Thursday, April 26, 2012

Is Status For The Smart Or Stupid?

 

Most people are pegged on the predictable and reassuring.

It's not that they hate. It's that they are comfortable in their world and prefer familiar borders over new horizons.

Our human mind may have gradually evolved to a higher state of being and capability when it comes to complex problem solving and reasoning.  But it acts not too differently from other simpler life forms when it comes to the 'daily routine'. It takes pleasure in re-mastering the known… and avoiding the unknown.

Fear, familiar pleasures and adrenal driven instincts are reflected in the vast conformity and commonness of what we buy.

Do our choices eventually come about because certain products are truly better than others? Not at all. We're slaves to the marketing of 'great', and the mental satisfaction that comes with accessing 'good enough'. Any product, service or person that simply does what is promised, and nothing more, will almost always win out over an unknown that has neither the name, nor the societal track record.


Am I wrong?

Well consider the strong footing of legendary models throughout the decades. Model T, Model A, Corvette, Impala, Eldorado, Cutlass Supreme, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes S-Class, Camry, Civic, Corolla.

All of these models dominated their respective market segments well after they no longer delivered a best in class experience. Good enough is not only a name when it comes to consumer behavior. It's a religion as old as the Greek toga and the Indian medicine man.

So given the conservatism of 'The Human Ape', entry level luxury should be one of the hardest markets to crack for any newcomer.

Buying the status' of betterment is what counts for the majority of auto enthusiasts. Regardless of whether the car they buy is truly better or not. I have experienced countless conversations over the years with car buyers that start with, "What else do you think I should consider?" and end with, "Yeah, but I think I'm gonna just stick with my first choice."

Better product? Doesn't matter.

Thrift store shoppers will often look for designer labels to look rich. Even if the poor clothes are in tatters. Poor people still want to buy older European luxury cars that make them look rich, but keep them in the poorhouse. Even the aspiring and over-educated Yuppies among us will usually buy the status symbol that keeps them in debt. Instead of embracing the affluence that comes with keeping the common car and the beater.

New cars are just a small symptom of the bigger truth. Status sells. But should it?

That's the question for today, "Should the status of a car be considered when buying it?

 



from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com




ifttt puts the internet to work for you. via task 680102

No comments:

Post a Comment

Archive