Ever feel like the lost demographic?

[thyme4change]

I feel like so few places court my business.

- Clothing is usually too cheaply made, or doesn't take into consideration what my life is really like. It is either far too trendy or not nearly trendy enough. I don't want to look 20 - but I don't want to look 60 either.

- Television, which I love and watch a lot of, they really don't want my eyeballs. I don't know who watches some of that crap, but just because I don't want to watch Kendra jump on a trampoline with only a blurr over her private parts doesn't mean that the only thing I do want to watch is doctors and lawyers in super-dramatic, totally unrealistic situations. Just make me laugh, and make me have a fun time for a bit before I go to bed.

- Cars - huge, tiny or boring. And all brands look the same.

- Food - I don't want a 72 oz cheap piece of leather you call a "steak" and I don't want to pay a zillion dollars for 8 slices of cucumber and a little sauce. I just want a good, balanced meal - with some nicely cooked vegetables somewhere in there.

I could go on and on - but, aside from insurance companies and cleaning products I doubt there is anyone who has my demographic in their target.

Do you feel you are adequately served in the marketplace?

[Deleted]

You are one picky person.

[Deleted]

In some ways, I know what you mean. I don't shop at malls anymore because nothing interests me there. DH and I rarely go out to eat because the food at home is better, with the notable exception of some of the expensive places. (We do enjoy those on special occasions.) Even our travel doesn't fit any particular demographic. No Fully Escorted Motorcoach Tours, no cruises, no all-inclusive resorts. Each trip starts in our brains and is hand-crafted together.

Still, for us it's a good place to be. It means that we don't spend a lot day-to-day and our splurges are carefully-chosen and thus feel more special.

[quotequeen]

For the most part I would say I feel adequately served. There are a lot of things out there I'm not interested in, but that's ok. There are sufficient things I am interested in in most areas.

[Tiny]

I don't feel the "marketing love" anymore, either. I think it's because I'm "old" (46 and female). Funny thing is, I've got money to spend

[The J]

Most things seem to be for the people in my demographic (single young professional, decent income). I'm not interested in most of it.

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2011 18:41:27 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I don't feel the "marketing love" anymore, either. I think it's because I'm "old" (46 and female). Funny thing is, I've got money to spend

Yeah, we're even older than that. We get lots of mailings from lawyers holding seminars on protecting your assets from The Government while still qualifying for nursing home care, and invitations to free lunches or dinners (at 5 PM) with a presentation on how to get a secure lifetime income stream- essentially selling some sort of annuities. We did get a mailing last week which I mentioned on this board- to DH, from a company that does river cruises. We've never been on one and have no idea how he got on the list, other than his frequent flyer memberships- but one (from Kiev to Odessa) hit us between the eyes. We did some research and found that the cruise ships are pretty crappy but now we're pretty sure Kiev will be our next destination!

And when I first joined FaceBook and indicated my birth year, I was getting banner ads for anti-wrinkle treatments and bathtubs with a gate that opened in case I was too creaky to climb in and out. Then I started posting about triathlons and started getting a much better class of banner ad!

[ihearyou2]

I feel I'm being marketed too, but it is fragmented and you need to get into the groups that you're most interested in. There is plenty of great TV on cable. There are plenty of clothes built to last made by specific manufacturers. Its really about the consumer finding their interest in today's market fragmentation versus accepting the general message that is beamed out for the average 15-35 year old demographic.

[dividend]

I feel mismarketed to a lot because I'm female but I work in IT and have a lot of "guy" interests (firearms, video games, tech-y stuff). So I get weird hybrid attempts at marketing to me, like the oh-so-adorable pink .38 special (DBF and I call it the anti-theft model), or the weird gamer-chick slut wear, or Sarah Palin <shudder>.

We don't have cable or a converter box so I don't ever watch TV with commercials, and I remember we went to my parents house to watch some of the last season of Lost, and the commercials obviously targeting young-ish females (I'm 29) were just insulting. After watching one with the young girl dancing on the table at the coffee shop singing about all the clothes and shoes she bought, we pretty much decided to not intentionally subject ourselves to commercials ever again.

Then there's the ads aimed at women who "eat healthy," with the women orgasming over fat free yogurt full of chemicals to make it taste like key lime pie. They're not only off the mark, they're also promoting unhealthy habits, imho.

Also, Marlborough sends me the most ridiculous coupons and advertisements that lead me to believe that they think anyone who smokes their cigarettes belongs in Lonesome Dove.

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2011 19:07:43 GMT -5 ihearyou2 said:

It's really about the consumer finding their interest in today's market fragmentation versus accepting the general message that is beamed out for the average 15-35 year old demographic.

Yes, that's what DH and I have done, I guess. I know where to go when I want to buy shoes or some things for my business wardrobe, and they aren't places that advertise on TV or in banner ads.

