To Nicholas: I do not agree. I think
the hard sell is alive and well. My evidence is that I just looked up the
value of QVC -- the people who broadcast nothing but hard-sell over several 24x7
TV channels -- and their parent company was worth 26.6 billion dollars in
2010. Clearly, somebody's buying!
I do agree that those of us who have been exposed
to the barrage of noise coming from commercials, junk mail, spam email,
robo-calls, etc, have become wiser about how to stem the tide.
My wine shopping is dictated largely by experience
and by friends' recommendations, with a little room left for recommendations
from retailers that I get to know. I put most comments in social media at
the level of "rumor" or "scuttlebut".
To Jason: I think social media are very
appealing but I also find them enervating. After a while, when I have
wallowed in my personal reminiscences long enough, I am moved to get up and
do something.
You are absolutely correct that the wielders of
social media work very hard to create an aura of trustworthiness, fellowship,
and savvy. You know... "flim-flam". :^)
To Ted: I am astonished that you can get
anything sensible out of Snooth. I've visited it a few times and I always
leave it bewildered and confused.
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2011 5:29
PM
Subject: Re: [wine] FW: Survey Results:
Social Media Effects on Purchasing
I think the hard sell is effectively dead.