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Sony Shrugs Off Bad Press - Still A Strong Brand

Posted by Zonk on from the no-one-knows-what-a-rootkit-is dept.

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.'"

10 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. Not So Sure by HRbnjR · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Not So Sure by Ozzeh · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I try to be as objective as possible when buying electronics. Brand-loyalty never did nobody any good! (if Sony markets the best solution, I'm game!)

    2. Re:Not So Sure by multipartmixed · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why does this surprise you?

      Sony also would not allow VHS/Beta devices.

      --

      Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
  2. It's a Japanese view-- and it will hurt them badly by postbigbang · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.
  3. What was expensive was buying the survey by spun · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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
    1. Re:What was expensive was buying the survey by Ixne · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Indeed. From http://www2.landor.com/?do=cCapabilities.home :

      "Transforming brands that transcend competition is the core value that drives Landor. It is what we've done for over 60 years. Our clients come to us for many reasons. Their single commonality is their desire to change perception..."

    2. Re:What was expensive was buying the survey by trippcook · · Score: 2, Interesting
      The thing that people in the tech/video game blog-world don't seem to realize is that way less people are pissed about Sony than you would think. I work in a building full of bill collectors, and I know a ton of PS3 owners here. None are what I would consider "hard core" gamers --- there are two types: home theater enthusiasts (that want a cheap Blu-Ray player and HDMI) and people who want a new console that also plays the ton of PS2 games they still have.


      That's all there is to it for most people --- most people don't care about how forthcoming they are to the gaming press, how the launch titles aren't as good as current-gen 360 titles, etc. A TON of people associate gaming with "Sony Playstation," and that's that. My friends (who, like me, play a TON of videogames) spew endless Sony hate, but everyone else I talk to can't wait to get one. Also, the PS2 just had FF12, Okami, and has God of War 2 on the horizon ... I think Sony is putting out this machine for enthusiasts and to take press away from rivals, but is still making so much cash from the PS2 that they don't care that much right now that it's being "trounced" by the Wii. If it's not the best-selling console in the 07 Christmas season, I'd be shocked.

  4. Re:No brainer by chip35 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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.

  5. Re:They have a saying for that by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Interesting
    But walking into an obvious dead end like HD-DVD when Sony is clearly popular and will prevail with Blu-Ray

    Ah, is it time for paid advertisement shills already?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Brand recognition does not work like this by k2r · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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.