In article
,
spamtrap1888 wrote:

On Aug 8, 1:26*pm, "

I believe you have it half right. People over 50 spend plenty of
money, but their purchasing habits are well established. You can't
make them change brands. So the theory is you indoctrinate the
younguns and they will buy your crap for life. Apple is a prime
example. The young liked the ipod, so they think Apple makes good
phones too.

True. An old fuddy-duddy like Obama was still wedded to his
BlackBerry.

That "purchasing habits are well-established by age 50" is the most
ridiculous nonsense I have ever heard in my life. Since I was 50 (decade
before last), I have changed almost everything--several times. Two years
ago, I bought my first Ford. Before that, I owned three Chevys
(sequentially). Chevys got worse; Fords got better. MY age has nothing
to do with that.

After decades of owning a top-loading washer, I bought a front loader
last month. My home phone system isn't based upon any technology I grew
up with and spent much of my life installing and maintaining (it is more
complex than anything a radio station other than KGO has now). After
over ten years of DSL, I went with cable Internet several months ago
(actually I have both now). Cable got better; DSL stagnated. And on and
on it goes.

Change is the spice of life. After living my whole life in California,
I'm prepared to live my final years in another state...one that isn't
constantly telling me how I have to live. I may be a senior citizen, but
I'm certainly capable of recognizing the benefits of superior products
when they show up as well as being able to adjust my life accordingly.

The reality is that people change because products change and
suppliers go out of business. If brand names continue to exist, they
are names only.

Exactly. Brand-loyalty might have been a consideration in the fifties
and sixties, but today it is meaningless. Even we doddering oldies know
that.

I've said this before -- my uncle was 65 when he dropped his lifetime
habit of buying Chryslers for a Toyota. He was the first guy on his
block to get color TV, and had he lived long enough I'm sure he'd be
the first one with a plasma widescreen.

Indeed. When one turns fifty, his brain does not turn to mush (I should
hope not: fifty is but a fond distant memory). In addition to still
being able to dress myself, you might be surprised the purchasing
decisions I can make.

--
John Higdon
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