Like dividend, I don't fit some molds. I'm female but avidly interested in investing. I see marketing aimed at financial planning for women and it just doesn't resonate.

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2011 18:54:49 GMT -5 The J said:

Most things seem to be for the people in my demographic (single young professional, decent income). I'm not interested in most of it.

Yep, I have to agree. It seems the target they are trying to suck in and suck dry is:
- Late 20's to mid 30's
- Single or DINKS
- Professional with lots of disposable income


There is alot outhere targeted toward my age group that I don't care for but my wife is a total different story

[marmar]

I'm in my late 20's and suddenly getting crap from AARP and senior residence communities for some reason. So nah, I'm definitely not feeling served as of late.

[teen persuasion]

I agree w/ Thyme.

Clothes, especially, are next to impossible for me to find to fit me. Unless, of course, I shop in the girls' section, or am really lucky and find tiny things in Juniors' that are somewhat classic in style. Ha!

Although I did strike gold when Xmas shopping for my daughters - I found an XS dress coat, and size 1 skinny cargos.

[hawkeyes2001]

Everytime I shop for greeting cards and furniture. I never find anything I like.

[resolution]

I was discussing this with my husband last night after I turned down another telephone survey. I think a lot of marketing research is based on incomplete information. People like us usually decline surveys and don't respond to ads really well. We don't do a lot of impulse purchases so there is less room to advertise to us, they would need to hit us with an ad for something we had already decided to buy. I suspect a lot of marketing is aimed to populations that are more likely to respond to an ad. I read somewhere that if a young person adopts a brand they are likely to stick with it most of their life.

We do have some things marketed to us correctly. They include stamp and tool catalogues sent to DH, travel ads and catalogues to me, restaurant coupons mailed to the house. The outlet mall nearby seems to have plenty of stores that are fine.

[Urban Chicago]

I'm early 30s. Granted I'm not the best demographic to sell to, because almost everything I buy is for the kids (except wine and beer supplies!). What irritates me is that I can't find any clothes for DS that don't have sports stuff on them. We are not into sports and I don't think it's cute. Really, are plain shirts and pants too much to ask?

[Taxman10]

Jan 10, 2011 18:01:47 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I feel like so few places court my business.

- Clothing is usually too cheaply made, or doesn't take into consideration what my life is really like. It is either far too trendy or not nearly trendy enough. I don't want to look 20 - but I don't want to look 60 either.

- Television, which I love and watch a lot of, they really don't want my eyeballs. I don't know who watches some of that crap, but just because I don't want to watch Kendra jump on a trampoline with only a blurr over her private parts doesn't mean that the only thing I do want to watch is doctors and lawyers in super-dramatic, totally unrealistic situations. Just make me laugh, and make me have a fun time for a bit before I go to bed.

- Cars - huge, tiny or boring. And all brands look the same.

- Food - I don't want a 72 oz cheap piece of leather you call a "steak" and I don't want to pay a zillion dollars for 8 slices of cucumber and a little sauce. I just want a good, balanced meal - with some nicely cooked vegetables somewhere in there.

I could go on and on - but, aside from insurance companies and cleaning products I doubt there is anyone who has my demographic in their target.

Do you feel you are adequately served in the marketplace?

that's all fine and good...but what do you want out of your message board??

btw...i agree with TV - there is so little that even worth watching!!

[Deleted]

I feel like I have more choices than ever in cloths. I picked up about 5 lbs. a couple of years ago and though I would like to lose it, the added weight gets me into women's sizes at places like Anne Taylor. That opened things up a lot, because finding adult cloths in the juniors section is excruciating (just too much picking through for me). I've also gotten better at knowing what stores have things that fit me well. All the stores are in one mall too, so that rocks!

I find I have problems in other areas, namely finding quality at any price point. I bought a brand new crock-pot and it was broken. My old one was bought at a yard sale for a quarter, has to be at least 20 years, and there is nothing broken on it. I would pay more for decent quality, but it just isn't there.

Furniture is another area. I find that well made furniture is either really contemporary or really traditional. There is a middle ground of well made furniture that is comfortable, but it takes some looking and research.

[8 Bit WWBG]

It shouldn't surprise anyone here that most YM'ers are not what advertisers target, even though we have the dollars. They probably already know that while we HAVE the money, we won't part with it for the junk they are hocking.

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 12:45:26 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

It shouldn't surprise anyone here that most YM'ers are not what advertisers target, even though we have the dollars. They probably already know that while we HAVE the money, we won't part with it for the junk they are hocking.

Yeah, the advertisers are all over on Bundle.com! ;D

[thyme4change]

but what do you want out of your message board??

Bingo!

[Tred]

The automotive industry is where I feel pretty alienated. Thankfully I'm not in the market for a new car, because I have no real interest in buying anything made recently.
I feel that safety is very important and should be a priority for all car manufacturers. Continuing...

