Comment by nemomarx
17 days ago
The point of ads is generally to tempt you to make purchases where the alternative is having nothing. So the comparison I think is more like grocery stores putting junk food right in the checkout to try and have you buy some on impulse?
I'm pushing back against the argument that the advertiser make money, ergo we are paying more than we 'should'.
That's how businesses work. The shop makes money when you buy things, so surely the same argument should apply. Except it doesn't, because that is an acceptable business, so the argument isn't really an argument.
The advertiser loses money when you see ads. It makes money when you buy stuff, so it raises prices.
Or the advert increases sales, this paying for itself, and why the advertiser advertises in the first place.