Pleasure At A High Price

   By drodriguez  Jan 22, 2008
20

Do you think your taste buds could distinguish between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine? Which do you think you would enjoy most? California researchers are probably willing to bet you would go for the higher priced wine no matter what.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that a person’s expectations of quality automatically triggers activity in the part of the brain that registers pleasure. When a test subject was told that one wine cost more than the other they tricked themselves into believing the more expensive wine gave them greater pleasure.


During the study, twenty adult subjects were given samples of the same wine at different prices. Not only did the subjects report experiencing pleasure at much greater levels when they were under the impression that the wines cost more, but the activity in the part of the brain that registers pleasure was significantly more active.

This, of course is not the first study to look at how marketing affects a consumer’s behavior, but it is the first to show a direct effect on the brain. These types of findings can drastically change the way companies market products in the future. Baba Shiv, an associate professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and one of the authors of the study believes marketers may now think twice about reducing the price.

What do you think of this study connecting pleasure with price?

Do you think the price of a product affects the way you perceive its quality?

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samsniderheld by samsniderheld | New York, NY
Aug 08, 2012

love this

kokonut1966 by kokonut1966 | Tarpon Springs, FL
Aug 17, 2009

I buy expensive, and I buy cheap...it doesn't matter to me as long as it tastes good and gives me a buzz. I've had some expensive wines before and they were HORRID!!

bbcoop by bbcoop | GREENFIELD, IN
Mar 18, 2008

Hmmm...hard to know, I'd actually like to believe that I would like the cheaper stuff better b/c I'm a bargain shopper! I'm not really a "brand snob" but I think it is funny that I'd rather have a tea in a starbucks cup than a plain styrofoam one--I think our brains perceive it like we are "treating" ourselves--it really has nothing to do with being seen at the right place for me. I'd even rather have the exact dessert at a restaurant than at home for the same reason-its just more stress releiving for me..even if its a few bucks more for whatever reason.

mimirose by mimirose | Bemidji, MN
Mar 15, 2008

There was an episode on Law & Order about this a few days ago. Someone was filling expensive wine bottles with cheap wine and selling them. People bought the expensive wine basically as status symbols. They didn't know anything about wine but wanted to show they could afford the expensive stuff.

Twiggs by Twiggs | NEW YORK, NY
Mar 13, 2008

At the end of the day it's GRAPES and a label! The cheap stuff can be just as good!

leemor16 by leemor16 | fairview, OK
Mar 10, 2008

leeann says:

i buy what taste good to me if its cheap then thats great there are a lot of wines that have a great flavor that dont cost alot

samboakers by samboakers | Pleasanton, TX
Feb 11, 2008

To me buying pricey or cheap wine is like buying pricey or cheap clothes. They are probably made by the same company with different labels on them, just like clothes. My sister worked in a sewing factory and they made the same robes for different companies and put different labels in them.

cvarano by cvarano | BROOKLYN, NY
Feb 05, 2008

This is very interesting. I do think the price of something, especially if it is unattainably out of our price range, makes it more appealing just because it is something that you can't or shouldn't buy. It's "out of our league" I suppose. I wonder how a study would come out if they had tested a higher priced wine against a lower priced wine but reversed the prices to the subjects.

frogqueen75 by frogqueen75 | Berea, KY
Feb 05, 2008

obgidget1, You are right on the money (no pun intended) with your comment. People often compliment me on my clothing & are absolutely shocked when I tell them that a large portion of my wardrobe comes from Walmart, Meijer, and other discount stores. I do shop at some higher-end stores, but generally only if they're having a big sale or from their clearance racks. And guess what? My Walmart sweaters have lasted just as long as my Gap sweaters, with the proper care.

obgidget1 by obgidget1 | San Diego, CA
Jan 31, 2008

I think people have been coerced into believing that you get what you pay for. In many instances, it is true, but not always. I was at a party during Christmas, and after commenting on how great the red wine was, the hostess told me it was only $2.99 a bottle at the neighborhood grocery store. I was totally shocked. And...pleasantly surprised. Perception can be brutal. You have to be open to the idea that some things are not all about the price.

Lynsda828 by Lynsda828 | Delaware, OH
Jan 31, 2008

I agree that price can be confused with quality - however at the same time, some people who are extremely price conscious might think that something high in price is out of reach and getting the chance to try something that is more than they can afford would automatically make it higher quality than something that they can eat every day. Personally - I don't think that wine price equals quality - I worry about that I like. I think I'd be interested in tasting a $400 bottle of wine, just to say that I did it, but I know that I can find just as much enjoyment out of a $5 bottle enjoyed with friends.

I do think that price affects the way that I perceive its quality. I think that it depends on the product. Diamonds are something that I correlate as increasing in price and quality. The better the diamond, the higher the price. For the most part, I think that this holds true for me - higher price = better product. As a consumer, I have to keep myself in check and understand what I can afford - so going for the best product for the money (value).

xo11xo by xo11xo | Boston, MA
Jan 30, 2008

I definately agree that high price can be mistaken for high quality. But that can also be idustry specific. In terms of wine-I do go for the brand and price that fits just beyond what I planned on spending yet is not too overly priced. When i want a nice wine I go for it--- it is still cheaper to buy then go out to dinner and have the same bottle there. Plus I'm Italian --- wine is it for me in terms of beverage of choice.

kycatymoas by kycatymoas | Lexington, KY
Jan 30, 2008

I worked for a Wine import Company that also owned its own South African Winery...the average wine is about $33 bottle, an avg. middle of the road price.

it tasted like dirt.

I went to LA, where they sold wine in EVERY 7-11. I have tried expensive wines & cheap, my favorites are Red Truck, Thousand Oaks, lower end Mondavi's, and Turning Leaf. I like them because they taste good to me.

I believe wine as are many things in life, a status symbol...like caviar, I have a hard time stomaching mild fish, let alone fish eggs...I had them on my sushi & barfed!

I drink what I like, wear what I like, and think what I like...

minidevilot by minidevilot | LA HABRA, CA
Jan 30, 2008

(Note: I don't usually drink wine, just a sip or two if I'm home visiting the parents who do drink wine.)

minidevilot by minidevilot | LA HABRA, CA
Jan 30, 2008

Well, I think part of the issue is that few people are really steeped and vested in the wine industry and for most of us, we don't know all that much and it's tempting to just cop out and hope that a pricier wine is better.