My pet theory (as a consumer but also a former consumer product marketer and merger specialist) is that companies have made being a consumer more painful in many ways--e.g. through crappier products, shrinkflation, locked shelves, hard-to-cancel subscriptions, hidden and junk fees, shortages, harder returns--and that this is playing out …
My pet theory (as a consumer but also a former consumer product marketer and merger specialist) is that companies have made being a consumer more painful in many ways--e.g. through crappier products, shrinkflation, locked shelves, hard-to-cancel subscriptions, hidden and junk fees, shortages, harder returns--and that this is playing out in consumer sentiment and other surveys. I don't think it explains everything, but I think it is a contributor. I wrote a little about it here: https://annelutzfernandez.substack.com/p/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about
I think it can--though the experience may be unpleasant or difficult, consumers still buy things because they need or want them. At the end of the day, though, if the buying experience is less pleasurable or predictable than it has been in the past, you're likely to feel more pessimistic about your ability to achieve satisfaction.
My pet theory (as a consumer but also a former consumer product marketer and merger specialist) is that companies have made being a consumer more painful in many ways--e.g. through crappier products, shrinkflation, locked shelves, hard-to-cancel subscriptions, hidden and junk fees, shortages, harder returns--and that this is playing out in consumer sentiment and other surveys. I don't think it explains everything, but I think it is a contributor. I wrote a little about it here: https://annelutzfernandez.substack.com/p/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about
that doesn't really gibe with robust consumer spending though...
I think it can--though the experience may be unpleasant or difficult, consumers still buy things because they need or want them. At the end of the day, though, if the buying experience is less pleasurable or predictable than it has been in the past, you're likely to feel more pessimistic about your ability to achieve satisfaction.