I had already published articles about the unfathomable prices of parking at Secure Parking and at Wilson Parking. Wilson lures people with an attractive offer that is not as good as it seems. Secure shouts with massive signs that are as confusing (and therefore as misleading) as mobile phone rate-cards. This article is useful to managers who would like to learn more about pricing strategies and the destruction of consumer confidence. Although this article uses two parking stations as an example, it is designed to assist senior managers to delve into pricing models that could well be destroying the brand though invisible unscrupulous practices. In this previous article about Secure Parking, I had commented about the rates that jump all over the place. Three weeks after posting that article, we now have yet another price change. If someone at either company knows what they are doing, they might do well…

At Sydney airport, I noticed a billboard for Hungry Jack’s. I wondered what the ‘real’ burger would look like, considering my previous unpleasant experiences with McDonald’s. I was curious to learn more about the company whose slogan is, ‘The burgers are better at Hungry Jack’s’. The mission statement at the Australian website said: ‘To be the best Fast Food Hamburger Store in terms of customer satisfaction in product, service and individual store profitability’. The first marketing objective states: ‘To lift the perception of “quality” and “consistency” of HUNGRY JACK’S amongst the target group.’ Maybe I am not the target group. I visited the Swanston Street store in the city of Melbourne, Australia. I ordered a Whopper, which should have looked like the yummy stack you see above. Alas, this is what I received. I did not touch the burger. I simply unwrapped it carefully. I neither squashed it nor squeezed it.…