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Veterinarians generally derive some of their income from selling several manufacturers' lines of pet-care products. Knowing that pet owners rarely throw away mail from their pet's veterinarian unread, one manufacturer of pet-care products offered free promotional materials on its products to veterinarians for mailing to their clients. Very few veterinarians accepted the offer, however, even though the manufacturer's products are of high quality.
Situation: Veterinarians generally derive some of their income from selling several manufacturers' lines of pet-care products.
2. Knowing that pet owners rarely throw away mail from their pet's veterinarian unread
Intended Input: one manufacturer of pet-care products offered free promotional materials on its products to veterinarians for mailing to their clients.
Unintended Outcome: Very few veterinarians accepted the offer, however, even though the manufacturer's products are of high quality.
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Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the veterinarian's reaction to the manufacturer's promotional scheme?
Resolve the Paradox
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(A) Most of the veterinarians to whom the free promotional materials were offered were already selling the manufacturer's pet-care products to their clients.
As we already know here that "Veterinarians generally derive some of their income from selling several manufacturers' lines of pet-care products." then if veterinarians were already selling the manufacturer's pet-care products to their clients then veterinarians would have readily accepted the product, as a free sample would have just added to their sales. But denying the promotional material isn't explained by the answer option.
(B) The special promotional materials were intended as a supplement to the manufacturer's usual promotional activities rather than as a replacement for them.
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(C) The manufacturer's products, unlike most equally good competing products sold by veterinarians, are also available in pet stores and in supermarkets.
This resolves the paradox as unlike other competing products sold by veterinarians, this product is available in the pet stores and in supermarkets. So if the customer likes this product then the customer would not necessarily go to the veterinarian to buy the product, but rather purchase the product from his/her nearest convenience. Hence impacting the sales of the veterinarian. Ultimately impacting their income.
Hence this option stands out.
(D) Many pet owners have begun demanding quality in products they buy for their pets that is as high as that in products they buy for themselves.
(E) Veterinarians sometimes recommend that pet owners use products formulated for people when no suitable product specially formulated for animals is available.