Mark Albrighton Posted May 7, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted May 7, 2019 21 minutes ago, Mic09 said: I'm not English but I lived here for the last 14 years and I noticed (incoming massive generalisation warning) that English love a "widely accepted, overpriced product". Apple, Starbucks, BMW, Audi, Beats Headphones, Sky TV, Nandos, Stella, the list is endless. There are countless better alternatives, but somehow the above just dominate the market. But why? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 7, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 7, 2019 23 minutes ago, Mic09 said: I'm not English but I lived here for the last 14 years and I noticed (incoming massive generalisation warning) that English love a "widely accepted, overpriced product". Apple, Starbucks, BMW, Audi, Beats Headphones, Sky TV, Nandos, Stella, the list is endless. There are countless better alternatives, but somehow the above just dominate the market. But why? Generally thick and a lack of critical thinking which in turn leads to an acceptance of what the media tells them to like and aspire to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 A regulatory and tax environment (or lack thereof) that allows dominance from one or two players to crowd out meaningful competition or place smaller/more boutique/more local versions of products seems to me to be at least part of the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkyvilla Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 The rents in my town put off pretty much anyone wanting to open an independent shop. Even having a market stall on a Thursday has become more expensive so there's hardly anything there either. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 i think kiddy is the same, greedy landlords have killed the top end of town as for germany...thinking about it a bit more I think there is a cultural difference in enjoying things and their perception of quality that links directly to starbucks, they drink a lot of coffee here (tea is pretty shit) but I've yet to go to anyone's house and see a jar of instant coffee pulled out, my office of 400 people has about 8 machines that you feed coffee beans in at the top and get your cup, my missus has 2 coffee machines, 1 for the week and then 1 for the weekend where paper filters, saucepans and god knows what comes out and it takes around 10 minutes to make a cup, they've just done up bonn train station with 10ish retail units, not one of them is a coffee shop, had a look on the tube this morning, not one person with a paper coffee cup going to work, I don't think they do things '"on the go" if they enjoy it they will take their time with it and if they don't enjoy it they aren't going to pay a fiver for it, so im not sure the starbucks model necessarily works here, they'll want 20 minutes to sit down and drink their coffee rather than walk around town with it that goes for the food too, there is way way less mass produced shit here, less "bargains" when it comes to food, donuts are 2eur each, probably hand made or at least some kind of hand finish, not seen a whole lot of thaw and serve style products that we have, theres hardly any packaged sandwiches available or meal deals at every shop, there are hand prepared bread rolls and there's definitely not any 5 for a quid style cheap horrible shit that is served up in england 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bickster Posted May 10, 2019 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted May 10, 2019 Well I never knew that! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 On 07/05/2019 at 23:03, Mic09 said: I'm not English but I lived here for the last 14 years and I noticed (incoming massive generalisation warning) that English love a "widely accepted, overpriced product". Apple, Starbucks, BMW, Audi, Beats Headphones, Sky TV, Nandos, Stella, the list is endless. There are countless better alternatives, but somehow the above just dominate the market. But why? Absolutely. The amount of people who have the same phone and car (Apple and Audi) is disproportionate. Its like a uniform. I'll be honest I drive an Audi and have an iPhone! I'm part of the problem. They are good products but lack any uniqueness (for want of a better word). Its something that has dawned on me in the last few months - everyone is trying to be the same, me included I guess. Still i'll show them with my 70's muscle car and Nokia 6310 soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 It's good marketing, that's all. I have a hawei phone, after 8 years of Samsung's. It's exactly the same more or less, but I went for it because the camera is much better. I drive a Kia Sportage (we own) because it's a good sized family car, has lots of gizmos and was way cheaper than anything with a BMW, VW, Audi sticker on. Out of a pretty shit list of potential company cars, I chose a Renault Kajar because it's a similar size to the Kia. Could have had a VW or a Merc but I'm not interested in it. I do enjoy a coffee though, so I do go to chains, but there is lack of independent coffee shops I've heard anything good about. But franchises are a sign of shit quality and the UK is swimming in them. Says something when a "5 guys" seems chic, new and exciting (just tastes absolutely shit). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 10, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 10, 2019 I feel sorry for you lot that have no indie shops and coffee shops, it has to be said Liverpool is full of them, it's also full of the chain shit which do very well so it isn't just the lack of availability, there are huge swathes of people out there that crave the brands because of the image they think it presents of them (see my previous posts regards thick, lack of critical thinking etc) But you want Indies, hell go to Bristol, it's absolutely full of them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted May 10, 2019 Administrator Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, bickster said: I feel sorry for you lot that have no indie shops and coffee shops, it has to be said Liverpool is full of them, it's also full of the chain shit which do very well so it isn't just the lack of availability, there are huge swathes of people out there that crave the brands because of the image they think it presents of them (see my previous posts regards thick, lack of critical thinking etc) https://www.theindiecoffee.club/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, bickster said: But you want Indies, hell go to Bullmastiff Cafe, Cardiff Market. You can have a mug of tea, or you can **** off. Your choice mate. Yeah, i have to grudgingly like a lot about Bristol to be fair. Cardiff is quite good for indies down the arcades. On the Island it's been almost entirely indies, and a Greggs has just opened. You just know that come the first sunny day there will be all those local businesses stood staring at the queue out of the door at Greggs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tonyh29 Posted May 10, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 10, 2019 3 hours ago, bickster said: But you want Indies, hell go to Bristol, it's absolutely full of them Racist 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 11, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 11, 2019 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDuck Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 1821 map ranking nations on how civilised they are: enlightened, civilised, half-civilised, barbarous, savages. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted May 13, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted May 13, 2019 Thats fascinating @MrDuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkyvilla Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 5 hours ago, MrDuck said: 1821 map ranking nations on how civilised they are: enlightened, civilised, half-civilised, barbarous, savages. Amazing how nothing's changed in nearly 200 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted May 13, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 13, 2019 On 11/05/2019 at 19:24, bickster said: Can't believe there's a bit of Dublin that isn't completely white! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 14, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 14, 2019 French Bastards! Percentage of children born out of wedlock. Hats off to the heathen Vikings too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il_serpente Posted May 15, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted May 15, 2019 The former East Germans seem to be a bit of a randy bunch, too, and don't get me started on those Estonians! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 would be interesting to see a map of Catholicism put up against that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts