[amanaplanacanal]

Wow. This is like complaining about going into my local pub for a beer and discovering they have a dozen taps. Well sure, different people like different things, and sometimes I might want a creamy stout, and sometimes a West Coast IPA, and sometimes a light lager on a hot summer day.

I guess life was better for those behind the iron curtain that only had one brand?

[smath]

I think both extremes can be suboptimal (no choice and too much choice). See for example ‘the paradox of choice’ - research done by Barry Schwartz and later by Sheena iyengar https://modelthinkers.com/mental-model/paradox-of-choice

[yumraj]

> research done by Barry Schwartz and later by Sheena iyengar

Per the article, Sheena Iyengar did the study on 2000 and then ”This study became a central example in Barry Schwartz's 2004 book, The Paradox of Choice.”

On a related note, this is one of the main reasons we like Costco. Fewer SKUs means less cognitive load and easier shopping.

[lttlrck]

Thinking about it, my local Costco has a huge coffee selection... one side of a whole isle. Only coffee gets that treatment!

[refulgentis]

I'm not sure this imagined scenario, where coffee shops ask where you want your beans from, would apply to this study:

"displayed 24 jams in a busy supermarket for tasting...60% of customers stop[ped and tasted], 3% [made] a purchase."..."Next, 6 jam jars....[40% stopped, less than 60%], but...purchases went up [from 3%] to 30%."

It reeks of the worst sins of early-TED-era social psychology experiments: tons of obvious confounders.

For instance, 24 samples at a table that was 50% busier means I'm thinking I'll come back and wrap up my tryout next week or whenever: it's very busy and I can't afford 15 minutes to sit around trying to maintain tasting notes on something I didn't have intent to buy anyway -- if I did, I wouldn't be sampling!

It also means less 1:1 salesmanship contact with the purveyor of samples, and 4x of much investment needed on their part.

[xnzakg]

It also depends on how popular the place is, and the customer demographic. Continuing with that example, if it's a small grocery store in a town with a population of a few thousand people, sure, there's definitely no point in having 24 different types of jam. However, if it's a store specializing in jam, in a large city, then having a larger selection makes sense, especially when you have someone working there who you can ask to recommend something. Sadly that usually also implies higher prices.

[AlfeG]

This is my problem in every situation.

Want a car? Here are thousands of options. Want a fridge? Good luck in market research. Want a TV? Nope, I will not help. Too many variables. Bottle of water? Here are hundreds of options. Let's guess why one bottle can cost x100 times more than another.

Sometimes I just want simple things ... Like to drink a cup of coffee.

In my student time. There was a shop where we bought "Beer", "Cognac" or "Vodka", with corresponding simple labels. No trademarks, no info on producers. Very easy to choose.

[Lunatic666]

I find coffee very approachable for people without any experience. If you have a good barista they should be able to make a good recommendation for you. Maybe start with something nutty or chocolatey and if you are a bit more adventurous, try a coffee with a berry flavored profile. For me the big surprise was when I started with specialty coffee that I could taste the difference between very small changes when pulling a shot.

[leapingdog]

> Want a fridge? Good luck in market research.

If paralysed by consumer choice I would lean on Which?[0] magazine which is run by the Consumers' Association charity. Perhaps there is something similar in your geography.

> In my student time. There was a shop where we bought "Beer", "Cognac" or "Vodka", with corresponding simple labels.

This reminds me of the grocery store in the film Repo Man[1] which had a few digs at consumerism. I prefer to know where my alcohol is from & who made it but I pass no judgement.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Which%3F [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repo_Man_(film)