Why is Apple a status symbol?

[matttye]

People are still lining up to buy the iPhone.

I haven't seen a line for an Android phone last longer than a day. In the end nothing much has changed. Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class.

When your well to do friend has a bunch of Apple gear sitting in a nice home it brings status.

You don't get status with a plastic phone with a humongous screen and batteries that pop out when you drop them. I wouldn't pay $50 for it a year either.

You're delusional.

 

[nuckinfutz]

You're delusional.

Am I? Call your local Apple store and ask them if they've got stock on the iPad mini or iPhone 5? I'll wait.

Despite tech bloggers and their funny belief that they actual speak to the masses the rest of the Apple buying public doesn't care about Nexus 7 or Kindle Fires sold at cost. They'll pay more for quality. That's something that good products deliver.

 

[dalbir4444]

Am I?.

Yes

 

[F123D]

Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class.

Nothing says upper class like walmart.

And before black friday, ipad mini's were just sitting there on target shelves in my area.

 

[dalbir4444]

Nothing says upper class like walmart.

Image

And before black friday, ipad mini's were just sitting there on target shelves in my area.

Some people like to make things up to feel superior than others.

 

[cnguyen0320]

People are still lining up to buy the iPhone.

I haven't seen a line for an Android phone last longer than a day. In the end nothing much has changed. Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class.

The Nexus 4 had quite a line. Except it was an "online" line kind of... Anyway it sold out in 30 minutes here in the U.S. and is still not in stock.

I do agree with what you said though, Apple is great with build quality. I like not having a back door to the phone that can come off. I guess that's also why I like the Nexus 7. Although the build quality of the iPhone 5 isn't there, it is very close to the iPhone 4. People will pay for good looks (in areas other than tech as well) and that's a big reason why people still value the iPhone.

----------

Nothing says upper class like walmart.

Image

And before black friday, ipad mini's were just sitting there on target shelves in my area.

iPad mini's are very much in stock. However, it is the larger 32 and 64 GB models. Apple is also very good at catching up with stock as well. And while they do that, they can maintain build quality. That's a +1 in my book.

 

[matttye]

Am I? Call your local Apple store and ask them if they've got stock on the iPad mini or iPhone 5? I'll wait.

Despite tech bloggers and their funny belief that they actual speak to the masses the rest of the Apple buying public doesn't care about Nexus 7 or Kindle Fires sold at cost. They'll pay more for quality. That's something that good products deliver.

Not disputing any of this ^

I just think it's ridiculous to say that Apple products are a status symbol.

 

[Vegastouch]

Ummm, by labeling them "weirdos" you have given them status.


I don't see Apple as a status symbol. Perhaps when I was running around with the first iPhone or something like that but even then it wasn't a status symbol for me. To me status is gained by what you do and not what you buy.

Is calling them Geeks a status? Id never wait in a huge line or especially camp out for a phone release. But i have patience when it comes to these things. I dont have a " i need it now" mentality.

 

[2298754]

Not disputing any of this ^

I just think it's ridiculous to say that Apple products are a status symbol.

Tell that to the Chinese (or even Koreans)

They pay huge black market markups on newly released Apple products.

 

[Vegastouch]

Nothing says upper class like walmart.

Image

And before black friday, ipad mini's were just sitting there on target shelves in my area.

Looks like Best Buy to me. Walmart doesnt have a iPhone setup area like that. At least none of the ones ive been in. Hec they had a iPhone working to use once for a few weeks and shut that down quickly because people were breaking them, putting porn on them and trying to steal them so they shut that down. Now use dummies Unless that store is in Beverly Hills, i say it is Best Buy.

 

[2298754]

Apple is a premium brand, but once it became subsidized, the iPhone is not really a premium product....at least in the sense that it's a 'status symbol'.

With millions of refurbs, $99 and free on contract models, pretty much anybody can get an iPhone.

I still see a Macbook as being something 'nicer' than a PC....but a iPhone or iPad doesn't seem in the same class.

I think this post makes a lot of good points. iPhone really isn't a status symbol because anyone can get one. If you can't afford the 5 for $199, Apple sells you the 4S for $99, or even the 4 for FREE.

Macbook is most definitely premium product. You pay the markup for superior quality, customer service, etc. No laptop on the market rivals the 15inch rMBP.

----------

Looks like Best Buy to me. Walmart doesnt have a iPhone setup area like that. At least none of the ones ive been in. Hec they had a iPhone working to use once for a few weeks and shut that down quickly because people were breaking them, putting porn on them and trying to steal them so they shut that down. Now use dummies Unless that store is in Beverly Hills, i say it is Best Buy.

Some Walmarts have a store-within-a-store Apple section

http://appleinsider.com/articles/12...lays_begin_appearing_at_walmart_retail_stores


My local Walmart doesn't have this, but my local Target, Best Buy both do.

 

[Vegastouch]

But the Nexus devices like the Galaxy Nexus will only get around $50 (I think) from Amazon and it is a year old and already got 4.2. However, the iPhone 4 (2 years old) will get you around $200. I think there's something else to it...

I sold my Galaxy S Vibrant in August for $175 and the auction ended after 39 minutes with a But It Now. I should of asked for more

 

[2298754]

I think only the higher-end Apple products might be "status-symbols." MacBooks, iPads, etc. You can get cheaper Android tablets or cheaper Windows computers, but they pale in comparison to an iPad/MBP.


