Gamification

Gamification is the process of applying game mechanics to non-game related things in an attempt. Wikipedia describes the techniques used to employ gamification as leveraging "people's natural desires for competition, achievement, status, self-expression, altruism, and closure". Some of the game like rewards used are points, marks for certain achievements, some sort of leveling system or giving the player virtual money. An example of this is Starbuck use as it relates to Foursquare, which is a smartphone application where people check in to location. Starbucks apparently offer a customized Foursquare badge and gave discounts to people that were/are "mayors" of that location. A mayor is the person that has checked in to that place the most. Have you noticed any other places using gamification to attract customers?

In Response to Will Redding

Will posed the question "Do you think a permanent price match guarantee on all products for local competitors and major online competitors is a good strategy for Best Buy? Do you think this policy will help with Best Buy's poor stock performance? "

I think it will ultimately be a good strategy because of how available things are online and the fact that over 75% of electronics are purchased online. The exclusion of eBay makes sense but they are probably the e-place that most places chose over even other online places for the potential to get good deals. I know recently when my laptop charger died, the first place I turned to was the internet in the form of Amazon. I wouldn't know where to even specifically go to find a charger for my specific charger. As much as it is a good idea to offer the service, I don't think it will be too effective because it involves a bit more steps to get the product. If a person is "showrooming", they will first come in to try out the product. If they were to purchase the item, they would have to search the internet for the product and get a refund or something if they find a cheaper priced product on the internet. If they were to just buy it on the internet, it cuts out some of the inconvenience. Do you think there is anything Best Buy can do to improve their stores?

The "Marketing" of Criminals

It is no question that when a mass shooting spree happens, it is going to be the major thing that you are going to see on all the news that day. But for the most part we only hear about the number of victims rather than the about the actual victims themselves. Even more so, they focus on the shooter and why and how they did it because that is more "interesting" to try and figure out their motives. But I've heard the question raised whether or not this is leading to more people to emulate these sort of actions to "carve" their names into people's mind and leave a lasting impression even after their deaths, since most of the stories I heard on the news is that the shooter commits suicide. This New York Times article suggests that most of these mass shooters feel like they are victims of somebody else ruining their lives. The media will delve into the months leading up to the shooting and perhaps making people aware of their "struggles". Do you think if the media covered these shootings differently that these people would have less motivated to commit these horrible acts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/opinion/what-drives-suicidal-mass-killers.html?_r=0

In response to Jullianne Braverman

Jullianne posed the question "Do you find yourself in need of a constant new item or toy? Do you find yourself to be a big spender or saver?"
I don't feel the need to buy the new "in" thing but this is because of my general philosophy of if my current one isn't broken to the point I can't use it anymore, don't get a new one. The only thing that I am a little impulsive with is food by buying snacks I don't need. It is also a matter that I refuse to spend above my means when I work so little during the school year. Also the nature of my purchases are normally craft supplies, so I get weeks of entertainment for around 20. Another thing I occasionally splurg on is entertainment but that is only roughly only a tenth of what I earn a week. What do you think is a reasonable amount to allocate towards entertainment when trying to save money?

Product Placement

When I was watching Psych the other day, I noticed a product placement for Axe products with the character saying something to the effect of "They flock to them, like ladies to men wearing Axe". Product placement is when a show or movie place either a product's logo or a blurb about the product within in exchange for payment from the company of the product. I don't think product placement is bad unless it really is detrimental to the quality of wherever the product placement is. The Subway product placement clip shown in class was an example of being at least slightly detrimental to the show because the mention was both long and had nothing to do with the show. I might be underestimating the power of celebrity influence on people but I see no harm in the Coca-cola labels being placed in a way that the camera sees them for the judges on American Idol. I also find it interesting that shows often have to modify names of products so they are spoofing brands, like with Pear computers on ICarly, so they won't get penalized from using a company's brand unauthorized but the viewer will still know what the product is referencing. This is to make sure that a company's brand won't be used in a negative light. How big of an influence do you think product placement has when paired with celebrities?

In response to Justin Joliffe's post

 Justin raised the question of whether or not generics would overtake the expensive brands and whether that movement would increase outsourcing.

I don't think the generics will overtake the more expensive brands. There will always be people that will buy the name brands no matter how much they cost because of the perceived value that come with them such as status. Also, with things like food, some generics just don't taste as good as the more expensive brands that they are use to. Labor seems to be the most expensive variable in the manufacturing process, so most likely if the expensive brands take a hit, they most likely would alter labor first. I don't think the movement is wide enough that the profit margins would change enough to make companies that don't already to outsource though. I have always used generics anyways when quality is not compromised opposed to the expensive brands anyways. How big of a price change would pay between the generic and the name brand if quality is slightly compromised?

In response to Ariana Barone: Blimps

Ariana posed the question "Have you ever had fell victim to the positve affects of a blimp?"

It might be that the areas I frequent are too rural but I have never actually saw a blimp used as advertising before. Personally, I don't think that I would be taken in by the relatively uniqueness of the advertisement. I have seen planes with the streaming banners behind them but the uniqueness of that advertisement didn't make me any more apt to buy if I wasn't interested in the product. Do you think the uniqueness of the advertisement influences whether or not you will purchase a product?