🚀 go-pugleaf

John F Haugh II writes

> When identical cars have been sold under different
> labels, the history of problems reported for each vehicle has been
> found to be different, based primarily on country of origin.  When
> Japanese cars were given American nameplates, they were perceived as
> being of low quality.  When American cars were given Japanese
> nameplates, they were perceived as being of higher quality.  The
> single most persuasive example today is the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymoth
> Laser.

Earlier in this discussion you mentioned another very important fact,
and what I consider the crux of this particular example: Marketing.
You couldn't even remember the name of the American model when this
example first surfaced. It appears to me that Mitsubishi has launched 
a more successful advertising campaign than Plymouth. That could account
for the 17:1 sales ratio. As for problems reported, I do find that very
interesting. Do you have the actual statistics cited for the
Laser vs the Eclipse? Given that these are indeed the same car marketed
under 2 names, the possible reasons for disparity in problems could be:
	1 - Perceptions (as you described)
	2 - Service (Maybe American Dealers have consistently poor service
		     departments)
	3 - Other (Maybe car does have some dealer or marketer installed
		   quality problems)

> Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that some number of problems that
> are reported are not related to the actual quality of the vehicle, but
> to the nameplate.

There are many reasonable conclusions that may be derived, only one of which
is correct.

> Ok.  Next example.  Why, oh why, do women who've had
> abortions not remember being pregnant when asked how
> many pregnancies they've had? [ Source: 1250 Health
> Questions Women Ask ]  The mind is a very strange critter. 

Here we go!!!! John's a strummin' the ole emotional chord...

George
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		      George A. Durden			
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