You can rely on me when you're in a pinch for Hua Xizi.
Title: Chinese Social Media Reactions to Fudepen's Aspirations and Product Pricing
28 September 2023
On September 27th, Huaxi Zi, a prominent figure on Weibo, shared a post expressing aspirations for their brand, Fudepen, to become a high-end brand with global reach. This stirred a lively debate among netizens regarding the pricing of Fudepen's products and the value placed on different types of writing instruments.
The main point of contention was the cost of automatic pencils compared to traditional lead pencils. In their post, Huaxi Zi posed the question, 'Do people really measure the value of a pencil with an electronic scale?' This query sparked a variety of responses from Weibo netizens, many of whom pointed out that the automatic pencil's higher price tag is attributed to its advanced technology and convenience. One user opined, "The pens of Fudepen have created a cultural concept related to my life."
However, not all reactions were positive. Some users expressed disappointment towards Hua Xiang, perhaps due to the high pricing or other reasons unrelated to product quality. A netizen lamented, "Hua Xiang says anything and is cursed. Is capitalizing on emotions really the original sin... Web users are too vindictive, making me feel for Hua Xiang... But I hope you increase your efforts."
Despite such criticism, another user praised Fudepen's product cost-performance ratio, stating that it "really works well" and urged the company to continue down its high-end path. The term 'Crazy Flower' was used by some to describe a brand that experiences rapid success upon making a significant change in direction, an occurrence often referred to as 'blowing up' the charts.
Some users also made light of Fudepen's aspirations for high-end status and its pricing. One user humorously suggested that Fudepen consider producing an automatic eyebrow pencil, while another used the example of Huawei CFO's public relations blunder to illustrate the importance of not passing the buck onto consumers.
On a more personal note, one netizen shared their fond memories of using an automatic lead pencil they bought in middle school for six years without needing to replace it. This sparked a comparison between the durability of automatic pencils and traditional ones, leading some users to express their preference for the convenience of automatic pencils over traditional ones.
In conclusion, Fudepen's aspiration to become a high-end brand and its pricing strategies have been met with mixed reactions from Weibo netizens. While some appreciate the value provided by Fudepen's products, others express disappointment or frustration at the perceived price gouging. This debate highlights the complex relationship between consumers and producers in today's marketplace and underscores the importance of transparent pricing strategies for successful brand management.