1.   But Quebec consumers are increasingly annoyed by having to spread unappetizingly colored margarine on their bread.

2.   Retailers in this atmosphere become reluctant to raise prices, fearing that they will annoy consumers and lose business.

3.   Thus, for all but the most light-hearted products, to play up the millennium with a big short-term promotion would miss the point and perhaps even annoy consumers.

4.   Some consumers are so annoyed by the aggressive tactics that they say they will never buy from companies using them.