Have you been wagged?

[BlackCat]

Hi there fellow forumers! It has been awhile since my last post here in this virtual community. A lot has changed since. Kudos to all. Some of you would still remember me, and to those who are new (and not so new) to the forum, welcome. I have been meaning to post this here for sometime now but got distracted with work as usual. The post below is somewhat of an opinion feeler. From the title, let me just try to explain a little bit on what the word 'wagged' means. Please read the following excerpt and I will try to explain... "...(for serious brands or labels) there is a tightly defined hierarchy of who is desirable and who is not, and the WAGs almost uniformly fall into the latter category. Just as an outfit or an It-bag sported by Kate Moss or Sienna Miller is an almost guaranteed sell-out, being WAGGED can damage the brand's desirability..." From the above: there are some brands that prefers their products being associated with celebs thus the neumerous endorsements egs. Tiger Woods with Nike golf etc. etc. Got my drift so far? But sometimes this does not work as there are instances when the product is seen worn/carried/used/driven by someone who is not popular or worse, hated by the public in general. When this happens, sales for a particular product/brand declines (or potential sales are somewhat curtailed - sales of Merc in Japan maybe?). This theory goes well if the product is of mass production but not so for high exclusivity or limited production items. OK enough about the explaination of WAGGED! By this time, you may be wondering where am I going with this post. So here goes. I am a watch nut, watch here means wristwatches. Machanicals only and not those powered by batteries/kenetic energy etc. and there are only a few brands that I aspire to have in my collection (a particular brand with a crown is NOT one of them, fortunately). Fast forward... having read our local (Malaysian) newspapers and tabloids in recent days, KLites will witness a wedding ceremony like no other next week! The bride a celeb in her own right and the groom, a celeb by association? Now where am I going with this? OK, did you know/notice/read that part of the dowry (hantaran in bahasa Melayu) for the groom is a watch - not an ordinary watch mind you! An RM-005 in pink-gold by Richard Mille (RM). Many would not know of this watch's existance, till now that is. By the time you read this post, a gazillion of Malaysians would have known! Thus, my dismay of a brand's exclusivity being jaded. Would every Tom, Dick and Harry be sporting an RM now?!!! Dont think so, as this watch commands a very deep war chest. An entry level RM would easly set you back at the very least about 100k. Would you get someting like this (a rip-off) at Petaling Street? Maybe in a few months time, thanks to the local hooplas! As an anology to the above: Try imaging the 3 series being turned into public cabs in Malaysia! Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Would you ever want to own one then? And if you do drive one, would you consider selling it off asap?!!! So my question here, ladies and gents of the flora is... How do you feel? How would you react? What would you do? When the object of your desire is somehow 'tainted'. When it loses its seduction of exclusiveness... I do not know how many of you out there would care to read the above, let alone to post a reply. But if you do, please feel free to reply as you would if this happenes to you. My thanks to all and hope to have some feedback. The BlackCat is back!

 

[scin]

In my E30 Owner's manual, there is a section which is titled:
IF you are going to use your BMW as a taxi..........

In Germany most taxis are Mercs or BMWs

I say.... buy a car or watch based on what you like. Not based on what other people tell you to ( be it directly or via their perception of the brand )

If you like an Altis then get one. If you like a Rolex, by all means.
But don't buy an Altis coz someone says it handles better than an E90!
Don't buy a Panerai coz someone says it's the "in" brand, the "it" watch.
Buy it because you actually like it...

