Aaron's Buying Behaviour

I am a notoriously compulsive spender - typically, limited thought goes into my purchasing decision, other than "I want it because it looks nice". I would describe myself as brand loyal - for example, I frequently purchase from Louis Vuitton. Its products are of high quality, last forever, have excellent resale value and I have an appreciation for its rich heritage.

More recently, I made the biggest purchasing decision of my life thus far and bought a brand new car - a 2017 Hyundai Elantra that would serve the purpose of getting me to and from school and/or a future co-op placement/job. As there are numerous different cars on the market that would meet my needs, my research was extensive and a decision was not easily made. Translated into writing, my thought process looked something like the following:

Problem

-       Relying on a ride every morning at 6:30 AM from my parents is unfair to them

-       Public Transit is affordable, however a one way trip to the campus takes just under 2 hours, equating to 4 hours in total out of the day spent travelling

-       If applying to a co-op placement, will need a method of transportation as it might not be within a reasonable proximity to my house

Information Search

-       Prior knowledge of the automotive industry and manufacturers was useful as I knew what was available

-       Visiting dealerships would allow me to inspect features, prices

-       Contacted prospective insurance companies to get estimates on rate

      Evaluation of Alternatives

-       Created a list of potential “candidates”

-       Calculated the relative cost of ownership for each car, taking into account estimated depreciation, fuel costs, annual insurance cost

     Purchase Decision

-       Decided to buy a 2017 Hyundai Elantra

-       Decision was made based on testimony from family friends who own Hyundai vehicles

-       Low fuel and maintenance costs à having worked at a shop before, I have experience working on Hyundai vehicles and recognized the limited time and monetary resources they require to maintain

-       Low insurance rate

-       Stellar reputation within the competition segment (compact cars)

-       Specific model level had an abundance of safety features that would benefit a young driver

     Post-purchase Behaviour

      Having owned for only a week, highly satisfied so far

About Me

The past month has represented a significant journey for me. I made on of the biggest decisions of my life to enroll at Conestoga College, having decided that I was not enjoying my studies at the University of Windsor as much as I had hoped. I recognized college as being a more suitable option to my learning style - smaller class sizes and more practical, field-related experience.

This being said, I am certainly not unfamiliar to the concept of business. Growing up, I was surrounded by family members who had made a name for themselves. My parents encouraged me from a young age to make my own money while emphasizing the importance of saving early. My first job was a paper route at the age of 9. From there, I moved on to eventually start my own successful small business detailing truck fleets for local companies, as well as clients' and friends' personal vehicles. 

The marketing program was appealing to me as it reflects my creative and innovative desires. When I was younger, I enjoyed art - painting, designing and sketching. I was fortunate enough to even have my artwork displayed in a public gallery, and designed apparel for various programs and schools I attended. In addition, threw my vast experience I have learned to sell myself and my ideas, and enjoy such a challenge of doing so. My highschool career was focused around my participation in the DECA organization - placing 6th, 3rd and 1st in Ontario for my category over 3 years, and attending the international conferences in Anaheim, Atlanta and Orlando.

Success in this course is important to me, as is in everything I do. Fostering behaviour such as attentive listening, participation and adherences to deadlines will certainly enable me to meet my personal goals.