What brands do you associate with?
Brands once denoted iconised lifestyle – an out of reach aspiration for the middle class. Brand signified quality, exclusivity and a whopping price tag.
Gradually, the brand makers realized the necessity of a greater outreach. Outlets mushroomed. Products were tailored for a larger segment with procurement power. Soon brand adherence became a culture underpinning the purchase preference of the consumers.
The make, design, texture and look became brand identifiers. If you possessed one your neighbours were sure to have one (if not more) too.
We are all infected by the techno fever. We all hanker to be the trendsetter. We all suffer from an acute sense of deprivation constantly injected by advertisers.
Having said that, I do use a mix of brands and local makes. Many times I find the latter more cost effective, durable, handy and reliable.
Higher technology invariably ups the maintenance cost. In the race to be one step ahead brands are now enhancing products with multiple technologies which are not always in sync with the environmental conditions. The sales tactic is to brainwash the buyer to believe that without ‘the latest’ life is non-functional.
So what does brand abidance result in ? A quaint solidarity amongst shoppers who think, behave and act in the way they have been fed to expending more on a purchase whose redundancy is guaranteed sooner or later.
I buy things based of their utility and value for money.
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Good thought.
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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To be very honest I think twice before spending. I am not very brand conscious and use everything till they are threadbare.
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I wish I was more like you. I use my pocket money to buy things for myself but if I buy 2 suits, I give away 2 older ones. I’m not brand conscious now as it is not good value for our money.
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I strongly believe you should give away something if you buy anything for yourself. I do the same. We have a ritual of giving gifts during Diwali. I give gifts to our house helps in acknowledgement of their services rendered throughout the year.
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Very right. We also give clothes on Eid. It’s just fair, and not a favor on them! I consider them a part of the family.
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I agree with your point of view.
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I admire this perspective—choosing utility over brands really shows wisdom and practicality.
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