“This company is so unfair! They obviously don’t care about their customers. They __________!” complains Cindy Consumer. (the blank could be filled in with statements like: “They won’t discount their product like that other company,” or “(a hotel) charge a much higher price than other hotels in the area,” or “they used to take returns no questions asked, but now they have lots of restrictions.”)

1) Explain to Cindy why economists think her complaints are naïve. (Why firms mistreating their customers may actually be in their customers’ best interest!)