What affects your decision-making process about purchase?
At least for me, when I buy something, I consider:
price in relation to time, how long the product will serve me
investment – whether buying the product will generate money for me
benefit – solving a problem, saving time, fulfilling a need
There are also secondary indicators that influence product selection and purchasing behaviour, such as:
Country of origin
Brand awareness (reputation)
Recommendation from close friends/approval from authorities
Brand involvement in socially responsible activities, etc.
Do you also consider secondary indicators when buying a product? Which are those?
Recently, I was often asked about the country of origin. When I say "Germany", people are less hesitant and more likely to purchase.
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Replies
DeepTagger
Sometimes I feel like I'm not looking for a "solution," but I'm looking for a miracle :)
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@talshyn This is me when I am trying to buy clothes :D
DeepTagger
@busmark_w_nika haha, I feel this on a spiritual level 😂
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@talshyn Sisters – twins on a spiritual lvl. 😂🤝
@talshyn This is pure insight!
Korgi
Social engagement around the brand or product is helpful for me. I'm more impacted by specific use cases where someone got value that I relate to than by a few comments where it wasn't a fit.
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@dmitcha Which products (according to you) have significant social engagement? :)
Korgi
@busmark_w_nika I really value the extensive conversations people are having around the different AI chat assistants - where they shine, where they fall down, etc. And with each new release, the products and outcomes and dialogue shift. I'm always interested in how people are using each one for strategy, coding, research, etc.
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@dmitcha I think that people talk more about Claude and Lovable. How do you see that?
This really resonates. Reminds me of how much country of origin influences even simple things like chocolates.
For example, in India, people often compare locally made chocolates to those manufactured in the UK by Cadbury or Nestlé - KitKat being a classic case. The same brand, same product line, but when you mention “UK-made,” there’s an instant perception of higher quality, taste and people are far more willing to pay for it.
It shows how secondary indicators, like origin, can sometimes outweigh even the primary factors like price or utility in the buyer’s mind
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@atique_bandukwala1 and is it really such good chocolate (UK vs India)? I mean the taste. BTW, there is one blind test with Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi. Do you know that? :)
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@atique_bandukwala1 " phew- feels like diabetes " :D Thank you! Now, I know what not to buy :D + love how well informed you are about those marketing tests :D
IXORD
Before making a purchase, I first look for detailed information about the product and how it works. If there is no information available online, then my trust in the product is not very high. If the information is available, I read it and see whether the product suits me. However, I don’t pay attention to the country of origin or any other such factors :/
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@ixord What do you consider to be the best sources of reviews? :) You seem to be a very analytical person :)
IXORD
@busmark_w_nika Yes, I enjoy analytics. As for sources of information, my favorite is YouTube, and occasionally Reddit. It depends on what I’m planning to purchase
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@ixord Reddit is quite honest in this. Probably will be the platform No. 1 when I want to make a buzz about the product. :)
Being someone who designs UX, I’d say the experience itself matters a lot to me. I could be completely unaware of a product, but if the design feels intuitive and polished, it pulls me in and makes me want to explore further.
If it looks good, I’ll usually just take a quick glance at reviews and honestly, even a decent rating is often enough to satisfy my scrutiny. It’s like the design earns the benefit of the doubt.
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@rahul_luthra Design didn't come to my mind, but it is definitely a part of that. Aren't you a little bit distorted by this profession? :D That rather than searching for a solution, you search for UI/UX faux pas? :D
@busmark_w_nika Haha, guilty as charged 😅 Once you’ve been in UX long enough, it’s hard to unsee the flaws. But at the same time, good design makes me forgive a lot. I guess I’m both harsher and more easily won over than the average buyer.
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@rahul_luthra Yeah, you are definitely distorted by profession :D
That’s a great point. Personally, I do look at secondary indicators—brand reputation, recommendations, and yes, sometimes country of origin. But I’ve also noticed how misleading that can be. For example, a product can be “Made in Germany,” but in reality, most components are produced in China and only assembled in Europe. So I think it’s less about the label itself and more about trust, transparency, and the overall value the product brings.
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@viktorgems I got your point. I can see those country of origin labels in physical products too, e.g. yoghurts. On the label is "Slovakia" but the ingredients are labelled as "from European countries" – but no any other info :D
@busmark_w_nika haha, those ingredients form the "secret sauce" I guess :D
I remember when I was living in Thailand, I guess one of the most popular yoghurts(at least in 7eleven stores or family markets) there is called Bulgaria Yogurt which is actually Japanese made by Meiji.
Maybe they inspired the Slovakian colleagues or the other way around!
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@viktorgems I think that we do not have 7eleven store here. But I saw it for the very first time in Copenhagen. Need to say that our Slovak yoghurts are tasty because of our conditions (nature, animals etc.)
Cal ID
Wow, honestly I'm surprised to see such a spectrum here.
For me, price and usability come first - if something solves a real problem and fits my budget, it’s already halfway to a yes.
But I won't lie, brand reputation, solid reviews, and sometimes even country of origin play a role subconciously, especially for things I plan to use long-term.
Social proof is huge too, recommendations from real users or friends make me trust a product much more than any ad.
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@sanskarix I am the same – price, return on investment, usability. But let's be honest – with AI, every product will be the same and secondary factors for differentiating will be needed.
Cal ID
@busmark_w_nika Very true, I religiously believe that content is going to be a differentiator for brands in future (depending on their industry) as it is a great way to set a positioning and connet with the users at the same time.
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@sanskarix but content can also be easily replicable. Maybe being present in person will be the main differentiator – like a premium feature.
For me, brand awareness and trust are the key factors that drive my purchases. When I trust a brand, I don’t worry about functionality cause I’ve already grown accustomed to its reliability.
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@moeez_ur_rehman1 We learnt at university that the brand-oriented approach started in the 80s. It seems that it is still a trend.
@busmark_w_nika Yeah, and it’s true in most cases, Smaller brands often need to invest heavily in marketing to get people to try their products. Once customers start using them, trust gradually builds.
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@moeez_ur_rehman1 That's true. It is hard to win the market when already big brands are established, well-known and could decrease prices because of the mass production. It is hard to play that game (sometimes).
@busmark_w_nika Yeah! It's all about the mind game, who plays well wins well.
Triforce Todos
Besides price and value, I personally look at brand reputation. If I’ve seen the brand active, transparent, or socially responsible, I’m more inclined to trust them.
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@abod_rehman Which one is your love brand? :)
Personally, the country of origin doesn’t matter much to me 😄. What’s most important are the price 💰, value ⭐, and reputation 🏆 of the product. Thank you for sharing your insights 🙏!
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@1001binary We are almost the same, but the country of origin matters to me (especially when I know that some clothes are made in bad conditions). I mean, e.g. people in Bangladesh.
@busmark_w_nika True, ethical production is really important too. It’s good to know how and where products are made.