Advice Survey

Advice Survey

ANDREA WILLIS

What I learned in consumer behavior was how to determine your target market appropriately. Everyone has different needs and wants and you must know how to market to these people. Major highlights of the course were the major generations in America, the household life cycle, and the different classes of people. I was impressed by the many different needs of target markets and the different ways you have to present a product. I learned ways of maintaining satisfied customers. Consumer decision making changed my way of thinking. I didn't realize all the things I did and researched just to buy one item. I wish I had known how much homework we would have. However, this homework is very crucial for exams. Someone told me before the course how Dr. Johnston made out his exams and that he takes the test questions from the practice questions we do for homework. Studying those practice questions really helped my exam grades. If I had known the extent of the homework assignments before the course I would have got ahead of myself as opposed to waiting until the last minute to do the practice questions and end of chapter questions.

Becca Thomson

What I learned

In Marketing 320, I learned many things that I never would have thought about, if I hadn't taken the course. I learned about how little details, such as background music and the color of stores, can affect consumer behavior. I enjoyed learning about the three components of attitude. I also thought the internet assignments were very interesting. I liked filling out the VALS2 form on line and comparing CD prices. The household lifecycle was very interesting to me, because it dealt with consumer decision-making. All of these things taught me a lot about marketing, but my favorite part of class was watching the Affluenza video and the discussion. This video made me think, not only as a future marketer, but as a consumer, as well.

I wish I had known

I think that it is very important for marketing students to keep in mind that not all products are targeted at everyone. That is the importance of target markets and helps explain why people make the purchases they do. That is about all of the advice I have - just enjoy!!

Amy Elder

What I Learned...

What I learned in consumer behavior was whether or not you realize it you go through some of the steps involved in the decision making process. I did not realize how much of the "textbook definition" I was. I never thought much about the decisions I made in any kind of order, but I really do. That was very interesting to me. The videos were interesting and some actually made you think. For example, the Affluenza video made me stop and think. Sometimes I can be very wasteful and not even realize it. The highlight of the course was seeing Dr. Johnston's wedding pictures and how he related the material to what we were doing. (Especially his groom's cake.) The topic that probably changed my way of thinking more than any was the Affluenza video. I honestly think many people in America would be shocked if they saw it.

What I wish I had known was all the homework has to be typed. The end of chapter questions are not really that hard, but the typing can be time consuming. Always do the homework. The test come from the practice questions and end of chapter questions. They are not always word for word, but if you study them you will be fine. Pay attention to the videos in class. They show up an tests, also. During the class, I started typing the work and doing the question the day they were assigned. I found that to be the easiest way to keep up.

Kenneth Brashier

What I learned in this consumer behavior course is hard to explain. When I first thought about this question I couldn't think of anything, but then I realized when I go into a store like Wal-Mart I can tell my friends why certain products are located where they are in the store in relation to other products. The information from the Wal-Mart speakers and the personality test results were very informative.

I wish I had known about all the homework. Be Prepared. The homework is on the test. You will see the questions again! You will see the questions again. Do the homework. I wish I had known to study the EOC questions a letter more. They are also on the test and they're really important too.

RACHAEL HERNANDEZ

What I Learned

What I learned in Consumer Behavior dealt with the question why I purchased items. Why did I buy that CD last week, or why did I go there for lunch? It also taught me some of the reasons why other people purchase the things that they do. Some of the highlights of the course were: learning about what influences me, finding out what made other people in the course by the things that they do, and watching some of the videos, (they were especially helpful b/c they gave actual examples of how businesses market to certain consumers, like the Airwalk video). Some of the information that made an impression on me was learning about Affluenza. Learning that I purchased things not b/c I needed them but b/c I wanted them. Also, learning about what type of person I am made me feel as though I am a very emotional person, which I disagreed with. Some of the topics that changed my way of thinking about Consumer Behavior was when the Wal-Mart employees came and talked about product positioning and the way internal influences influence a consumer. This changed my way of thinking b/c now whenever I am in a store I look for products that Wal-Mart might want me to buy, or I listen to what type of music is on in the store, and also how might the store be able to better itself.

I Wish I Had Known

The only thing that I can say is go out there right now and try and figure out why you purchase the items that you purchase. Are you wasteful when purchasing those items? Also, read the chapters. I hate to read, and although I made good grades on the tests, I could have done better. I wish I had known that from this class would stem a part of me that would come to hate typing. I used to not mind answering my e-mails, but now it is a burden. There is nothing I would do differently. I very much enjoyed the class and the way that the material was presented. I can actually say that this is one of the few classes I enjoyed and learned something from.

ROBIN BRADFORD

What I learned -

I learned a lot of interesting behaviors of shoppers and just how much effort and research is put forth to find out what consumers might buy and why. The highlights of the course were the videos. I was really surprised and alarmed by the Afluenza video (even though it is really long!) The topics that I think changed my way of thinking the most is the perspective of always and at any cost trying to please the customer. I really thought companies were more interested in making a profit.

I wish I had known -

My advice is to realize that EVERYTHING MUST BE TYPED and leave yourself enough time to do so and put money on your card so you can print your homework if you run out of time and must do it right before class. I wish I had realized the course was so analytical and scientific and that I would be memorizing a lot of scientific stuff. I would have given myself more time when reading and started studying differently from the beginning.

Cameshia Lofton

What I learned - In this course I learned about all the things that may influence a consumers purchasing decisions and how marketers position products to attract different markets. I learned a lot about cultural differences and gender roles and how they play a part in marketing. I also learned about the process that consumers use to make purchase decisions.

