Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
That shows some fascinating logic during Amazon's design/marketing team meetings:
DESIGN: Umm, guys? The Kindle2 has a problem. The case is weak around the points where the covers connect. It tends to crack.
MARKETING: Why is this?
DESIGN: Because the case is made by different people who made the Kindle 1. Cheaper plastic, I think. It breaks easier.*
MARKETING: Hm. Can't have that. If it breaks, people will be sending it in for a replacement. Especially if it breaks right away.
DESIGN: Yep. So, we've drawn up some specs for reinforcers that could be added to the stress-points. Of course, it'll cost a bit to implement them...
MARKETING: Nah, can't have that! The K2 is already more expensive than we'd like; the competition's cheaper! We need a solution that doesn't cost extra money.
DESIGN: Hm. We could, I dunno, issue a warning label explaining how to handle the cover gently, and pointing out that if people are extra-careful with it, it might not crack?
MARKETING: No, we don't want to imply that our product is fragile.
DESIGN: But it is fragile.
MARKETING: You obviously have no experience in sales.
DESIGN: ...
MARKETING: I know! We'll just ship them without covers! Let's make the cover a separate product, so most people won't bother getting one, and those that do will pay enough extra to cover the cost of the returns!
DESIGN: 
* Total, wild speculation on my part. No idea why this happens with K2s and wasn't reported with K1s. |
It's like you were there!
