For consumers, the most enjoyable emotional experience garnered from shopping is feeling lucky. Retailers use this fa...

tomgbean on December 4, 2019

I'm sorry. Never mind the question I originally posed...rather my actual question is...D and C seem to be saying the same thing but D is more detailed....The explanation to another question on this thread got me mixed up.

BenMingov on December 4, 2019

Hi Tomgbean, thanks for the question!

The main point of an argument is the conclusion that is supported by the rest of the stimulus. Answer choices C and D differ in that one of them supports the other. It is not the case that one is more detailed than the other.

We can think about it like this:

Because promotions cut into profit margins and undermine customer loyalty, therefore this tactic is used too often.

What the argument is getting at in essence is that, retailers should use promotional pricing sparingly because it eats into profits and undermines customer loyalty.

We cannot conclude the reverse that: because promotions are used too often, they eat into profits and undermine customer loyalty. How can we conclude from the fact that we are providing promotional pricing that this decreases profits and is bad for repeating business. Perhaps there is such an increase in sales that it makes up for profits in this way and that the customers feel even more loyal towards the brand for providing this feeling of luck.

I suggest you play this game in your mind when you are trying to determine which answer choice (or portion of the stimulus) is the main conclusion. Try arranging the elements of the stimulus in a manner that would appear as follows: because/since/due to (premise), therefore/thus (conclusion).

I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions.