[bollockitis]

I can't speak for anyone else but I certainly have never bought an Apple product to prove I can afford it. In emerging markets -- where the average buyer can't afford more than a cheap Android phone -- there might be some truth to this but in the US, iPhones aren't exactly "exclusive."

[defertoreptar]

I'd agree that throway's case was overstated. That said, Apple has built up its brand as being one of "quality" and "high end." It's a similar brand perception as Cadillac. If you have one, people assume you have the money to afford nicer things. That happens whether you bought because of that or not, and Apple knows this. If they start competing on price, they will sooner lose their luxury status.

[darsnack]

I don’t think if you see someone with an iPhone, you assume they have the money to buy nice things. I think the image Apple has built up works in the opposite way. If you see someone without an iPhone, you assume they only bought that product because they couldn’t afford an iPhone. That must be the only reasonable explanation, you think, because who would willing buy another brand (due to the perceived difference in quality).

[sl1ck731]

They don't have to be exclusive to appear exclusive. You can find the same conversation popping up all the time about people being snobby about the color of their chat bubbles. "Think different" may as well mean "think like everyone else" today, but the company is built on that messaging and people eat it up.