Examples of the FEW cars that I actually respect (whether I like them or not) occupy the extreme ends of the spectrum:
-Lotus Elise. I've ridden in three of these, driven one. Tiny, unconcerned with comfort, loud inside, great power to weight ratio. Very true to the goal of being nimble and quick.
-Luxo-cruisers by Bentley & Rolls Royce. They're huge, heavy, conspicuous, and don't concern themselves with things like gas mileage. Very true to the goal of comfort & luxury. (for the first two reasons, I loathe the GT cars Bentley has made)
-Foreign market Toyota Land Cruisers, Mercedes G-Wagen, etc... with their minimal luxury appointments due to their potential to be used as *actual* off-road vehicles. U.S. market equivalents are waaaaay too concerned with nice interiors and big, shiny wheels.
-Any number of subcompact cars, showing real effort towards fuel efficiency by their sparse interiors, small overall size & small engines.

Beyond these examples, almost everything else seems like a murky, uninteresting compromise of comfort, luxury, gas mileage & performance. And I'm guilty as charged, for owning one...my current car is a sedan that gets good gas mileage, and is pretty powerful (at the cost of turbo-lag), but is too comfy for my tastes. I wish the car was smaller, lighter & less cushy... but retained the same engine. At that point, it would make my list as a great commuter/multi-purpose car! So much for tredmil the purist

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 15:29:53 GMT -5 Tred said:

-Any number of subcompact cars, showing real effort towards fuel efficiency by their sparse interiors, small overall size & small engines.

This is what I really dislike about subcompacts. I am all about the small cars. I don't like driving a large vehicle. I like to get good gas mileage. However I would like to at least have the option of a nice interior. My Subaru didn't even have the option of leather or a sunroof. I also read that VW is downgrading the Jetta's interior to make it cheaper and more competitive in the US market. I really liked that car but the gas mileage was poor and the reliability was spotty.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Only every day. I've got kids and a house, so most of the crap targeted at people in my age group doesn't resonate. However, we didn't wait until we were pushing 80 and multi millionaires to have kids, so a lot of the stuff targeted at parents doesn't resonate either. We're like lost in the middle right now. I'm too responsible for all the stupid early twenties crap, but I'm not old enough for all the mid life crisis impulse purchases and viagra.

[Anne_in_VA]

Yep! I know I'm older than dirt, but I don't feel and act like it so most of the stuff being marketed to me just doesn't push my buttons. I don't spend unthinkingly - Ut Oh, I've become a YM'er.

[zibazinski]

I have some stuff that I have had forever, classic, and then I buy (if they look right,) some trendier stuff. Mix it with my classic stuff and I feel modern but comfortable/classic.

[cronewitch]

I am shopping for a refrigerator and not one in any store I want. Every single french door model has huge door bins for gallons of milk. We are two people who seldom drink milk but not the same kind of milk. Milk itself is only sold in gallons at a good price, half gallons are almost as much as a gallon and quarts almost as much as a half gallon. Where I shop milk is on sale in gallons for 1.99 and half gallons always 1.69 so if you can use up a half gallon you may as well buy a gallon and throw away almost half. I like non fat and he likes full fat so if we each had a gallon and used part over a week or two it feels wasteful. You can freeze it but that means finding something to put the extra in and thawing later. So I wait until I really want a glass of milk or two and try to make other things calling for milk the same week and still can't use a gallon. I will not buy a refrigeration designed for people who need several gallons of milk at the same time all the time, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Another type thing I see advertised is payday loans, buy here pay here car places and other ads targeting stupid people. They try to explain what a good idea rent to own furniture or whatever is and how smart you are to give them your money.

[dancinmama]

Jan 10, 2011 19:01:43 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Jan 10, 2011 18:41:27 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I don't feel the "marketing love" anymore, either. I think it's because I'm "old" (46 and female). Funny thing is, I've got money to spend

Yeah, we're even older than that. We get lots of mailings from lawyers holding seminars on protecting your assets from The Government while still qualifying for nursing home care, and invitations to free lunches or dinners (at 5 PM) with a presentation on how to get a secure lifetime income stream- essentially selling some sort of annuities. We did get a mailing last week which I mentioned on this board- to DH, from a company that does river cruises.

ha ha ha I think we're on the same mailing lists. We get mailings from Viking all the time and invitations to annuity seminars about 3 times a year.

[dancinmama]

Jan 11, 2011 12:45:26 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

It shouldn't surprise anyone here that most YM'ers are not what advertisers target, even though we have the dollars. They probably already know that while we HAVE the money, we won't part with it for the junk they are hocking.

You got that right!!

[Poppet]

Clothing is usually too cheaply made, or doesn't take into consideration what my life is really like. It is either far too trendy or not nearly trendy enough. I don't want to look 20 - but I don't want to look 60 either.


Yes, yes, yes, yes. You must be in your 40s too.