What Matters More To Buyers, Brand Or Price? Here's What We Found

We recently ran a micro-survey on LinkedIn to explore a fundamental buying question: what drives purchasing decisions more, brand or price? The results came back evenly split. Out of 16 respondents, 8 chose brand, and 8 chose price. The sample size may be small, but the reasoning behind each choice gives us a rough idea of how people really think when it’s time to buy.

Those who leaned toward brand highly emphasised trust, reliability, and quality assurance. One of the participants said, “Brand first, then only I check on the price. If I can’t afford it, I go for a different option. But always brand first.” Another mentioned, “Brand gives confidence that the product quality is good. It also indicates whether it’s halal, which matters.” For some, brand is a shortcut to reduced risk, especially for bigger purchases like electronics or tools. As the other participant shared, “I usually consider price for everyday items, but for long-term or important things, I choose brand.”

The price-first group, on the other hand, came from a practical, often budget-driven position. “Must be on budget,” one said. Another added, “The cheaper the better, but without compromising the quality.” There’s also a sense of scepticism toward brand value. “Not all expensive brands are good, and not all cheap products are bad,” one respondent shared. Some expressed a preference for evaluating both, but ultimately prioritised price due to financial limitations or a desire to stretch their dollar.

There were also hybrid views. One person explained, “When my resources permit, I go for established brands. But I’m open to local products if they offer similar quality at a better price.” This highlights how brand and price aren’t fixed priorities—they shift depending on context, product category, and personal circumstances.

In short, this micro-survey shows us that buyers’ decisions aren’t static. They weigh multiple factors from risk and value, quality, to context and economic situation before they make decisions accordingly. It’s not actually a matter of price vs. brand anymore.