# Another bit of bastardly marketing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 1, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390 "2013-07-01T20:49:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/21 "2013-07-02T01:41:54Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Square footage, my friend. Most toilet paper packages have the square footage (or meters) printed on there somewhere. > > That way, you avoid the whole “sheet” concept- one roll may be wider than another, or one sheet may be longer, but the square footage is comparable. Yup. I always look at the square footage. Compare the TOTAL square footage among various 6- or 12-roll packs. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/22 "2013-07-02T01:52:14Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > There was a type of beer that was marketing its brand based on being the coldest. What am I missing here - doesn’t any normal liquid (like beer) put in a fridge cool down to the temperature of the fridge it’s in? How is that a selling feature for one brand of beer? That would be Coors Light, and believe me, it’s a selling point. Silver Bullets are sex-in-a-canoe beer at its “pinnacle.” ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/23 "2013-07-02T02:02:03Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > There was a type of beer that was marketing its brand based on being the coldest. What am I missing here - doesn’t any normal liquid (like beer) put in a fridge cool down to the temperature of the fridge it’s in? How is that a selling feature for one brand of beer? What you’re missing is that the marketers aren’t really trying to tickle the part of your brain you’re using here (i.e. the rational part). They want you to form an _association_ between their beer and coldness, so that the next time you think “I want a cool, refreshing beverage to sip on a hot day”, you’ll have a conditioned response to desire their product because of that connection, and hopefully forget that their product tastes like ass. It doesn’t help matters that all the competitors in the “American macro adjunct pale lager” category are pretty much identical in all respects, which pretty much rules out marketing based on flavor (though God knows they’ve shamelessly tried). If they can make that “cold beer = our product” connection in your reptilian brain, that’s a few more sales for them, regardless of the lack of logic in their pitch. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/24 "2013-07-02T02:06:48Z")
“And to protect Mother Earth, each copy contains a certain percentage of recycled paper.” “And what percent is that?” “Zero. Zero’s a percent.” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/25 "2013-07-02T02:37:48Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > That’s not marketing, that’s a standard unit of measurement for shrimp. It’s an indicator of size. No, I’m pretty sure it’s intentionally deceptive. That’s marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/26 "2013-07-02T02:40:44Z")
> [@BorgHunter](#): > > What you’re missing is that the marketers aren’t really trying to tickle the part of your brain you’re using here (i.e. the rational part). They want you to form an _association_ between their beer and coldness, so that the next time you think “I want a cool, refreshing beverage to sip on a hot day”, you’ll have a conditioned response to desire their product because of that connection, and hopefully forget that their product tastes like ass. It doesn’t help matters that all the competitors in the “American macro adjunct pale lager” category are pretty much identical in all respects, which pretty much rules out marketing based on flavor (though God knows they’ve shamelessly tried). If they can make that “cold beer = our product” connection in your reptilian brain, that’s a few more sales for them, regardless of the lack of logic in their pitch. I know - I’m a bad sheeple; I try to think about commercials sometimes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/27 "2013-07-02T03:27:22Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > No, I’m pretty sure it’s intentionally deceptive. That’s marketing. Not in the case of shrimp. From [FoodReference.com](http://FoodReference.com): > [@](#): > > • Shrimp are sized and sold by count (number of shrimp per pound) either whole or headless. For example, headless shrimp of 16-20 count means there are 16 to 20 headless shrimp per pound. Counts for headless shrimp range from under 10 (the largest shrimp) to 300-500 (the smallest). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/28 "2013-07-02T03:37:06Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > The thing that gets me is the way that toilet paper is marketed in so many different configurations that it’s almost impossible to comparison shop. I was trying to decide whether to buy my brand from the drugstore or the grocery store, since I had a drugstore coupon. The grocery store was offering 12 (double) rolls for $9.49, while the drugstore was offering 9 (double) rolls for only $4.49, or 2 for $8.00. But something seemed off about the drugstore packages, so I checked the count and found that each roll has 143 sheets. In the grocery store 12-pack, each roll has 190 sheets (and this is the exact same brand and type, with the same packaging). That’s already way too much math for me to do in my head to determine the best buy, not to mention figuring in the inconvenience of having to change the roll more frequently. At least with Charmin, they have Regular, Double, Jumbo, Large whatever, but the package always says something to the extent of X=Y Regular rolls\*. So if I’m comparison shopping, I just do the math based on how many regular rolls are in the package. For example it’ll say 9 Jumbo rolls and below, it’ll say 9 Jumbo rolls=12 Regular rolls and on the other package of 12 Double rolls it says 12 Double Rolls = 24 Regular rolls. So, just ignore all the extra numbers and compare the prices based on 12 regular rolls, 24 Regular rolls and however many come in the package of actual regular rolls. I usually find that it’s not the largest package that’s the cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/29 "2013-07-02T04:26:58Z")
