Experience Goods

Economists use the SEC (Search, Experience, Credence) framework to describe how we evaluate products.

Experience goods have attributes you can only judge after using the product.

Examples: Movies, meals, haircuts, software user experience.

Quality signals: Past experience with the manufacturer, reputation, reviews, expert opinion.

These signals are helpful but incomplete — a well-reviewed product may still disappoint.

Discussion prompts

• Have you been surprised by the security quality of a product you chose based on reputation?
• What experience with a manufacturer's security has most shaped your trust in their products?
• How do you evaluate security quality in software you've already deployed?