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Someone tried to screw a Rapido chap out of 50 bucks today. It triggered a rant that's been brewing in my head for a while.
Every time I think about why we can't have nicer things in India, it comes back to the same rant.
Better quality gym equipment, better customer service, a wider selection of tools, sports equipment and clothing. All absent in our market. The powder coating on ACs, panel gaps on cars, unrefined interiors and switches on bikes. These are symptoms of us snapping our wallets shut for anything nicer than the bare minimum.
Here's an anecdote. I ride a BMW e-bike made by TVS. It's an odd looking chap. But very refined. Beefier than needed forks. Refined switches and display. A nice frame. It's not very powerful, large or imposing. It's just nice.
But it costs more. I paid too much for it. But I like the refined finish. At traffic stops, people unfailingly ask me how much and tell me how nice it looks. Then they hear the price. I imagine TVS could drive the price down if they were confident Indians would buy it. But our curiosity for something better never translates into an appetite to pay for it.
We are to blame for the lack of a more evolved marketplace. There needs to be demand and a willingness to pay a premium for nice things.
But even when we can afford it, we skimp or go for the cheapest possible option. Paying for refinement is a rarity. It happens in very few spheres. Jewellery, wedding halls and eating out come to mind.
Notice what they have in common. Other people see them. We pay for what's visible. Not for what's refined.
For everything else, look for the 'cheap' offering.
Price is what you pay. Value is what the neighbours see.