ShopSmart Poll: Only 29% of Women Will Switch Pet Food Brand to Save Money but 68% Willing to Change Over-the-Counter Meds


According to a new poll featured in the November 2008 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, women are willing to switch brands of over-the-counter medications (68%), milk (67%) and eggs (67%) to save money, but only 29 percent say they would change their brand of pet food. Women are also reluctant to switch cosmetics (30%), personal-care items (48%) and toilet paper (49%).

The poll also found that when it comes to shopping for new appliances, 27 percent of women say that reliability is the most important consideration while the brand falls well behind the other factors in
determining which appliance to purchase at four percent. However, women are not willing to sacrifice brand name to save money on appliances as only 38 percent of women said they would purchase a lesser known brand to save money.

Brand Loyalty Now and Then

· Now, more than last year, 29% of respondents say that they're buying more generic or store brands; in households with kids the number is 37%.

· Say thanks to mom as 48% of women who almost always buy the same brand of groceries or canned goods say that their brand loyalty has been influenced by what they grew up with.

Who Makes The Call?

· 81% of married women say that they alone decide what toilet paper
and other personal-care items to buy for the household.

· 77% say they alone decide what groceries and canned goods to buy.

· 63% say that when it comes to major appliances like fridges and
ovens, they decide what brand to buy or make a joint decision with their spouse or significant other.

Extend the Life of Home Appliances

ShopSmart shares its guide to figuring out how to extend the life of
home appliances and avoid costly repairs.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Refrigerator: Vacuum the dust off the coils every few months. Check
the door seals for leaks and moisture. If any are found, replacing a door
gasket is a do-it-yourself job.

Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens: Don't turn it on when it is empty as this could create leaks in the seals.

Dishwashers: Be sure silverware isn't in the path of the spray arms,it can damage them. Check the filter beneath the lower basket to make sure it's clear of debris.


HOME ELECTRONICS

TV's: Avoid using glass cleaners, especially ammonia-based ones, which can damage an LCD or plasma screen. A soft, dry cloth should do the trick. If not, moisten the cloth slightly with water.

Computers: If you're using a laptop, try to work on a hard, flat surface, not a cushy one like a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and
cause overheating.

ShopSmart Brand Loyalty Poll Methodology

The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone
survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone
households. 1,006 interviews were completed among women aged 18+.
Interviewing took place over June 26-29, 2008. The margin of error is +/-
3.2% points at a 95% confidence level.