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Sony Shrugs Off Bad Press - Still A Strong Brand
netbuzz writes "The Sony brand name took a beating last year over all those burning batteries and the rootkit fallout, right? Wrong, at least according to a recent survey of 2,000 adults who are apparently willing to forgive just about anything ... if you give them the right reason. Other technology companies, most anyway, also fare well in the brand survey. From the article: 'According to the survey, the Sony brand finished a gaudy ninth among the "Top 20 Winners for 2006," sandwiched comfortably between a couple of saintly American icons: Oprah and the National Football League. Moreover, the respondents see Sony climbing to No. 4 among this year's gainers, right above Amazon and eBay. Moral: Build a better PlayStation and the American consumer will forgive all else.'"
I was originally planning to sit on the fence regarding the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war until a dual format player was released.
And then I heard Sony was using their licensing agreements to prevent such a device.
Sony just refuses to do what is best for the consumer, be it root kits, memory card interoperability, or licensing rules like this.
I can certainly say that *my* image of them has tarnished over time, and I am now seriously thinking about buying HD-DVD just to spite them.
The long view is traditional (ignore the Welsh CEO they have) in Japanese business culture. If you think they get bad press in the English speaking world, wait until you read what the Taiwanese, Chinese, and other Asian (read ASEAN) press skewer them with.
And for good reasons:
* They've been hurt badly in every market they have; viz the iPod, Wii, XBox, and consumer electronics entertainment markets
* They've shown little respect for media consumers, viz the installable rootkit, and the HDDVD wars
* They've shown little innovation-- a former hallmark
* Their PCs break, they have rotten warranties, and they're not designed for real-world mobility; worse, they're anti-FOSS and have no formal Linux support mechanisms worth mentioning
The ultimate problem: their value proposition used to be high-- and priced high, but no longer leads the markets they're in-- they're followers now. They've had their lunch eaten by lots of astute competitors.
Dare I say it? Ok: they've jumped the shark.... sadly.
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
This survey was done by a company called "Landor Strategic Brand Consulting." Obviously, these guys are not in the business of taking impartial surveys, they are in the business of PR and building brand recognition and loyalty. Now somehow they have everyone talking about how the bad press just doesn't matter. No one is asking, "does it matter?" anymore, they are asking, "Why doesn't it matter?"
Very clever PR. I'd take these results with a Great Salt Lake sized grain of salt. Don't let these sleazy PR hacks brainwash you into doing their work for them.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
I know when I took my Sony CD back to Best Buy because of the rootkit, the clerk told me that I breaking BestBuy's return policy of returning open product. While BestBuy were forgiving and allowed me to exchange the CD for a non Sony product I did feel like I had entered a new dimension.... The Service Clerk had not heard of the rootkit at the time. I agree there are 2 worlds. However as a boomer my reality is that Sony have been on a slippery slope for awhile now. I strongly desired my first Walkman and Trinitron TV in the early 80's. I paid extra money for them. I shopped at the Sony Store.... But after purchasing products with proprietary memory sticks and discs, this year's rootkit was the last straw for me. It may not be the breaking point for others, but I think there is a general trend. From a loyal fan, I now will avoid the Sony brand name. It took decades for this to happen, but I suspect the trend will continue and the mistrust of the brand name will grow. I don't see Sony changing anytime soon. I know what Sony does in the future will have less impact on me.
Ah, is it time for paid advertisement shills already?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
There is more than one kind of sheep. You have sheep that, as you have described, or the equivalent of semi mindless consumers. Then you have the 2nd party of sheep, which you belong to, that seem to think this is a "American" thing. It is not. It is human nature. All you have to do is examine things from a basic environmental perspective on a global scale and this becomes very obvious. Granted America gives off more than it's share of polutants, but as other countries become wealthier, they are following suit. Thus the increase in consumption of fossil fuels. Or perhaps McDonalds worldwide presence is another indicator. Your frustration with the poor choices of others blinds you to the 3rd fact...that people at a base level are all the same. It's just a question of how much they can afford and how much time they have. There are exceptions such as yourself. But that is what...10% maybe of the population?
Being intelligent about being a slave to your own desires and needs (regardless of benefit or lack of) does not change the facts that you too are following suit. Your just more selective.
I'ts not this one dimensional and the way down is non linear.
You can fsck up many times and still have a excellent name before people will remember ALL YOUR FAULTS AT ONCE.
It's like the greenhouse effect.