Discussion Forums > Technology
Just need to understand how Westeners buy things
lapa321:
So ultimately, your buying habits came about because of population density. That's a reasonable explanation i guess.
As for the hype... well, what came out of it is a phone that costs well under $200.00 to make that's being sold for $1,000.00. That's not gonna fly over here. It does show that you can get a very high quality (by your standards) device for $200.00.
I'll have to agree that those *fake* devices are gonna be hard to sell if the government were strict on the patents (All those features were probably based off existing technology that was copied). But you'd be surprised at the quality. My first MP5 player was crap, it's cheap plastic and the inside was held together by a birds nest of wires and hot glue. However, a year later when i got my next player, after struggling to get it out of the steel casing (I got curious), the new one was one solid circuitboard with the LCD built into it and the build quality was on par with a PC motherboard. It was faster, can play more formats, and it was about the same price as the first one.
sdedalus83:
--- Quote from: lapa321 on April 13, 2010, 02:32:44 PM ---As for the hype... well, what came out of it is a phone that costs well under $200.00 to make that's being sold for $1,000.00. That's not gonna fly over here. It does show that you can get a very high quality (by your standards) device for $200.00.
--- End quote ---
Most American iPhone owners paid between $100 and $300 for their phone. Yeah, the real cost of the phone is built into the contract but what the customer sees is the $100 to $300 initial price tag. Very, very few Americans are willing to spend more than $300 on any phone.
mgz:
--- Quote from: sdedalus83 on April 13, 2010, 03:45:04 PM ---
--- Quote from: lapa321 on April 13, 2010, 02:32:44 PM ---As for the hype... well, what came out of it is a phone that costs well under $200.00 to make that's being sold for $1,000.00. That's not gonna fly over here. It does show that you can get a very high quality (by your standards) device for $200.00.
--- End quote ---
Most American iPhone owners paid between $100 and $300 for their phone. Yeah, the real cost of the phone is built into the contract but what the customer sees is the $100 to $300 initial price tag. Very, very few Americans are willing to spend more than $300 on any phone.
--- End quote ---
otherwise htc would be RICH
Spanks:
--- Quote from: sdedalus83 on April 13, 2010, 03:45:04 PM ---
--- Quote from: lapa321 on April 13, 2010, 02:32:44 PM ---As for the hype... well, what came out of it is a phone that costs well under $200.00 to make that's being sold for $1,000.00. That's not gonna fly over here. It does show that you can get a very high quality (by your standards) device for $200.00.
--- End quote ---
Most American iPhone owners paid between $100 and $300 for their phone. Yeah, the real cost of the phone is built into the contract but what the customer sees is the $100 to $300 initial price tag. Very, very few Americans are willing to spend more than $300 on any phone.
--- End quote ---
Most iPhones or any other smart phone over here costs less then $100 upfront(most are nothing) but you get stuck on a $80-$160 months plan for 12-24 months(around $1000-$3400) all up. A complete waste of money for a uni student like me.
fohfoh:
--- Quote from: lapa321 on April 13, 2010, 02:32:44 PM ---So ultimately, your buying habits came about because of population density. That's a reasonable explanation i guess.
As for the hype... well, what came out of it is a phone that costs well under $200.00 to make that's being sold for $1,000.00. That's not gonna fly over here. It does show that you can get a very high quality (by your standards) device for $200.00.
I'll have to agree that those *fake* devices are gonna be hard to sell if the government were strict on the patents (All those features were probably based off existing technology that was copied). But you'd be surprised at the quality. My first MP5 player was crap, it's cheap plastic and the inside was held together by a birds nest of wires and hot glue. However, a year later when i got my next player, after struggling to get it out of the steel casing (I got curious), the new one was one solid circuitboard with the LCD built into it and the build quality was on par with a PC motherboard. It was faster, can play more formats, and it was about the same price as the first one.
--- End quote ---
Err... more like...
Social norms
Availability
Interests
willingness to wait/willingness to invest time researching
Price/Marketing
I mean for instance, if I want an Apple product, I'll hop along to my nearest bestbuy/apple store to get one. Online? rare, but doable.
But if I want a Cowon, even if it was at best buy atm, I personally would go online and grab all sorts of other things with it that I can use together. (ie: pair of headphones, memory cards if necessary, case, etc.) AND, I would compare prices and product types.
I think to a certain extent, you want something you get that thing. You want product, you figure it out. In your case lapas, you want pmp, you look for pmp. In North America, for many thanks to the magic of marketing, you want music, you buy iPod or similar device. Also, thanks to stupid people and credit cards... you want something, you GET that shit and don't consider what to do till later. Wheras in Asia, it's more... cash basis in general.
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