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Someone Compares How Differently Millennials And Baby Boomers Treat Businesses
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Someone Compares How Differently Millennials And Baby Boomers Treat Businesses

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Comparing different generations is a trend that has definitely grown within past years, with such articles as “Millennials are killing so and so industry” passing around and the same Millennials responding by pointing out flaws with such generations as baby boomers. Unfortunately, the conversation usually involves members of one generation criticizing or going as far as bashing the other. But with all the chaos and name-calling, it’s impossible to deny that generation differences exist, and they’ve been studied extensively in various fields of research. From economy to language studies, to social and psychological variations, generations respond and work differently no matter the similarities that we as humans share.

Comparing behavior between the generations is not a new thing and spans over a number of different fields

Image credits: Walmart

One Tumblr user decided to delve deeper into the topic and analyze why millennials and baby boomers respond so differently to certain business practices. What started as pondering about why baby boomers tend to cause scenes when they feel they’re mistreated by service while Millenials don’t, ended up with a conversation about ethical business practices and why millennials tend to support them more than the other generation.

One Tumblr user offered their own explanation on how differently millennials and baby boomers treat businesses

Since Tumblr is a social media that works as a digital discussion board, people, naturally, joined in on the conversation, offering their own input. Some expressed their agreements, others shared anecdotal customer experiences, while there were also those that were skeptical or pointed out inconsistencies in the original author’s points.

People, naturally, responded with their own opinions

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According to Pew Research Center, while millennials are better educated than the previous generations, there’s also a large economic difference between those with a college education and not. Compared to the previous generations, millennials are also less fortunate in the household income department. According to the research center, “millennials with a bachelor’s degree or more and a full-time job had median annual earnings valued at $56,000 in 2018, roughly equal to those of college-educated Generation X workers in 2001.”

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Probably led by economic disadvantage, as well as other social factors, millennials also struggle with forming their own households as compared to the previous generations. In 2018, 15% of Millennials (ages 25 to 37) were living with their parents who double what “early Boomers and Silents (8% each) and six percentage points higher than Gen Xers who did so when they were the same age”, PRS states.

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Image credits: Corey Taratuta

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kiki68sg avatar
AuntyJem
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X. (We seem to be the forgotten generation these days-it's funny.) As part of this stuck between generation- I feel like each generation is making generalizations about the other. Not all Boomers are grumpy complainers as stereotyped by in younger generations, (remember- in the US, their activism in the 60s changed a lot in society for the good). Not all Millennials are slackers as stereotyped by some in older generations. Individuals in all generations are varied & wonderful as animals in the oceans. Times change rapidly. Before they know it, Millennials will be the older generation. Instead of each group into a category, we should try to appreciate others, & try to understand them.

smurfy5 avatar
Smurfy5
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My thoughts exactly! Stereotypes never help to bring people together... and while I don't believe in "making a scene," there is nothing wrong with respectful feedback when you are not happy with your service at an establishment. Being passive aggressive and complaining to everyone else about your experience is no more respectful. As far as brand loyalty... how many young people feel the need to have Nike, Abercrombie, American Eagle, Gucci, etc...? As a high school teacher I see a ton of kids who will wear nothing but name brands regardless of quality or cost. Consumerism affects people of all generations!

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towcar avatar
Carson Skjerdal
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man the over generalization of generations is the worst. People are really quite different and arguably many of our behaviours have more to do with our age than our generation. As much as I like positive posts about my generation, I can find endless exceptions to every stereotype of every generation.

michel_2 avatar
Marcellus the Third
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but are you expressing your disagreement by going away like a millenial, or shouting a comment like a boomer? =)

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brooke-pomsan avatar
Brooke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People do make a scene in this generation, by filming people whose behavior they have deemed "problematic" so that their target can be publicly shamed. And also call out brands or individuals via social media where they can reach their widest possible audience.

smurfy5 avatar
Kirsten Rasmussen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True... I am more likely to complain respectfully to an employee of an establishment so that the issue can be fixed than to call them out publicly. I would much rather have someone address me in this way as well... it could just be a bad day or moment and not indicative of consistent failing of the establishment.

