Brand loyalty is an interesting concept. For many of us, loyalty to a particular brand or product is ingrained at a young age. We may like the way a particular logo looks or maybe the smell of a certain deodorant reminds of our father, grandfather or trusted family friend. Perhaps you simply like the way an LL Bean robe feels or the fact it was originally designed in Maine. Regardless of the reasons, choosing what we buy and why we buy it is usually more complex than simply price and availability.
Like many of you, I received an email from YouTube TV earlier this week letting me know they have dropped Disney channels from their lineup due to a contract dispute. These disputes have happened in the past so I didn’t think much of it. Once Saturday came around and the issue had yet to be resolved, I was in full panic mode. Losing ABC is one thing, losing ESPN on a college football Saturday is another thing entirely.
Thankfully I was able to order a weekend pass from Sling TV. Unlike some other carriers, Sling offers an “a la carte” option allowing you to purchase access for several days rather than locking yourself into a long term contract. This is not only smart for them, it was smart for me. For the low price of $10, I had access to all the games I wanted to watch and zero long term impact to my budget. This also gives YouTube TV one more week to figure out what’s going on before I drop them for another carrier.
Why not just switch now you might ask? I certainly could and I may have to in the long run; however, I chose YouTube TV over all the others due to several factors. Ease of use, functionality and price were a few of the reasons. Unlike other streaming options, the app opens pretty quickly while allowing me to watch on as many devices as I want (for a reasonable fee).
Given the research I put in, I still feel like it’s the best option available. Having said that, no amount of price discount or functions offered will replace something I would require going forward. Zero access to Saturday college football is a bridge too far in my case.
This got me thinking about how far others have been willing to go for a brand they identify with. I remember having a neighbor who had an old Volkswagon. Keep in mind, this was a 1980s VW which is very different from the cars they produce today. They were known for being unreliable, requiring constant maintenance to keep them running. This particular VW was also a diesel, spewing black smoke from the muffler every time it started up.
What seemed like a lemon to me was anything but to my neighbor. Rather than trade it in for something else, he’d spend weekends “fixing” the car just enough that it would continue to roll down the road until the next issue would spring up days, weeks or months later. Asked why he wouldn’t just buy something else, he’d reply, “I’m a VW guy. I like working on them.” This is not unusual for people who like to fix cars, the act of fixing them is a sense of pride and achievement. I get that, but I’m the kind of guy that likes the things I buy to work as they should. Why would I want to own it otherwise?
It’s amazing to me the lengths that some people will go through to stay loyal to a particular brand. Truth be told, I surprise myself at times for the same reasons. I’ll sometimes pay more for something I’ve always used rather than trying the newer and oftentimes cheaper option. Whether this has to do with brand loyalty or knowing the product I’ve always bought will meet my expectations I’m not entirely sure. It’s probably a bit of both if I’m being honest.
I do know this. I like YouTube TV but I love college football.
They’ve got one more week to figure it out.
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