Manufacturers issue cents-off coupons to get consumers to try their brand of product with the hope that the consumers who try their brand will switch their brand loyalty. So in the initial marketing of their new brand X, Hartman Industries should issue cents-off coupons, thereby attracting a large segment of potential consumers as loyal customers.

Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubt on the likelihood that the marketing strategy recommended above will have the result that is claimed?

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

Many consumers are unlikely to try new brands of products unless offered an inducement to do so.

The consumers whose purchases are strongly influenced by cents-off coupons tend not to become loyal customers of any particular brand.

Correct

Many grocery stores attract customers by doubling the face value of manufacturer's coupons.

Typically less than one-third of the coupons issued by a manufacturer are redeemed by consumers.

A marketing campaign that uses cents-off coupons is most effective when combined with a television advertising campaign.

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Comments

AngelinaApr 19

pretty straightforward weaken question. B basically says the exact people they'd attract with coupons are the ones who won't stay loyal, so the whole strategy falls apart.

LachlanApr 25

yeah once you see that the argument depends on coupon-users becoming loyal, B just kicks the legs out from under it

GarimaJun 19

took me a sec but i think B is the one. the conclusion is about building loyal customers and B says that group isn't loyal. done.

ColeJun 25

why is D wrong though? seems like it also weakens

Pradeep1d ago

is this really sub-505? felt easy to me. eliminate C and E for being about stores/ads not loyalty, A actually helps the argument.

VictoriaSep 18

thanks, helpful! was torn between B and D but the loyalty angle makes B way stronger

What this question tests

What it tests

Whether you can identify the option that most undermines an argument's conclusion.

Common trap

Choosing an irrelevant objection or one that attacks the premise rather than the reasoning.