The Rise of Premium Mediocre: Why We Pay More for Basic Things in Fancy Packaging

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What Exactly is Premium Mediocre?
• Premium Mediocre in Our Daily Lives
• The Coffee Conundrum
• The "Elite" Experience
• The Software Situation
• The Entrepreneurship Education Game
• Why Do We Buy Into It?
• The Cost of Premium Mediocrity
• Conclusion

Introduction

Have you noticed how everything seems to be getting a "premium" makeover these days? Your coffee isn't just coffee anymore—it's an "artisanal, small-batch roasted, ethically sourced experience." Your coworking desk isn't just a table with a chair—it's a "professional hot desk membership in a creative community." Welcome to the age of Premium Mediocre, where everything is trying to be just a little bit fancy, even when it really isn't.

What Exactly is Premium Mediocre?

The term "Premium Mediocre" was brilliantly coined by Venkatesh Rao in his 2017 article. It describes things that are basically mediocre but dressed up with just enough "premium" elements to make them feel special. Think of it as the corporate equivalent of putting a fancy bow on a regular gift—it's still the same gift, but somehow it feels more expensive.

Premium Mediocre in Our Daily Lives

Let's look at some classic examples that you probably encounter every day:

The Coffee Conundrum

Remember when coffee was just... coffee? Now we have designer coffee pods that promise an "artisan-inspired Guatemalan sunset roast experience" for $5.00 per cup. It's still essentially instant coffee, but the packaging makes you feel like you're getting something special.

The "Elite" Experience

Those networking events marketed as "exclusive gatherings for visionaries and leaders"? You know, the ones held in mid-range hotel conference rooms with mediocre finger food, but they have a professional photographer taking "VIP" shots? That's premium mediocre in its natural habitat.

The Software Situation

The tech world is particularly fond of premium mediocre tactics. How many times have you seen a SaaS product with three pricing tiers, where the middle one is suspiciously labeled "Premium" or "Pro" but only offers marginally better features? It's the digital equivalent of a fast-food restaurant's "deluxe" burger—just add cheese and a slightly bigger bun 🍔.

The Entrepreneurship Education Game

Perhaps nowhere is premium mediocre more visible than in the world of entrepreneurship education. For $999, you too can learn the "secrets of startup success" through an online course that essentially repackages free information you could find on YouTube, Reddit, blogs or mainstream business education sites.

These courses often follow a predictable pattern:

• A charismatic "successful entrepreneur" as the face of the program
• Basic business concepts dressed up in proprietary frameworks with fancy names
• "Exclusive" access to a Slack channel or Discord community
• Bonus modules that are surprisingly similar to free content elsewhere

Don't get me wrong—some entrepreneurship courses provide real value. But many are the epitome of premium mediocre: basic information wrapped in expensive packaging, promising transformation while delivering what you could largely find for free with some dedicated Googling.

Why Do We Buy Into It?

Here's the interesting part: we're not stupid. Most of us know exactly what's happening. We recognize that our "artisanal" protein shake is just regular protein powder in fancy packaging with a 300% markup. But we buy it anyway. Why?

1. Social Signaling: It helps us feel like we're part of a more sophisticated crowd
2. Aspirational Living: It's an affordable way to feel like we're living a more premium lifestyle
3. The Instagram Effect: Let's face it—premium mediocre things often look better on social media

The Cost of Premium Mediocrity

While there's nothing inherently wrong with wanting nice things, the premium mediocre trend has some downsides:

• We're paying more for essentially the same products
• It creates unrealistic expectations about what "premium" actually means
• We might be missing out on genuinely better alternatives while chasing the premium mediocre dream

Conclusion

Premium mediocre isn't going anywhere—it's too profitable for businesses and too psychologically satisfying for consumers. The key is being aware of it and making conscious choices about when to participate and when to opt out.

Perhaps this blog is premium mediocre 😜?