when shopping, do you care how popular something is?

[FullumMusic]

their sorting defaults to most popular.

Unless a site specifically defines for you what "popular" means, it doesn't mean anything. You kinda touched on this in your post. It could mean most clicked-on. It could mean most purchased. It could mean most talked about online, in forums, and/or by youtube reviewers. It could mean any of those in your demographic based on data they gleaned from your IP address & cookies. It could just mean "these are popular with [company selling you things] for our own reasons."

Anecdote from about 15 years ago:
There's a certain music sales site that specializes in dance music that will remain nameless. They use a lot of charts and "Top 10" lists for different genres. But what does "Top 10" actually mean? They never define it. They let you assume it means what you think it should mean. But there's always the caveat of "Top what?"

Well, my friend who's seen some of the backend code running the Top 10 selection said it essentially means "Top 10 songs we want you to buy because we decided, usually because we have some sort of not-quite-payola type situation with their labels that we profit from." And technically, that is a form of "Top 10", so... yeah.

So them showing you the "Most Popular" sorting doesn't necessarily mean most people are actually buying those things.

do people actually buy things, consider buying things or watching things based on popularity or because they're trending?

I may be a misanthrope, but yes. People do buy things because they're trendy. That's how trends exist.

is there something to this beyond herd mentality that i'm completely missing? inquiring minds want to know!

As said misanthrope, i'll say a large part of it is herd mentality. It's:
- It's FOMO
- It's thinking everyone else is buying it so it must be good.
- For musical instruments, it's wanting to sound like the current sound is, so as not to sound outdated.
- It's the same reason why people root for whatever team wins the most at any given time.
- It's the same reason hit songs are hit songs: They get played the most on the trendiest radio stations/Spotify lists/etc., so more people hear them. The more people hear them, the more of a hit the songs are. The more of a hit the songs are, the more they're played, the more people hear them, ad nauseam, until the next exciting group of hit songs comes out and the old group of hit songs now sounds uncool and "so last month"

@pcake :

when shopping, do you care how popular something is?​

No.*** I want what i want for the reasons i want it. I've never fit in. I've never really followed what's popular. I've always equated trendy popularity with vapid mindless herd mentality, because i'm a misanthropic judgmental jerk. But, if i need something that's unpopular i don't care. If it is popular, i don't care.

*** One could argue my aversion to do anything popular or trendy means that the popularity of a thing DOES influence my decision to buy something. An inverse influence is still an influence.

But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter because i'm an outlier. If calling something Most Popular didn't make companies more money, they wouldn't do it. But it does, for whatever reason, so they do.

There's probably an entire sub-discipline of Psychology that studies the influence of popularity on selling things.

 

[brianrost]

I seem to always end up with what’s not popular. Easier to save money that way, especially if you buy used I bought three Steinbergers (still own one) when they were selling for less than $1000 used and bought two Pedullas for less than $1000. Now they are more desirable and the prices have tripled.

I actually think about the utility of gear before spending my money and a lot of times the most popular gear doesn’t make the grade. Best example I can think of is bass amps with two channels have become super rare since the 1980s when Peavey finally stopped making them. So I had to buy boutique...Walter Woods and Acoustic Image.

Since most retail sites sort by most popular as the default, I always switch immediately to sort by price low to high I really don't care what everyone else is buying.

 

[Polfuste]

Nope. My main bass is unpopular, and his color was judged as horrible by close to everybody talking from it. In my world this is the better and nicest bass i've had so far.

 

[Jeff K]

I DO tend to look at reviews because they often include thoughts about features, lack of features, comfort, etc. But that said, I realize that a lot of people seemingly post reviews in an effort to justify their own purchase to everybody else. Not everybody, of course. Sometimes the reviews can be very helpful either pro or con.

But the reviews are only a starting point. I still have to see what my own thoughts are after playing something. (Yes, I'm talking mainly about basses.) So bottom line, is that I like to research feedback if I'm not familiar with a specific product; but I don't believe everything I read!

