• Would you categorize the way the Jones family lives as personal selling? Why or why not?

Yes, because one of the main reasons people/friends bought the product they were advertising was because they saw the Joneses as a successful family and wanted to imitate that. They wanted to look/be successful too, just like them.

• What similarities do you see between the sales tactics the Jones family employs and the marketing tactics of some of your favorite brands? Give an example.

A good example is how clothing brands use rappers or athletes for advertising their products. They make them use their clothes, shoes, or equipment because they know a certain audience would like to be like that artist/athlete, which will lead to them getting that product.

• Based on what you read in the course materials and what you observed in this movie, do you think the way products are marketed in this movie is ethical?

This is a very tough question because even though they lied about being family, that didn’t mean that the products they were advertising weren’t of high quality. And they never forced anyone to buy the product. It was up to their friends to make that decision. A good example is the golf equipment. Steve was really good at golf. When he advertised the equipment he used, his friends improved too, which had nothing to do with him having a real family.

• How would you feel if you were friends with someone in the Jones family before you found out their secret? What about afterward?

To be honest, it would not make a huge difference if I knew or not their secret. I don’t let other people influence me when deciding whether I should buy a product or not. They didn’t cause any serious harm. Most of the bad consequences some characters faced were due to their own decision-making. The Joneses should not be responsible.