Cultural anthropologists who have been observing and interviewing

Question

Cultural anthropologists who have been observing and interviewing customers in retail stores have announced a definitive theory to explain the effect that in-store product displays have on customer purchasing behavior.

Which of the following, if true, would be least likely to represent a benefit of the theory to retailers?

A. Retailers will be able to eliminate costly product displays that fail to increase sales.

B. Retailers will gain insight into how consumers determine whether or not to buy a particular product.

C. The new theory will make consumers aware of how product displays influence their purchasing decisions.

D. The new theory will determine what types of retail display gimmicks produce a negative reaction in consumers.

E. The new theory will explain why consumers often purchase at different stores goods that could be brought at just one store.

RaquelR1409 · Answer

Why C is the correct answer? Is it talking about weakness the argument?

Posted from my mobile device

Ritwick91 · Answer

I think it's because option C is talking about customer awareness rather than the retailers interest.
I have also marked option A first hand, but after seeing the OA, the explanation came to my mind. Still I would wait for any expert to reply on this to know if my explanation is correct or not.

AkshdeepS · Answer

Which of the following, if true, would be least likely to represent a benefit of the theory to retailers? 
  
Only C is not supporting the retailers cause and therefore is the correct answer.

If you observe carefully, you will see all other options are providing some sort of information that retailers can use to their advantage.

Hence C.

A.  Retailers will be able to eliminate  costly product displays that fail to increase sales.

B.  Retailers will gain insight into  how consumers determine whether or not to buy a particular product.

C. The new theory will make consumers aware of how product displays influence their purchasing decisions.

D. The new  theory will determine  what types of retail display gimmicks produce a  negative reaction in consumers.

E. The new  theory will explain why consumers often purchase at different stores  goods that could be brought at just one store.

raycal84 · Answer

C gives the reason why the retailers will NOT want theory given or exposed. The "least" reason.

zac123 · Answer

Is E wrong because its neither a benefit nor loss to retailer ?

gmat1393 · Answer

No, see option E.

This gives retailers proper reasons for remodeling their products or stores so that consumers may purchase from their store.So, this choice is an benefit for retailer.

FlyingCycle · Answer

Though I marked C after POE, I am still not convinced with above explanations.

> The new theory will make consumers aware of how product displays influence their purchasing decisions.

If retailers know about this, isn't it a plus point? They can make changes in their strategies accordingly? This will be helpful for them.

Also, it's right that retailers wouldn't want their secret strategies to be discussed among consumers. But if they get to know from the survey, that their secrets are out, they can make the changes.

I am not convinced with C yet.

zhangwma · Answer

I think the key here is noting "least likely" in the question:  Which of the following, if true, would be   least likely   to represent a  benefit  of the theory to  retailers ?

Of all the answers, C is  comparatively  less likely to benefit retailers (i.e., it doesn't mean answer c will negatively impact retailers; we actually don't know if it will have a net positive, negative, or neutral effect).

Cultural anthropologists who have been observing and interviewing

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Cultural anthropologists who have been observing and interviewing

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards