GAS Explanation?

[marnold]

I wonder if this study (http://www.news.com/8301-13580_3-9849949-39.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1023_3-0-5) helps explain why really expensive gear sounds better than cheaper stuff. Obviously there's a lot of things that go into a higher price (better quality electronics/wood, attention to detail, small numbers vs. mass produced). Thus you can't reverse the logic and say that a $100 guitar is in every way the equal of a $10,000 guitar. The question is, how much of the "better" is because of truly better components/construction and how much of it is "It must be better because it costs so much!"

At a recent pastors' conference it was suggested that we start charging for Bible Class. The logic was that if you give it away for free people associate "free" with "no value." There may be something to that. Having said that, I haven't started charging yet.

[Adrian30]

Well, it makes sense! It doesn't surprise me at all. Just think about the prices of designer brands of clothing and the "prestige" that coms with the designer's name. Probably in many instances, the same sweat-shop makes much lower priced, but otherwise same product.:eek:

[tot_Ou_tard]

Now I think that The Fret sucks!

Robert, if you don't charge a monthly fee, then I'll take my posts elsewhere.

*ducking*


That's the way we all are. It isn't about reality it's about perception. Time to go home & rethink *ALL* you beliefs, feelings, & certainties. They're *ALL* wrong.

Enjoy :rotflmao:.

[just strum]

The logic was that if you give it away for free people associate "free" with "no value."

I also think that one also gets a greater sense of ownership. If it's free, it's no loss if it's taken away. Or you will take better care of something that you had to work and pay for. I take better care of my more expensive guitars, although none of them are mistreated and none can be considered expensive.

Here's an example: My son and two of his buddies went to high school together and all enrolled in the same college. My son's two friends graduated from HS with better grades and ranking. The two received some scholarship money and their parents are paying the rest. My son is paying for 2/3 of his. First semester, both his friends failed classes, my son received B's and one C. I think he understands the value because he's working for his education and you can apply that to almost anything.

It's not actually the money that gives it value, it's the work you did for the money that then provides the value.

Now, just how much are Bible classes?

[Fat Strings]

For whatever relevance this has......I work for a national textiles company that makes bedding (comforters/pillows ect.) Anyway, we have a lot of products that sell for up to 5x's more just because of the major brand name associated with it. If we remove the tag that says that name, (same materials, fill, packaging) this product becomes cheaper, but at the same "quality" of the brand name.......I love commercialism!

FS

[just strum]

FS,

I think we would all be surprised at the number of products that fall in that same category. I know VCR's were that way and DVD players are probably that way now.

[Fat Strings]

..............very true...........sad, but true...........

FS

[oldguy]

Here's an example... tell me if I'm wrong.

http://www.dolphinstreet.com/video_clips/video-33.php

A pastor that fires me up to change the world is invaluable. No matter what the charge to counsel me.
A teacher that shows me I can make a difference is priceless, no matter what pay scale is prevalent.
Workmanship and materials are important, to be sure.However...
The difference lies in dedication. One person dedicated to a goal is rare.

[bigoldron]

At a recent pastors' conference it was suggested that we start charging for Bible Class. The logic was that if you give it away for free people associate "free" with "no value." There may be something to that. Having said that, I haven't started charging yet.

Well, in good Baptistical fashion, and I quote: "We've never done it that way before!" :poke:

[duhvoodooman]

At a recent pastors' conference it was suggested that we start charging for Bible Class. The logic was that if you give it away for free people associate "free" with "no value." There may be something to that. Having said that, I haven't started charging yet.
Maybe you should. To wit:


I'm sure your bible classes are better than 99% of what's on cable TV, and people pay for that.
Water comes out of the tap for free, but people still buy it in the grocery store in bottles. Unless you happen to have really lousy tap water, this behavior continues to mystify me.
Might be a good way to fund that $10,000 guitar you mentioned....

[marnold]

Well, in good Baptistical fashion, and I quote: "We've never done it that way before!" :poke:
Heh. Reminds me of an old joke about us WELS Lutherans too:

Q: How many WELS Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: CHANGE?!?

[Bloozcat]

On the other hand, how many here look for and appreciate value in things rather than just accepting the notion that to be good, a product must have a brand name or a high price?

How many Agile owners are there here? Why did you buy the Agile over a Gibson? Because it was cheap junk, or because it was a great value? How about the Epi Valve Jr. owners? The list goes on and on if you think about it. Some of the most cherished things I own are those that I felt I got a good deal on.

When I read the test subject about the wine in the link above, I laughed. I laughed because I've had expensive wines that weren't nearly as good as others that cost far less...and I wasn't afraid to say so. I can think of several wineries that are living off their name and not their quality.

I don't know, maybe it's because I was raised by depression era parents that I've never really taken anything I had for granted. It was instilled in me from an early age. I can't believe though, that I'm the only one like this out there. I don't dispute the results of the study because I see the same result in many people I know. Interestingly though, they are often the same people who never seem to have any money, nor anything of appreciable value. Coincidence?

I joke about GAS and buying "stuff", but I'm firmly grounded in reality. My GAS ranks way down the list of priorities in my life, and never comes at the expense of any of our life's goals. I'm just blessed to have some discressionary income to play with...and even then I'm very discriminate in how I spend it.

BTW: None of the church sermons I hear are ever "free". Between the monetary offerings and the time I volunteer to the church, there is reciprosity...as it should be. As a Methodist though, I feel ya on the change thing...;)

[Brian Krashpad]

Heh. Reminds me of an old joke about us WELS Lutherans too:

Q: How many WELS Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: CHANGE?!?

Haha, when you're the most conservative out of a group of Lutherans, that's saying something (Missouri Synod here)!

[luvmyshiner]

Interesting thread. I've mentioned elsewhere that I spent four years working for legal aid, which is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services for people whose income falls below the poverty level. When I went into private practice and began charging people for legal services, I immediately noticed an increase in the level of appreciation and respect that I received from my clients.

[sunvalleylaw]

Interesting thread. I've mentioned elsewhere that I spent four years working for legal aid, which is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services for people whose income falls below the poverty level. When I went into private practice and began charging people for legal services, I immediately noticed an increase in the level of appreciation and respect that I received from my clients.

I was thinking of that reference we made to each other in another thread when I was reading this thread. I can relate as a former public defender. Not all people were that way, but some were. And the interesting thing was the PD's here are all folks with private practices that simply contract to do some of the PD work. So it is the same lawyer whether you can afford to pay or not. And people still could be that way. Interesting, but true.