Advertising Wastes Resources. Many critics are offended by much of advertising. But bad taste isn t the same as a bad idea. In relation to the volume of products sold, advertising is an efficient way to communicate product-benefit information. Consumers are Manipulated.
Critics charge that marketing creates needs for products of little overall or social value.
But people are not as controllable as this criticism suggests. This is especially true when competition offers consumers different alternatives. Consumers want change. Those that don t can usually find plenty of need-satisfaction from other products. But most people want better need-satisfaction than they already have.