Just Because You Pay More for Something Doesn’t Mean That It’s Better
Quality and Higher Price Aren’t Necessarily Interchangeable
Spending More Doesn’t Guarantee Better
Do you ever think that just because you spend a fortune on a new car, house, phone, or technology that you have one of the top of the line items on the market? You’re probably not the only one thinking this. Millions of people every year feel like they have to pay top dollar to get the best quality items. There are many examples in modern-day society where paying the most doesn’t guarantee the best quality items.
Crappy Apple
I’ll give you an example. Say you want a new smartphone. You see an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max with 1TB of memory and a shiny gold veneer. You see a price tag of $1,599.00 or $66.62 per month on a carrier with a 24-month payment plan before tax.
You’re spending over $1,700 after tax in most states in America to get a phone that will last you a maximum of 5 years because that’s how long it’ll receive Apple’s updates. You are so proud of yourself because you just bought the most expensive phone you could on one of the world’s recognizable brands.
Ask Yourself Why
What do you actually think is so special that your phone will be able to do over a phone that is half or even less of the price and will be in a case all of the time anyway? All smartphones can make calls. All have data capabilities these days. You can access all of the same social media from any phone. The only thing you’re getting in this case when you pay the premium price tag is the brand name and the extra storage which you probably won’t need anyway.
Organic Food Joke
Another example of paying more for items that are not much different at a lower price is organic food. The FDA’s regulation of the labeling of organic food is so loosely defined that anything can receive an organic label if marketed correctly. It seems so trendy these days to have produce, dairy, and meat all labeled organic.
I’ve always tried to wrap my head around the difference between spinach and “organic” spinach. Isn’t anything grown in the ground or farmed for consumption an organic product? Organic is being overused to sell the psychology of high-minded consumption to oblivious consumers.
So Proud of You…
It’s great that you, Karen, only shop at Whole Foods and only buy gluten-free, organic flour and seeds, well done, you’re so environmentally conscious. Gag me with a spoon. You’re spending nearly 50% more on products that you can get just the same if you just bought the stuff that doesn’t have the special labels on it.
Just because something is organic, it doesn’t mean it’s healthier. Many snacks these days are being marketed as organic and they contain just as much if not more bad ingredients than the non-organic products.
There’s Psychology Behind the Marketing
This psychology of marketing to convince consumers these days that the brand names and higher-priced products are better than their cheaper counterparts is a ploy to earn more profit. Consumers who engage and consume in such a way without doing proper research beforehand are contributing to these company’s ideas that they can keep raising the price of everything as long as the demand for these items is still there.
Gently Remove Yourself from that Tall Horse Over There
This doesn’t benefit anyone but the people who already have the money. It really is difficult to sort through the clutter in today’s society and actually take the time to research products because of all of the sponsored content and paid advertising that is out there muddying the waters and confusing people even further. I don’t blame the consumer for this. I just implore people to second guess or think longer when they decide to pay a higher-priced, high ticket item whether or not they actually need it or if it’s worth it.
Not Just About You
The trickle effect from this affects all of us. This isn’t just about your own personal preferences and decisions. Sure, it looks nice, and it costs a lot. You can even flex your new stuff on Instagram after you buy it to show off how much better you think you are.
Not A Billionaire
At the end of the day, just know, we’re all looking at you with contempt. Just be smarter, please. I don’t want to hear about how you think you’re going to be the next billionaire, all you’re doing is making more of them.
