Planet Money Planet Money complains. To learn.
74 snips
Apr 30, 2025 Join a lively conversation as hosts vent about their shared frustrations as consumers. They tackle annoyances like excessive promotional emails and unrepairable products, all while uncovering deeper economic truths about customer satisfaction. The discussion takes a humorous turn when exploring the challenges of appliance repairs and the quirky world of coffee shop expectations. Plus, a revelation about how our happiness is impacted by modern consumer culture will leave you pondering your own spending habits.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Stores Send Too Many Emails
- Stores send excessive emails because email marketing yields very high returns, about 4000% ROI.
- Email marketing works well because customers have already shown interest by signing up or buying before.
Coffee Shops Avoid Free Refills
- Coffee shops don't offer free refills because it cuts into profits and encourages lingering.
- Customer satisfaction from free refills fades quickly due to hedonic adaptation, making it less valuable long term.
Satisfaction Fades Over Time
- Customer happiness is transient because people quickly adapt to positive experiences.
- This adaptation explains why free perks, like coffee refills, lose their impact over time.