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iPod Consumers don't know iPods are from Apple?

Doctor Q said:
Apple would then have to work on distinguishing "their" iPods from other "brands of iPods", which might be a tough uphill battle with consumers who can't retain much information.
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Perhaps, but doesn't it also mean that other companies have to shed the image that their product are also "iPods"?

In the end, I think you still have three groups of consumers:

1. Those that know what they're buying, why they're buying it, and who makes it.

These consumers will buy Apple iPods if they feel it's the best product, and will buy Creative's offering if they feel it's the best. They won't be swayed by the generic "iPod" talk and will likely scoff at it. They will also likely evangelize the company, the product, or both.

2. Those that know what they're buying, but don't really know much about all the products or who makes them.

These are people that have heard of the Apple iPod, although probably don't know the Apple also makes computers, or that iPod isn't the company, but know that the iPod is different that the Zen or whatever. They won't evangelize the company or product.

3. Those who don't really know what they're buying and will make purchase decisions solely on looks and price.

These are my parents. "i-What? Does it play music? Can I listen to it while walking? Okay." They don't know who makes them, what kinds there are, etc., and will probably just buy the cheapest one that they can. These are the consumers that think iPod is just a generic term.
 
Applespider said:
I can believe it. I had a conversation with someone last week who said that they couldn't switch to a Mac because their iTunes and iPod wouldn't work :confused:
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Lol. Wow. That's just great. I have heard of people not knowing that they're really designed for Macs, and people are usually surprised to consider that their favorite things (iTunes and iPod) would work even better on a Mac. Still, not making the connection at all...that's dangerous.:eek:
 
emw said:
Perhaps, but doesn't it also mean that other companies have to shed the image that their product are also "iPods"?
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No. They don't want to, because they get a free ride on Apple's reputation (as long as it lasts).

In the end, I think you still have three groups of consumers:

1. Those that know what they're buying, why they're buying it, and who makes it.

2. Those that know what they're buying, but don't really know much about all the products or who makes them.

3. Those who don't really know what they're buying and will make purchase decisions solely on looks and price.
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It's those #2s who are the problem. They hear "iPod" on the news; their kids beg for an "iPod". So they head out to buy something named "iPod", whether they know much about it or not. But if the term becomes too loosely defined, Apple loses that sale.
 
emw said:
Perhaps, but doesn't it also mean that other companies have to shed the image that their product are also "iPods"?

In the end, I think you still have three groups of consumers:

1. Those that know what they're buying, why they're buying it, and who makes it.

These consumers will buy Apple iPods if they feel it's the best product, and will buy Creative's offering if they feel it's the best. They won't be swayed by the generic "iPod" talk and will likely scoff at it. They will also likely evangelize the company, the product, or both.

2. Those that know what they're buying, but don't really know much about all the products or who makes them.

These are people that have heard of the Apple iPod, although probably don't know the Apple also makes computers, or that iPod isn't the company, but know that the iPod is different that the Zen or whatever. They won't evangelize the company or product.

3. Those who don't really know what they're buying and will make purchase decisions solely on looks and price.

These are my parents. "i-What? Does it play music? Can I listen to it while walking? Okay." They don't know who makes them, what kinds there are, etc., and will probably just buy the cheapest one that they can. These are the consumers that think iPod is just a generic term.
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Pretty much, yup. But it's a great thing to be a household name, like Kleenex or Q-Tips. And Jell-O. Let's not forget our wobbly delights.
 
Doctor Q said:
No. They don't want to, because they get a free ride on Apple's reputation (as long as it lasts).

It's those #2s who are the problem. They hear "iPod" on the news; their kids beg for an "iPod". So they head out to buy something named "iPod", whether they know much about it or not. But if the term becomes too loosely defined, Apple loses that sale.
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Mommy, I want an Apple and a Mouse!

Son, Mice eat Cheeze.
 
Sounds believable most consumers are not technically inclined, especially the majority of consumers who are fueling the Digital Portable music players' market growth.

The level of ignorance displayed by consumers can be disturbing. I have worked in computer retail before and can attest that brand name recognition is very poor among consumers shopping for technology. Oh lord do I have stories but I don't feel like going into them right now because it gives me nightmares.

