TheByte

Alfie

Alot of people complain about others being brand fixated and bla bla bla. You know the story. And I gave this phenomenon a thought and came up with this, mostly clothing wise but it goes for pretty much everything.

It's quite simple, I love myself! And if I am to buy myself something, why would I want to treat myself with anything but the best, do I deserve less? No, in my mind I don't.
It has happened some times that I've entered a store that I've never been in and seen the low prices and went straight back out without even having taken a good look at the clothes.
As said, I like to treat myself with the best, or at least expensive stuff. Would you be stingy towards someone you hold dear? I bet not and that's why I am the way I am about myself and alot of other people about themselves too, I think.
And the same goes with cars. Even if a KIA was as good and good looking as a BMW I would still buy the BMW. It's all about giving yourself a treat.

I realised that that's the story with me. And then there's probobly those who just want to show off what they can afford.

Bruce

I get what you're saying Christian.

Come to think of it, I don't think there's anything wrong with brand fixation, or brand bias - whatever you wish to call it. If you get satisfaction from a certain product, why wouldn't you go back to the same manufacturer to get that particular thrill?

So, as you said, it's all about treating yourself. And that truly is what it's about. You should buy what pleases you.

That said, everyone is obviously different in this particular respect. Though I admit to having a few brand fixations, if my favourite brand fails to meet my expectations I will look else where for "my" thrill.

Centurion

For me quality comes before everything. Don't care much for brand. I can see myself happily buying a Hublot watch even if Rolex, Breitling, AP and Rolex are much more known. I don't care to much about recognition since through out life it has come to my knowledge that most expensive and most famous doesn't always equal the best.

The Diva

Brand fixation is everywhere!

In general a better brand means more money but in return some brands give you products with desired attributes ; let it be quality, cut, fit ( in the case of clothes, shoes) ,prestige, style, speed, reliability, taste ( Think Ben and Jerry's vs Wal-mart brand ice cream...) etc.

We have our preferences and our budgets. If you can indulge in whatever it is that pleases you, whatever brans.. then GO FOR IT!

Incredibly, you will find brand fixation even in the intangible, take higher education: A Graduate from Harvard will always be considered better educated than a graduate from a State University, regardless of the actual skills learned.

BTW Zonda: the day KIA makes something at the par of BMW, the prestige (and the price) will skyrocket, and I would buy it to!

John

Agreed Zonda. In most cases its a safe bet to say that "You get what you pay for". Not surprisingly then, a lot of our favourite brands are those that deliver the quality and appeal we feel we're entitled to at greater expense.