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Would you pay extra for not-smart appliances? Because I sure would -- and have, at every opportunity I get. It's frustrating that there's not a market for uncom

by Doches 4y ago

Would you pay extra for not-smart appliances? Because I sure would -- and have, at every opportunity I get. It's frustrating that there's not a market for uncomplicated, well-built, totally-lacking-in-smart-features appliances. If I have to replace e.g. a dead microwave, I would pay considerably /more/ for one that won't call home or auto-install firmware updates or tweet at my wife when I re-heat a mug of tea. You'd hope that there's be enough of a delta in that "pay more", and enough folks who would do so, to make a market. Shame it seems like there isn't.

silisili 4y ago
No I get it completely, I would. And probably a lot of readers here would. Though admittedly I'd wait to see if the brand existed in a year, so I could get parts. But the problem seems to keep coming up that people like us just don't represent enough market share for it to be worth everyone's time. See also: US made hand tools. Everyone seems to yearn for the old Craftsman days, but not enough people want to pay that premium. While Harbor Freight seems ever expanding...
- Doches 4y ago
  Yep, hand power tools are another perfect case. We're just vigorously agreeing with one another now, but I would really like to see the economics behind e.g. smart washing machines. I mean, it's not like Samsung just likes violating their customers' privacy for the hell of it -- there must be (considerable?) profit in it somewhere. It's just distressing that there increasingly doesn't seem to be a market /at all/ for non-smart appliances. I'll probably never buy a television again, since it seems you can't buy a decent non-smart panel without crossing into the enterprise (and adding an order of magnitude in price). And I'm not alone! How is there not a single manufacturer making a single modern non-smart LCD TV? Hell, call it the "HNTV" and expect to sell no more than...20,000? At 200€ in margin that's a 4m€ product line, surely worth throwing off given that the R&D is just removing hardware from an existing model?
  - silisili 4y ago
    Probably the only way to succeed would be to find an OEM or ODM willing to build the thing, then do a Kickstarter like campaign to gauge interest. Doing it yourself would be way too risky. But be prepared for the big guys to absolutely bury you once you show any inkling of success. I think it's a great idea, but I can see why nobody has tried the space. I sure wouldn't.

by Doches 4y ago

silisili 4y ago

No I get it completely, I would. And probably a lot of readers here would. Though admittedly I'd wait to see if the brand existed in a year, so I could get parts. But the problem seems to keep coming up that people like us just don't represent enough market share for it to be worth everyone's time. See also: US made hand tools. Everyone seems to yearn for the old Craftsman days, but not enough people want to pay that premium. While Harbor Freight seems ever expanding...

Doches 4y ago
Yep, hand power tools are another perfect case. We're just vigorously agreeing with one another now, but I would really like to see the economics behind e.g. smart washing machines. I mean, it's not like Samsung just likes violating their customers' privacy for the hell of it -- there must be (considerable?) profit in it somewhere. It's just distressing that there increasingly doesn't seem to be a market /at all/ for non-smart appliances. I'll probably never buy a television again, since it seems you can't buy a decent non-smart panel without crossing into the enterprise (and adding an order of magnitude in price). And I'm not alone! How is there not a single manufacturer making a single modern non-smart LCD TV? Hell, call it the "HNTV" and expect to sell no more than...20,000? At 200€ in margin that's a 4m€ product line, surely worth throwing off given that the R&D is just removing hardware from an existing model?
- silisili 4y ago
  Probably the only way to succeed would be to find an OEM or ODM willing to build the thing, then do a Kickstarter like campaign to gauge interest. Doing it yourself would be way too risky. But be prepared for the big guys to absolutely bury you once you show any inkling of success. I think it's a great idea, but I can see why nobody has tried the space. I sure wouldn't.