http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. When consumers think about the groups they belong to, they recall ads better, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news227358928.html Other Sciences Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:17:10 EST news227358928 (AP) -- Americans tired of having their dinners interrupted by phone calls touting car warranties or vacation packages will soon get some relief. http://phys.org/news170604626.html Technology Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:11:02 EST news170604626 From running shoes to ceiling fans, consumers are becoming the designers of their own products. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research looks at the ways consumers compare their creations to those designed by professionals. http://phys.org/news170352193.html Other Sciences Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:10:02 EST news170352193 What types of messages are most persuasive? For example, would you be more likely to buy a TiVo if an ad described it as offering you freedom or if it explained how you could replay sports events? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research says the key to an effective message is finding the fit between the consumers' goals and the level of abstraction. http://phys.org/news170351335.html Other Sciences Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:50:01 EST news170351335 Is McDonald's an authentic brand? What about Marlboro? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers are able to find authenticity in unlikely places. http://phys.org/news170351100.html Other Sciences Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:01 EST news170351100 (PhysOrg.com) -- Whether people are buying headache medication or cars, technology needs to help buyers wade through a staggering number of choices, says a new University of Alberta study. http://phys.org/news169305749.html Other Sciences Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:50:01 EST news169305749 Microsoft plans to close MSN Soapbox at the end of August, pulling the plug on an online video-sharing service that competed with Google-owned YouTube. http://phys.org/news167489322.html Technology Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:40:01 EST news167489322 What would happen if credit card holders no longer received rewards? Not much - but it could cut consumer credit card debt, says a new study on the impact of rewards programs on credit and debit card use. http://phys.org/news167311101.html Other Sciences Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:18:42 EST news167311101 (AP) -- Worldwide PC shipments fell 3 percent in the second quarter. http://phys.org/news166898447.html Technology Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:41:15 EST news166898447 McDonald's seems recession-proof, its profitability apparently untouched by the newest economic crisis to hit America. Though the average family may not be able to eat out in style, they can afford a Dollar Menu double cheeseburger - or four. http://phys.org/news166792525.html Other Sciences Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:16:35 EST news166792525 European travellers will pay less to use their mobile phones while abroad in the EU from Wednesday when new regulated price caps take effect across the 27-nation bloc. http://phys.org/news165590632.html Technology Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:27:09 EST news165590632 People shopping online are likely to bail out on planned purchases before making the final click to submit their orders, often because they are surprised by high shipping costs and other fees, according to a new survey out Tuesday. http://phys.org/news165003139.html Technology Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:20:01 EST news165003139 A new study by marketing researchers at the University of Arkansas indicates that many consumers have a poor understanding of the calorie, fat and sodium content of quick-service restaurant meals. This finding is especially true for less healthful meals, such as a cheeseburger with fries and regular (not diet) soft drink. http://phys.org/news164550443.html Other Sciences Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:40:07 EST news164550443 It's common for retailers to bundle two different products (like razors and blades) together and describe one as free. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that this strategy leads consumers to devalue the items when they're sold individually. http://phys.org/news164303170.html Other Sciences Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:50:01 EST news164303170 Ads that feature positive emotions, like happiness, are not always the best way to reach consumers, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news164303137.html Other Sciences Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:56:49 EST news164303137 Consumer experts have long recommended against buying Extended Service Contracts (ESCs) with products, since they are rarely cost effective. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines the reasons why so many people ignore the experts' advice. http://phys.org/news164303107.html Other Sciences Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:45:21 EST news164303107 We've all experienced listening to a song until we can't stand it. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research may help people continue to enjoy the products and experiences they once loved. http://phys.org/news164303042.html Other Sciences Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:44:44 EST news164303042 (AP) -- Never mind the lousy economy: Flat-panel TVs are still flying off the shelves in the U.S. and Canada. http://phys.org/news162663411.html Technology Wed, 27 May 2009 17:17:17 EST news162663411 (PhysOrg.com) -- Toyota is recognized as one of the leaders in hybrid technology, so it may come as a surprise to some that the company is not terribly keen on selling hybrid plug-ins to consumers. Even though the company is planning to build 500 plug-in Prius cars for test fleets, there are no immediate plans to develop plug-in hybrid technology for consumers. http://phys.org/news162217844.html Technology Fri, 22 May 2009 13:31:27 EST news162217844 (PhysOrg.com) -- The psychological reasons consumers may fall victim to mass marketed scams are revealed today in groundbreaking research. http://phys.org/news162053177.html Other Sciences Wed, 20 May 2009 15:46:46 EST news162053177 Reusable and recyclable packaging are shooting up the news, public, and political agenda, and increasingly can offer a cutting edge to the growing number of environmentally-conscious consumers. But what makes a refillable product successful, and why do so many fail to hit the mark? A new study publishing today in Packaging Technology & Science examines what consumers want from refillable packaging and how manufacturers can make a success of their green initiatives. http://phys.org/news161412866.html Other Sciences Wed, 13 May 2009 05:55:21 EST news161412866 (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. said Thursday its quarterly revenue fell from the previous year for the first time in its 23-year history as a public company, and its profit fell more sharply than Wall Street was expecting. http://phys.org/news159723398.html Technology Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:36:56 EST news159723398 How do Chinese consumers really feel about Western brands? We often hear that magazines and billboards influence Chinese consumers to imitate Western lifestyles. Meanwhile, Chinese "patriots" are thought to reject Western brands as a symbolic gesture of loyalty to their country. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research paints a more complex picture. http://phys.org/news159464153.html Other Sciences Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:36:09 EST news159464153 Making choices is tough, especially in a competitive retail environment. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research sheds some light on the processes consumers use to make choices among multiple options. http://phys.org/news159461929.html Other Sciences Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:59:14 EST news159461929 Consumers are attracted to crowds in stores, but they are not likely to buy something from a crowded location, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news159461876.html Other Sciences Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:58:16 EST news159461876 Rutgers' Food Policy Institute (FPI) released a study today showing that many Americans fail to check their homes for recalled food products. Only about 60 percent of the studied sample reported ever having looked for recalled food in their homes, and only 10 percent said they had ever found a recalled food product. http://phys.org/news158926660.html Medicine & Health Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:18:04 EST news158926660 Why do some consumers prefer local products and others gravitate toward global brands? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines why some people might choose a local brand instead of a recognizable global brand like Coke or Pepsi. http://phys.org/news157726472.html Other Sciences Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:55:21 EST news157726472 Here's another reason why dieters should avoid all-you-can-eat buffets: When faced with a large variety of items, consumers tend to underestimate how much of each item is present, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news157725579.html Other Sciences Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:42:02 EST news157725579 Consumers often make decisions by predicting how they'll feel after an event or purchase. But different approaches to predicting lead to different conclusions, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news157718239.html Other Sciences Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:37:47 EST news157718239 To avoid unwanted or unnecessary purchases, keep your hands off the goods. That's the conclusion of a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://phys.org/news157716605.html Other Sciences Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:10:26 EST news157716605