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Why I don’t buy Apple products
Ever since I went through training to be fully versed in Economic Gardening, I’ve thought a lot about temperament. In this particular blog post, I’ll discuss how my temperament (personality type) makes me anything but a fan of Apple products.
Apple products, whether they be smartphones, mp3 players, tablets, streaming boxes or computers, are meant to be simple: simple to use, simple to maintain, simple to operate. (A prime example is that the smartphones, tablets and mp3 players only have one button besides on/off and volume.)
I have friends and family members who use Apple products. The point of this blog post is not to bash them or anyone else–it’s to explain my personality.
1. I don’t believe in limits: The aforementioned simplicity of Apple devices means everything is handed to you in one particular way, with as few ways as possible to execute anything. Of course, simplicity lowers the ceiling of the capabilities of the devices. Compare that to Windows (yes, I said Windows) and Android products, both of which have higher ceilings–you can do a lot more with them, if you’re willing to take the time to learn (e.g. root your Android device).
2. I’m a leader, not a follower: I use the “herd mentality” in marketing. Many times, consumers can save the step of making an informed decision by picking whatever everyone else already picked (known as the “early majority” and “late majority”). If you’re a first time smartphone shopper, and you didn’t research the various choices, it’s of course easier to pick what everyone else has. It’s human nature to want to be part of the group (that’s how fads arise). I tend to make logical decisions, not emotional decisions, about products, and I don’t feel the pressure to be a “me-too.”
3. I strive for inclusiveness: Apple, especially under the late Steve Jobs, was notorious for creating closed systems. That’s why you can only add music and videos through iTunes to your devices. On any other non-Apple device (e.g. Samsung Galaxy), you can simple transfer music directly from your computer (even onto an SD card, which is not available to Apple devices). I’m a big fan of a diversity, but Apple isn’t.
Lastly, it amuses me that Apple’s slogan is “think different.” At one point, yes, that was the case. But for consumers, you’re not thinking differently if you buy Apple products for the reasons I listed above (according to my temperament).
Christmas Every Month: The Subscription Box Retail Trend
Forget magazine subscriptions—the market has something better. Monthly socks? There’s a subscription for that. Gluten-free snacks, bacon-every-month and paleo treats? You bet. You can even subscribe to “Time of the Month” feminine hygiene boxes, moss-of-the-month packages and monthly apocalypse preparation supplies.
Subscription boxes are quickly growing in popularity. Once you create an online profile and purchase your subscription (typically ranging from $10-$100 per month), a box will arrive on your doorstep every month with a variety of specialty products “handpicked” for you. You can also “gift” the subscription to friends and family.
For my 20th birthday, my sister purchased a four-month Birchbox subscription for me. Birchbox provides customers with monthly makeup, skincare and fragrance samples. At first I thought, “the last thing I need is more small crap I don’t use in my college dorm room!” But then I received my first box.
This box wasn’t just a product, it was an experience. As I opened the beautifully wrapped package, I felt like it was Christmas all over again. There was a sense of mystery, discovery, surprise and self-indulgence. And I got to repeat this experience for three more months!
By the fourth month of my subscription, Birchbox did end up filling my dorm room with small crap and clutter. I never used the “gold-infused moisturizer” nor the “bead-buffing eye caviar” (what are these things?!). However, out of the 20 samples in total, I fell in love with three products that I later bought in full-size.
I then realized this subscription model was a powerful marketing pheromone. Companies are capitalizing on a consumer’s anticipation. Customers look forward to their monthly subscriptions with the thrill of not knowing what’s coming next. They get to self-indulge and spoil themselves without the post-purchase dissonance and guilt of buying an expensive product.
The subscription model also allows manufacturers to give customers a taste or feel for products that these customers might not otherwise find. Are these boxes filling up your home with useless junk? Maybe they are, or maybe you’re finding products you love. Regardless, isn’t the magical experience worth the $10 per month?
According to Forbes, Birchbox now has more than 800,000 active subscribers, translating into $96 million in annual sales. This retail trend doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, which brings the entrepreneur in me to wonder, “What box could I sell?”