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pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I won't say I'm against brand loyalty, but I would say that it's hard to find brands with loyalty to their own brands. If you decide your brand is "x", do you stick to it? Businesses change with the times, and so do customers :) These days the better thing to do is research where you can get the best deals, not just think "oh, it's this brand, it must be good"

pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen high-end companies selling a few products at poor quality for high prices, and low-end companies selling better things for low prices. But it's not all the same, some products are better than you'd expect and some are worse. Case by case basis. And that may all change *again* in just a few years.

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bonnieclyde avatar
Bonnie Clyde
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't say how much generational stuff plays into it, but I use an app to keep track of all the companies and brands I'm boycotting for their lousy ethics. Lol, it inadvertently saves me a fortune. The accidental minimalism is pretty wonderful.

orenji avatar
orenji
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly I thought it was the opposite... A lot of millenials use the internet (especially Twitter) to rage and post complaints all the time to get companies to change things. "Outrage culture" is a thing for a reason. Meanwhile, the older folks I know are very polite when confronting businesses.

ahowardtijerina avatar
Lexi Howard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know lots of people will probably be so worked up and so divided about this subject, but i think the key is just the generational differences. No one baby boomer is alike from the other, same as millennials, but as an average group I would say the older generations rely on the negative, NOT that that's a bad thing. It only a different outlook on life! This sounds really cheesy, but we should honestly RESPECT the differences between both generation instead of fighting about then. That's the only thing that annoys me on bored panda:(

coreypichler avatar
CP
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah people get too caught up with "well not every person in said generation acts this way" . It is a generalization of how most people in a certain generation. And yes I know the idea of a generation is weird as well, but the times you grow up in definitely can shape age groups.

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kennykulbiski avatar
Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this an issue? Everyone should be free to react as they see fit without the so called millennium/ boomer thing even entering into it. This is mostly a issue made up by people looking for something to be outraged about. If you really have a burning desire to be offended or outraged watch the news. If you can stand it.

sean_bullough avatar
Sean Harrison
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is nothing new and isn't unique to Millenials. There's this thing called the "1, 7, 11 Effect" where if you are rude to 1 customer, they'll tell 7 of their friends and each of them will tell 11 of their friends. This has been around since the 70's (AFAIK).

sky_2 avatar
SkyTheImaginer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wanna know how many times I've been verbally abused by a millennial when I worked fast food for three years in HS? Maybe once. Baby boomers? Countless times and generation X is in the middle. But to those of you who treat us like actual humans? You're fantastic.

catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a Boomer myself. When Baby Boomers act like that, there can be several reasons: 1) They HAVE done that kind of work, but it was 40 years ago.They moved into good careers/income and they disrespect service employees. 2) They grew up in a time when the "customer was always right." 3) They probably believe that the problem won't be resolved UNLESS they make a scene. 4) "I work hard for my money" attitude. As far as brand loyalty, I myself have learned that some less expensive brands can be the same quality as the name brands, or they could be total c**p. That's how I form loyalty. If I find a product that works for me, I stick with it. I won't buy something just because that was the brand my parents used, for instance.

nickyoldfielddesciple avatar
Nicky OldfieldDesciple
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My late father who would definately have been a baby boomer had a favourite saying; "Vote with your feet Don't make a fuss and don't make a scene, just walk away"., Sometimes silent protests make the most noise.

emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is true for gen Z too, I think. There is a restaurant that I liked and I got to know the owner pretty well as I was going pretty regularly, but they ended up doing a remodel and completely changing the menu (I think they weren't getting enough business). I don't prefer the new menu, but I still go because I like the manager.

blatherskitenoir avatar
blatherskitenoir
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like Millenials aren't quite so saintly as they'd like to seem, and are, in fact, the Yelpers. They won't pitch a fit in the store, but they will go full wrath of god in Yelp reviews. Which does far more damage to the establishment than anything the Boomers do.

effsevensix avatar
Effseven Six
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad is a baby boomer and doesnt act that way at all. He operates on respect. If the place he goes to has nice people/staff he goes back time and time again, and he treats them all nicely too. They start to act like pricks, he simply stops going there. No scenes to be made. If they out right treat him like s**t on the first encounter, he let's them have it, quietly, and never returns. "You dont have to be loud or rude to make a point, but once your point is made, stick to it"

kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No 'Brand loyalty'? I'm a European tour guide and I have clients from of all generations running religiously into any Starbucks they see. the fixation on overpriced, weak coffee in plastic cups is almost surreal. But, yes, younger people shop differently. If companies can't adjust to that, they are not meant to survive. There is no resting on past laurels for ANYONE in a market driven economy.

