Problem with online consumer surveys

[disneysteve]

We are not big shoppers. We live a relatively low maintenance lifestyle. We don't go out and buy all of the newest and latest items. We don't follow marketing trends. We are not the typical American consumer.

I do participate with Pinecone Research online surveys. I've been doing so for a few years. The problem I find (which isn't really a problem because they pay me either way) is that I am virtually never interested in the product being presented. It is always some new convenience item and we don't buy much of that junk. Many of the survey questions ask about how often you would buy the product, what you would use it in place of, etc. My answers are always the same - I wouldn't buy the product, it wouldn't replace anything, I don't want or need this new product, and no, if you send it to me, I'm not willing to try it (ok, sometimes I agree to that one because I earn more if they send me a sample).

The constant flood of new products is insane. Very, very few of them really represent something that the world could actually use. The real innovations are exceedingly rare. It is mostly just some new way to package the same old crap. Clearly we are not the target market for any of this stuff. I always wonder how my responses skew their results.

[bjl584]

I work part time in retail, and stuff that people don't need is all around us. Everywhere. 99% of what people buy is completely unnecessary. Worse, most of it goes on credit cards. Sometimes multiple credit cards since one of them will be maxed.

[creditcardfree]

I respond just about the same way. It's all about marketing. We need toothpaste, but the manufacturer wants to make sure we keep choosing their product. They seem to think they need to dazzle us with new benefits. Clever for sure, but annoying for those of us wise enough to notice what it is all about.

[disneysteve]

We need toothpaste, but the manufacturer wants to make sure we keep choosing their product. They seem to think they need to dazzle us with new benefits.

Toothpaste is a good example of where the business has gone nuts. Colgate toothpaste used to be one product. Now, Colgate probably makes 15 or more different toothpastes, different flavors, whitening, breath freshening, etc. It is behind the reason that big box stores like WalMart and Target exist. They need monstrous stores to stock the insane variety of products now on the market.

A number of years ago, someone I know went to Greece on vacation. When she came back, she said that one thing that really impressed her was that the Greeks do their weekly shopping at stores about the size of the typical US gas station mini-market. The stores carry everything you need but not the endless variety and choices that we are inundated with.

[creditcardfree]

That would be refreshing to go into a store like that, limited supply, but all needs available. Too much choice really isn't a good thing. Of course, as a shareholder, it is nice the companies we invest in are trying to improve the bottom line for our benefit.

[hamchan]

I don't qualify for many of these surveys, or the focus groups they do locally either, for this reason. I did a focus group for Celestial Seasonings one time, to talk about a new ad campaign. But yeah, we buy very few non-food items, and get things used as much as we can. No car. Not homeowners.

[disneysteve]

I don't qualify for many of these surveys, or the focus groups they do locally either, for this reason. I did a focus group for Celestial Seasonings one time, to talk about a new ad campaign. But yeah, we buy very few non-food items, and get things used as much as we can. No car. Not homeowners.

Pinecone does food and non-food item surveys. Even with the food items, though, I'm very rarely interested because it is predominantly convenience foods. I mean they don't send surveys about fresh asparagus or eggs or store brand cereal.

[hamchan]

Same here. I don't buy many convenience foods at all, and when I do it is basic store brand stuff.

[disneysteve]

Same here. I don't buy many convenience foods at all, and when I do it is basic store brand stuff.

The other issue is that for the branded products that we do buy, if we like them, we stick with them for years or decades. We don't switch around, buy what's on sale or what we have a coupon for, or try the newest version or competition. We've used the exact same toothpaste for probably over 15 years, for example. They can come out with as many new kinds as they'd like but that isn't going to make us change.

[marvholly]

Steve
I give pretty much the same answers you do on Pinecone, for pretty much the same reason(s). Also, my CONSTANT criticism of the ‘new’ product is that it is WAAAAY too expensive. I ALWAYS agree to try it BUT I have NOT gotten a home trial in several years. The oatmeal was TERRIBLE. The cat REFUSED to eat the cat food and he generally eats anything but Iams & Aldi.

I don't qualify for most focus groups anymore at >60. That is also DUMB on company's part. We paid for college. We paid for weddings. Mortgage is paid off. We have MUCH more disposible income than a 30-40 something.

[disneysteve]

Steve
I give pretty much the same answers you do on Pinecone, for pretty much the same reason(s). Also, my CONSTANT criticism of the ‘new’ product is that it is WAAAAY too expensive. I ALWAYS agree to try it BUT I have NOT gotten a home trial in several years. The oatmeal was TERRIBLE. The cat REFUSED to eat the cat food and he generally eats anything but Iams & Aldi.

I don't qualify for most focus groups anymore at >60. That is also DUMB on company's part. We paid for college. We paid for weddings. Mortgage is paid off. We have MUCH more disposible income than a 30-40 something.

I think the reason they focus more on younger people is exactly what we're saying here. Those of us who are older and wiser tend not to be as swayed and influenced by all the marketing fluff. We are not the target market for all of this junk. They don't want the consumer who has used the same brand for 40 years.

[marvholly]

Steve
Not necessarily true. My DDs (35 & 38) are in the HIGHLY desired demographic: age, married, have kids, homeowners BUT their approach to buying 'stuff' be it diapers or mac & cheese is just like mine.

If it is not on sale and/or I don't have a coupon, I can wait.

[HappySaver]

35-38 is not a sought after demographic. It SHOULD be, but marketers and retailers alike are obsessed with the Millennial generation (~75-80 million people), followed, still, by the Baby Boomer generation (~80 million). It's all in the numbers. 35-38 falls in the widely ignored Gen X group (~45 million), albeit the tail end of it.

I should know, I'm Gen X. Clothing is not geared for my age group at all. Ironic, since I have the money to spend on expensive clothing. The trouble is finding anything worthwhile, since everything they make is for 20 some year olds or 50+. The 30's -40's group just doesn't matter as much.