Response to Maxim Senews Project Red

Why do you think Bono and Shriver wouldn't accept the 100% of profits from the campaign to go directly to the cause? Or even anything more than 50%?

I agree with Maxs point that the fact the the "charity" was making so much profit while the fund itself say little donations warrants looking into.  However in response to why Bono and Shriver wouldn't accept 100% of the profits i can only guess the answer.  i assume the reason is that both bono and shriver understand that they will need more then just a few companies to keep the project running.  If they accepted 100% of the profits from the project other companies might be less likely to join in.  I believe they were hoping that 50% of the profits would end up being much more as more and more companies joined in the project.

Project Red Critisicm

    A year after Product (RED)’s launch, Ad Age reported that although $100 million had been spent on marketing the campaign, only about $25 million had gone to the charity itself. Industry observers speculated that this could trigger a backlash against the campaign. Do you believe the criticism is justified? Do you think the campaign could lose supporters as a result?

The critics of project red do bring up many fair points.  I'm sure that the companies are excited about the sales benefit they receive by such a program. I will even concede that there are some companies joining the project simply to increase sales.  and it makes perfect sense. that if the consumer of project red products instead sent there money straight to the global fund the fund would receive more donations.  however even if there is 4 times as much money spent on marketing then goes to the actual fund, and even if only a portion of sales reach the fund itself.  the global fund is still receiving constant contributions.  we cannot rely on people being willing to just donate to the fund. although it may give them some satisfaction, more then likely the cost of donating and receiving no tangible good will decrease the value they receive from donating.  project red has gotten many people, in many social classes more aware of aids and how to donate to the cause.  in short the fact that some companies may be taking advantage of the project is outweighed by the fact that all the companies involved actually do contribute.

Do you agree with my statement that the companies willingness to donate outweighs the possibility that they many be donating only to increase public image, not necessarily because they care about the issue?

Response to Sam Hoyes Customer Satisfaction

What products do you feel deliver customer satisfaction as well as a a great customer value?

There are many products available that have both great customer satisfaction and value.  as sam described products that meet customer wants as well as give them a feeling that they have netted a good deal give customers both good satisfaction and a feeling of value in the product.  toyota for instance offers many cars meet the customers needs, such as a comfortable, long lasting, fuel efficient cares. well give the customer a good value.  many of the cars are affordable and do not require much consumer care (durable).  toyota has meet all consumer needs and demands and gone above those needs and demands.  I know that when i bought my Camry i felt that i had gotten something worth much more then the money i put into it and was, and still am, very satisfied with the product.

MGT 331-Diminshing Returns on Marketing

Are marketers giving consumers to many choices?

 It seems now that every time i enter the store i go in wanting one thing and leaving with something completely different, if anything at all.  stores now offer such an array of choices that its almost impossible to make up your mind on which is the best.  i remember one instance in particular when i was at best buy trying to buy a camera.  I went in there thinking i want a small camera with a long battery and a good zoom.  i figured this would be enough information to quickly narrow down my search and find just a few cameras that fit my profile.  When i asked a sales associate about a camera with these specifications was when it got confusing.  He mentioned that some cameras can zoom more then others but do not take as good a quality photos as others.  he then mentioned how i could get a filter to change the picture quality on the camera, or a lens to increase the others zoom capability.  he then mentioned that i would need to choose a camera that could switch lenses, as not all can.  When it came to battery life it was a matter of what screen size i wanted or how many settings the camera had.  my simple search had turned into an hour of questions and research.  given so many options i left feeling like perhaps i had made the wrong choice and was not as satisfied with my camera as i had hoped.