mandyrandall avatar
mandy randall
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm gen x, I see our present culture is combined by all the people alive. We all represent the present but also future and history. The combination makes for everything people have gone through, going through and will go through. Different experiences have shaped current humanity. We need all generations to understand each other so we can work on a better future for all. Divided we fall united we stand.

nubmaeme avatar
Nubmaeme
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone with a 49-year work history, 27 of which were in retail, I can honestly say that there are good boomer and bad boomers, just like there are good millennials and bad ones. You just have to take each person on their own merits and handle accordingly.

jenniferduska avatar
Jennifer Duska
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I got out of this read, really, is that younger generations are nice and more empathetic. (in the opinion of the writer) There was one side, with a couple sentence counter. At no point in my early years of employment did I think it was ok to talk back to a customer. I never thought there was a point where the customer was wrong. I needed to bend over backwards to make things right. Even later on, politeness, work ethic, punctuality. All of these things were important. Not only to employers, but to me as well. We move on to today. I walk into a store to buy clothing. There can be a handful of people leaning on tables, etc moaning, complaining and swearing. Definitely not working though. You ask where something is, they huff and just wave in a general direction. My daughter who is 18-25 would rather shop online than have to deal with rudeness and people in stores. (and she works retail)

griffyflur avatar
griffy flur
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really, brands at least restaurant chains are very very popular with the young in the UK, is this an America thing or what? Seems as if people are more brand loyal than before. Independent stores are suffering.

dstarr333 avatar
Debra Starr Moon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem isn't that any particular generation is killing brand loyalty, the problem is that brands have depended too long on consumer loyalty to sell their products instead of the quality and value of the products they sell. With the advent of the internet, it takes seconds for consumers of ANY age to read product reviews and find the best value for their money. Brand loyalty isn't enough when there are so many options now available to consumers. Brand loyalty must (and should) be earned on an on-going basis. If a brand consistently provides good quality and value, and continually changes with the needs and demands of consumers, "loyalty" can still be attainable.

vsswift avatar
Victoria Swift
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the dumbest of all dumb articles I've read on boardpanda and that's saying a lot. Literally just a bunch of bad social media posts of dumb people pontificating generalizations based off of no knowledge of anything. How is this even a thing? Maybe I'll start posting about how I hate cats and point to things that have no basis in reality as well like, "they eat my jello", "they take up too much space on the commuter trains", "they won't stop talking about how they put a cat on the moon", " they are always bragging about the last marathon they ran".....

irinadeneva avatar
Irina Deneva-Slav
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Somebody compares"? That's not a comparison, that's yet another ode to millennials.

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boomers grew up under the adage of "the customer is always right". As they age and get more crunchy, they have more pain, less money, and less patience. Give Millenials a few decades - or less - and they will be whining and griping too.

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This article states that "Millenials" make more annually than my late-Boomer husband who has been at the same tech job for 20 years. If it weren't for my VA disability pay, we would be living in a box.

beatyruth avatar
Ruth Beaty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And again, not all boomers act like that. I've worked the s**t jobs, Wal Mart, K Mart, etc., even a Dairy Queen. I treat any one who waits on me like a human being and I tip as well as my budget will allow, and don't leave a horrendous mess. I trained my kids the same way and made sure my mom and brothers and sisters do the same thing when I am with them. You always treat people the way you want to be be treated and that means politely and kindly. I may not have always done it, I'm human so sue me, but I try damn hard. I try to shop local when I can and support smaller businesses, not behemoths, though it isn't always possible on a small budget. And I'm trying hard to change what isn't. We boomers get tired of being lumped together as much as the millenials or gen-x do.

