It seems that a dominant strategy in the world of advertising is to offer guarantees that you’ll never have to honor. I’m not talking about the extended-warranty that they’ll offer you at BestBuy or Circuit City (which, coincidentally, are their profit centers). No, I’m talking about the “best price” guarantee. Specifically, I’d relate it most frequently to automobile dealership advertisements, although I’m sure it’s also prevalent in other markets, too. Likely candidates include high-end electronics, and consumer appliances for which consumer prices are never advertised – the law understands the advertisement to be an “invitation to make an offer,” so even the printed circular that comes with your Sunday paper doesn’t constitute a price quote. My “price-match guarantee” example comes from a few years back. I … Read entire article »

Scientific theories progress over time – as new knowledge comes to light. See for instance, evolution. Of course, what the headline really means by “evolution theory” is that caricature of what science continues to revise, which we all tacitly understand: “This is not questioning the idea at all of evolution; it is refining some of the specific points, this is a great example of what science does and religion doesn’t do. It’s a continous (em>sic) self-testing process.” Cults, on the other hand, continue to try and hammer the proverbial square peg into the round hole – in a constant (and losing) battle to fit “reality” into their antediluvian ideologies. +++ Also, through the competitive miracle of “competition,” it seems that the Whole Foods monopoly fiasco is economically moot. … Read entire article »

I’ve always thought it bothersome that I can’t continue to use my Nextel phone if I were to switch carriers. Well – in theory I’ve though this. Because my phone was destroyed years ago, and replaced with a second-hand phone from one of my friends, which is now on its last legs, too. I don’t buy new phones every six months, because frankly, I have better things to do with $300. But I’d like to see, of course, a more competitive market where phones and features are compatible (e.g., if my Nextel direct-connect was compatible with Verizon’s or Cingular’s push-to-talk, etc.) Spectrum stands in the way, though. But the FCC has a not-so-novel “solution” to “open” new spectrum: The FCC is requiring the winner of … Read entire article »