 

[BismarckHerring]

I don’t buy stuff because it’s popular, but I do think popularity can be a useful guide in combination with other information. I think there are three main reasons why a product can be popular: marketing/hype/fashion, i’s cheap, or it’s a good product (for the price). If I can be reasonably sure that the popularity is for the last reason, then there’s a good chance that I’ll buy the most popular product that meets my needs and is reasonably priced. But only for things that aren’t too expensive and that I don’t know much about (like cookware). When I’m buying bass-related stuff, I know exactly what I’m looking for and popularity is completely irrelevant.

 

[GretschWretch]

Since most of the stuff I would shop for has not been produced in decades, this is not a thing I would worry about.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

i was browsing basses on sweetwater, and as is common on a lot of sites, their sorting defaults to most popular.

i've never cared about the popularity of an item or whether it's trending, so this baffles me. today or this week's most popular item could be based on a short-term marketing campaign, a press release, a single large influencer, an article that appeared one time on CNN or in rolling stone, or the manufacturer could make a deal with a group of influencers. it has nothing to do with quality, features, value, whether audiences will find it compelling, or anything i consider when it comes to buying... well, anything. i don't buy basses, paper towels, cameras or decide what to watch based on popularity or trending.

sometimes an overall product/show rating or user reviews can be useful to me, depending on a number of factors. but even then, quality, price, features, weight (when it comes to basses, cameras and lenses), and lack of animal products or toxic chemicals (particularly in art supplies) are what i focus on. quality of customer support from a manufacturer or retailer is a huge plus.

do people actually buy things, consider buying things or watching things based on popularity or because they're trending? is there something to this beyond herd mentality that i'm completely missing? inquiring minds want to know!

Not this person. I’m a value buyer just short of a dumpster diver LOL! Seriously, I don’t buy junk that is not much more than a guarantee you will be spending more money in the future to resolve what issue you are trying to solve. I’ll pay good money for quality and a long life of utility.

My collection of musical gear reflects this. Most of my gear is at least 20 years old and still is in perfect working order and presentable. The exception being a MIA Fender Jazz Am Pro 5 that I bought used in new condition for 30% off retail that came with an almost $200 hard shell case this last summer, everthing else was purchased at least 12 years ago.

 

[logdrum]

I'd like to sound righteous and say that I don't but I do . But in the end budget wins. If the alternative sounds good as the market leader then I'll get that. For example when I can't afford and ES-335, I got an Ibanez AS-200 instead. Turns out John Scofield uses one. This was before they got so expensive. I got mine from a NEC student who wanted to get the real on. His uncle gave him that Ibanez and he was not too happy about that sale.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

With some things like clothes I might at least consider what's popular.

But not with basses. Short scales are at least a little more accepted now but I've been playing them exclusively since I got the first one in the late 90's. Man was it tough to find parts, strings or even information on them here in rural Central WI back in those days. And I'm not a fan of black, traditional bursts, or tort which are universally popular.

 

[walking Bass]

Popular with who? Berganito amps are popular with a lot of working bassists. That made my decision to buy their amp easier and indicated the resell value would be high - (I'm old) - a matter of consideration.

I'm sure there is some "independent" spirit that swears the Yugo was a great car, just misunderstood by the masses. Unless they've become a collectors item, I doubt the resale value is much.

Not to take popularity into account is usually a sign of ignorance. I try to collect all the data I can before I make a meaningful decision.

 

[basscooker]

Generally speaking to answer the OPs title, no.

That said, like everything in human nature there are exceptions.

Being purchased by many many people will sway my decision if it is already on the short list of a product I'm shopping for; e.g. a new tech product, that rates well VS. it's competition I often will choose the more popular.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

I don’t buy stuff because it’s popular, but I do think popularity can be a useful guide in combination with other information. I think there are three main reasons why a product can be popular: marketing/hype/fashion, i’s cheap, or it’s a good product (for the price). If I can be reasonably sure that the popularity is for the last reason, then there’s a good chance that I’ll buy the most popular product that meets my needs and is reasonably priced. But only for things that aren’t too expensive and that I don’t know much about (like cookware). When I’m buying bass-related stuff, I know exactly what I’m looking for and popularity is completely irrelevant.

^This. No one knows everything about everything (tho some say they know All…), and many ppl normally look at what other ppl are choosing…so long as the others aren’t going over a cliff, they may choose what others chose. You can bet the farm on: Yes, ppl who are selling something/trying to influence ppl know this, too. Try to find a restaurant that doesn’t have a Chardonnay & a French red wine on the menu, or a salesperson/website store that doesn’t show you the top sellers.

