Who I am as regards consumer behaviour!!

Consumer behaviour is the study of how people buy, what they buy, when they buy and why they buy. It blends elements from psychology, sociology, socio psychology, anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups. It studies characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics, psycho graphics, and behavioral variables in an attempt to understand people's wants.

In Describing my self as a consumer, I will say before I indulge in any buying process, I first of all ask my self if I really need the item in question. If I need the item, I try to ask my friends or relatives what they think about the product and if the item in question is of good quality in their eyes. I equally compare different brands as well as prices, then finally decide which brand is best. Mostly at times, I really don't care if the said product I intern buying is not in fashion. I just go in for what I like and at times, other people's opinion don't count.

Buyer decision processes are the decision making processes undertaken by consumers as regards to a potential market transaction before, during, and after the purchase of a product or service.
The buying decision process I have experienced is the General model.
A general model of the buyer decision process consists of the following steps:
Want recognition;
Search of information on products that could satisfy the needs of the buyer;
Alternative selection;
Decision-making on buying the product;
Actual Purchase
Post-purchase behaviour.
AWARENESS - before anything else can happen the potential customers must become aware that the product or service exists. Thus, the first task must be to gain the attention of the target audience or consumers to be. It is not enough to just create awareness but grab their attention. The message must interest them and persuade them that the product or service is relevant to their needs. There fore, the message must be clear and relevant to the target audience needs. Once an interest is established, the prospective customer must be able to appreciate how well the offering may meet his or her needs, but the message must go even further; to persuade the reader to adopt a sufficiently positive attitude towards the product or service that he or she will purchase. Post purchase behaviour then comes in after the product has been purchased. Basically, the first purchase is always a trial purchase to see if the said product will perform its said gaols or function. If it turns out positively, then the buyer might then practice a repeat or regular purchase depending on how the need for the product arises.

Describing how I was influenced by marketing on each phase of the general model are as follows:
After watching an advert on TV or reading a magazine concerning a product, such as a facial lotion, my want for the said product might arise.
I try to search for information on how effective the said product is. Again, marketing comes in still through adverts and provides info on how effective the product is.
If I still have my doubts, then I try to inquire from friends if they have ever tried the said product and what they think about it.
If I am convinced about the effective nature of the product, then I try to find similar products and compare their prices, product features and effectiveness. My final decision might be influenced at times by the sales persons. If they are convincing enough and can testify their usage of the product and its effective nature, then i can go ahead and buy.
On the other hand, if after using the product for at list a week and my expected results are not satisfactory, I might then decide never buy the product again, and latter get rid of what I bought earlier on. But if on the other hand I was satisfied with the product, I will definitely practice a regular purchase and maybe recommend the product to others.