stacy avatar
Fixin'Ta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm really over the Boomer-Millennial hatemongering. Good grief, we have good and bad aspects to both generations. (And Gen X-ers do, too.) These are such broad generalizations it's ridiculous. I'm a Boomer (barely, almost a Gen X-er) and almost no one I know in my generation is like this person describes them. We don't demand our way when things don't go right, we don't yell at salespeople or managers or wait staff. We ask politely if things could be changed. (In fact, I just spent a couple of weeks dealing with our local solid waste providers over an issue that kept the recycle trucks from being able to come down the street and do the pick up. The woman at the solid waste department and I worked together to come up with a solution, and when the trucks finally made the pick up after three weeks, I called to thank her for getting the problem solved. No ranting, no demanding, just being polite and cooperating.) The Boomers and Millennials I know get along just fine.

saundrakuhl avatar
Lee Maidana Kuhl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There may be some truth to this writers perspective. Yet as a baby boomer, I do not fall under the category of making a scene. I believe it is extremely dependent on how you were/are raised. If you are raised in an environment that respects all others that come into your life, you will grow up to behave in this manner. My mother taught us to treat people the way that we would like to be treated. I have always tried to live by this mantra and instill this same mindset with my children. When I as younger, we were always expected to take the grocery carts back into the store, which my children do as well unless they have a cart trolley. We were also brought up not to touch things when in public, ask permission to touch personal items, address our elders with yes ma’am, no sir, etc. The environment of upbringing plays the greatest frame into adulthood.

lgujsv avatar
Gipsy Kings fan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The man in the top photo is not a baby boomer. The first baby boomers were born in 1946, making them 73 today. This guy looks closer to 90. Typical of attitude of younger people towards real baby boomers. I'm 61 and have been using the Internet since the '90s. Recently, a police officer came to my home to make suggestions on home safety. He suggested an alarm system and said info would be available online. He asked me, "Do you have someone who could do that for you [i.e., search the internet]?" I told him Yes, I can do that! :-[

pennywiseeleven1990 avatar
Artemis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah people that guys age are total sweet hearts. Every time I see someone that age in a store their so polite and you kind of just want to take them home and just feed them dinner. But then again they grew up in a time of hardships and they were raised to be respectful. So idk what happened between their generation and boomers. But we didn’t start the “can I see your manager” meme and other memes from generalizations.

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arielmckay avatar
Jane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate to be technical, but the author has this a little backwards... Positive reinforcement = giving something, IE giving a reward. Even spanking is considered positive reinforcement or positive punishment, because you are giving something in response to a behavior. Therefore, yelling at someone for what they did is positive punishment. Negative reinforcement = taking something away, like privileges or grounding someone/taking away freedom. So taking away your business is actually negative reinforcement.

katara_april avatar
Lira Mai
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they aged they will singing a different tunes. They will be grumpy and become short especially with young people's stupidity.

helen_23 avatar
Helen O'Donnell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Boomer with a small retail business. It didn't take Millennials to force me to be an ethical and honest business owner. Integrity is my stock in trade and has been my entire life! I welcome young people into my store, converse with them freely and with respect, treat everyone the same regardless of who they are, how they look, how they're dressed, how much money they have or don't have, and try to provide them with a value-added experience that makes them happier when they leave than when they came in. Not all Boomers are grumpy and against Millennials. That said, as a shop with high overhead, I find it disrespectful when Millennials use their smart phones to treat our stock as a catalog, using apps to find things online cheaper. We are different business models, and we cannot stay in business without support from ALL generations! We treasure being a part of our local community, making it a vibrant and affordable place to live. Please help your local businesses to the same.

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belindamatson avatar
Belinda Matson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Millennials are ancient now. GenZ are the next great consumers so what's their take on all this?

gailedenson avatar
Gail Edenson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really insulting to say all baby boomers make a scene, I grew up that if an establishment treated you badly you do not go back, simple. Millennial post negative reviews on YELP, and Social Media, trying to destroy Business, not to mention filming the scene and posting it to facebook. Baby boomers worked hard, put themselves through school with no debt, bought there own house, cars and worked hard. We did not take mental illness day, suffer from anxiety, welcomed people to visit our homes, had tate'tate with people not ask a person to join you for lunch or dinner and then instead of speaking, they are on their phones texting friends and taking pictures of food and themselves. We communicated we fought for our beliefs and didn't sit there and complain about what is wrong with the world and do nothing, with had a peaceful protest and didn't blame our parents for the world been the way it was, we tried to fix it. It disgusts me how Millennials blame us for pollution.

