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It argues that friends play a huge role in our purchase decisions, but I beg to differ. I tend to be wary of others' opinions -- even those of my friends and family -- because they might push me to go for the more expensive brands. I always resist and go for the ones that are easier on the wallet.
What do you think? Do friends have THAT much sway when it comes to your buying decisions?
It's probably true for the general public. Not so much true for people who are careful with their money. But I suspect that the careful spenders are in the minority.
It argues that friends play a huge role in our purchase decisions, but I beg to differ. I tend to be wary of others' opinions -- even those of my friends and family -- because they might push me to go for the more expensive brands. I always resist and go for the ones that are easier on the wallet.
What do you think? Do friends have THAT much sway when it comes to your buying decisions?
Our friends do not influence our purchases at all and never have. We do not want nor desire a house full of material items.
We have what we need and need what we have and the rest is being sold at the garage sale coming up in June.
Those items aren't even excessive just things that haven't been used in a year, a few coats and some clothing items that someone else can get some use out of that no longer fit. The biggest thing we have right now are a scooter, a motor home and a semi, all of which are for sale.
It argues that friends play a huge role in our purchase decisions, but I beg to differ. I tend to be wary of others' opinions -- even those of my friends and family -- because they might push me to go for the more expensive brands. I always resist and go for the ones that are easier on the wallet.
What do you think? Do friends have THAT much sway when it comes to your buying decisions?
On the larger economy yes because of societal sanctions. As much as we don't want to admit they exist, they do. Now it maybe lighter or harsher but they do happen in most cases even if you don't subscribe to societal norms.
I think friends could easily influence. I haven't read the article, so I don't know what type of friends they're talking about, but I think plenty of people probably end up buying a particular car based on the fact that they have a number of friends who have had a great experience with that particular brand or model. After all, that's actual use by people you know rather than just reading some specs. I also think the same could be true about a particular neighborhood or city - if you know a family (or multiple families) that LOVE their neighborhood, and it has everything that you were also looking for, it would make more sense to move into the tried-and-true neighborhood than the one you're less sure of.
Maybe the article was talking more about peer-pressure type of situations, but I think most people tend to surround themselves with friends who are similar to themselves. If you're a practical, rational person, then you're not likely to succumb to peer pressure, but you probably are more likely to consider particular brands/models/areas/etc. based off recommendations from similarly minded friends. Actually, I think a lot of people are influence regardless of if something was specifically recommended. For instance, if you're in the market to purchase a vehicle, and you've read about how a particular brand is bad (despite the specs looking OK), and your friend has that brand and has an awful experience, you're more likely to go, "Ok, well, I've read bad things about it, and I also have this friend who had exactly the type of experience I've read about, so I'm not going to purchase that brand." But if you read great things about a particular brand, and you have multiple friends who own a vehicle from that brand and love it, then that's likely to confirm your opinion that it's a good brand.
My mom has a friend who travels a lot. So when she decided she wanted to go on a vacation to a particular country this friend regularly visits, she asked the friend for recommendations about where she should stay (knowing the friend is practical and stays in nice, affordable, places in good locations). This is totally normal. Friends regularly influence purchases - whether it's a night in a hotel, or it's a vehicle. If you have a friend who just got bed bugs from a particular hotel, would you really decide to stay at that same hotel for a night soon after? Of course not, unless you're crazy.
Geez, with all these threads about students loans and college expenses... All my friends ran off to college, and damn near tried to drag me along with them. Peer pressure... Without a college degree, you'll be flipping a burger or worse!!!
I'll avoid exploring the irony of it all, but I tend to avoid group think and herd mentality. I've seen huge swatches of society get clobbered in the past 5-7 years, simply for following the crowd around them.
The only people I consult regarding purchasing decisions are my family. Big ticket items especially, you just can't afford to get it wrong. Better to talk to someone with more experience, so you don't have to learn from your own bad experience in the future.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Few of our friends/family are in the same financial situation. It would be hard for someone making $180k to influence the buying decisions of someone making $100k, $70k or $40k, especially for things like cars and homes where there is a big difference in what one can afford. We rarely discuss purchases with friends or family. We do a lot of research at reliable
review websites such as Consumer Reports, look for good deals and get what we want. When it comes to Facebook, very few friends are "friends", mostly just family and it would be rare to see a post from someone having bought something.
That article is one man's opinion. He claims there are studies about this topic, but doesn't reference any.
I think lots of consumers are prone to herd behavior. They do it with clothes, cars, iphones, music, etc. These are largely subjective choices, not based on objective criteria.
I claim nothing special by saying that I don't buy that way. I rarely ask friends and family about "what to buy" because most of them are not discerning buyers. Most beer drinkers drink awful beers. I will not ask a friend drinking Corona what beer should I buy because I know he or she has no taste in beer. I have a few friends that are deep into certain hobbies, such as guns, and I would ask them for their opinion.
When someone tells me they would buy a Chevy truck "because that's what I like" then I know they don't know anything about Fords.
Restaurants, hotels, and other travel related items are an area where I listen to what others say.
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