Group 1 - The concept of "loyalty penalty" suggests that long-term customers often end up paying more rather than receiving benefits [1][5] - Companies across various sectors, including groceries, internet, and cell phone services, are increasing prices over time, capitalizing on consumer loyalty [2][3] - Airlines exemplify this trend, where loyalty perks have diminished, making it unclear what consumers are saving their points for [4][5] Group 2 - The practice of increasing rates for existing customers is prevalent in industries like self-storage and telecommunications, with companies like Verizon discontinuing loyalty discounts for long-time customers [5] - Marketing experts indicate that consumers face "coerced loyalty," as companies create barriers to prevent switching to competitors [6]