Questionnaire

Q1. Stealth marketing purely be the term itself gives rise to skepticism, can a campaign which can be seen to be using the term be really trusted?

Q2. In recent times are the customers now becoming a little more aware of alternate products, so does the strategy of "in your face marketing" really work? Is there brand loyalty when it comes to stock and placement?

Q3. Is stealth marketing at times a patronizing way to advertise goods or is it such a good ploy, especially with product placement, that consumers see it as normality and in so doing see the product in a natural position and consequently make a purchase?

Q4. Is stealth marketing becoming an increasingly useful tool with which to advertise goods? For instance, if a campaign showed only part of the product and not the peripherals that it needs to work, does that bring the purchasers interest higher and appeal to his or her sense of intelligence by understanding the whole strategy?

Q5. Stealth strategy is by definition stealth, unfortunately some consumers do not recognize it, in fact they probably do not see any slightly underhand operations. An example is to show sales of a product at a particular rate, however when the customer attempts to purchase they are informed it is sold-out and offered a similar item at a higher rate. Not illegal but is it ethical?

Q6. (True/False) The consumers as a whole would accept the concept of stealth marketing if in the long term there were proven benefits. A company may have a new concept product in the design stage, and so as not to divulge their plans to user and competitors alike, then stealth is an obvious channel to use to ascertain the viability of the product in the future.

Q7. A further example of stealth marketing that make end users a little wary is when a recognizable brand is used to promote goods or services but the vendor is actually a completely different entity. An example would for a trusted supermarket chain to offer insurance only for the customer to find that the insurer has nothing whatsoever to do with the supermarket chain. Should consumers be led down this path or should the whole process be completely transparent?

Q8. Flogs, meaning to whip someone or to sell something (British term). The internet is awash with forums, bloggers and the likes. Flogs is an online term combining fake and blog, instantly turning to mistrust. Should firms be allowed to produce false witness statements to promote their goods?Again the question of ethical trading comes to the fore.

Q9. Stealth marketing, especially in the food production industry has so many grey areas to traverse the consumer would be forgiven for not believing any of it.

When a company informs its consumers that a product is "good for you" or "better tasting" without quantifying the claim then a customer has the right be wary. Would the trust in the product be further endorsed with a disclosure of how the improvements benefit the purchaser?

Q10. (True/False) As time progresses and the advertising industry develop more and more devious ways to influence the markets through stealth, the companies should be aware that although they are a step ahead of consumers they are not that far ahead for the customers not to be able to see through the campaigns for what they are.

A complete overhaul of the way these things are done would bring a fresh approach from customers. If transparency was at the forefront of a campaign then surely an increase in sales would follow.

Attachment:- Case Business.rar