I trust that we all know that the price one prays for any product, whether over-the-counter or boutique, is set by supply and demand.
I agree. The demand for a superior product will out weigh the demand for a product that simply does not work. You get what you pay for (assuming you have researched all options and can make an educated decision based on fact, not on how much such an item costs)
It would be interesting to learn what it costs the respective companies to make Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell, Meguiar's NXT, Pinnacle Souveran, Dodo Juice Supernatural, and Zymol Vintage.
I am no expert but I would hope "manufacturing costs" would be about the same for any product. What separates the brands should happen well before the manufacturing process. Research and Development and ingredient selection should be where 'real' value is placed. Manufacturing is just putting it all together and should hold little to no value. The value is in what went in to making that product.
I imagine we would all be surprised.
Surprised that manufacturing costs are about the same across the board to make a product? Or surprised that some of the leaders in the industry actually used the same inferior, diluted, non performing ingredients that I can buy locally at 'Wally World'...So you are saying these products are on the same level? So the insane depth and clarity and that deep liquid look I get with DG 105 is just a halucination? That the fact that I have placed my vehicle side by side against the 'supposed' best professional Boutiques aand nd with my own eyes seen the glaring contrast. I went from the supposed best OTC that I knew of (TW Synthetic Ice) to DG, Pinnacle, WG etc and you can say what you want but the difference is night and day. My TW Ice would last 2 to 3 weeks at BEST. Have had DG 105 on for 3 months and it is just as strong as it was from day one.
We usually assume that the more expensive a product is, the more it costs the manufacturer to make; but this is not always the case.
Who assumes this?? Manufactoring is not what makes a product superior. Manufactoring is just a process. I assume the more expensive a product is the higher quality it is. Just like cars. Lexus can charge a premium price over Ford.
Sometimes people are simply willing to pay more for a specific product, even though comparable if not superior products are available for purchase at less cost.
I agree...That just boils down to "If it costs more it must be better" mentality. I know a Lexus costs more than a Gio Storm but seeing as how I know cars I can justify why it does. On that same note it brings me back to the time when a, now leading congac producer went from a low priced Cognac who was suffering steep declining sales, to the number one selling connac in the country. What did they do? They tripled the price. After that they couldn't keep it on the shelves. But that is liquer. People who drink it don't know why one is better than the other so they gauge it on price. Now with car care products most connosuers can tell you exactly why Pinnacle, DG, 4*, WG, Menzerna etc are more expensive (and really not by much) than the OTC products. Its not only an understanding of what goes into them but actual REAL WORLD results. Your eyes don't lie and the fact that water still beads off and sheets off your finish after 3 months isn't illusion. Do some waxes trigger our 'if it costs more it most be better' button. Of course.....but the simple fact still remains...It is nothing short of amazing when put side by side with an inferior OTC product.
Consider how much money are willing to pay for a Monster HDMI cable at Radio Shack, when they could buy a fully functional no-name equivalent through Amazon.com for a quarter of the price.
Again, just consumer laziness. They know this product works and they don't have time to research every single purchase in their life. They'd rather pay knowing it is going to give them what they expect them spend 3 weeks researching every in and out of cables to say 20 or 30 bucks. Depends on where you want to spend your time. Maybe they are spending their time researching something real like a 40K car purchase or a 1.5 million dollar home where making a mistake can cost you thousands. Depends on "your" perspective and what you think is big. Discussing the difference between the $10 difference between Tire Kingdom and Sears for tires may be the biggest thing in your life. To others there perspective is much bigger and they just don't have that kind of time.
I have always bought Levi's, even though I know that I am paying more for the "name." Heck if I know why I insist on Levi jeans. I just do.
Because they work for you. And, no offense, but if you really want to break down Jeans you will find they are average at best. You are paying more? More than what? Walmart? Most jeans don't get into real quality until you hit the $100 mark. Does that matter to a guy wearing Wal mart jeans? Probably not. He's probably as happy as "a pig in sh1t" with his monday night WWE and case of Old Milwaukee

Again, it comes down to you.

Not a shot at WWE and wal mart. Just merely an example. Oh, and to Frenchie, the guy that posted an insult at all Americans...
Americans are one of the best examples when it comes to spending money on perineum priced goods, that are not perineum quality. I know this cause its my job to make you guys buy these items
I agree 100% with you. That is most of the American society. But the fact that you have the arrogance to come out on an American based site with the majority being American and basically insult them and in not so many words as to call the basically "stupid" is amazing in itself. I am in sales and what I sell is truly superior to the competition and it is priced accordingly. Maybe its just me but I would rather make less money selling a product I knew was superior than marking up a sh1t product and trying to sell it as the best. I am in this for the long run. It doesn't take long before manipulators are exposed. Karma always has a way of coming back on you. So you must be a used car salesman, right?
