Why not?
Because frankly, I'm not a member of the target consumer group. I'm assuming that the app is more closely related to the specials that TCM runs from week to week and month to month. If I want to know what golden era movie star is going to be focused on in the month of Auguest, then yes, the iPhone app is a fantastic tool. This type of information, specific to the community of TCM fans, if targeted specifically to them. Assuming the iPhone app is free, then TCM is likely not receiving any revenue, and my lack of download doesn't hurt them.
Being a wise consumer eliminates a lot of waste, and a lack of waste can aid in the development of a strong economy. This is vital, especially given the current economic climate in the United States (I speak to the U.S. specifically because, frankly, that's where I live). Let's use an illustration to further investigate this - and understand, I'm a mathematician, not an economist. This simply makes sense to me, and I'm sure there are complications and things I'm not considering.
Assume for a moment that a company fabricates a product that it then sells. I suspect this works for middle-man type companies, but for the sake of simplicity, let's keep both production and sales in house. Maybe they make parts for mechanics working for cars, maybe they make adult-themed birthday cakes - it doesn't really matter. Assume also that we have a group of patrons who are not wise consumers (let's call them group A). These people do not recognize whether or not they are members of the target demographic. When they are shown a new product that represents a test market, every member of this group thinks the new item is amazing and fantastic and purchases one.
Oh, group A. You foolish, foolish people.
The company takes this data, and generates sales projections and production schedules from it. Given that group A have purchased the product in excess to their actual need, what exactly do you suppose will happen? Waste. Group A purchases this adult-themed spark plug (wait, I'm mixing something up . . . maybe it was a carburetor-themed ice cream cake) and 50% of them set it on a workbench, forget about it, and NEVER experience the need to purchase another one. This means that the company is going to produce twice as many of these things as it needs to in order to support true demand. This is great for the people who actually need the 4-cylinder home-install stripper pole (wait, what?), because an excess of supply and a lack of demand drive prices down . . . on that item. The problem then is that in order to recoup losses from the excess production, every other item in the store will jump, even if by only a few cents.
Do this a few hundred times, though, and eventually we effectively have in-store inflation. If you avoid all the "reduced items" you're going to discover that your dollar stretches a lesser and lesser distance. This leads to customer dissatisfaction and a potential loss in revenue.
Flip this around though, and look at a group of consumers that recognize whether or not they are a part of a target demographic (group B). Group B takes one look at that internal-combustion cupcake (note from the parenthetical commentator to the author: dude . . . you're weird) and those who need it know they do, and those who don't need it simply don't purchase it. The numbers lead to a production effort that allows for supply to more closely match demand. Now, yes, this does tend to keep prices from what we would call "bargains" but it also prevents the increase of price across the board that we saw with group A. Additionally, the company now doesn't have to deal with an over-investment in production as a factor in overhead costs.
Am I the only one who thinks that this would lead to a more stable economic model?
I've worked in sales, and one thing I've learned to do (and do relatively well) is to manufacture a need. By explaining to a consumer why they needed this new diesel-powered (whoa, hold it RIGHT THERE. I don't want to hear what twisted thing you're going to come up with next. I quit) . . . okay, then . . . this new item, I am able to generate a purchasing trend that more closely resembles that of group A than that of group B. This will not happen as frequently in locally owned and operated businesses who operate specifically to fill a need within the community - as a company, they are seeking to meet demand, not increase it unreasonably. National chains have an end-goal of increasing the wealth of the upper echelons of management, and don't seek to be a part of the solution.
This is where consumer responsibility comes in. While national chains are less likely to attempt to meet demand as opposed to inflate demand, they DO respond to purchasing trends. We as consumers should seek to recognize our roles as either belonging to a specific demographic or not. Who knows? Maybe we could help stabilize some of this economic shakiness.
Mr. President, how does that sound? Economic support sans government spending . . . almost sounds like a pipe dream.
(The commentator would like to apologize for some of the goofiness and/or tastelessness of the humor in this post. The author underwent chemotherapy today and is feeling a little off-kilter.)
The author would like to take state that if you get offended at the idea of an adult-themed anything that has more to do with your definition of "adult-themed" and your own imagination than it does my sense of humor.
(Touche)
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