Response to Allison Ray's post

Have you ever gone to buy something online, and once you see the shipping price decide not to buy it anymore? Are you more likely to search for a product offered on a website with free shipping site wide, rather than a website not offering free shipping site wide? 

I have shopped online and and decided not to buy something because of the shipping price. The only reason I chose to buy online over going to the store is because there is a significantly cheaper price. The shipping cost only factors into buying something if it makes the overall cost is more than or close to the regular price of the item at store value. This usually type of scenario happens when i need something rushed. If I need it rushed, but the price for it is more or about the same as the price at the store, I will always buy it from the store. Like any consumer I am more likely to shop at an online store if there is free shipping than one without free shipping. I have also at times bought more items than i originally intended because the store offers free shipping/free express shipping if you buy a certain amount.

Branding in America

          The article by Naomi Klen about how branding has entered every part of American culture. It was interesting to look at elections, war, and politics from a marketing perspective. Normally you don't think of war from a marketing perspective, but with the amount of coverage possible today to show citizens back home what is happening over there it is important to market the war so that the government continues to get support. Learning from the Iraq War, the government changed their marketing tactics to make it and strategy so that they gain support not only from people back in the United States but also in Afghanistan. With the "Hearts and minds" campaign the marketing tactic has been not show strength, but rather aid. Through marketing their brand which this philanthropic approach the American government is attempting to garnish support from the locals to win the war.             

 Even though branding is usually exclusive with corporations it seems that there is branding with everything in the world, from religion to individuals. Can you think of other areas that practice branding and how do they do it?









http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/16/naomi-klein-branding-obama-america

Response to Parker Hayes Post

Do you think government agencies are always thinking about what is best for the consumers? Or is there something or someone else at the top of their priority list?

I believe that government agencies are not always thinking best about consumers. In any type of system of structure that involves money and power there will always be some form of existence of corruption. No structure is perfect, and thus even in government agencies policies and rules will be put in place that will not have whats best for the customer in mind, but what's best for the company. While these imperfections are unavoidable the existence for these agencies is still necessary because without them then there would be no one thinking about what is best for the consumer in ethical terms. While companies do self regulate, it is more the fear of getting caught doing something wrong and paying for it than the actual well-being of the customer--especially when it could negatively affect their profits.