chacolby1296 avatar
Chacolby
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did not read this post expect what was mentioned about age and reactions. Most individuals of a less youthful age react the way they do because when you live you learn, WHY dilute or change a good thing when such is worth or of usefulness. And rather a formal complaint or not some stuff not worth words. That is my opinion.

iblowsheep avatar
iblowsheep
Community Member
4 years ago

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yeah. Millennials just don't go there any more and don't tell their friends. But they go on YELP or wherever and leave scathing reviews about the experience, which are NEVER ecaggerated.

tinapotter avatar
Serbob
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Dorothy Parker
Community Member
4 years ago

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Smug children. They don't see the adults aka baby boomers who don't make scenes and who reward great service because what is there to notivpce? I watch the earnest children expousing their beliefs ad nauseum. There really is no difference.

vizbones avatar
Ben Steinberg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. Well, firstly, I'm not a millennial, I'm Gen-X . Secondly, the only smug person here, as far I can tell, is you with your smarmy condescending comment. I'm going to guess you're older than a millennial given your "children" phrases but I would suggest you try and grow up a little -- and if you choose to tell me that you're a boomer and therefore older than me, my response will remain the same...

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kiki68sg avatar
AuntyJem
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X. (We seem to be the forgotten generation these days-it's funny.) As part of this stuck between generation- I feel like each generation is making generalizations about the other. Not all Boomers are grumpy complainers as stereotyped by in younger generations, (remember- in the US, their activism in the 60s changed a lot in society for the good). Not all Millennials are slackers as stereotyped by some in older generations. Individuals in all generations are varied & wonderful as animals in the oceans. Times change rapidly. Before they know it, Millennials will be the older generation. Instead of each group into a category, we should try to appreciate others, & try to understand them.

smurfy5 avatar
Smurfy5
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My thoughts exactly! Stereotypes never help to bring people together... and while I don't believe in "making a scene," there is nothing wrong with respectful feedback when you are not happy with your service at an establishment. Being passive aggressive and complaining to everyone else about your experience is no more respectful. As far as brand loyalty... how many young people feel the need to have Nike, Abercrombie, American Eagle, Gucci, etc...? As a high school teacher I see a ton of kids who will wear nothing but name brands regardless of quality or cost. Consumerism affects people of all generations!

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towcar avatar
Carson Skjerdal
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man the over generalization of generations is the worst. People are really quite different and arguably many of our behaviours have more to do with our age than our generation. As much as I like positive posts about my generation, I can find endless exceptions to every stereotype of every generation.

michel_2 avatar
Marcellus the Third
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but are you expressing your disagreement by going away like a millenial, or shouting a comment like a boomer? =)

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brooke-pomsan avatar
Brooke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People do make a scene in this generation, by filming people whose behavior they have deemed "problematic" so that their target can be publicly shamed. And also call out brands or individuals via social media where they can reach their widest possible audience.

smurfy5 avatar
Kirsten Rasmussen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True... I am more likely to complain respectfully to an employee of an establishment so that the issue can be fixed than to call them out publicly. I would much rather have someone address me in this way as well... it could just be a bad day or moment and not indicative of consistent failing of the establishment.

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pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I won't say I'm against brand loyalty, but I would say that it's hard to find brands with loyalty to their own brands. If you decide your brand is "x", do you stick to it? Businesses change with the times, and so do customers :) These days the better thing to do is research where you can get the best deals, not just think "oh, it's this brand, it must be good"

pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen high-end companies selling a few products at poor quality for high prices, and low-end companies selling better things for low prices. But it's not all the same, some products are better than you'd expect and some are worse. Case by case basis. And that may all change *again* in just a few years.

