Is 'expensive = good' for you when you make purchases?
By harryds
@harryds (48)
India
July 24, 2010 8:11pm CST
Researchers have found that people usually rely on stereotypes like "expensive = good" rule when they purchase things. Inexpensive items are often considered as inferior. Robert Cialdini's book Influence - Science and Practice gives us a lot of examples for that. I too often rely on such "expensive = good" rule when I make purchases.
Relying on such stereotypes will make our effort much easier. But it is often misused by sellers by increasing the price to make us believe that it is good. Have you ever watched your dependence on such stereotypes or do you never rely on such rules while you make purchases?
3 responses
@iceamber (68)
• United States
25 Jul 10
Oh dear, I usually look at the price first. I'm the type of person to buy based on price. But I ONLY buy something if I really like it, AND if it's a good/low price for it. Cheaper items are sometimes as good as the expensive items. It's amazing how much money people will throw onto the counter to be fashionable when they can go to a cheaper store and buy the same item/something similar to it for up to half the price!!!
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
25 Jul 10
No, I don't think expensive automatically means better. You need to check the quality, since you are sometimes just paying for the brand itself. But I agree that a lot of people think this way, I just don't myself.
@harryds (48)
• India
26 Jul 10
That's really great puccagirl! You need to be conscious about the pitfalls that can happen while you buy things because marketing experts are making use of the automatic behavior patterns of human beings. This automatic behavior patterns are some of effective techniques for our survival on earth.
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
25 Jul 10
thats true alot of the time when buying things ,but i've found some things that i buy are just as good if not better at a more affordable price. i've found some very trustworthy companies online that are more affordable to buy from. a companies integrity should not just be determined by price.
