In Response to Roland

Is price the contributing factor for Ford or is there some other reason that the Focus came out on top?

Im not sure as to why the Focus came out on top, but it could be in part to an extensive marketing plan behind it. By making this model seem too good to be true, it will entice new and old buyers alike to take part in the grand ol' sport of consumerism.

pricing

I came across an article discussing the falling price of Gold. this commodity is expensive because it doesn't tarnish as quickly as other materials, conducts better and has been made popular in the social culture.

it's fascinating to me that such an valuable resource can diminish so rapidly due to inflation. How will this impact our nations currency?
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-15/the-price-of-gold-is-crashing-dot-heres-why

Response to Roland

What else can foreign auto makers do to regain the young car buyer?

I think that young car buyers are looking to support their country and to regain some nostalgia from the America that no longer exists. Foreign car companies could try to reintroduce retro looking vehicles to entice the need to go back in history.  Another idea is that maybe foreign car companies could continue to cut prices and offer more to compete against national cars.

Youtube and Marketing

Watch most any Youtube video, and you will most likely end up waiting through at least 5 seconds of an advertisement before your video plays. This commercial trap is not only annoying, but when you have to wait for the commercial to buffer, it's even worse!

What is your favorite youtube advertisement?

In response to Roland

When you buy stuff, do you follow the crowd like a sheep, and buy what everyone else does?

When I make purchases, I tend to buy things that will make me not only blend in with the "social class" that I want to blend into, but I also buy clothing and accessories that make me feel good about myself. It's weird how when we are growing up we are taught to be ourselves and to accept those who are different, but as we get older, we ostracize those who embark upon their own journeys. I buy to play it safe and to fit in with the world around me.

Brand Sponsorship of Musicians

I play guitar in a band and one of the biggest things next to getting signed by a label, is getting sponsorship from a company. One of the biggest sponsors is Redbull. When you go onto a bands facebook, website or myspace, you can view who sponsors them and then you may be more likely to use those products or services. It's crazy the boundaries that marketing extends into.

Who is your favorite artist sponsored by?
Are you more likely to buy that product?

In response to Roland

But is this type of ad fair to consumers? Does it cross any ethical or legal boundaries?

I think that by trying to get your consumers to sign up for a mailing list when their product is available is not only clever, but also misleading. Now American Eagle can spam them with offers and generate more traffic to a site where people may not normally go. This isn't a very ethical marketing scheme, but it is pretty clever