Some companies create problems and then present their products as solutions. A user asked the forum, “What are the best examples of companies creating a problem just to sell us the solution?” Here are the top responses.
NESTLE
![Handsome middle age man wearing casual sweater over blue background afraid and terrified with fear expression stop gesture with hands, shouting in shock. panic concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1.-angry-and-shocked.jpeg)
“Nestle gave out free formula to mothers in Africa just long enough for them to stop producing milk, then stopped so they would be forced to buy it as they weren’t producing anymore. They dressed their salespeople as nurses to trick people into trusting them. Nestle is truly evil.”
DOW CHEMICAL
![pretty woman looking angry, annoyed and frustrated screaming wtf or what’s wrong with you](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/5.-shocked-and-scream.jpeg)
“Clover was once considered part of a healthy lawn and turf grass. The two plants complimented each other in many ways.
Dow Chemical found the recipe for a very effective herbicide that wouldn’t harm grass but kill most undesirable plants that popped up in yards. Unfortunately, it also killed Clover, so an advertisement campaign was launched to change public perception against Clover, and here we are.”
EXPERIAN
![7. angry confused woman](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/7.-angry-confused-woman.jpeg)
“Experian establishing themselves as a credit bureau and selling calculations of your creditworthiness and then having the audacity to sell ‘Experian boost.'”
HORLICKS
![Latin girl with an angry and desperate look isolated on a white background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/daughter-crazy-angry.jpg)
“Horlicks solved the problem of overnight starvation that never existed.”
APPLE
![Portrait of angry young teen woman](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/screaming-teen-girl.jpeg)
“Everything that Apple does. Removing all the ports to sell you every gadget.”
SUPPLEMENT COMPANIES
![Close up of young frustrated caucasian woman with angry and stressed face. Looking mad and crazy shouting, making hands gestures and pointing at the camera. Copy space. Facial expressions concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/frustrated-girl-and-woman.jpeg)
“Supplement companies attribute all your problems towards vitamin deficiencies.”
BIORÉ BLACKHEAD REMOVAL STRIPS
![Female executive with confused expression standing over white background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.-Woman-angry.jpeg)
“Bioré blackhead removal strips. It is a product that shows all the ‘horrible’ stuff it can pull from your skin like a piece of duct tape. Turns out, all that horrible stuff is necessary for the most part to have healthy skin.
According to the web, “When pulling up the pore strips, you can pull up parts of your epidermal layer. This layer is vital to protecting your skin against bacteria and irritations from the outside world and helps prevent water loss from your skin. When you remove this layer, your risk of skin infections, irritations, and dryness can increase.”
YOUTUBE
![Negative emotions. Angry mad businesswoman crazy boss furious woman screaming isolated on white. Stress in business work.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/revenge.jpeg)
“Youtube. They add so many advertisements on purpose to sell the advertisement-free version.”
LISTERINE
![Photo of angry brunette woman making two ponytails hairstyle, looking at camera, isolated on beige background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/crazy-woman-angry.jpeg)
“Halitosis. Listerine was invented in the 1880s as a surgical antiseptic, foot cleaner, floor scrubber, and gonorrhea treatment.
When they couldn’t find the market they wanted, they convinced everyone that bad breath was a medical condition and coined the term.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/marketing-campaign-invented-halitosis-180954082/”
RAZORS
![young handsome man pointing forward at camera with both fingers and angry expression, telling you to do your duty against orange wall](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/angry-man.jpeg)
“Convince women that leg hair and armpit hair are gross to sell them razors.”
CLEANING PRODUCTS
![young pretty woman feeling clueless, confused and uncertain about which option to pick, trying to solve the problem](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wtf-angry.jpeg)
“Most cleaning products. You need these six products in most houses: 50% Isopropyl alcohol and water for technology, glass and most surfaces, Lysol or bleach for sanitizing surfaces, laundry detergent, stain remover, dish detergent, and dish soap.
You don’t need fabric softener, fabric softener sheets, a different product for floors/wood/counters, etc. The rest is marketing and people with nothing to do, making it seem that maintaining a household is complicated.”
PURDUE PHARMA
![Pharma, branding and lab concept - Pills and capsules for diet nutrition, anti-aging beauty supplements, probiotic drugs, pill vitamins as medicine and healthcare cosmetics, pharmacy brand background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/medicines.jpg)
“Purdue Pharma now sells Naloxone, which is a medication used to reverse an opioid overdose.”