If they want to use BMWs as taxis, go right ahead. I will still be happy to drive mine.
I did not buy my car because it is "exclusive" .....WHO are you trying to kid??
A 16 year old car that was mass produced is not "exclusive"


After all, I am a part time taxi driver (wife doesn't drive)

 

[ah lian]

i smell a snob.

sorry. did i say dat?

wot i meant to say was... its incredibly shallow to harp on the perceived "loss" of "value" of a material object which was artificially overpriced in the pursuit of a marketing strategy to promote a brand.

end of the day, its just a watch. cheap or expensive. you wanna gip a watch as a present, go ahead (not normally favoured by the chinese as it sounds like "sung choong" - sending someone on their last journey). if the design catch on, well good.

wagged, or shagged? these are pure marketing concepts used to influence purchasing decisions of those who either have money and lotsa fancy or those who buy them to try to elevate their own poor self image.

ouch. sorry again. next time, i'll just stick to serving tea.

 

[BlackCat]

Hi scin,

Thanks for your outlook on the subject.

The problem here is:

1. I used to like the RM005. But now with this whole dowary business, its become so TACKY.
2. Having the brand now 'associated' to a certain celeb wannabe is so YUCKY.

Like someone who had mentioned to me a couple of days ago: "the thought of choc topped strawberry is so disgusting to me now." Note: For those uninitiated or for those unaware of this - The choc topped strawberry is someone's fav gift to a local celeb when they were courting. This was reported in our local media recently.

 

[BlackCat]

No need to apologise ah lian as I am looking for none but feedback from fellow fora members.

Do you own an LV handbag or any other bags of highstreet brands such as Ch*nel, Di*r, Guc*i etc etc. If you do, what made you buy it in the first place? Was it not in association of something? Tell no lies but just the truth of what it was that triggered it.

 

[scin]

At least he didn't ask for the RM009!

 

[ah lian]

tea ladies have no money to buy any of the such brands... and dun wanna be seen sporting ps boutique ciplaks. aiyahhh.... no nid lor. later ppl rob me how? buy real one oso no one belip.

brands are created to market things. if its exclusivity and novelty is wot you are looking for, make your own inventions lor.

sorry your kopi too bitter and i din put in enuf sugar for you. some things are better tasted on its own.

 

[scin]

Just stick to Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Phillipe
You won't go wrong...
For me, I wouldn't buy any of those coz they are all ugly watches and I don't buy something that I don't like! regardless of what the industry/public perception is.......

PLUS, I couldn't afford any of those in the first place! hahahaha

 

[BlackCat]

If i did not know better, why do chinese tea person lack decorum to have insinuate such insults or comments. I did not start this thread to attract feedback such as yours. Note: Excerpt from my original post "How do you feel? How would you react? What would you do? When the object of your desire is somehow 'tainted'. When it loses its seduction of exclusiveness..." If you do not care to reply in good faith in the first place, may I suggest that you refrain!

 

[Jipster]

kucing hitam..... a great brand is a great brand, good design is good design..... you may the feel the Richard Mille has gone all tacky because of this whole dowry celeb business but it does not take anything away from the object in question.............

its still an amazing, frickin expensive, mother fickin desirable..... watch.

 

[MRsamdol]

I am a sucker for things wagged or shagged, anything that is endorsed or worn by celebs i would one want. I buy Nike's golf T's cause Tiger wears them, a Rol*x cause every successful businessman has one, a BMW cause its a yuppies choice of car and a mark of success...etc etc. Any ads that catches my eye i would buy or at least try.

I am not an individual in my tastes for luxury's nor i want to be, I have ambitions and every level achieved i follow the masses and do whats the norm and get what is percieved as a mark of success on that level. If i wanted to be an individual i work for charity or NGO's of some sort and devote my life to it. Being wealthy and enjoying the finer things in life is what i want.

In my opinion nothing is exclusive and this concept of wagged is a novel idea by tabloids done by bitter ppl who can't afford the nicer things in life.

Exclusive?? Ferrari P4/5 thats exclusive Richard Mille watch?? i can get it off the counter..

Just my opinion..

Just a rat in a rat race

 

[MRsamdol]

Nice topic of discussion by the way love to hear more response..

 

[BlackCat]

scin,

I see that you seem to know alot about watch brands. I do agree with you that AP, VC and PP are good brands, as are Lange, IWC etc. Nonetheless, they are 'common' or 'well known' brands. But RM is another 'breed' altogether. The RM009 is my fav thus far. Their design and technology in metallurgy is astounding to say the least.