Maybe they should sell TP by weight. I’ll take the 75 lb mega roll. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/30 "2013-07-02T08:18:09Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > No, I’m pretty sure it’s intentionally deceptive. That’s marketing. No, you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/31 "2013-07-02T09:06:52Z")
Make fun if you want, but my car is the best in its class. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/32 "2013-07-02T10:44:54Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > … I checked the net weight on the new vs the old buckets and found that over the last five years or so, the amount of soap in a bucket has shrunk by about 25%, while the price has remained unchanged. The ol’ incredible grocery shrink ray in action. … > … At the top, it said in big bold letters “250 loads!” and in bigger letters “50 MORE LOADS!!!” I thought that seemed odd, since the size has been shrinking, not increasing, so I looked more carefully. Underneath the 50 MORE LOADS!!! it said, in smaller type, and I quote, “than 200 loads”. … Given shipping costs, I assume, there’s been some trend to remove “bulking” ingredients from many products (e.g. water from liquid laundry soap). Ignore the scoop they probably include, they’re kinda standardized and they hope you won’t notice any change to the “Fill to Here” line. Did the instructions on the packaging change? I’d bet that 25% less product, that isn’t 50% stuff that isn’t soap, will do 50 extra loads. YLMV CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/33 "2013-07-02T11:41:38Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Make fun if you want, but my car is the best in its class. It’s also the only car in its class. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/34 "2013-07-02T11:50:53Z")
Now Straighter and Dopier than Evah! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/35 "2013-07-02T12:25:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Iams used to make a cat food for “less active cats,” and I would always say to myself, “less active THAN WHAT”??? A rock? Paint drying? Grass growing? Is your cat a layabout who need her litterbox, bed and dish in the same 25 square foot area (perferably near clean laundry) - this is the catfood you want for her! I may have done this one here before, but years ago there was a billboard on the way to work for a hospital. The billboard had one sentence and the hospital’s name…“We treat heart attacks 30% faster.” 1. Than what? 2. So what? 3. If I’m having a goddamn heart attack, am I going to be picking my hospital, or are the paramedics going to take me to whatever is closest. I’m sort of thinking that is not the time to comparison shop and any benefit made up by quick treatment when I arrive might be eaten away in travel time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/36 "2013-07-02T13:07:16Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > At least with Charmin, they have Regular, Double, Jumbo, Large whatever, but the package always says something to the extent of X=Y Regular rolls\*. So if I’m comparison shopping, I just do the math based on how many regular rolls are in the package. > > For example it’ll say 9 Jumbo rolls and below, it’ll say 9 Jumbo rolls=12 Regular rolls and on the other package of 12 Double rolls it says 12 Double Rolls = 24 Regular rolls. So, just ignore all the extra numbers and compare the prices based on 12 regular rolls, 24 Regular rolls and however many come in the package of actual regular rolls. I usually find that it’s not the largest package that’s the cheapest. There isn’t a standard “regular roll,” even within the same manufacturer. Check it out. Compare the total square footage between two Charmin’ six-packs. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/37 "2013-07-02T13:25:53Z")
I remember seeing “CHOLESTEROL FREE!” bottled water in the 1990s, when cholesterol avoidance was all the rage. Now, I would bet if you looked hard enough, you might find gluten free bottled water. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/38 "2013-07-02T13:30:50Z")
Back when Maxim magazine was good, they used to do things to poke fun at the industry all the time. They would do something like a yellow corner on the cover of the magazine that said in bright letters: “Bonus: Yellow Stripe!” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/39 "2013-07-02T13:34:23Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Not in the case of shrimp. From [FoodReference.com](http://FoodReference.com): Yes, this is marketing (assuming Vita Beata’s post is correct). They are posting an industry standard for measure, half of which is in prominent font and the remainder in tiny font. This is done in hopes the casual shopper will assume it’s the bag count. Having done the layout for scores of product labels I assure you nothing on product packaging capricious, including font sizes. The fact that information is technically correct, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been presented in a manipulative and deceptive manner. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390/40 "2013-07-02T13:44:01Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Given shipping costs, I assume, there’s been some trend to remove “bulking” ingredients from many products (e.g. water from liquid laundry soap). Ignore the scoop they probably include, they’re kinda standardized and they hope you won’t notice any change to the “Fill to Here” line. Did the instructions on the packaging change? > > I’d bet that 25% less product, that isn’t 50% stuff that isn’t soap, will do 50 extra loads. > > YLMV > > CMC fnord! If that’s what they had done, I wouldn’t have started the thread. But they didn’t do ANYTHING to the product. That’s my point. They’re not saying that the current container, despite being smaller, does more loads than their old formula, or their old package, or anything. It’s the exact same stuff they always sell, in the exact same amount. They just decided to helpfully include a simple numerical relationship for our enlightenment: “250 \> 200”, and make it look like that statement was advertising some sort of benefit or improvement. That’s all. They could have stated “If x/4 = 13, x = 52” and it would have been equally relevant and informative. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bit-of-bastardly-marketing/662390.md?page=3)