REFRIGERATOR COMPANIES
![Young caucasian woman isolated on pink background showing a disappointment gesture with forefinger.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/frustrated.jpeg)
“Not a singular specific company, but the earlier refrigerator companies used to give away ice to restaurants to demonstrate how much better drinks could be, then sold them the machine once the demand became big enough. People did not even know they wanted it until they tasted it.”
KELLOGG’S
![Portrait of young beautiful smiling female in trendy summer clothes. carefree woman posing near blue wall in studio. Positive blond model having fun and going crazy. Shocked and surprised](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shocked-wtf-woman.jpeg)
“Kellogg’s convinced the world that breakfast is the most important meal of the day to sell us cereal. Breakfast is not the most important meal, and cereal is not the best thing to eat either.”
TOBACCO COMPANIES
![Young hispanic girl wearing casual clothes crazy and mad shouting and yelling with aggressive expression and arms raised. frustration concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/screaming-crazy-lady.jpeg)
“Tobacco companies selling nicotine gum and patches to help people ‘quit.'”
FREEMIUM GAMES
![Young handsome man over isolated white background With glasses and frustrated expression](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shocked-man-wtf-1.jpeg)
“Freemium games. The company creates basic problems (the game) and then sells add-on options to do better versus the problem.”
TURBOTAX/HRBLOCK
![Young brunette woman with curly hair wearing glasses over isolated background crazy and mad shouting and yelling with aggressive expression and arms raised. frustration concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/shocked-and-wtf.jpeg)
“Turbotax/HRBlock. If not for their lobbyists, the government would send 99% of Americans a bill for their taxes you could choose to contest or just pay. It would take less than 5 min to do your taxes.”
KLEENEX TISSUE WITH THE LOTION
![Frustrated angry stressed formal corporate business woman with curly hair with hands in hair and screaming yelling, isolated.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/frustrated-and-angry-woman.jpeg)
“Kleenex Tissues with the lotion in them. The tissue irritates, and the lotion is to soothe the irritation even though it doesn’t do anything.”
BROOM COMPANIES
![facepalm. desperate frustrated man covering his face. hopeless situation and regret. portrait of a young brunet guy on yellow background. emotion facial expression and feelings concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/3.-Frustrated-man.jpeg)
“Broom companies. Brooms were made to clean floors; instead, they pushed dust and dirt around. So Swiffer was created to pick up dirt instead of pushing it around.”
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
![Young woman standing over isolated background angry and mad raising fists frustrated and furious while shouting with anger. rage and aggressive concept.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/woman-angry-1.jpeg)
“Pharmaceutical companies actively advertise supposedly underdiagnosed diseases and promote their medication to both prescribers and consumers.”
12 Cities in the U.S. That Are a Total Nightmare to Live In (or Visit)
![young pretty woman looking shocked, angry, annoyed or disappointed, open mouthed and furious](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/shocked-woman-scam.jpg)
Looking to relocate? Here are 12 cities in the US where you might want to avoid setting up roots. These cities are plagued by problems like high crime rates, poor infrastructure, and a lack of affordable housing. Read here.
15 Things We All Need to Stop Buying. It’s Total Waste Of Money
![A beautiful young Caucasian woman with her hand in her hair.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/confused-woman-close.jpg)
To save money, reduce clutter, and help the environment, here are 15 things we can all stop buying.
15 “Non-Religious” Cults That Almost Feel Religious. Are You Guilty Of Being A Part Of Any?
![Photo crazy astonished guy see incredible vacation sales discounts impressed, raise modern bright specs wear white clothes isolated over blue color background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/unbelievable-1.jpg)
So many fads are turning into some “divine” stuff people follow with an “almost religious” devotion. Here are 15 non-religious cults that feel like religious ones.
15 Physical Traits That Might Make You Less Dateable
![Close up photo beautiful her she lady unexpected epic fail arms hands fingers near mouth bite teeth eyes full fear oh no expression wear casual white t-shirt clothes isolated violet purple background.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/oh-no.jpg)
Physical attraction is an essential factor in many romantic relationships. However, it’s important to remember that everyone has different preferences. Read here.
The Exodus: Why People Are Leaving Religion in Droves
![Surprised and impressed brunette girl looking amazed and pointing fingers down.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/shocked-young-woman.jpg)
Religion is a personal and complex topic, and there are many reasons why someone might turn their back on it. Read why people are leaving religion.
This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.