Questionable marketing Practices - Are they even Unethical?

Do you have examples of situations where you experienced questionable marketing practices? Were these experiences unethical (how and why)? Let us help you better understanding this concept based on marketing. 
Questionable marketing Practices - Are they even Unethical?

There are many examples where unethical marketing is followed
  • False promises
  • Emotional exploitation
  • Distorted information
  • Hiding side effects of a product

FALSE PROMISES:

Nowadys many marketers make false claims about their product so that their profit should be made irrespective of the side effects of the products.

Example: This practice is very common in weight loss industry as nowadays everyone wants tobe a healthy and fit due to this marketers are cashing this as there are many products which claims by consuming this particular product one can loose 15 to 20 kg weight in 2 months without exercising or dieting which is naturally not possible.

Emotional Exploitation:

Emotional exploitation is an unethical marketing practices as advertisement evoked a feeling of sadness in the mind of customer about a particular product which in turn customer purchase that product without the need of that product as if they nt purchase then they done something wrong .

Example: there are many advertisement of fairness cream which give message that being fair is everything and you should have this in your dressing table as it play with the emotion of a person.

DISTORTED INFORMATION:

This is another unethical marketing practice in which marketer provide misleading information to the customer and not provide actual facts to the consumer about that product only processess those information which attract the buyer.

Example: When a food processing company claims that their products are sugar free and calorie less and organic products but in reality it contains sugar and calories. Such a companies is to mislead the potential buyer .

HIDING SIDE EFFECTS OF PRODUCT:

This unethical marketing practice is common in those industry where most manufacturer deceive potential buyers that their products have no side effects because they are made from natural products.

Example: beverages manufacturer uses such kind of practices as they claim their beverages are made from fresh fruit and 100% real but in reality they all contain preservatives and if one can consume long times leave side effects.

Yes these experiences are unethical as in all the situation marketer mislead the information for their benefit which in turn affect the consumer decision . Consumer feels whatever is marketer promise is correct and believe on that information and expect the claim results but when they do not get those result they gets emotionally affected and feels like they have been cheated which leads to customer dissatisfaction.

So in my opinion playing with customer emotions in any way is unethical.

To what extent should marketers consider factors other then company performance when marketing to consumers?

Marketers should consider factors other then company performance when marketing to consumers till it attract the new customers, retain the old or existing customers. Factors other then company performance will be considered till it create am awareness among customes, enahnce the loyality among the customers, influence them to buy their products and services, create a satisfaction among the customers, increase the sales revenue and profitability of the marketers. Marketers should consider factors other then company performance till it create a positive impact on the customers, allows the marketers to avail competitive advantage, increase their share in the competitive market.

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