Supermarkets now carry their own products to compete with the national brands. These “house” brands are not in a felicitous position because they cannot be advertised widely. Supermarkets overcome this encumbrance by making these brands less expensive. Many people believe the shibboleth, “You get what you pay for,” and they purchase items on the premise that quality varies as the price does. Are the claims made by nationally advertised brands bogus. How can one bread company substantiate its nutritive superiority over another? As there is no incontrovertible evidence, the more expensive bread (or coffee, etc) must compensate by increased advertising. They make inordinate claims, using those raucous techniques proven so successful in convincing the frugal customer to switch to a more costly brand.
Match the new words with their definitions.
1. Shibboleth
a.pet phrase, slogan
2. bogus
b.harsh, shrill
3. substantiate
c.counterfeit, fake
4. nutritive
d.having nourish properties
5. raucous
e.confirm, ratify
Do you think that supermarkets that carry their own brands have an edge over brands that are advertised widely, since these supermarket brands are less expensive? Do you believe that brands that are widely advertised make false claims about their quality and value? How do you buy your goods? Do you buy goods depending on how much expensive the good is, believing that it has more quality and value? Do we really get what we pay for? Or do we get less value? Do you think that advertisements on goods really influence our choices? Do you believe advertisements of all brands, or the messages of these advertisements
