How do we know a brand is good? What factors are pulling the threads of our brain and influencing our decision? Why are we influenced by the general perception of the population? How often are we driven by the perception of others. To what extent does the general belief of the population bias our perception and change our decision while choosing? Turns out more often than you knew. It is so commonly employed that, now in several enterprises it is more than just a core marketing tool. It affects us on a subconscious level and we are unknowingly left biased towards their brand. I would call this form of extortion as “Perception Fraud”. Allow me to quote a few examples which are camouflaged cases of this glorified fraud.
Why is the Royal Enfield bullet such a good bike? On paper its performance is mediocre and for the same amount there are a multitude of better options available. And yet, a large portion of the population are not only biased but are bent upon buying it. What drives this disproportionate drive of people to get prejudiced in this manner. The age-old perception of connecting the possession of a bullet with things like masculinity, prosperity and a rowdy image. This is the only rationalism propelling Royal Enfield, and deriving such elevated sales. It is the first reference that I quote, as it has not only biased but has overpowered the decision-making faculties of many. It is not a rare occurrence to find a poor person pooling money to buy a bullet. This kind of augmenting influence enforced on a certain class of people can be damaging to the society, and can be detrimental to the growth of the country.
Another such example, not as damaging as the one mentioned above is Starbucks, perceived as an affordable coffee shop, it might be so in several other countries but, it most certainly isn’t in India. Though it offers an exhaustive selection of coffees and small bites, nothing is tasty and for the price they charge it isn’t worth by any measure. The only good thing about Starbucksks is its flawless ambiance. Again, an expensive supplement for coffee.