I do not consider myself an apple fan, but i also don't feel my iphone is 'mediocre'. You certainly pay a premium, but it's not like you're paying overpriced fabrics made in bangladesh. I 'm not sure how big a deal beats is outside the US, as well. I also don't agree that 1) they needed to buy any marketing genius (Apple is a marketing genius itself) 2) they are looking to sell overpriced products or 3) that they want to expand in demographics that can't afford to pay for the premiums
Not sure about any of these points being very robust. (3) is simply false, at 200-400 price points you are <already> selling at "premium pricepoints"...thus quality at a profit, is no problem; and wrt (2) since (3), no need to assume (2); and with respect to (1), Beats by DR DRE has street cred in urban markets (people using monthly/android phones) that apple lacks (white suburban rich etc)...if apple can "leverage it more profitably" by simply increasing underlying quality...the make/buy decision does not seem overly complex here.
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I do not consider myself an apple fan, but i also don't feel my iphone is 'mediocre'. You certainly pay a premium, but it's not like you're paying overpriced fabrics made in bangladesh. I 'm not sure how big a deal beats is outside the US, as well. I also don't agree that 1) they needed to buy any marketing genius (Apple is a marketing genius itself) 2) they are looking to sell overpriced products or 3) that they want to expand in demographics that can't afford to pay for the premiums
Not sure about any of these points being very robust. (3) is simply false, at 200-400 price points you are <already> selling at "premium pricepoints"...thus quality at a profit, is no problem; and wrt (2) since (3), no need to assume (2); and with respect to (1), Beats by DR DRE has street cred in urban markets (people using monthly/android phones) that apple lacks (white suburban rich etc)...if apple can "leverage it more profitably" by simply increasing underlying quality...the make/buy decision does not seem overly complex here.