Question

Identify and discuss a brand or product that provide significant utilitarian value for you. Then choose another brand or product that gives you substantial hedonic value and discuss.

To receive full credit, your post must be 500 words long.

Answer 1

Brand or product that are purchased for its utility and significant uses provide utilitarian value. Such products offer Value for Money. For example, if we purchase salt for its utility, it can be used to enhance the taste of our food and thus offers utilitarian value. It is difficult to imagine the food without salt and thus has got significant value. People purchase tomatoes, potatoes and rice to fill their stomach and thus it has significant utilitarian value. It is difficult to imagine life without such goods and thus has got significant utility.

On the other hand, goods which are purchased and consumed for luxury are hedonic goods. Such goods are purchased not for its utility but for the fun and playfulness it offers , which is termed as hedonic value. For instance, diamond jewelry is being purchased by the buyer not for its significant utility but for the luxury associated with it. Thus diamond jewelry has hedonic value. People buy video games spending thousands of rupees for fun, luxury and playfulness. Such goods do not have any utility associated with it and thus have hedonic value.