Brand Loyalty

[Cliff_Johns]

OK, I'll admit to being brand loyal in some things. If I have a very positive experience with a brand, I'll stick to it unless there's a good reason to change. This is probably true of most things I buy. It only makes sense to me.

A good reason to change brands may be lack of a design that fits my needs, or if their price for the product has gotten too high. I don't like shoping (although for tractors it was fun) and buying a brand I've had good experiences with is easier.

I don't think brand loyality breeds mediocrity at all. It is MUCH easier to lose a loyal customer than it is get one in the first place. If we easily switch brands without considering past performance, then there is no incentive to produce a good product year after year.

I've had an exceptional experience with my JD so far, and I would need a good reason to not buy another JD next time around because of this. I can't imagine ignoring all previous personal experience (good or bad) when looking at the next purchase.

And really, brand loyality is really just giving a previously successful purchase due input into the next purchase.

Cliff

 

[mwood]

I'll admit, there are certian things in my life that were purchased due to brand loyalty. Usually small things -- Jiff peanut butter for example.

But when it comes time to make larger purchases, I refuse to be roped into one particular brand. Anything over $500 is a big purchase in my book and deserves some careful consideration. The more expensive the purchase, the more perfect the chosen item has to be for my needs.

That said, I'm much more likely to become brand dis-loyal due to bad experiences. I have one rule in my shop -- no Black and Decker tools. Simply put, I've sunk more money into them only for them to break. Perhaps past trends don't indicate future performance, but when your cordless drill stops working on a really cold winter day and you have to lug out the extension cords to finish a must-do job, you get pi$$ed.

As they say in sales, "A good first impression is a great beginning. Any bad impression is the absolute end." Seems to hold true here.

 

[mboulais]

I am very brand loyal...
Winchester rifles
Massey Harris and International Tractors
Chevy Trucks (well GM in general,understandable since I work for them and so did my father)

I am smart enough to shop around though and that's why I own a Mahindra tractor now. Some brands (especially a green one) enjoy not only brand loyalty, but an undeserved status a an "icon" or legend". I will pick an argument about the merits of any red brand of tractor over a green just for fun. That status and loyalty is the only reason that Deere sells so many tractors. It certianly isn't because they are better. My father and two sisters all have and love Deeres. They are good, but not perfect. they don't deserve to be put on a pedistal above the other colors.

 

[slowrev]

Mahindra is as close to an old IH as you can get now-a-days.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But when it comes time to make larger purchases, I refuse to be roped into one particular brand. Anything over $500 is a big purchase in my book and deserves some careful consideration. The more expensive the purchase, the more perfect the chosen item has to be for my needs. )</font>

I guess our definitions of brand loyalty differ. Certainly I don't think brand loyalty can be equated to being roped into a particular brand. Nor do I think brand loyality turns off the brain or removes other brands from careful consideration. That I would call brand fanaticism. A different beast entirely.

To me brand loyality simply means that previous experience with a brand will hold weight in the carefull consideration of an expensive purchase. Brand blindness means you have no interest in what has worked well for you in the past, your decision would be based only on new information.

Just the way I look at it.

Cliff

 

[johan3400]

To me brand loyality goes with "dealer loyalty". In my younger years I was loyal to Allis Chalmers because I had a relationship with a great dealer. When I purchased a tractor I shopped to keep myself informed but believe I was treated right at that one dealership. I now purchased a new tractor and will remain loyal to that brand as long as my dealer takes care of me. I think we will have a long term relationship, but I do not just stick my head in the sand. I shop around and stay informed. Brand loyalty, IMHO, gives an advantage when trading in tractors. Kubota dealers will most likely give me better trade values on my used Kubota. To me brand loyalty has advantages and disadvantages, just like any part of owning a tractor. I am in favor of it.

 

[Varmintmist]

I'm in the brand disloyalty side I think. I like all products until they prove otherwise. Once they prove disloyal to me, then the odds are I wont be back.

The Black and Decker is a great example. They are a ok tool as long as you dont plan on using it much. FROM MY EXPERIANCE. Your milage may differ.

Same goes with Dodge. I got burnt more than once, wont happen again. My cousin is a Dodge dealer to so I could probably get a pretty good deal if I wanted one. GM is getting there also, through personal ownership, family reports, and work it is dropping way down ladder. The mother just had to s-can a Caddy because it wouldnt stay on the road. At aroung 130K mi she could have bought 2.5 of that car for the amount of $$ she put in it over the years. My 2000 Safari just ate its own worth in repairs this summer @ 70K mi.

Now Ford has been very good to me and my extended family. I ran my last F150 to 198,000 and traded it because SWWBO said I needed a extended cab, not because it was broke. Total repairs other than normal wear and tear, 76 bucks for a gasket, including labor. The one before that took being sandwiched by two tractor trailers and let me walk out. My father bought a Mustang, put 100K on it and it now needs struts. Other than that, no repairs other than maint.

Now my mother bought a new car, a GM, go figure. Just junked one and bought another because she doesnt like Fords.
That is brand loyalty. A person being loyal to a brand simply because of the name with no justifiable reason. I think it does turn off parts of the brain when taken to extremes.

......................................

As in relating to tractors. Brand loyalty is as extreme or worse than with autos. There are people who bleed Greene (example /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) and think that Kubota is a hunk of fly by night Jap junk that will go away, still. They also think that all greene machines are made 100% in USA right down to the rubber on the tires. Even when you point out the country of origin sticker on the different parts. This is why IMHO Deere commands a higher price. Not because they are better than all the others, it is the perception that you are getting a lot more for your money under the green paint. I could probably point to 3 people in my extended family that bleed green.

Now I AM NOT saying that Deere is not a great product, it is. Its greatness as it pertains to purchase price is hype though. I am also not saying that Deere as a product was disloyal to me. Their pricing and dealerships were.

I just ran the 950 (which for all intents and purposes is the 790 of today) for the first time since I got my Mahindra. I worked the 950 in the same ways as I work my 3510 so I was able to do a pretty good comparison. Since the 790 is set up the same as the 950, I had planned on the 790 for my tractor because I was used to it. The machines (3510 and 950/790) are different in size, weight and power, but they were VERY close in dollars when I went to buy. That was the most important consideration for me. Man am I glad I looked outside the box a little.

I still like the Deere seat better and the 2 stick loader I am still have a warm spot for, but I cant tell you how many times I was grabbing for reverse on the left side of the steering wheel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cag]

Interesting reply's thank's for the info /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif...cag

 

[boustany]

I'm brand disloyal.
I do a lot of research on a big ticket item. If I figured that decision was a mistake I will never, ever buy that brand again.

Examples
Ford Winstar tryed to kill my family with known defective front springs. Conclusion: I will never consider owning another Ford ever again.

Spent more money than I could afford buying Maytag appliances. Replaced every one within 10 years due to excessive repair costs, lack of reliability, etc.. Will never consider spending another penny on a Maytag product.

Bought a Deere lawn tractor. Worked well, decided to get a Kubota this time but would consider either next time. Great success with Delta, DeWalt, Rigid, Milwalkee power tools but will never spend another dollar for a Sears power tool.

So, you can separate me from my money only once.

 

[woolyblue]

There are a few brands out there for me that command loyalty because they understand the market and continue to provide consistent quality and value. Ridgid pipe wrenches, ford trucks, yamaha audio equipment, harley davidson scooters, seiko watches, stihl chainsaws to name a few. I am willing to pay a few dollars more for well crafted, solidly engineered products. Nothing more satisfying than being able to sustain years of reliable use from a product that does it right!