Going to the Source
The wide diversity of reasons people have for buying one product rather than
another are investigated by advertising people. They do not have the slightest 
qualm about questioning the consumer about personal things in her own domicile.
The consumer is requested not to expurgate her answers. Generally, people are 
not reticent and do not begrudge giving the time and effort. The questions delve
rather deeply, and what the artless responses divulge will help the advertiser 
to decide what to put into his next commercial. After a large number of 
interviews, the copious results make it feasible to prognosticate how well the 
commercial will do. The interviewer often offers no gratuity to the person who
has helped, but a sample of the product is proffered as thanks.


to make the best of a bad bargain--to change or go along with a poor situation.
After he bought the white elephant, he make the best of a bad bargain and let
sleeping dog lie.