> It's no mistake that I've come to rely on brand name again.
I've been saying for awhile, this could be the salvation for brick-and-mortar stores. As long as Amazon continues to play fast and loose with counterfeits, the one thing that will get me to drive down to the store and buy something in-person is the store's guarantee that the product came from the vendor whose name is on the box, and that I can return it if I get a lemon.
That and in-person testing of equipment. When (pre-pandemic) I was buying a new set of headphones, I was able to go through different options, test out how they feel, and whether there are any significant sound quality issues. I prefer over-the-ear headphones, but have bigger ears, so it is hard to tell whether a set will be comfortable without trying them on first. To do the same with an online store would require ordering a dozen headsets, then navigating the return policies for all but one of them.
I've been saying for awhile, this could be the salvation for brick-and-mortar stores. As long as Amazon continues to play fast and loose with counterfeits, the one thing that will get me to drive down to the store and buy something in-person is the store's guarantee that the product came from the vendor whose name is on the box, and that I can return it if I get a lemon.