Don't Insult, Poison or Overcharge Me: An Open Letter to Consumer Products Companies

As the economy and the capital markets stutter with recession fears, there's a lot of talk that some companies and retailers in the consumer products sector are recession proof. Maybe, but I won't be wasting my dollars on companies that insult, poison or overcharge me. Here's my list of gripes:

Dear Consumer Products Companies:

These marketing, production and packaging trends are troubling and could hit your bottom line during a slowdown:

Poison Cosmetics: It's like a nightmare from Catwoman (2004) starring Halle Berry. The plot line: Cat Woman discovers that her employer designs and distributes skin care products that disfigure women and create long-term health problems. It's not such a far-fetched fantasy. There are many dubious cosmetic products on the market. see: Think Before You Pink

I am personally boycotting beauty products with parabens, leads and other harmful chemicals. Even some of my favorite frugal products are on my Do Not Buy list because the merchandise contains dyes. (For example, there is a line of hair conditioners for $1 a bottle that is packaged in a rainbow of colors and scents. The conditioner is cheap and works. But why do I need to put extra dyes into my system?) I will actually spend more for organic or natural products that make me look prettier without killing me.

Dangerous personal care products: Some ingredients in anti-perspirants and lotions are awful. I'm looking for alternative products that won't harm my body. Let me sweat and live in peace.

Insulting ads: Stop filling magazine pages, cyberspace and television airwaves with advertisements designed to make me feel needy, greedy and inadequate. What's wrong with fine lines around my eyes? I've laughed a lot. I've cried plenty. And I'm glad to be alive. I'm not going to spend money on companies that suggest I should apologize for showing signs of life.

What's more, I refuse to buy products for companies with ads that suggest my life will be better with a new shade of hair, a new layer of skin and whiter teeth. Nothing in a bottle can address my real problems and issues. Don't insult me with quick-fix pitches.

Flavor-of-the Month clothing: I hated those tiny bust-hugging, wallet-breaking jackets/sweaters from two or three seasons ago. OMG! Adult women looked as if we had purchased outfits in the children's department. With a few exceptions, the look was very unflattering. Against my better judgement, I purchased two of those jackets at an end-of-season sale. Even at a 75-percent discount I wasted money. My experience taught me to avoid trendy fashions that look dated before I even unwrap the tissue paper.

Manipulated prices: The truth: Most sales aren't really sales. Suggested retail price is a joke. What's the value of 75 percent off, when a garment has been marked up by 500 to 1000 percent? Sorry, I'll keep the change.

Shoddy merchandise: I don't want computer program systems that need urgent patches and I don't want shirts that need instant button repairs. If you sell me something that immediately falls apart or malfunctions, I won't come back. I'll spend elsewhere.

Packaging: It's simple: Save the trees and charge me less. I don't want merchandise packed in air and paper. Just give me my stuff, charge me less and downsize the wrapping.

Celebrity endorsements: Save money; cancel the big-ticket celebrity contracts. I love the Dove "real women" ads (Campaign For Real Beauty ) because there are no airbrushed super models or actresses. I'm 5'1 and 110-115 pounds. I used to weigh about 90 pounds or less, but I've stopped starving myself and I'm not going to buy products from models who make me feel as if I should waste away, skip breakfast or throw up my lunch. I work and eat for a living.

Thank you for listening,
Sharon

Articles of interest:
Recession Proof Your Life
Recession-Proof Your Marketing
Hackett: Business Finance, ''How to Recession-Proof Your Business''
Is Blogging Recession Proof?
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Tainted Pet Food Teaches: Fancy Brand Labels May Be Scams

As a dog owner, I've been actively scanning the growing list of tainted pet food brands. I want to make sure that our dog "Scruffy" does not eat the food that has killed or sickened many other pets.

But beyond the food product scare, the tainted pet food case offers one major lesson on labels, marketing and consumer dollars. For instance, one pet food manufacturer produces dog and cat food for dozens and dozens of name brand and private label companies. That production scenario explains why so many different brands have been hit by the tainted pet food. This story provides an excellent summary of the situation.

"...some of most premium pet-food brands in the U.S. use the same manufacturer that processes dozens of low-price private-label products, according to Adage.com."

--Monsters and critics.com

The bottom line: As consumers we pay different amounts of money ---sometimes dramatically higher-- for basically the same products that are dressed up with fancier labels, celebrity endorsements and big-ticket marketing campaigns.

Beyond pet food, the same production scenario exists in cosmetics, household products and food products for people. While researching one story about private label foods, I was surprised at the number of big label names that also made private label products using the same formula.

A father of friend once supervised the production of candy for a private label company. His daughter shared this insight with me: The two different versions of the candy sported the same recipe, but different labels and prices. Likewise, a television makeup artist once told me that cheaper cosmetic labels are often identical or similar to higher-priced brands.

So why pay more?
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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store
Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues

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Use Cyberspace, Drive a Camry, Wear Jeans & Die: The Best Consumer Deals in '06

The Internet, denim and death represented some of the best deals for consumers in 2006. Based on consumer prices listed on a chart in the Wall Street Journal, I crunched some numbers and came up with a list of the best deals in life. In the Jan. 2 issue, WSJ provided price checks on a menu of average consumer services and products based on prices for 2004-2006.

Bottom Line: It's cheaper to die than to be born.

Based on my calculations of price changes, here's:

My List of the Best Frugal Deals:*

......Item.........2006 price....2006 vs 2005 change.............2006 vs 2004


Monthly Internet......$42.95..........0%........................... 0%

Jeans........................$39.50..........0%........................... 0%

Toyota Camry......$19,725.00..........1%........................... 3%

Movie Ticket...............$6.51..........2%........................... 5%

Funeral................$6,940.00..........3%........................... 6%

Birth...................$8,162.00..........3.2%........................ 13%




*(Later today --if I don't space out -- I will post a list of the worst deals)



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The Frugal Duchess Boutique
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