And as a flashback, remember when Apple products weren't sold EVERYWHERE? There was a time when you could only buy them online or at Apple stores (which weren't everywhere). This sort of changed around the time of the iPod (around when HP sold their own version of it), Best Buy, Sams, Walmart slowly started to market iPods, and then finally all Apple products. Even MacBooks weren't sold everywhere until recently. Same with iPhones.

 

[ixodes]

Apple has been elevated to a certain level via a tried & true marketing program laced with lofty claims & years of repetition.

Say it frequently enough to a large segment of people that want to believe it, like those who already own Apple products, and it becomes the realty they share with others.

A great marketing program can propel any brand to the top.

 

[Vegastouch]

People are still lining up to buy the iPhone.

I haven't seen a line for an Android phone last longer than a day. In the end nothing much has changed. Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class.

When your well to do friend has a bunch of Apple gear sitting in a nice home it brings status.

You don't get status with a plastic phone with a humongous screen and batteries that pop out when you drop them. I wouldn't pay $50 for it a year either.

So are you or are you not calling the iPhone 3 and 3GS a status symbol
Id rather have my battery fall out when i drop it than the glass shatter. I really dont get this argumant.

I also have a 2900 mAh battery coming for my GS3 any day now that makes it 800 mAh bigger. Something your iPhone cant do and it only cost me $10. Just to get a new small stock size battery for your iPhone will cost you $100 from Apple.
Some people just dont like being able to make their phone better. They are satisfied with same ol, same ol.

 

[matttye]

Tell that to the Chinese (or even Koreans)

They pay huge black market markups on newly released Apple products.

That's probably because they want the devices rather than because they think it will bring them any kind of status.

 

[Irishman]

You're delusional.

Nope, he's kind of right.

 

[2298754]

That's probably because they want the devices rather than because they think it will bring them any kind of status.

Maybe it's different in the UK, but here in Boston, I can't begin to explain the number of rich Asians (mostly from Hong Kong, South Korea, etc) who show off their iProducts, as if it is a status symbol.

Pretty ridiculous actually.

 

[siiip5]

People are still lining up to buy the iPhone.

I haven't seen a line for an Android phone last longer than a day. In the end nothing much has changed. Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class.

When your well to do friend has a bunch of Apple gear sitting in a nice home it brings status.

You don't get status with a plastic phone with a humongous screen and batteries that pop out when you drop them. I wouldn't pay $50 for it a year either.

LOL. Thanks for the chuckles, huckleberry.

 

[Vegastouch]

Maybe it's different in the UK, but here in Boston, I can't begin to explain the number of rich Asians (mostly from Hong Kong, South Korea, etc) who show off their iProducts, as if it is a status symbol.

Pretty ridiculous actually.

Kinda funny if true. We think a Mercedes is a status symbol but in Germany, it isnt.

 

[spinedoc77]

People are still lining up to buy the iPhone. I haven't seen a line for an Android phone last longer than a day. In the end nothing much has changed. Apple appeals to the design conscious and those who tend to be design conscious are mid to upper middle class. When your well to do friend has a bunch of Apple gear sitting in a nice home it brings status. You don't get status with a plastic phone with a humongous screen and batteries that pop out when you drop them. I wouldn't pay $50 for it a year either.

That's not status. Status is when you have something difficult or expensive to obtain. The iPhone certainly isn't difficult or expensive to obtain, certainly not any more than that "crap" plastic phone.

 

[aziatiklover]

It's only a status symbol to the blind followers and the ignorant. Funny how these people also know full well that a lot of kids in elementary school have an iPhone. And they brag about how it's the single biggest selling phone among the masses. But when something is so commonplace, it's far from being a product that shows high status. Yet they still chose to believe an iPhone shows off how "elite" they are. And they like to compare it to owning a Ferrari or a Yacht. What a joke.

Yea sure for the US market! But reality outside of the US it is 1 hella expensive phone that cost 2-3 times more than a flagship android phone! Look at China Apple products have the big rich status.

 

[cynics]

TBH, I wouldn't call any phone a status symbol, well, perhaps a Vertu, but even then, it's just a phone, albeit, a very expensive phone.

That's ironic to say. The most expensive smartphone on the planet is up 100x more expensive then current phones uses what operating system now?.....oh yeah Android.

I don't know who in the world would pay toward $100,000 dollars for a phone but those people certainly have some sort of status to be envious of....

 

[Switchback666]

Status of what ? Lol elitist ? Well a lot of people here claim the only thing they see outside are idevices cant be so elitist if everyone have then.

Use what you like ! I know theres a lot of people that buy iphones just for the F of it, it seems they feel special or like you say "rich" and claim they have a premium product and other things are cheap some go as far to tell that everyone that use samsung products just cant afford the apple devices lol dont pay attention to those people, they probably dont buy the food they eat or probably just eat cup of noodles

 

[2298754]

Kinda funny if true. We think a Mercedes is a status symbol but in Germany, it isnt.

Yup. The Mercedes E Class is the taxi of choice in Germany. You can buy BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis with cloth seats in Europe. Not here in the US.