Could a Product Become Less Valuable as It Becomes More Common?
Scarcity influences perception.
A small bakery introduces a special pastry that sells out every morning. Months later, production expands and the pastry becomes available all day.
The hidden mechanism is perceived scarcity. People often evaluate value using availability as a signal.
Marketers and behavioral researchers have long observed that rarity can influence desirability.
A product does not always lose value when it becomes common. Sometimes it loses the story that made it feel special.