Actually I think this extends beyond Computers as just the other day I was in a Burger King and was next to a woman who was in line wanting to order a Big Mac, now that's very disturbing. I also worked at a Papa John's Pizza as one of my first Jobs after High School and remember having a lot of requests for crap like Stuffed Crust Pizza which is a Pizza Hut thing. People would also occasionally confuse Papa John's with Papa Murphy's and ask if the Pizza was cooked or not. Now if Americans can't even get their Fast Food down right is it that surprising that they have poor brand name recognition with technology?
 
Pistol Pete said:
I have customers all the time who say lets "go to the ipod store" I want to punch them and tell them its the apple store...

they also say:

"does ipod make this?"

"why doesnt ipod" this and that

WOW this ticks me off....and not to stereotype. they are always women who know nothing.
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That's not really stereotyping. It's basically anyone who is more likely to repeat the hot word iPod then to look into the ideas, such as it being a product and not a company. TV commercials feature the Apple logo, but not the words Apple Computer. That, perhaps, is a flaw. Anyway, of those that are yakking off about what they didn't bother to look up but only heard from friends are likely to be talkative people with a knack for not grasping the ideas...like children and not-so-calm women that are just repeating what they heard from friends, and, in their defense, could care less if it was iPod or iPoodle.
 
I'd wager about a quarter of the US population doesn't even know what brand of car they drive.

"My car? Yeah, it's a blue one."
 
This is a huge problem for apple's marketing department. They need to do a better job of distinguishing their ipods from other players. They also need to get people to realize they make computers too. Perhaps they should put some kind of cross promotion in with the ipods, something like a coupon for 10% off imac or mac mini or ibook. They maybe also need to expand their commercials, because I know a lot of people who think that the only music you can put on your ipod is what you buy on the ITMS.
 
I would say 90% of the people in my school dont know who actually makes the ipod, and personally I think its a shame.
Ive herd people say the ipod is made by Mac, iPod, Sony and HP.
I makes me want to say "Hey what is that logo on the back?", I would say most of the problem is ignorance especially people who say they know everything about iPods. And some could be apples fault for not putting the word "Apple" on the back, because some people are too lazy to associate a picture with a word. And now its getting even worse where people just call them "Shuffles", "Nanos" and "Videos"

The word iPod is a cliche now I hear it about 20 times a day from the little freshman at my school, very annoying.

iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod, iPod,
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Little Endian said:
The level of ignorance displayed by consumers can be disturbing. I have worked in computer retail before and can attest that brand name recognition is very poor among consumers shopping for technology...


...just the other day I was in a Burger King and was next to a woman who was in line wanting to order a Big Mac, now that's very disturbing.
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I'm slightly concerned at the ease at which this term "ignorance" is used. Is it really ignorant not to be a slave to advertising? Surely not, and if so I am extremely concerned about what the world will turn into over the next 10-30 years if this trend continues.

As for finding a woman asking for a Big Mac in Burger King "disturbing", I just hope you never step outside the restaurant, because compared to that, the real world is something else.

(sorry to be so blunt, but I just find the ease at which some words are thrown around hard to swallow)
 
student_trap said:
I'm slightly concerned at the ease at which this term "ignorance" is used. Is it really ignorant not to be a slave to advertising? Surely not, and if so I am extremely concerned about what the world will turn into over the next 10-30 years if this trend continues.

As for finding a woman asking for a Big Mac in Burger King "disturbing", I just hope you never step outside the restaurant, because compared to that, the real world is something else.

(sorry to be so blunt, but I just find the ease at which some words are thrown around hard to swallow)
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I think you have it backwards. Referring everything as "Big Mac" "ipod" "Coke" etc. would be more an example of being a slave to advertising sense you are referring products regardless of what they are by just one trademark name.

