Name- Sakshi kamble
Roll no- 29 Div- A
Kohinoor business school
This article states that unethical marketing uses deception, manipulation, and misleading tactics to attract customers. This includes false advertising, hidden fees, and privacy invasion. While these methods may boost short-term sales, they damage trust, reduce customer loyalty, and harm brand reputation. Consumers who feel cheated often share their negative experiences, leading to bad publicity and potential legal risks. Ultimately, unethical marketing is unsustainable, and businesses should focus on ethical practices to build long-term customer relationships based on trust and transparency.
The study highlights widespread unethical practices in Bangladesh’s food industry, including food adulteration, misleading labels, and poor hygiene. These issues harm consumer trust, public health, and market stability. Despite regulations, weak enforcement allows unethical behaviors to persist. Factors like price manipulation, child labor, and environmental irresponsibility further damage the industry’s reputation. The research suggests stricter laws, better enforcement, and increased consumer awareness to improve food safety and restore trust in the market.
This article explores ethical consumption and how consumers unknowingly support unethical business practices. Many people care about ethics but still buy products made through harmful or unfair methods, such as sweatshop labor or environmental damage. The study questions whether consumers are responsible for their ignorance about these unethical processes. It explains how markets keep people unaware and suggests that consumers should educate themselves to make better choices. The article emphasizes that ethical consumption requires awareness and responsibility, urging people to reduce their role in sustaining unjust market practices.
The article discusses how many businesses prioritize short-term profits over long-term sustainability, leading to environmental harm and ethical concerns. Companies avoid adopting cleaner technologies due to high costs, even though they could reduce waste and improve efficiency. Weak regulations and lack of awareness among managers further worsen the issue. The study emphasizes that ethical business practices and sustainability should be integrated into corporate strategies. Investing in eco-friendly solutions may have initial costs but ensures long-term financial and environmental benefits, making businesses more responsible and competitive.
The article explores the impact of brokers in Lusaka’s fresh produce market. Brokers act as middlemen, connecting buyers and sellers, but their role is controversial. While they provide security and ease transactions, many sellers complain about hidden commissions, price manipulation, and lack of transparency. Some sellers feel forced to use brokers due to threats, while others develop long-term relationships with them. The study finds that larger sellers benefit more from brokers, while smaller sellers often struggle with unfair practices. The authors stress the need for better regulations, governance, and enforcement to create a fairer market system, as improving physical infrastructure alone won’t solve these challenges
The article explores cross-selling and up-selling in banks, where customers are encouraged to buy additional or upgraded products. A survey of 150 bank customers found that 51% were dissatisfied with cross-sold products, mainly because they were unnecessary or overpriced. Similarly, 52% were unhappy with up-selling due to high costs. 34.6% felt negatively about banks using these tactics, and 11.5% even switched banks due to dissatisfaction. Hidden fees and misleading offers further destroy the trust. The study highlights that while these strategies boost profits, they can harm a bank’s reputation and customer loyalty. Ethical and transparent practices are crucial.
The article examines the impact of deceptive marketing on the brand equity of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Cameroon. A survey of 600 alumni from 15 institutions found that 93.5% felt misled by marketing claims that promised more than what was delivered. The study used a Logit Model and found a strong link between deceptive marketing and declining brand trust (X² = 139.3, p-value = 0.0001). Factors like tuition costs, location, and brand recognition also influenced student loyalty. The findings suggest that short-term enrollment gains from misleading ads hurt long-term reputation, leading to student dissatisfaction and lower retention. Stricter regulations and ethical marketing practices are recommended to restore trust in the sector.
The article explores surrogate advertising, where brands promote banned products like alcohol and tobacco through alternate products (e.g., music CDs, club soda). A survey of 117 people in Bhubaneswar found that 61% were aware of surrogate ads, and 36% believed ads changed brand perception. TV ads were the most influential (37.6%), and celebrities played a strong role in increasing appeal. Peer groups (30.7%) and ads (29.9%) were key factors influencing purchases. A Chi-square test showed a significant link between gender and awareness, with men being more aware. 42% of respondents agreed that ads influenced their buying decisions, and 34% admitted to purchasing products after watching ads. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations to prevent misleading advertising and protect consumers.
The article explores greenwashing in the food and beverage industry, where companies falsely market products as eco-friendly. A systematic review of 20+ papers identified five major greenwashing tactics, including misleading labels, green packaging, false health claims, unverified sustainability claims, and exaggerated local sourcing. A word cloud analysis showed that most terms linked to greenwashing are negative, deceptive, and misleading. 61% of products had misleading eco-labels, 37% of consumers were misled by green packaging, and 42% believed “organic” claims without verification. Companies like Nestlé, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola were found guilty of false sustainability claims. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations and increased consumer awareness to prevent deceptive marketing and promote genuine sustainability.
The study explores how TikTok ads for health and beauty products influence Gen-Z’s behavior in Malaysia. A survey of 147 people found that 93.2% use TikTok daily, and 43% search for product ads daily. Many respondents felt these ads promote unrealistic beauty standards, and 61.3% believed entertainment ads could lead to immoral behavior. The research found that images and content in ads strongly impact young users, while captions and language had little effect. 34.3% found healthcare product ads misleading, and many admitted being influenced by peer pressure and social trends. The study highlights the need for ethical advertising, media awareness, and stronger regulations to protect Gen-Z from harmful social media influences and unrealistic beauty expectations.
CONCLUSION:-
1. Unethical Marketing Harms Trust & Reputation – Deceptive marketing tactics like false advertising, greenwashing, and hidden fees may boost short-term profits but damage consumer trust, loyalty, and brand reputation in the long run.
2. Regulation & Ethical Practices Are Necessary – Weak enforcement of regulations allows unethical practices to persist across industries like banking, food, education, and digital advertising. Stricter policies, transparency, and ethical business strategies are essential for long-term sustainability.
3. Consumer Awareness & Responsibility Matter – Many consumers unknowingly support unethical businesses due to misleading marketing. Educating consumers about deceptive tactics, social media influence, and responsible consumption is key to driving ethical business practices.
4. The Digital Age Intensifies Marketing Influence – Platforms like TikTok and social media ads significantly impact consumer behavior, especially among Gen-Z. Marketing strategies that promote unrealistic beauty standards, materialism, and social pressures need ethical oversight to prevent negative societal effects.
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Foundations of Management, Vol. 8 (2016), ISSN 2080-7279
DOI: 10.1515/fman-2016-0007
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