During a trip to the mountains in India, I recalled the interesting concept of “price bundling” when I needed to use the Indian public toilets. I couldn’t help wondering how could I have possibly got all my marketing wrong at school?
As a Mexican, I thought how easy it could be to cheat by going into the restroom, do both, and pay only one. How smart is that?
And I can proudly claim to be a professionally trained corporate slut, meaning I attended business school and even got a scholarship funded by private companies (something I will always be grateful for, no offense ).
Well, western markets and business schools are very well aware that such smart customers, like me, can easily get away with it.
That’s why they come with strategies of bundling products and services at an all-inclusive irresistible price.
Actually, in my role as a marketer, I even thought of the potential slogan: “Pee and Shit for only ₹3 rupees and save!” How could you resist such a pretty western offer?
Evidently, when it comes to trying to understand the logic, complexities, and dynamics of an unknown culture, it can be quite difficult to do so by sitting in a comfortable classroom very far away from the developing nations´ reality… so maybe that’s why I decided to come to India…
Take a look at my post of an amazing weekend in Alibag, near Mumbai.
World business forum 2009- Mr.Vijay Govindarajan- explained case study of Fords failure when it first entered India. Guessing what the customers need by sitting in US. Your article reminds me of that.
Though I do agree that what westerner business school teaches might be difficult to apply in a developing countries the other way around might be much more interested.
Keep blogging.. !!
cheers,
World business forum 2009- Mr.Vijay Govindarajan- explained case study of Fords failure when it first entered India. Guessing what the customers need while sitting in US. Your article reminds me of that.
Though I do agree that what western business school teaches might be difficult to apply in a developing countries the other way around might be much more interested.
Keep blogging.. !!
cheers,