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The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend again
by TillE 9y ago
The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.
- teej 9y agoI thought the fundamental (and well documented) problem with Juicero is that they over-engineered themselves into a product that was far beyond what a consumer would ever pay for a kitchen appliance. Kinda like exactly what the article says.
- chiph 9y agoAvE tore one down. It really was well-built. Too much so, really. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cp-BGQfpHQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cp-BGQfpHQ (possibly NSFW for language - use headphones)
- dragonwriter 9y agoConsumers will (and do, all the time) spebd $700 or more for kitchen appliances, provided the use of the appliance is expected to provide adequate value to warrant that. The fact that it's a juicer, and that you are locked-in to Juicero packs, is what limits the market, not the fact that it is a “kitchen appliance”.
- Steko 9y ago> The fact that it's a juicer The biggest problem is Juicero isn't a juicer. Juicero's market was limited because the average customer doesn't want to pay a premium for juice press theater. Shoving juice into packs that are hard for the consumer to access is simply a worse experience than the status quo containers of juice.
- _rpd 9y ago> juice press theater Yes, this should be their epitaph. It's actually hopeful in a way. Substance still has sway over style.
- ghaff 9y agoYep. You can buy a Vitamix for about the same amount of money which is great for making smoothies but also certain soups, adult beverages, etc.
- andreasgonewild 9y agoDid you just call pressed veggies and fruits sugary drinks? As in more or less the same as Pepsi? The problem with Juicero is that it was a scam, pure and simple. Overpriced bullshit and awesome profits, at least that was the plan. Thank god it's over. Now we're just waiting for Uber to fold and then maybe we can start actually making a difference, as opposed to spewing bullshit until no one can tell the difference.
- ceejayoz 9y ago> The problem with Juicero is that it was a scam, pure and simple. I'm not sure how you can even make an argument that it was a scam. A stupid business model isn't the same thing as a scam - it was a real product, however ill conceived.
- andreasgonewild 9y agoI am fully aware that this is business as usual these days, but that doesn't make it any less destructive to society or any less a scam. What you're saying is basically that as long as people fall for it and you don't go to jail it's ok, I don't agree.
- ceejayoz 9y agoThere wasn't much fraudulent or dishonest about Juciero. It was overpriced, stupid, and a totally unnecessary luxury item, but that's not the same thing as scamming people.
- gubby 9y agoApart from the fact that the founders clearly didn't intend to fold the company (removing the malice part of a scam), as a consumer, spending $700 on something that stops functioning nearly immediately is pretty indistinguishable from a scam.
- The_Sponge 9y agoThey are though, Juicero being a scam or not (it's not, they shipped at straight forward pricepoints). Even "traditional" pressed juice companies are starting to see a crunch, as their evangelical customers ("health nuts") are realizing that eating an apple is healthier than pressing 4 of them.
- Finnucane 9y agoNo, the fundamental problem with Juicero is that the product was bullshit.