So true Maniparna, the mall culture is terrible. I still get confused whenever I go to a busy city as to why so many people hang around in the malls so much! I mean there are so many better things to do in the world! :O. I agree, even I do that a lot of times, it is as if I am blinded by a symbol. I remember the times when I used to buy clothes cos they said “Cotton”, now I buy cos it says “Reebok”. Kinda feels weird doing that! But brands have found a way to speak I guess!

Thank you Hitesh :).. Oh yea, I wonder how the coming generation would be!!! They might start saying that they are going to breathe only an “X” brand of oxygen cos the air is too local for them :P

Thank you Alok :). Yea, they feel so grown up Alok. I mean, they make me feel pretty old :D .. I am still in those days where a kid would be happy about an ice cream bar on a warm summer noon! :O.

I agree, most of the extra money we pay is to add up to the marketing and advertising costs of the company. And we can get much better quality at a much lower price! But I think the one reason why they survive is the trust factor. Although I would love to support a local industry, for me it is very hard to identify whom to trust and also to identify as to who can be reliable. And more importantly it provides me a person to go back to when something goes wrong. I really do get confused sometimes whether to go for a brand or simply go for something local.

Yeah Veena, I sometimes feel that kids are not kids anymore.. They seem so grown up!!!

You will be surprised to hear this that it is true that you can get the same products in 200 Rs. while for the same you can pay around 2000 Rs. to a brand, but then check the quality and durability of the branded one and you will realize it is quite better than that non-branded one and lasts too long as well.

Now this is the quality which makes a brand, if they won’t follow it, soon they will be out of the market.

Thank you Anita :). I agree, people certainly are very conscious. Why others, even I am quite conscious about the brands. I guess it did take quite a bit of unlearning to come to this stage and perhaps a lot more going further :)

Thank you Bhavani :)