Want the public to like your product better? Raise the price.
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They asked 20 people to sample wine while undergoing functional MRI’s of their brain activity. The subjects were told they were tasting five different Cabernet Sauvignons sold at different prices. However, there were actually only three wines sampled, two being offered twice, marked with different prices. A $90 wine was provided marked with its real price and again marked $10, while another was presented at its real price of $5 and also marked $45.
The testers’ brains showed more pleasure at the higher price than the lower one, even for the same wine, Rangel reports in this week’s online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In other words, changes in the price of the wine changed the actual pleasure experienced by the drinkers, the researchers reported. “Our results suggest that the brain might compute experienced pleasantness in a much more sophisticated manner that involves integrating the actual sensory properties of the substance being consumed with the expectations about how good it should be,” they reported.
I have often wondered about the psychological affect price has on perception. Studies have been done on bottled water vs. tap water, and there does seem to be some validity to this. Except when it comes to my brand of bourbon, in which case, I cannot be fooled.
Years ago, when IBM introduced the Selectric typewriter, replacement parts were reasonably priced, initially. For example, the font ball was something like $1.98. Perceived as cheap, sales of the typewriter were uninspiring at first. Then the company raised prices for the machine and its parts, and sales took off. Exact same machine and parts, but now it was perceived as being of better quality. People are indeed stupid. Very few are even capable of perceiving the inverse relationship between laws and freedom. It’s amusing and discouraging at the same time.
Apple has been doing this for years. 😉
‘Turtle Wax’ is a case study for this as well.
Cheers
>>> After 3 hours, some nice crackers and cheese, and one visit by the cops, the winner turned out to be the left-over jug the ladies poured all the partials into.
Holy smokes, that sounds disgusting! Were you guys just all snockered?
An vineyard owner in Italy told me that she was required by the government to sell her once-pressed grapes to a program that squeezes them a second time and sells the wine cheap. I’m guessing THAT’S what you are drinking when you get house wine by the glass in Italy. I have to say, that’s about the most fun drinking wine I’ve ever had.
So, yes, many fine wines are actually blends although oftgen of the same grape. For awhile now, my favorite is the Sangiovese (sp?) grape which is usually atleast 70% of the Chianti wines.
I’m very fond of Chianti myself — mostly because the cheap versions can taste great. For instance, I like the Franzia Chianti you can get in jugs and boxes.
What’s the word?
Thunderbird!
What’s the reason?
Grapes in season!
What’s the price?
A buck… twice!
(it used to be thirty twice, but inflation, you know)
One of the reasons I make my own fermented beverages is that I can control the quality, as well as the price, without skimping.
5 gallons of ale cost me about $25. That’s for great ale, which I designed, and made.
Yes there is an initial investment of equipment, and consumables, but it is minimal ($100)
Wine ‘kits’ these days are wonderful, if you like wine. You can make about 6 gallons of wine for around $50 (for a chianti) to $100 (for an ice wine), depending on the variety. That’s just shy of 23 litres. A bit more of an investment than making ale, and more consumables (corks are more expensive than bottle tops), but all in all excellent quality.
Not to mention, how cool is it, when you go to a party or something, and the wine bottle label has YOUR name on it?!
I like to make hard cider, which is extremely inexpensive to make, and, if done correctly, tastes wonderful.
I love my home made mead (honeywine) which is quite a bit more expensive, with the price of honey gone through the roof, but it is worth it.
Than, my absolute favorite fermented beverage is cyser. This is a mead which is made with apple cider instead of water. Here in the Apple Country of New York, we have quite a variety of apples to make cider from, and the addition of local wildflower honey, makes for a drink that is truly a gift from the gods. I make my cyser once a year, about ten gallons around Thanksgiving. It is ready about a year later, after it has been thoroughly fermented, and is tastier and tastier every year. People love it, and I give it away to special people on my list around Christmas time.
I probably will not buy a fermented beverage, being that I have found the skill and art of making my own. It’s fun, and fulfilling, and gets you invited to many parties, if it’s good! 😉
#33–We were feeling happy, not safe to drive, but not “that” drunk. I recommend you do your own beer tasting event and report back?
I think when something has a strong taste that some will like and not like it. When you mix many together, the objectionable gets watered down and the more neutral beer becomes the winner?
When drinking cheap wine overseas==I recommend switching to white wine. Its clear and you can see whats in there before taking a swig. Not needed for sealed bottles, but by cheap==I mean they fill the bottle from a barrel in the kitchen.
This kind of testing has been done before: Same wine in differnt bottles !!! Leads the Oenophile to WHINING !!!
A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted !!!
No question that certain types of wine and almost all kinds of beer can be made at home for relatively little cost (not counting time). Specifically, my experience with home winemakers is that a good white wine can be made by most amateur winemakers. However, reds are a different matter. Of the half dozen or so homemade red wines I have tasted by four different winemakers, none would have even been good enough for my salad much less my wine glass. Reds are just tougher to make without serious dedication and discipline.
#29, TH,
I hope those are new bags. I can’t speak for everyone else but for me beer and old bags don’t mix. Especially if I’m taking that old bag home.
My wine of choice is usually Chianti. I like those from Italy best, even the cheap ones.
My Grandfather (Mom’s Dad) used to make his own **daygo red** as he called it. It was homemade chianti and everyone said it was great. I have no idea what kind of grapes he used as this was in western Pennsylvania. Later, when he moved to Phoenix, he used the wine grapes that are grown there and I can testify the chianti was as good or better than anything bought.
I used to love his wine and he also made homemade Italian sausage’s….really outstanding. He drank Rye whiskey and I would get slipped a shot or two of that when he was feeling good.
My Dad drinks Martin Mills, but he says it’s very hard to get, he gets a standing order of 2 cases a year. It’s 24 y/o, 101 proof.
Joshua said, >>
My wine of choice is usually Chianti. I like those from Italy best, even the cheap ones.
I agree about cheap Chianti but I’ll add that I’ve found some good American ones, too.
#39 Mister Catshit – “…for me beer and old bags don’t mix.”
Not unless you drink enough beer. 😉
Why else did God invent beer? Maybe thats why really hot looking girls don’t get sloshed… 🙁
Ever think how difficult it would be to get a six pack of beer bags home in a car? How about even drinking the beer? Just bite off a corner and let it rip!
Cheers