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Is it not possible for more expensive products to be better than their less expensive alternatives? I am not saying there is a causal relation here, and I agree

Is it not possible for more expensive products to be better than their less expensive alternatives? I am not saying there is a causal relation here, and I agree that to an extent Apple sometimes just throws out something mediocre (like this appears to be; I won't be buying this since it doesn't seem like a good value), but I think your statement is quite dismissive towards Apple as a whole and a bit snide toward users to claim they are only buying it for the status.

badestrand 6y ago
I think you should take that comment as "some people buy Apple just for status". Because yes, many buy it for the quality. But I also guess the headphones rather aim for the status-oriented crowd.
wpietri 6y ago
I don't think I said any of the things you are objecting to. My point wasn't that status goods are worse. A Louis Vuitton purse is objectively a good purse. But people don't buy a Louis Vuitton purse because they've done a careful study of purse quality and just happened to end up with an LV one. My point was that with status goods, it's hard to have an objective conversation about quality, because people invested in the status part of it generally won't talk about it in those terms. If you say, "Gosh, $3450 seems like a lot for a small bag," [1], they won't say, "Yes, but it makes me look important". They'll talk about how well made the bag is, how long it lasts, etc. They in effect become suddenly and specifically irrational. And if you push, they can get defensive. They might, for example, imagine you said a bunch of things you didn't actually say. Or accuse you of being dismissive and snide. [1] https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/bella-mahina-nvprod2410007v https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/bella-mahina-nvp...
- Siira 6y ago
  They don’t get “irrational”, they just lie. Most lies happen semi-subconsciously.
  - wpietri 6y ago
    I guess I say irrational here because it's not just that they say a false thing. It's that they have a lot of trouble understanding when you say a true thing, or try to reason about the topic.

badestrand 6y ago

I think you should take that comment as "some people buy Apple just for status". Because yes, many buy it for the quality. But I also guess the headphones rather aim for the status-oriented crowd.

wpietri 6y ago

I don't think I said any of the things you are objecting to. My point wasn't that status goods are worse. A Louis Vuitton purse is objectively a good purse. But people don't buy a Louis Vuitton purse because they've done a careful study of purse quality and just happened to end up with an LV one. My point was that with status goods, it's hard to have an objective conversation about quality, because people invested in the status part of it generally won't talk about it in those terms. If you say, "Gosh, $3450 seems like a lot for a small bag," [1], they won't say, "Yes, but it makes me look important". They'll talk about how well made the bag is, how long it lasts, etc. They in effect become suddenly and specifically irrational. And if you push, they can get defensive. They might, for example, imagine you said a bunch of things you didn't actually say. Or accuse you of being dismissive and snide. [1] https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/bella-mahina-nvprod2410007v https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/bella-mahina-nvp...

Siira 6y ago
They don’t get “irrational”, they just lie. Most lies happen semi-subconsciously.
- wpietri 6y ago
  I guess I say irrational here because it's not just that they say a false thing. It's that they have a lot of trouble understanding when you say a true thing, or try to reason about the topic.