Opinion
Ryan Michel
Staff Writer
As has been widely anticipated, Apple has now released its latest versions of their popular iPhone line: the iPhone 6 and the even bigger iPhone 6 Plus.
In a New York Post article, “Some iPhone 6 Plus Models Already Sold Out on First Day,” by Kaja Whitehouse, the desire for the newest Apple products is made evident by the number of sales in the first day. Apple’s website was down for several hours due to the influx of eager consumers before the phone officially went on sale. With Apple stocks selling at over one hundred dollars per share, the company’s success stands in stark comparison with the nation’s struggling economy and the fact that the cost of living continues to increase.
It is fascinating to me that, while families in the U.S. today are experiencing financial problems, Apple still manages to sell out of their newest product before it is even put on the shelves. One may question why the average consumer would want to pay hundreds of dollars for the newest version of the iPhone, while, in many cases, they may not be able to afford it. The real mystery is how the company manages to market their products in such a way that it makes consumers feel as though they must have them, no matter the cost.
In the discussion of the difference between Apple and its competitors, it all comes down to personal preference. Apple users tend to mention the fact that Macs do not get viruses, and therefore run faster and more efficiently over time. On the other hand, people who prefer Windows operating systems often talk of the simplicity of the computer’s operation, the lower price and a better bang for your buck overall. So, one might wonder why someone would spend more money on a product that is, in many respects, comparable, if not inferior, to some of its competitors. I believe that the answer to this question is prestige.
To explain this next point, let me take you back to 2007 when I was in eighth grade. At this point in my life I had worked and earned money, but because I had no expenses, I put all my money in the bank. It was then that I decided it would be a smart idea to use a large amount of my savings — $250 to be exact — to purchase one of the early versions of the iPod nano. At the time, I thought this was a great purchase. But looking back, I realize that I fell into the societal trap that is capitalism.
While I won’t deny that this was a fine product, the company is able to name their price on any of their items because they know that they have an extremely loyal fan base. Although it is quite impressive that they are able to elicit this much consumer interest before the product is even available, it is not hard to see that Apple has marketed their products in such a way that they have been able to get consumers excited and always coming back for more.
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