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The cost of being a loyal consumer

The shopper-brand relationship has always relied on loyalty. But gone are the days of free upgrades or special discounts — now, longtime consumers often get higher prices.

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"The question is, 'How loyal am I?'" said Emily Stewart at Business Insider. "Is it just that it is too annoying to switch banks, or in the case of my internet company, do I have any other options?"
"The question is, 'How loyal am I?'" said Emily Stewart at Business Insider. "Is it just that it is too annoying to switch banks, or in the case of my internet company, do I have any other options?"
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Brands used to crave customer loyalty. They threw perks like free baggage to repeat airline passengers, along with free upgrades or even bigger discounts. All of it to buy loyalty. But increasingly, sticking with a brand doesn’t come with the payoff it once did.

Emily Stewart recently wrote about the changing dynamics of the brand-customer relationship for Business Insider. She said that the longer a consumer sticks around, more often than not, they pay higher prices.

“Car insurance will start to get more expensive regardless of your driving record,” said Stewart. “Do I really want to go and compare quotes and switch? You should, because otherwise you are paying a loyalty penalty.”

“Marketplace” host Kimberly Adams spoke with Stewart about the article and how consumers may pay a price for their loyalty.

To hear their full conversation, click the audio player above.

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