Sometimes you may want to make the most popular decision - just recognize when someone is using it to try to influence you. Caveat Emptor.

 

[DrBnz]

I'm definitely not likely to follow the crowd or a trend. I'd probably turn to the opposite JUST for that reason. I focus on comfort and performance with most everything from clothes to a bass. Looks do weigh in but I know I'll change my perception of "what looks good" if the comfort and performance is high..... I know what I like, I don't have to be told.

 

[pcake]

Depends on the definition of "popular"

If it is "popular" amongst other gigging bassists, then yes.

popular as listed on websites - i did give sweetwater as an example, so think mostly big box stores.

but i find even the things popular among people here on TB are rarely a good fir for me, so i don't worry about popularity at all.

I'd like to sound righteous and say that I don't but I do . But in the end budget wins. If the alternative sounds good as the market leader then I'll get that. For example when I can't afford and ES-335, I got an Ibanez AS-200 instead. Turns out John Scofield uses one. This was before they got so expensive. I got mine from a NEC student who wanted to get the real on. His uncle gave him that Ibanez and he was not too happy about that sale.

so you take popularity into account? may i ask why? i'm clueless about this - i buy based on features/price/comfort/tone/usability specific to my needs, but i realize not everyone has my shopping habits, which often include ridiculous amounts of research

Popular with who? Berganito amps are popular with a lot of working bassists. That made my decision to buy their amp easier and indicated the resell value would be high - (I'm old) - a matter of consideration.

I'm sure there is some "independent" spirit that swears the Yugo was a great car, just misunderstood by the masses. Unless they've become a collectors item, I doubt the resale value is much.

Not to take popularity into account is usually a sign of ignorance. I try to collect all the data I can before I make a meaningful decision.

popular with the general public who use that kind of item. obviously any group who owns, buys and continues to buy a particular brand will find them popular, but think a wider demograpic - say, popular with the all bass player including beginners, hobbyists, collectors, pros and guys who buy and never play.

I'm definitely not likely to follow the crowd or a trend. I'd probably turn to the opposite JUST for that reason. I focus on comfort and performance with most everything from clothes to a bass. Looks do weigh in but I know I'll change my perception of "what looks good" if the comfort and performance is high..... I know what I like, I don't have to be told.

sometimes i'm experimenting within a niche, so i may not entirely know what i like, but i have parameters that will help hone in. what other people like never seems to apply to me... and back in the day, i refused to own a fender as i felt like they were "the man". since then, i've owned fenders that fit my preferences and worked out fine.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...i realize not everyone has my shopping habits, which often include ridiculous amounts of research

My sister!

 

[klattman]

The popularity sort is useful because all the interesting stuff is at the end of the list.

 

[DaveParker39]

popular as listed on websites - i did give sweetwater as an example, so think mostly big box stores.

but i find even the things popular among people here on TB are rarely a good fir for me, so i don't worry about popularity at all.

I have no idea how Sweetwater determines popularity, but I wouldn't put much stock into the veracity of it.

There are things people love on here that I don't get on with, but there are also things I never would have found without TB, like the Rumble 800, Fret Nation for Spector builds... how to implement an IEM setup into my rig without spending a billion dollars... so I do put some stock into it.

That said, I have no interest in a Nobel Preamp.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Nope

 

[logdrum]

So you take popularity into account? may i ask why? i'm clueless about this - i buy based on features/price/comfort/tone/usability specific to my needs, but i realize not everyone has my shopping habits, which often include ridiculous amounts of research

It's a starting point. If I am looking for something and the site has a review sorting, then that is very useful . When we had to decide on software and test equipment for my team years ago, we had to justify our purchase as objectively as we can even if those products were popular in the industry.

 

[pcake]

It's a starting point. If I am looking for something and the site has a review sorting, then that is very useful . When we had to decide on software and test equipment for my team years ago, we had to justify our purchase as objectively as we can even if those products were popular in the industry.

by review sorting, do you mean you sort by highest rated? i often do that, but it's not the same as most popular, which are listed either by number of overall views or number of purchases.