So someone told me this week that one of the main reasons the Prius is the most popular Hybrid is because when you drive it, people know you are driving a hybrid. It has become a status symbol. The car is so distinctive that everyone knows it is a hybrid. Can you imagine buying an ugly car just so you can show your friends that you have gone green? I guess it really is true what Bill Crystal always used to say, “It is better to look good than to feel good.” Or in this case, it is better to show you are green than to just be green.
I am not sure if you have noticed, but Honda is now combating marketing dilemma in their new commercials. There is one with a dad and his teenage daughter and she asks him to drop her off a few blocks from the school because all the other parents are driving hybrids. He points out that his Honda is a hybrid and then the girl is happy.
I guess I really shouldn’t be that surprised by our superficial society. I mean I have witnessed for years that people will wear, carry or own something that looks ridiculous just to show that they are hip or important. I mean look at all the people who carry around a Coach bag. That Coach pattern has to be the ugliest pattern I have ever seen and yet people still pay a fortune for THAT bag. And if you are wondering which pattern I mean, I mean all of them. It would really not surprise me that some marketing genius came up with the whole idea. You know if we make things distinctive, even if they are ugly, we can market them as rare or hip or have to have and every wanna be idiot out there will buy it.
I have never understood the need to be trendy. Don’t get me wrong, anyone who knows me will tell you that I will spend any amount of money on something I really want. I just don’t buy something because the rest of the world thinks it is cool. For this reason I am likely to buy the Honda hybrid. Mainly because the Prius is one ugly car and I don’t really care if people see me in my Honda and don’t know I have gone green. I am more interested in saving our environment, well and driving by more gas stations without having to stop.
So do me a favor and the next time you are out shopping and you see that hip trendy item that everyone has, really look at it. Please decide for yourself whether you want it and don’t let the opinion of the masses make your decision for you. I mean really, have the masses made that many great decisions lately? Make your own decisions and stop falling prey to the marketing machine that is American capitalism.
5 comments:
I feel exactly the same about Gucci and Louis Vuitton! I think it is so tacky to have the logo emblazened all over the purse.
Also, The Limited used to put the tag on the OUTside of the garment, just under the neckline. At least they did when I was in high school and The Limited was a popular store. Everyone was a shopping billboard for them.
I was once in Garfinckels with my mom who was talking to another customer. The woman told my mom that she would get cheaper polo shirts and sew an old IZOD label in them and stitch on the alligator! My mom and I were flabbergasted that anyone would need that much brand validation, let alone take the time to do that.
I don't like the logo stamped all over everything either...you just become one of the masses that paid a mint for a bag that will be "last season" in a few months. You're right, the Prius is an ugly car...I haven't seen the Honda but it has to be better looking than the Prius.
I don't like to think of myself as trendy... but I love Crocs and Wellies!
Well I don't care what you drive... I think you're cool! Of course... that's not much coming from a dork like me. ;)
Saw a big purple half ton pick up truck with flames on the sides and in the back window... thought of you.
Maybe the reason why I couldn't get into all that American hype..is for the most part I cannot afford American hype. Or the fact I could picture using all that money to pay off loans.
I have to admit that I'm a Coach person but I really do like the pattern on some of their designs/colors. But if I didn't like it, then I woudldn't get it, no matter how trendy something may be. I would have to disagree with the marketing approach for Honda, as I can't imagine that high school kids really give one rat's ass about being green -- but they should approach it from the standpoint of being more fuel efficient as oil prices are climbing higher and higher.
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