Editorial: Why People Buy Expensive Goods
November 21, 2016
In today’s society, people have widespread availability of all kinds of goods. Despite all of the high quality products, many people prefer the more expensive versions of the them. Branded products like Apple, Rolex, and Coach are overpriced and irreplaceable if damaged. Buying expensive products give people a place in society. People have long been placed in ranks that go by upper, middle, and lower classes. Buying an overly priced item gives people an opportunity to flaunt their wealth and show off their success. People overlay themselves with gold to boost their self-esteem and confidence.
Society has taught us that non-luxury products are inferior. People seem to ignore the disadvantages of expensive products, but are so quick to point out the bad in low priced goods. A Macbook Pro can be up to the cost of $2,000. MacBooks are fragile and delicate. The tiniest drop of water can ruin the entire laptop. The repair price for a macbook pro is about $300. With the price of $300 you can buy a new HP Stream laptop and have enough leftover money to buy 2 RCA Voyager tablets. Macbooks are impressive laptops by Apple, but the price is unjust. There are many great priced laptops worth half the price of a Macbook which work just as well. Laptops like HP and Samsung are well made laptops with an agreeable price. When it comes to graphics, battery life, and storage, there are many other laptops that can compare with Macbook’s quality. Despite the expensive cost of Macbooks, people still prefer these laptops because of its familiarity.
Another apple product with an unjust price is the iphone. iphones are the world’s most popular phone, but also one of the most expensive. Each year, Apple releases a new iphone with many “different” features. Recently, Apple has released the iphone 7 and the iphone 7 plus with 4.7” retina display and a 12MP wide camera. The cost of both iphones is $649. Apple is making a lot of money from the drawbacks of the iphones. Iphone screens are very fragile. The biggest concern with iphones is the easily cracked screens. The repair price for an iphone screen at the apple store is $120 and the cost of screen protectors are $30. Plus the price of an iphone case that has a price range from $5-$30. Other problems people are concerned with iphones is the camera quality, audio jack, and charger jack. Apple never seem to fix these main problems because it aids the company gain money. There are a lot of good quality and sturdy built phones like the Samsung Galaxy J7 and LG K10 for much of a lesser price than the Iihones.
In October of 2016, Khloe Kardashian launched her inclusive denim line called Good American. The jeans come in three fits: Good crop (Cropped skinny jeans), Good Cuts (boyfriend jeans) and Good Legs (regular skinnies). The sizes ranges from 0-24 with the price that goes from $149-$215. A better and cheaper alternative is Levi or H&M jeans for $30. Khloe Kardashian’s denim line is for women in all shapes and sizes. The price of the jeans is on the high-end and most women would not be able to afford them. Fashion Nova is a brand that sells jeans that has a perfect fit for all women sizes. The fabric of the jeans never wears out or over stretches. It is also an agreeable price of $35 and has a variety of sizes for women. People thrive to buy Khloe Kardashian’s jeans but cannot afford them. Advertisements from celebrities are more persuasive and makes customers buy the products to fit in the upper class of society.
Most people nowadays use expensive products as an accessory. In the early 2000s, people use to leave the price tags off of clothes, shoes, and other products to boast their wealth. Now people wear gold chains, grillz, or watches. A popular and expensive watch people would wear to flaunt their fortune is the Rolex. Today, most people rarely wear watches, they mostly use it as an accessory rather than a tool to tell time. People look at their phones or digital clocks to tell time. Rolex are highly priced watches because of the expensive stainless steel and its handmade design. The price of these watches rage from $3,000 to $130,000. A nonessential watch is the Apple Watch. People who buy the Apple Watch most likely own an iphone. The Apple Watch is a miniature iphone on your wrist. People can call, text, and use apps just like an iphone. The Apple Watch does not have any interesting uses beyond telling time.
A Popular accessory for women to flaunt their wealth is purses. Most women buy expensive purses because it is known as automatically great quality. Purses like Gucci, Burberry, and Michael Kors are not for storing needs, but used as a fashion statement. The average designer purse can range from $100 to $1000. Brands like Steve Madden and L.L Bean are half the price of designer purses with great condition.
There is no need to buy expensive products other than to show off wealth or make a fashion statement. No matter how good a bargain can be, people will prefer the well-known brand rather than the other brand with a lower price. Lower price brands with excellent quality can save a lot of money.
COURTNEY ANGUS • Dec 12, 2016 at 8:51 pm
Just because the article doesnt relate to you does not mean it does not relate to other people like me. It does not show her lack of understanding in technology but emphasizes the problem most people have when buying a more expensive brand just because society says expensive is better. There are different reasons on why people go for the more expensive brand. It just depends on the person’s preference. Most people go with what society says while others say cheap is not overall too bad. “Misleading” you mention is being taking out of context. It’s simply a preference, not everyone will have the same opinion Technology Guy.
John Smith • Dec 1, 2016 at 3:04 pm
The points you make in your article show your fundamental lack of understanding of how technology works. Apples prices are more expensive because they have better build qualities. If you buy an HP, Dell, or any other manufacturers computer, have fun trying to get support for it. With an Apple computer you can walk into the Apple store and get it fixed or get help with software.
Not all the time, but normally when you spend more money you get better quality products. Also, there are multiple mistakes in your pricing of products.
“The cost of both iPhones is $649.” This is incorrect because the cost of the larger phone is $749. You also do not include the subsidies that two year contracts provide on all major carriers. That can bring an iPhone price down to $200.
Also do not forget that 3 out of the 4 major carriers offered free iPhone upgrades to people with older iPhones that were willing to trade them in.
Your statement is misleading.
You also state that: “The repair price for an iPhone screen at the apple store is $120 and the cost of screen protectors are $30.”
While this is not entirely incorrect, it is extremely misleading. Most insurances now cover the cost of a screen repair or most of the cost. And most people who buy a $650 phone buy insurance through the carriers or through Apple.
“There is no need to buy expensive products other than to show off wealth or make a fashion statement. No matter how good a bargain can be, people will prefer the well-known brand rather than the other brand with a lower price. Lower price brands with excellent quality can save a lot of money.”
This just is flat out false! People buy more expensive goods because they are usually better than less expensive goods. Not because of some sense of self worth they are trying to fulfill.
I am not familiar with the fashion world but i am with technology. Your hypothesis may be correct when it comes to fashion but it is false when it comes to technology. I implore you to do more research and understand technology and the way that it works. There are many intricate details that have been overlooked or oversimplified by this view of the world.