Can a marketing genious explain this for me?

[Watcher]

Why do corporations feel the need to rename things for international releases?

It could be simple like Yamaha's MT-07, which in the USA is called the FZ-07, or it could be more complex like the Honda Jazz, which in the USA is called a Fit.


Why even bother with the change?  If in every other country in the world it is an MT-07, why on earth does it have to be called the FZ-07 here?  Why can't it just be the MT-07?

It's not always the case.  The Yamaha FZ8 is an FZ8 everywhere.  A Honda Civic is a Civic everywhere.  So WTF?  Why make things convoluted?  I don't get it.



Slightly related, I don't understand why territories have different names depending on what language you are speaking.
Like, Germany.  I took German in high-school, and it's not Germany or German.  It's Deutschland and Deutsch ("doychland").  The town of Munich?  It's not Munich.  It's Munchen.

Why is it called Germany and Munich?  Regardless of where you live or what language you speak, the people who founded the country and live there call it Deutschland and Munchen.  Shouldn't it be Deutschland and Munchen everywhere?
I mean, I'm imagining some tourist asking me for directions to Chicona only to realize they are talking about Chicago.  It's Chicago here, as far as I know it's Chicago everywhere, it should be Chicago everywhere, and so should other locations' name's.

[noworries]

Fit don't work too well in Swedish. Well, nothing better than getting your hands on a nice used fitta.

[RossLH]

Regarding the Jazz vs Fit question, that's a result of market studies. Marketing comes up with a couple different names, probes the market as to which name consumers would prefer, and the result is different names in different countries. Much like the Nissan Fairlady vs. 300ZX--Nissan's marketing decided that nobody in America wanted a car called Fairlady, so we got the 300ZX.

[noworries]

And Nissan gets it so wrong, sometimes. Here, in Oz, the company dumped Pulsar for Tilda and the public dumped Nissan for something else....Mind you, it was also Datsun who launched the Cedric and the
Fairlady onto the market here...the mind boggles.

[jdoorn14]

You'll probably also be confused about what people did before computers could be found in every house.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Buddha]

I dont particularly like names for vehicles. I prefer F-150 over Ford Ranger for example. GS500 is cool, Ninja 500 is lame. Just Ninja is lame ^2.
Cool.
Buddha.

[noworries]

Meanwhile Mazda use numbers to force folk to say "Mazda".....cool.

[DoktoroKiu]

I always thought it was one of two things:
1) Someone else already has that name/letter+number and they need something different
2) Market research says that people won't like the original name

I also know that companies like Ford are starting to use the same base vehicles in different regions but with different trim and styling according to the style and tastes of that region.  In that sense they are two different cars.

As for the varying names of Germany:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/443/why-are-there-so-many-names-for-germany-aka-deutschland-allemagne-etc

A similar issue is how in the USA we call ourselves "Americans", but that neglects the fact that everyone in north, south, and central America are also "Americans".  Trust me on this, this seems to be a pet peeve of theirs (at least among the Esperanto community).

I dont particularly like names for vehicles. I prefer F-150 over Ford Ranger for example. GS500 is cool, Ninja 500 is lame. Just Ninja is lame ^2.
Cool.
Buddha.

I find numbers/letters to be sometimes problematic, especially in cars more so than bikes.  Everyone knows what a charger, viper, mustang, corvette, etc. are because they are iconic names.

Also, I like Ninja as a name.  I like to imagine that people who ride ninjas are secretly ninjas themselves, and nobody Fraks with a ninja...
You can also tell non-riders that you have your own personal ninja and see how they respond.

[Watcher]

While I admit that I would feel a little emasculated driving around in a "Jazz" while a "Fit" doesn't sound so bad, then how do you explain Yamaha's MT-07?

Personally, I think MT07 sounds cooler and is easier to say than FZ07, plus isn't it an acronym for something?  When I think initials I think, like, engine codes and chassis designations and such.

Like, my Jeep Cherokee is an XJ.  Even if it's not called a Cherokee (which I think it is everywhere), I guarantee it's called an XJ everywhere.  And every XJ is a Cherokee.  There are also the CJs (Citizens-Jeep), YJs (early Wrangler), TJ (later Wrangler), JK (modern Wrangler), MJ (Comanche pickup), you get the idea...

The MT is a line of bikes Yamaha makes, the MT07 and the MT09.  Calling it an FZ in the US not only changes the name, but sort of lumps it in with the FZ8, the FZ1, and the FZ6R, and that's not a good thing since the FZ family of bikes is a whole different chassis, look, and engine design.

So if the Yamaha MT07 had a name, like the MT07 "Demon", then even if "Demon" was changed I'd still think it would be an MT07.


And I understand that even less than calling a "Jazz" a "Fit".