Now if someone generally referred to things as a Burger, MP3 player, Cola then that would be fine. I would much rather have people call general products by generic name rather than using trademarked names with disregard only because it's been brainwashed into their head by advertising and that is what I found so disturbing about the "Woman in Burger King"

Sure brand names, trademark names etc. it's a trivial matter in the grand scheme of things. I think you take the word ignorant too harshly in this context. Consumers are often ignorant to what options are available to them as opposed to an educated consumer who is aware of all options. If anything using the word ignorant in regards to the consumer is probably some of the few places where it can be safely applied.
 
maxterpiece said:
apple computers are irrelevant to most people's lives. The thought of not using windows has never crossed their minds. It is the only computer you could reasonably consider getting. iPods, however, are not. I think if Apple had pushed the iPod, Apple connection, IE saying "made by apple computer" somewhere in their ads, or advertising iPods with Macs, the mac's stigma would have dragged it down. It took apple a while just to get PC users to understand that the iPod would work with thier computer, so I think that's kind of why apple has dissassociated it's computers from the iPod a bit.
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I don't think Apple has 'dissassociated' the iPod and the Mac, originally the iPod only worked with Macs, then Macs only had iTunes while PC-users were stuck with MusicMatch, then iTunes for Windows was made and the iTMS worked with both. In all of these instances, Apple's logo is on the back of the iPod and appears when it boots, the packaging shows Apple Computer, and the ads only stopped connecting iTMS to Apple because of Apple records. The iPod wasn't sold as an 'accessory' to Macs, but a separate product, however the connection to Apple has never been dissavowed.
Most things are irrevalent to people's lives, we are always in our own little world often completely ignorant of the layers of complexity that exist all around us. Think of the jargon inherent in every profession, the complexity of being a chef or engineer. I've got a contractor working on my house and there are terms for things I've never heard of before.
What actually suprises me is people who don't know what kind of car they drive or who built their Mp3 player which they use almost every day. Some people seem to live with interesting blinders.
 
student_trap said:
I'm slightly concerned at the ease at which this term "ignorance" is used. Is it really ignorant not to be a slave to advertising? Surely not, and if so I am extremely concerned about what the world will turn into over the next 10-30 years if this trend continues.
Click to expand...

control-command-D says: ignorance - noun - lack of knowledge or information

I think anyone who spends money should know where it's going. And I do think anyone who buys something without knowing who made it is ignorant.
 
That's why they make the new iPods so easy to scratch! So you HAVE to go to the Apple Store and get exposed to other Apple products!

/sarcasm
 
Of course they don't know. This is nothing new.

Kinda sorta like how some consumers call their SUVs Jeeps... it becomes a "universal term"... dunno why or how.

Oh, and from what I've always understood... The Ford Escape is built on the older Mazda 626 platform... so yeah... :)
 
Electro Funk said:
When i lived in Atlanta, GA if you ordered a "soda" at any restauraunt you automatically got a coke.
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Well, that doesn't surprise me, given that Atlanta is the home of Coca Cola :)

I did a Google search and apparently in Texas they do use "coke" as a generic term, Sprite coke, Root Beer coke, etc.

Me, I prefer Pepsi. :rolleyes:
 
Blind... :eek:

iMeowbot said:
That one. It's often more like "Apple still makes computers? Wow, I remember those!"
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They talk like they don't exist anymore and I'd like to know how they can be so blind when almost every computer that appears on tv shows is a Mac.

Examples:
- Carrie's in Sex and the City
- Chloe's in Smallville
- Scully's in X-Files
- Veronica's in Veronica Mars
- Summer's in The O.C.
- Ephram's in Everwood

And that's just to name a few... :confused:
 
student_trap said:
I'm slightly concerned at the ease at which this term "ignorance" is used. Is it really ignorant not to be a slave to advertising?
Click to expand...

Nope. But it IS not knowing where your money is going.
 
I totally believe it

I was having a convo with a friend and she was trying to describe the closest restaurant which was close to the local apple store and she said, "you know where the ipod store is right?....."

Another scenario was a guy was buying an ipod and he asked "will it be compatible with my computer" and the sales rep goes "iPods are Mac and PC compatible" to which the guy responds whats a "mac" and the rep had to explain that apple also make computers

Its very possible only few pple i think know apple even exists just as some think microsoft make all the PC's
 
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