 

[MRsamdol]

Oh yeah my choice of watch?? Rolex SS daytona... is that common? I can't seem to get one at all a bit elusive to me.

 

[ah lian]

you misunderstand. not meant to insult and definitely commented with good intentions. tea ladies lack education to communicate well. sorry.

just that jipster and scin says it better. good watch is a good watch. it doesnt degrade. wot degrades is the your fears of ppl dismissing yours as "common" once it becomes popular thereby reducing your sense of worth in the event of a once-over by a like thinking person.

the above is supported by your choice of words as follows:

"my dismay of a brand's exclusivity being jaded"

"When the object of your desire is somehow 'tainted'"

"As an anology to the above: Try imaging the 3 series being turned into public cabs in Malaysia! Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Would you ever want to own one then? And if you do drive one, would you consider selling it off asap?!!!"

i better go make myself a cuppa tea and go put myself back in my place where i belong, with other more common folks. soli ahh for "tainting" your thread.

 

[scin]

I chose those "well known" brands to highlight the fact that... if you want to tayang, then you need a brand that someone has heard of... It's no use buying a super exclusive car like a Spyker, coz no one has heard of it!!!

 

[BlackCat]

MRsamdol,

Good to know that there are actually bodies out there who are not afraid to tell it as it is. Kudos to you. I agree with you to some point, of rewarding yourself something having achieved what you had planned. In aspiring to go further in whatever field you choose, you need to be come visible. You need to stand out from the crowd. To do this you need to be different. Wearing R*lexes with bling bling aint gonna do it dude. Keyword here is 'discreet elegance'. BTW, rumor has it that the RM005 is going to be discontinued (maybe has been by now). Over the counter? Maybe for some models, for the other RMs, a 2 years waiting list!!!

 

[BlackCat]

kucing hitam..... a great brand is a great brand, good design is good design..... you may the feel the Richard Mille has gone all tacky because of this whole dowry celeb business but it does not take anything away from the object in question.............

its still an amazing, frickin expensive, mother fickin desirable..... watch.

Hi Jip,

Yes it does not take anything away, just that it had added something. An association of the object in question with...

Amazing, expansive, desirable. Yes to all and more.

 

[MRsamdol]

Erm... actually i am an avid watch fan but i guess i am just a train spotter. My collection of watches mainly consists of Rol*xes and 1 measly IWC and that too given by my father a Pilot watch series. I usually buy 1 watch a year and have made the normal mistake of buying Rol*x thinking they appreciate when they don't.. (actaully they do but its only certain models which have limited runs like the SS daytona).

I am not a fan of leather straps watches thats why my next choice would be a PANERAI a Luminor Marina SS strap. Maybe i am still young and hopefully my tastes mature and i am able to appreciate other brands.

I Love watches..

 

[tombstone]

black cat.... pplz can give their own opinions about this and that, till the cows come home, but forgive me for saying this, one man's opinion regarding a certain matter aint gonna change a thing if u think other wise. In fact u would even get mad ie : mad at ah lian. This just boils down to different personalities, likes and dislikes, to each his own...

by creating this thread, i think u were looking for someone to agree wif ur concept...maybe u would find one, then again maybe not...what i can guarantee is flaming on this thread by various persons here...so be prepared...

i have to agree with scin...i dun mind driving my bmw, even if other bmws were used as taxis...

imagine what would mercedes benz (daimler chrysler) do in malaysia if every chinese,malay,indian etc actually felt digusted that their beloved w124s and w210s were being used as airport limos, taxis and hotel limos???

shun their benz and buy a citroen???

anyway..its juz an opinion and everyone is entitled to one...

PS : there is a saying, opinions are like arseholes...everyone's got one...

peace out bro..

PPS : i really hope u get the RM009....