The fast paced developments in the consumer electronics is hard to neglect. As always in any industry, few companies and geographic locations lead the market. In Consumer Electronics, USA, Japan, Singapore, some parts of Europe are the launching pads for cutting edge techy products. Market performance in these regions will define its further life in other geographic locations. Some companies are known for their innovation and come up with new products regularly, example: Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Nikon, Dell, Apple, etc. In my opinion, the hot product categories are cameras (including camcorders), portable audio, TV and cell phones. The market changes so fast that what is cutting edge technology today becomes "ordinary" within a short span of time. The new products are always sold at premium targeting heavy purses. After a while, prices normalize and gradually taper off due to market dynamics.
Indians living in America get carried away with the innovative electronics products. It is a status symbol to own & display high end stuff. Also, the urge for peer recognition and “competition” makes a person stretch his budget and get a decent product. Few factors which make Indians go after high tech stuff could be
a) We develop intimate relationship with the electronics products and don’t throw away the stuff even if it breaks. Repair costs in India are cheap compared to investing on the new product b) Innovation Vs Price: Until few years back, Indian electronics marketplace was sluggish and not so very innovative. Even if so, the newly introduced stuff was very expensive.
c) Few years back, some of the electronics stuff like big screen TVs, home theaters, etc did not figure in a common man’s wish list.
d) There could be few more reasons…you let me know
Given the above, when an average Indian comes over to the USA, he/she is awed with the electronics marketplace because of the range of products, availability and the price. It is quite natural for such a person to splurge on something that brings happiness and change to the daily life!
Note: I hear that Indian consumer electronics market has redefined itself in the last couple of years. Products launched in US or Japan become available in India within a short span of time and there is no significant price difference between the Indian make and the imported ones!. Could this mean travel bags to India will get lighter?
2 comments:
That last NOTE is correct. We don't need to take stuff from abroad anymore. Everything is there in India.
In those days (early 80s or so), your dad (and my dad), when they travelled abroad, they used to bring mixy/chopper and all!
yes, that's true..My father even brought some unique sarees from Europe!
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