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bonnieclyde avatar
Bonnie Clyde
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't say how much generational stuff plays into it, but I use an app to keep track of all the companies and brands I'm boycotting for their lousy ethics. Lol, it inadvertently saves me a fortune. The accidental minimalism is pretty wonderful.

orenji avatar
orenji
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly I thought it was the opposite... A lot of millenials use the internet (especially Twitter) to rage and post complaints all the time to get companies to change things. "Outrage culture" is a thing for a reason. Meanwhile, the older folks I know are very polite when confronting businesses.

ahowardtijerina avatar
Lexi Howard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know lots of people will probably be so worked up and so divided about this subject, but i think the key is just the generational differences. No one baby boomer is alike from the other, same as millennials, but as an average group I would say the older generations rely on the negative, NOT that that's a bad thing. It only a different outlook on life! This sounds really cheesy, but we should honestly RESPECT the differences between both generation instead of fighting about then. That's the only thing that annoys me on bored panda:(

coreypichler avatar
CP
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah people get too caught up with "well not every person in said generation acts this way" . It is a generalization of how most people in a certain generation. And yes I know the idea of a generation is weird as well, but the times you grow up in definitely can shape age groups.

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Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this an issue? Everyone should be free to react as they see fit without the so called millennium/ boomer thing even entering into it. This is mostly a issue made up by people looking for something to be outraged about. If you really have a burning desire to be offended or outraged watch the news. If you can stand it.

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Sean Harrison
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is nothing new and isn't unique to Millenials. There's this thing called the "1, 7, 11 Effect" where if you are rude to 1 customer, they'll tell 7 of their friends and each of them will tell 11 of their friends. This has been around since the 70's (AFAIK).

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SkyTheImaginer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wanna know how many times I've been verbally abused by a millennial when I worked fast food for three years in HS? Maybe once. Baby boomers? Countless times and generation X is in the middle. But to those of you who treat us like actual humans? You're fantastic.

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BusLady
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a Boomer myself. When Baby Boomers act like that, there can be several reasons: 1) They HAVE done that kind of work, but it was 40 years ago.They moved into good careers/income and they disrespect service employees. 2) They grew up in a time when the "customer was always right." 3) They probably believe that the problem won't be resolved UNLESS they make a scene. 4) "I work hard for my money" attitude. As far as brand loyalty, I myself have learned that some less expensive brands can be the same quality as the name brands, or they could be total c**p. That's how I form loyalty. If I find a product that works for me, I stick with it. I won't buy something just because that was the brand my parents used, for instance.

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Nicky OldfieldDesciple
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My late father who would definately have been a baby boomer had a favourite saying; "Vote with your feet Don't make a fuss and don't make a scene, just walk away"., Sometimes silent protests make the most noise.

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SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is true for gen Z too, I think. There is a restaurant that I liked and I got to know the owner pretty well as I was going pretty regularly, but they ended up doing a remodel and completely changing the menu (I think they weren't getting enough business). I don't prefer the new menu, but I still go because I like the manager.

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blatherskitenoir
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like Millenials aren't quite so saintly as they'd like to seem, and are, in fact, the Yelpers. They won't pitch a fit in the store, but they will go full wrath of god in Yelp reviews. Which does far more damage to the establishment than anything the Boomers do.

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Effseven Six
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad is a baby boomer and doesnt act that way at all. He operates on respect. If the place he goes to has nice people/staff he goes back time and time again, and he treats them all nicely too. They start to act like pricks, he simply stops going there. No scenes to be made. If they out right treat him like s**t on the first encounter, he let's them have it, quietly, and never returns. "You dont have to be loud or rude to make a point, but once your point is made, stick to it"

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Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No 'Brand loyalty'? I'm a European tour guide and I have clients from of all generations running religiously into any Starbucks they see. the fixation on overpriced, weak coffee in plastic cups is almost surreal. But, yes, younger people shop differently. If companies can't adjust to that, they are not meant to survive. There is no resting on past laurels for ANYONE in a market driven economy.

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mandy randall
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm gen x, I see our present culture is combined by all the people alive. We all represent the present but also future and history. The combination makes for everything people have gone through, going through and will go through. Different experiences have shaped current humanity. We need all generations to understand each other so we can work on a better future for all. Divided we fall united we stand.

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Nubmaeme
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone with a 49-year work history, 27 of which were in retail, I can honestly say that there are good boomer and bad boomers, just like there are good millennials and bad ones. You just have to take each person on their own merits and handle accordingly.

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Jennifer Duska
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I got out of this read, really, is that younger generations are nice and more empathetic. (in the opinion of the writer) There was one side, with a couple sentence counter. At no point in my early years of employment did I think it was ok to talk back to a customer. I never thought there was a point where the customer was wrong. I needed to bend over backwards to make things right. Even later on, politeness, work ethic, punctuality. All of these things were important. Not only to employers, but to me as well. We move on to today. I walk into a store to buy clothing. There can be a handful of people leaning on tables, etc moaning, complaining and swearing. Definitely not working though. You ask where something is, they huff and just wave in a general direction. My daughter who is 18-25 would rather shop online than have to deal with rudeness and people in stores. (and she works retail)

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griffy flur
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really, brands at least restaurant chains are very very popular with the young in the UK, is this an America thing or what? Seems as if people are more brand loyal than before. Independent stores are suffering.

dstarr333 avatar
Debra Starr Moon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem isn't that any particular generation is killing brand loyalty, the problem is that brands have depended too long on consumer loyalty to sell their products instead of the quality and value of the products they sell. With the advent of the internet, it takes seconds for consumers of ANY age to read product reviews and find the best value for their money. Brand loyalty isn't enough when there are so many options now available to consumers. Brand loyalty must (and should) be earned on an on-going basis. If a brand consistently provides good quality and value, and continually changes with the needs and demands of consumers, "loyalty" can still be attainable.

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Victoria Swift
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the dumbest of all dumb articles I've read on boardpanda and that's saying a lot. Literally just a bunch of bad social media posts of dumb people pontificating generalizations based off of no knowledge of anything. How is this even a thing? Maybe I'll start posting about how I hate cats and point to things that have no basis in reality as well like, "they eat my jello", "they take up too much space on the commuter trains", "they won't stop talking about how they put a cat on the moon", " they are always bragging about the last marathon they ran".....

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Irina Deneva-Slav
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Somebody compares"? That's not a comparison, that's yet another ode to millennials.

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boomers grew up under the adage of "the customer is always right". As they age and get more crunchy, they have more pain, less money, and less patience. Give Millenials a few decades - or less - and they will be whining and griping too.

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Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This article states that "Millenials" make more annually than my late-Boomer husband who has been at the same tech job for 20 years. If it weren't for my VA disability pay, we would be living in a box.

beatyruth avatar
Ruth Beaty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And again, not all boomers act like that. I've worked the s**t jobs, Wal Mart, K Mart, etc., even a Dairy Queen. I treat any one who waits on me like a human being and I tip as well as my budget will allow, and don't leave a horrendous mess. I trained my kids the same way and made sure my mom and brothers and sisters do the same thing when I am with them. You always treat people the way you want to be be treated and that means politely and kindly. I may not have always done it, I'm human so sue me, but I try damn hard. I try to shop local when I can and support smaller businesses, not behemoths, though it isn't always possible on a small budget. And I'm trying hard to change what isn't. We boomers get tired of being lumped together as much as the millenials or gen-x do.

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Fixin'Ta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm really over the Boomer-Millennial hatemongering. Good grief, we have good and bad aspects to both generations. (And Gen X-ers do, too.) These are such broad generalizations it's ridiculous. I'm a Boomer (barely, almost a Gen X-er) and almost no one I know in my generation is like this person describes them. We don't demand our way when things don't go right, we don't yell at salespeople or managers or wait staff. We ask politely if things could be changed. (In fact, I just spent a couple of weeks dealing with our local solid waste providers over an issue that kept the recycle trucks from being able to come down the street and do the pick up. The woman at the solid waste department and I worked together to come up with a solution, and when the trucks finally made the pick up after three weeks, I called to thank her for getting the problem solved. No ranting, no demanding, just being polite and cooperating.) The Boomers and Millennials I know get along just fine.

