Snob effect

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The snob effect refers to the desire to own exclusive or unique goods. These goods usually have a high economic value, but low practical value. The less of an item available, the higher its snob value.

Examples of such items with general snob value are rare works of art, designer clothing and sports cars.

In the instance of designer clothing, it is arguable weather the item in question fits the snob value criteria, which in itself may vary from person to person. A person may reasonably claim to purchase a Lacoste Polo because of a certain threading technique, longevity, and fabric. While this is true in some cases, the desired effect of the Polo can be achieved by purchasing a less-expensive version from a credible brand such as Gap, and this rule is not exclusive to polo's. Often these high-end items end up in discount stores such as Nordstrom Rack as well as online websites like Gilt where they may be offered up to 75% off the original price, bringing into question the true value of the product. Ultimately, wealthy consumers can be lured by superficial factors such as rarity, celebrity representation and brand prestige.

Collectors within a specific field can suffer from snob effect, searching for the rarest and often most expensive collectibles. Such examples are classic automobiles, Stamps and Coins.