I hate when a marketing promotion works on me…….since I work in the business, I feel I cannot be trapped by any marketing guru. There is a promotion in Western PA that has captured me, as well as a bunch of others. It’s called Fuel Perks by Giant Eagle grocery stores. For every $50 you spend at the Eagle, you get .10 off per gallon of gas at their Get Go stations. So, if I spend $200 bucks in October, I get .40 off per gallon…….What a great deal. I have no choice but to shop there, as it cost me $40 bucks to fill my Mazda Protege at $3.19 a gallon. With the perks, I filled up for a lean $25.00. I clearly realize the promotion…..by taking advantage of the gas, I am ensuring them of being loyal and shopping only there. Sure, their prices may be higher, but with gas as high as it is, it makes sense. Like it or not, I will spend $200 in that store for a year at least. And now that I am there, companies are going to have to spend a lot more to break that loyalty. It is a great promotional tie in. I think promotions like these are going to be key to compnaies in the next few years as they try and create brand loyalty. Brand loyalty, for me anyways, is non-existant. Do I shop at Lowe’s or HD? Whichever one is closer. Do I use Tide or Arm & Hammer? Which ever one is on sale. Baby Boomers, even Xers, are known to be loyal, but I am a Y, and I am not loyal to anything. These are the cars I have purchased VW Jetta Honda Civic Honda Civic Mazda Protege What is my next car? Who knows. But I do know Mitsubishi is offering free gas for a year. The research that I have done shows that Echo Boomers are even worse than me! Hot Topic to school, American Eagle at night. I am not even loyal to Sports equipment. I own Mission skates, use a GEAR stick, have TACKLA pants, Jofa leg guards, Itech shoulder pads, and Easton gloves. I buy what feels right to me…..I have no attachement to any brand. I think the next challenge in corporate america is how to make people loyal again. I need to love something for what it is, not because it was on sale…………… JK