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Lee Maidana Kuhl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There may be some truth to this writers perspective. Yet as a baby boomer, I do not fall under the category of making a scene. I believe it is extremely dependent on how you were/are raised. If you are raised in an environment that respects all others that come into your life, you will grow up to behave in this manner. My mother taught us to treat people the way that we would like to be treated. I have always tried to live by this mantra and instill this same mindset with my children. When I as younger, we were always expected to take the grocery carts back into the store, which my children do as well unless they have a cart trolley. We were also brought up not to touch things when in public, ask permission to touch personal items, address our elders with yes ma’am, no sir, etc. The environment of upbringing plays the greatest frame into adulthood.

lgujsv avatar
Gipsy Kings fan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The man in the top photo is not a baby boomer. The first baby boomers were born in 1946, making them 73 today. This guy looks closer to 90. Typical of attitude of younger people towards real baby boomers. I'm 61 and have been using the Internet since the '90s. Recently, a police officer came to my home to make suggestions on home safety. He suggested an alarm system and said info would be available online. He asked me, "Do you have someone who could do that for you [i.e., search the internet]?" I told him Yes, I can do that! :-[

pennywiseeleven1990 avatar
Artemis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah people that guys age are total sweet hearts. Every time I see someone that age in a store their so polite and you kind of just want to take them home and just feed them dinner. But then again they grew up in a time of hardships and they were raised to be respectful. So idk what happened between their generation and boomers. But we didn’t start the “can I see your manager” meme and other memes from generalizations.

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Jane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate to be technical, but the author has this a little backwards... Positive reinforcement = giving something, IE giving a reward. Even spanking is considered positive reinforcement or positive punishment, because you are giving something in response to a behavior. Therefore, yelling at someone for what they did is positive punishment. Negative reinforcement = taking something away, like privileges or grounding someone/taking away freedom. So taking away your business is actually negative reinforcement.

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Lira Mai
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they aged they will singing a different tunes. They will be grumpy and become short especially with young people's stupidity.

helen_23 avatar
Helen O'Donnell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Boomer with a small retail business. It didn't take Millennials to force me to be an ethical and honest business owner. Integrity is my stock in trade and has been my entire life! I welcome young people into my store, converse with them freely and with respect, treat everyone the same regardless of who they are, how they look, how they're dressed, how much money they have or don't have, and try to provide them with a value-added experience that makes them happier when they leave than when they came in. Not all Boomers are grumpy and against Millennials. That said, as a shop with high overhead, I find it disrespectful when Millennials use their smart phones to treat our stock as a catalog, using apps to find things online cheaper. We are different business models, and we cannot stay in business without support from ALL generations! We treasure being a part of our local community, making it a vibrant and affordable place to live. Please help your local businesses to the same.

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Belinda Matson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Millennials are ancient now. GenZ are the next great consumers so what's their take on all this?

gailedenson avatar
Gail Edenson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really insulting to say all baby boomers make a scene, I grew up that if an establishment treated you badly you do not go back, simple. Millennial post negative reviews on YELP, and Social Media, trying to destroy Business, not to mention filming the scene and posting it to facebook. Baby boomers worked hard, put themselves through school with no debt, bought there own house, cars and worked hard. We did not take mental illness day, suffer from anxiety, welcomed people to visit our homes, had tate'tate with people not ask a person to join you for lunch or dinner and then instead of speaking, they are on their phones texting friends and taking pictures of food and themselves. We communicated we fought for our beliefs and didn't sit there and complain about what is wrong with the world and do nothing, with had a peaceful protest and didn't blame our parents for the world been the way it was, we tried to fix it. It disgusts me how Millennials blame us for pollution.

chacolby1296 avatar
Chacolby
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did not read this post expect what was mentioned about age and reactions. Most individuals of a less youthful age react the way they do because when you live you learn, WHY dilute or change a good thing when such is worth or of usefulness. And rather a formal complaint or not some stuff not worth words. That is my opinion.

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iblowsheep
Community Member
4 years ago

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yeah. Millennials just don't go there any more and don't tell their friends. But they go on YELP or wherever and leave scathing reviews about the experience, which are NEVER ecaggerated.

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Serbob
Community Member
4 years ago

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Dorothy Parker
Community Member
4 years ago

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Smug children. They don't see the adults aka baby boomers who don't make scenes and who reward great service because what is there to notivpce? I watch the earnest children expousing their beliefs ad nauseum. There really is no difference.

vizbones avatar
Ben Steinberg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. Well, firstly, I'm not a millennial, I'm Gen-X . Secondly, the only smug person here, as far I can tell, is you with your smarmy condescending comment. I'm going to guess you're older than a millennial given your "children" phrases but I would suggest you try and grow up a little -- and if you choose to tell me that you're a boomer and therefore older than me, my response will remain the same...

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