Not to sell stuff, but to recognize the scams and rip offs in the world.
I read a case study on gas station loyalty programs a year or two ago, and it seems that people spend way more if they participate in rewards. Any ideas?
Kind of a tangent to your suggestion, but _Free: The Future of a Radical Price_ by Chris Anderson examines the pros and cons of companies offering “free” merchandise, such as Gillette giving away razors but selling the blades, etc. Of course, the author is using this method himself, as he offers this book for free in many forms as advertising for his speaking and consulting business.
Another tangential suggestion is *The Age of Surveillance Capitalism* by Shoshana Zuboff, which is about how big tech companies like Google sell and market users’ data, which might align with your interest in data collection through loyalty programs.
Arms_Akimbo on
Years ago I read, and really liked, “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping” by Paco Underhill.
I know there is now an updated version which delves more into online shopping but that information is probably dated at this point, especially considering how the pandemic affected online shopping.
Still, it’s an interesting book if you’re interested in why stores are laid out like they are or what secrets stores do to get you to buy more or linger longer.
princedabus02 on
Not fiction, but anything from Edward Bernays–like “Propaganda”–or Jean Baudrillard if you can wrap your head around philosophy
5 Comments
Kind of a tangent to your suggestion, but _Free: The Future of a Radical Price_ by Chris Anderson examines the pros and cons of companies offering “free” merchandise, such as Gillette giving away razors but selling the blades, etc. Of course, the author is using this method himself, as he offers this book for free in many forms as advertising for his speaking and consulting business.
If you’re interested, [A Consumer’s Republic](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114536) chronicles how America because such a consumption heavy culture.
Another tangential suggestion is *The Age of Surveillance Capitalism* by Shoshana Zuboff, which is about how big tech companies like Google sell and market users’ data, which might align with your interest in data collection through loyalty programs.
Years ago I read, and really liked, “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping” by Paco Underhill.
I know there is now an updated version which delves more into online shopping but that information is probably dated at this point, especially considering how the pandemic affected online shopping.
Still, it’s an interesting book if you’re interested in why stores are laid out like they are or what secrets stores do to get you to buy more or linger longer.
Not fiction, but anything from Edward Bernays–like “Propaganda”–or Jean Baudrillard if you can wrap your head around philosophy