you don't need it!

The Imminent Death of the Post Office

I recently read an article on www.esquire.com that spoke of the possible death of the postal service. As seen in the article, the "postal service is not a federal agency. It does not cost taxpayers a dollar. It loses money only because Congress mandates that it do so. What it is is a miracle of high technology and human touch. It's what binds us together as a country," (see link below). The postal service has been in existence since Benjamin Franklin was appointed as the first Postmaster General in 1775 - one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. However, the postal service hasn't turned a profit since 2006. This is due in part to the rising frequency of electronic communication between the citizens of the United States. With less and less people making use of the postal service, they are getting less income.

In my opinion, the physical delivery of mail is an important part of American culture, and it shouldn't be allowed to die. There are some things in this country that, while outdated, deserve preservation for use by the minority. Not everyone in the country has access to electronic communication yet, and other forms of physical mail delivery, such as UPS, "will cost you fifty dollars," for just a the mailing of a single letter.

What's your opinion on this? Do you think the US Postal Service should be allowed to die, or kept around?

All information taken from: http://www.esquire.com/features/post-office-business-trouble-0213?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1456_6699548

In Response to Jake Atherton's April 20th Post

What do you think of the new logo? Is it better than the old one? Will it give them a competitive advantage over the other movie studios?

Personally, I like the new logo. It is much more "epic" and provides the viewer with the perception of a larger company with more power. However, like Jake mentioned, it really depends on the films Lionsgate produces from here on out. It's just a logo. The general public doesn't go to the movies because of the company producing it - they go for the movie itself.

Response to Class Question, "To Sell or not to Sell?"

Taken from http://www.cob.niu.edu/ama/ama_1.png

If John Smith decides to sell the names and numbers of those surveyed to a car dealership, it would directly violate a part of the AMA's Statement of Ethics - specifically, honesty. It is for this reason that I believe that John Smith should not sell the names. Although it would bring in some revenue, it would be unethical, because the people who filled out the questionnaire were under the impression that the information was intended for the Ohio Department of Economic Development. This is most definitely a common dilemma among those who hold private information of large groups of people. However, ethical decisions are not always made.

In Response to Jake Atherton's April 6th Post

Have you ever bought a product from an infomercial, or know anyone who has?

I actually worked for a company that sold products on television. I worked as a customer service telephone operator. The experience wasn't exactly what I call fun - but I definitely learned a lot from it. Some of the products were of okay value. Overall, I think that products marketed on TV are of low value, and shouldn't be trusted to last for a long time. 

"Microsoft signs Android patent deal with Foxconn"

In my Management Information Systems class, we recently watched a video about Foxconn, a Chinese  company that is notorious for the creation of Apple products in horrible working conditions. Employees are subject to extremely low pay and long hours, as well as housing and meal plans which they have to pay for themselves. There have been reports saying that Microsoft has just signed an agreement with the company as well.

Do you think that this is a good or bad thing for Microsoft, seeing as how the company could get some bad press from this arrangement?

All information taken from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22182597

In Response to Brooke Callaway's April 10th Post

Do you think K-mart has a clever way of keeping viewers interested in what they are trying to sell? 

I think this marketing strategy works very well. People remember what makes them laugh, and it's only natural to want to share what makes you laugh. However, whether or not laughter translates into revenue is a whole other issue. In this case, the laughter doesn't take away from the message, making this an effective commercial.