I wish I had known - A lot of the information in this course can seem kind of common sense or repetitive from other courses, but you still have to put in adequate study time or the terms can confuse you at test time. I think that the course is really interesting and any marketing major could find the information useful. My main advice to anyone that takes this course is to simply review the practice questions and the end of the chapter questions when studying, and make sure that you do not miss class on a day that a video will be shown.

DONNA MOSELEY

What I learned

In the Consumer Behavior course, I learned a great deal of techniques, social aspects of life, attitude components and other various topics. I enjoyed the attitude components chapter the best. Lifestyle had a big impression on me. The lifestyle chapter changed my way of thinking about behavior. This chapter made me realize the different types of lifestyles there were, and how to think about the kind of lifestyle I live.

I wish I had known

I would tell someone to have an open mind and think about how many different types of people there are. The importance of attitude is very meaningful to me, and I wish I had known the different components of attitude. I would work on my own attitude and try to be more positive in my everyday thinking.

Amanda Allen

What I learned

I learned quite a lot from this course. It taught me how to think about different situations and different types of customers. It shows how varying factors can contribute to the purchase or non-purchase of almost any type of product or different type of person. I always thought that maybe people were strange in the consumption habits. However, this course taught me that people consume according to their lifestyle or culture. Furthermore, I learned that there are various ways to market to market the same product so that you can influence almost any type of individual from totally different backgrounds to buy the same product.

The course is on consumer behavior which is basically how people choose and use things to satisfy their needs. In studying consumer behavior, I learned that I buy products for reasons that I did not know or understand. There are also values that customers look for in products. This course will help you in knowing how to market to each individual and conform your advertisement to fit that certain need or lifestyle.

I wish I had Known

I wish I had known that there would be so much preparation for this course. You as a student will have to answer end of chapter questions for every chapter and have the questions and answers typed when you come in to class. This gets aggravating sometimes. It takes no time at all to sit down and answer the questions, most of them are not hard at all. However, when you have to have them typed, you can't run and do them between classes or on a quick break. You actually have to go to the lab or at home on your computer before time. I wish I had known there were going to be so many boring or corny videos. Watch them, there will be questions on the test about them. Many times these are essay questions so you can't guess or BS your way through them. The videos do carry some good messages but some of them are produced in a down right stupid manor, but that's public education videos for you. If you read the chapters, do the questions and study them you can do well in this course. The material is not overwhelming. It is all in the preparation.

Heath Reed

What I learned- What I learned in this course is idea of how to market your products to consumers while making them happy and making a profit. The ideas that made a impression on me were in chapter two dealing with cross-cultural variations. I learned to making decisions has a lot to do with the culture you come from. This topic changed the way I thought about making purchases.

I wish I had known- I wish I had known that everything has to be typed. It seems like a pain to do but I believe it help me in this course. The advice I have for incoming students is to be ready to type everything and stay in busy during the class period. Every chapter is the same format. Practice questions and end of chapter questions. The only thing I would have liked to have known is that everything is type, but it was to my advantage in my opinion. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Karen Schwahn

What I Learned - The Consumer Behavior course is a very in depth study of how we, as consumers, make the purchasing decisions that we make. It focuses on the decision making process, along with the internal and external influences on these decisions. The course shows what an important role these factors play to a marketer. Before taking this class, I was not aware of all the things that influence my own purchasing decisions. Now I have a better understanding of why I buy the things I do for my family and myself. It is a very important course for a student who is majoring in marketing. Without the knowledge learned in this class there is no way to effectively promote a product or service. A marketer must know what drives a person to do the things that they do before they can capture that persons attention and convince them to purchase their product.

I Wish I Had Known - Before signing up for this class I wish I had known how time consuming the outside of class work was going to be. For every hour spent in class, be prepared to spend at least one hour on homework assignment outside of class. Dr. Johnston requires that the selected end of chapter questions and answers be typed before class time. Don't be fooled if a particular chapter only has 3 questions assigned, you can bet all 3 will have long answers! This is the only class that I have taken at UTM where the professor requires typewritten homework, and I must admit that I wasn't very thrilled with the idea at the beginning of the semester. However, I now think that it is a very effective way to learn the material and it makes it easier to study for exams when you have printed (as opposed to handwritten) material to study from. Although the majority of test questions come from the practice questions and end of chapter questions, expect some additional multiple choice questions that you've never seen before. The answers to these can be found in the textbook. Therefore, not only is it very important to purchase a textbook, it is equally important to also read it.

Brian E. Williams

What I Learned... What you learn in the course it quite obvious, it is all about consumer's behaviors and what effects their behavior and how marketers use this information. Much of the information is common sense put into actual marketing terms. By the end of the class you take a way a strong sense of why people do the things they do, both the consumers and businesses. Understanding all the different influences gives you an understanding of how choices are made. Being able to understand myself as a consumer is very impressionable. It makes you realize that buying is not a random act but a very structured process. Understanding the information has made a change in that I am able to read into people. When you understand their influences, you are able to alter their decision making process. If anything, this will come in handy with the parents. I believe this to be an extremely important class in that if there were no consumers, there would not be a need for business. You have to understand the consumer.

I wish I had known... There is really not much advice about the course that I have to offer. It was one of my favorite classes. It was not boring. It is a class that you can't miss. There are assignments for every class meeting. The class did seem to move at a fast pace and it really did not dig deep into the meat of every chapter. The homework assignments are easy as are the test also. If you are ok with this, then you will do fine. If you like to skip class a lot, then you might have some trouble. I would not have done anything differently as of yet; I am still waiting for the final, so that may change. Good luck!