Or like the recent separation of Dodge and RAM trucks.  I still call it a "Dodge RAM 1500", not a "RAM 1500".  What was the point?  Did it somehow boost sales?  Did it increase appeal?  Did it cut cost?  I don't think so.
Pointless in my opinion.  It was established as "Dodge RAM", that's what most of the population knows it as...
If it was a political thing, like the head of the RAM trucks wanted to separate himself from the Dodge name for some reason, I can see that.

But changing it just to change it due to some perceived public view is very skewed if you ask me, and if they did interview a bunch of people about the MT then it is of my opinion they should all be shot in the ass with a 12 gauge beanbag...
The interviewees, not the corporate heads.  Cause that sample group was a bunch of *$*^%$...

[noworries]

Ah, American marketing......the Magnum XLs always grabbed my attention rather than the ENZ range.

[jdoorn14]

A 3 credit intro to marketing class down at the local community college would likely help you understand some of the logic behind all of this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Watcher]

A 3 credit intro to marketing class down at the local community college would likely help you understand some of the logic behind all of this.

But that's time and money I'd rather not spend on the topic, I'd rather just complain about it 

[jdoorn14]

Aha. I see. Carry on then. Didn't realize you were just venting so your panties would untwist.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Buddha]

A 3 credit intro to marketing class down at the local community college would likely help you understand some of the logic behind all of this.

But that's time and money I'd rather not spend on the topic, I'd rather just complain about it 

I wish there was a place we could complain and the companies that are related to the product are watching/listening so they can get product advice free and we can hope to get a better product down the road, and they can save lots of $$$ by not hiring Idiots who have taken the 3 credit course in marketing.

For example - The idiots who make pants should design pants such that the pockets are wide enough to keep the crap you put in your pockets staying on the inside of your leg and not slide outward and end up under your leg.
In the mid 90's I never had that keys go under your leg happen. The pants I bought then I still wear (there is just 1 left tho) and all the new pants I have bought in the last 10 years are terrible. Stuff always ends up under your leg.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Watcher]

A 3 credit intro to marketing class down at the local community college would likely help you understand some of the logic behind all of this.

But that's time and money I'd rather not spend on the topic, I'd rather just complain about it 

I wish there was a place we could complain and the companies that are related to the product are watching/listening so they can get product advice free and we can hope to get a better product down the road, and they can save lots of $$$ by not hiring Idiots who have taken the 3 credit course in marketing.

I'm on a forum for 1911 handguns and several manufacturers keep an eye on it.  Reps are always asking questions, making comments on peoples' posts, defending their products (in a positive way), and taking advice.
Example, if someone is having an issue with a Remington R1, you might see a Remington rep give him an e-mail in order to set up an RMA or offer technical advice on operation.  Or if enough people say "I love the Ruger SR1911, I just wish they made one in a commander size barrel", some Ruger rep starts going 

It's a large and very popular forum with many manufacturers sponsoring it, so it's above the average in that respect.  It's just cool to see companies doing internet relations like that.

[DoktoroKiu]

A 3 credit intro to marketing class down at the local community college would likely help you understand some of the logic behind all of this.

But that's time and money I'd rather not spend on the topic, I'd rather just complain about it 

I wish there was a place we could complain and the companies that are related to the product are watching/listening so they can get product advice free and we can hope to get a better product down the road, and they can save lots of $$$ by not hiring Idiots who have taken the 3 credit course in marketing.

For example - The idiots who make pants should design pants such that the pockets are wide enough to keep the crap you put in your pockets staying on the inside of your leg and not slide outward and end up under your leg.
In the mid 90's I never had that keys go under your leg happen. The pants I bought then I still wear (there is just 1 left tho) and all the new pants I have bought in the last 10 years are terrible. Stuff always ends up under your leg.

Cool.
Buddha.

I would be wary of supporting such a feedback mechanism.  These things tend to backfire by allowing the unintelligent masses to dictate how the product evolves.  Granted they are trying to target that audience to sell more of their crap.  IMHO some of the best stuff is made by people/companies that don't let the masses affect their vision.

[cWj]

Between the general male domination of jazz, Karl Malone and the TransFormer, it seems somewhat surprising that one would find the name "Jazz" emasculating.

Now if they'd named it "Jazzercise" or "Jazzhands"...

[yamahonkawazuki]

On a slightly ironic note,  ive seen morbidly obese folks in a honda fit. But hey whatever works Eh?

[Watcher]

On a slightly ironic note,  ive seen morbidly obese folks in a honda fit. But hey whatever works Eh?

LMAO!

Why does it also always seem like vastly overweight people ride vastly underpowered scooters?

[yamahonkawazuki]

Well a vastly underpowered car. Idk how they fit in the fit. Id have to estimate close to a thousand pounds between the two. And not talking english currency.