Sunday, June 5, 2016

Charity as a Means of Persuasion

                Now a days there is a large demand for being charitable and for giving to those less fortunate. Anything from donating clothes to the Salvation Army or time in a local soup kitchen is considered to be charitable and is something that we try to do when possible. There is a certain satisfaction we get when we know we have contributed to a cause that benefits the greater well being. This feeling of satisfaction is something that major corporations and companies tap into in an effort to build up the Ethos of their company. By telling consumers that their company will donate to a good cause should they buy their product, companies make consumers feel they have indirectly been charitable. This concept that someone can give to a good cause by simply buying a product is the strategy of offering a simple solution. Someone who feels that they should give back more to the community but doesn't always have the chance can satisfy their minds knowing that a portion the money they just spent on cereal will go to a hungry child in the U.S.
                The issue I have with such promises is that there is no one to ensure what is promised gets fulfilled in its entirety. Companies use vague references when referring to their charitable involvement, which leads me to believe that such companies don't give as much as they say they are. Promises about giving to those in need make a company look good and make consumers feel good about themselves when they buy a companies product, but I question how honest major companies are about what they actually give away. Making us feel good about ourselves is an ingenious way to advertise, and it is clear why companies would make promises about giving back. I just hope that the companies are honoring the promise they make because its important to give all that you say you will.

1 comment:

  1. I definitely see what you're saying with how sketchy some companies can be when they talk about donations. It's very vague when companies imply that you will be helping out this other cause, that you don't we know to much about. However, I have to disagree with you somewhat, because I see a lot of companies do this and Keep their promise. An example that I can think of would be sleep train donating to foster kids. In their stores they have legitimate places that you can put school supplies to donate to foster kids. Same with Office Depot, in their stores they have cardboard boxes and when I walk by I can clearly see school supplies or backpacks that some customers have put in. I think I have to see an example of what you're saying when companies are being too vague. Because for the most part I think these charities are legit and if they weren't we would've heard about it by now.

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