Loading ...Don’t Insult, Poison or Overcharge Me: An Open Letter to Consumer Products Companies
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The following is a guest post: Sharon from The Frugal Duchess provides a guest post this week. If you would like to read more you can also subscribe to the frugalduchess Feed.
As the economy and the capital markets stutter with recession fears, there’s a lot of talk that some companies and retailers in the consumer products sector are recession proof. Maybe, but I won’t be wasting my dollars on companies that insult, poison or overcharge me. Here’s my list of gripes:
Dear Consumer Products Companies:
These marketing, production and packaging trends are troubling and could hit your bottom line during a slowdown:
Poison Cosmetics: It’s like a nightmare from Catwoman (2004) starring Halle Berry. The plot line: Cat Woman discovers that her employer designs and distributes skin care products that disfigure women and create long-term health problems. It’s not such a far-fetched fantasy. There are many dubious cosmetic products on the market. see: Think Before You Pink
I am personally boycotting beauty products with parabens, leads and other harmful chemicals. Even some of my favorite frugal products are on my Do Not Buy list because the merchandise contains dyes. (For example, there is a line of hair conditioners for $1 a bottle that is packaged in a rainbow of colors and scents. The conditioner is cheap and works. But why do I need to put extra dyes into my system?) I will actually spend more for organic or natural products that make me look prettier without killing me.
Dangerous personal care products: Some ingredients in anti-perspirants and lotions are awf ul. I’m looking for alternative products that won’t harm my body. Let me sweat and live in peace.
Insulting ads: Stop filling magazine pages, cyberspace and television airwaves with advertisements designed to make me feel needy, greedy and inadequate. What’s wrong with fine lines around my eyes? I’ve laughed a lot. I’ve cried plenty. And I’m glad to be alive. I’m not going to spend money on companies that suggest I should apologize for showing signs of life.
What’s more, I refuse to buy products for companies with ads that suggest my life will be better with a new shade of hair, a new layer of skin and whiter teeth. Nothing in a bottle can address my real problems and issues. Don’t insult me with quick-fix pitches.
Flavor-of-the Month clothing: I hated those tiny bust-hugging, wallet-breaking jackets/sweaters from two or three seasons ago. OMG! Adult women looked as if we had purchased outfits in the children’s department. With a few exceptions, the look was very unflattering. Against my better judgment, I purchased two of those jackets at an end-of-season sale. Even at a 75-percent discount I wasted money. My experience taught me to avoid trendy fashions that look dated before I even unwrap the tissue paper.
Manipulated prices: The truth: Most sales aren’t really sales. Suggested retail price is a joke. What’s the value of 75 percent off, when a garment has been marked up by 500 to 1000 percent? Sorry, I’ll keep the change.
Shoddy merchandise: I don’t want computer program systems that need urgent patches and I don’t want shirts that need instant button repairs. If you sell me something that immediately falls apart or malfunctions, I won’t come back. I’ll spend elsewhere.
Packaging: It’s simple: Save the trees and charge me less. I don’t want merchandise packed in air and paper. Just give me my stuff, charge me less and downsize th e wrapping.
Celebrity endorsements: Save money; cancel the big-ticket celebrity contracts. I love the Dove “real women” ads (Campaign For Real Beauty ) because there are no airbrushed super models or actresses. I’m 5′1 and 110-115 pounds. I used to weigh about 90 pounds or less, but I’ve stopped starving myself and I’m not going to buy products from models who make me feel as if I should waste away, skip breakfast or throw up my lunch. I work and eat for a living.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Great post! You said what a lot of women are thinking. I’m with you on the killer cosmetics - I’ve switched. And I don’t read magazines anymore because of the silliness of the ads. I’m not into manipulative tactics either.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:43 amYou are right on the mark! The cosmetics and hair care are all false advertisement.I am a Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist, and the money the industry asks for is outrageous, they are very cheaply made and sell for the price of a savings account, If you can keep one in todays world.The rich people make me sick,who are they anyways? Just another one of us with money and that gives them attitude. Their attitude stinks.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:04 pmI’m sick of having buttons fall off after twice worn, and I have spent a good buck on.
I laugh at make up ads.
Who do people think they are to ask for hundreds of dollars for shoes when the material is the same as a $40.00 pair? I have gotten so I hate to shop.
And talk about customer service, there is none, what happend to that?
Bravo Sharon!
What a great contribution from an inspiring guest writer/poster!
Encore!
(My first comment since subscribing)
May 17th, 2008 at 1:34 amAmen!
May 17th, 2008 at 6:13 pmwhere i am employed, if a products’ packaging has become so damaged it cannot be fixed, no one is likelly to buy the product that was inside of the package even though the product is perfectly good. we take major losses on sales because of packaging..i work stock, shipping and recieving and were it my choice i would have everything in a ziplock! of course, the worse place in the world to have anything packaged at all is in plumbing and electrical….i collect a lot of empty packages at the end of the day where folks pocket/steal the simply packaged items. sometimes ya just cant win!
May 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pmThe packaging situation has become ridiculous.You sometimes have to have special tools just to get into some of the things we buy . Way too much , plastic,paper, fasteners , just too much …..
May 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pmThanks everyone for your wonderful feedback!
May 18th, 2008 at 7:38 pmIt means a lot to me.
Best Wishess,
Sharon
Thanks for the frank talk! I have been ticked off about the same things–especially packaging, dyes and fragrance, and phony sales for a couple years now. I guess it’s more than time to write letters to the CEOs, presidents, and great mumbo-jumbos of these companies to get real change.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:53 amShunning this stuff simplifies your life, and brings good people to you. I’m also glad you stopped starving yourself. You will likely look back in old age on a happy life, such as so many women have robbed themselves of, for so many generations. We must stop it ourselves.
“For all of Hollywood’s rewards, I was hungry for most of those 20 years.”
-Classical film actress, Gene Tierney
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm