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It's important to know that most people make this choice once in a lifetime. After that they'll buy the same product until they die. I'm pretty sure you'll buy

It's important to know that most people make this choice once in a lifetime. After that they'll buy the same product until they die. I'm pretty sure you'll buy Aquafresh from now on if you like it. So choice is difficult the first time but the next time it will be easy. That's the reason why it's important to advertise children as early as possible. Because once they decided on a product it's very hard to convince them of something better.

Angostura 11y ago
The point is that I've been buying toothpaste from Colgate pretty much for my entire life. The manufacturers attempt to segment the market just drove me away. And that segmentation ensures that it isn't just a once a lifetime choice. Each to time I look at the Colgate shelf I have to consider what is more important to me this week - the state of my gums or the likelihood of cavities.
- greeneggs 11y ago
  The manufacturers aren't trying to segment the market. They are trying to claim shelf space. (The amount of Colgate they sell is proportional to the shelf space the store offers them, which is proportional to the number of varieties they offer.) If Colgate had only one variety and Crest had ten varieties, then Crest would get that much more shelf space and vastly outsell Colgate. Grocery stores also like to offer their customers the illusion of choice, while dealing with as few distributors as possible. This simplifies their logistics. They would prefer to sell ten varieties of Colgate and Crest than ten separate brands of toothpaste. It gets ridiculous when you see half an aisle of Wheat Thins (original, whole wheat, low salt, spicy, plus the store clone brand of each of those). But I suppose the nice consequence is that small corner markets can have just as good a selection, effectively, as huge superstores.
aidenn0 11y ago
I wish... I'm only 35 and I've had to change deoderant 4 times due to my preferred brand and scent disappearing. Toothpaste is a bit better with it only having happened twice.
- Symbiote 11y ago
  My preferred brand of toothpaste is "the one on offer today". It's easy to find by the bright yellow price sticker. I take the same approach with many boring shopping choices.

Angostura 11y ago

The point is that I've been buying toothpaste from Colgate pretty much for my entire life. The manufacturers attempt to segment the market just drove me away. And that segmentation ensures that it isn't just a once a lifetime choice. Each to time I look at the Colgate shelf I have to consider what is more important to me this week - the state of my gums or the likelihood of cavities.

greeneggs 11y ago
The manufacturers aren't trying to segment the market. They are trying to claim shelf space. (The amount of Colgate they sell is proportional to the shelf space the store offers them, which is proportional to the number of varieties they offer.) If Colgate had only one variety and Crest had ten varieties, then Crest would get that much more shelf space and vastly outsell Colgate. Grocery stores also like to offer their customers the illusion of choice, while dealing with as few distributors as possible. This simplifies their logistics. They would prefer to sell ten varieties of Colgate and Crest than ten separate brands of toothpaste. It gets ridiculous when you see half an aisle of Wheat Thins (original, whole wheat, low salt, spicy, plus the store clone brand of each of those). But I suppose the nice consequence is that small corner markets can have just as good a selection, effectively, as huge superstores.

aidenn0 11y ago

I wish... I'm only 35 and I've had to change deoderant 4 times due to my preferred brand and scent disappearing. Toothpaste is a bit better with it only having happened twice.

Symbiote 11y ago
My preferred brand of toothpaste is "the one on offer today". It's easy to find by the bright yellow price sticker. I take the same approach with many boring shopping choices.