3 ms·

Another reason why things are worse and they will keep getting worse. About a toaster company: "If you are passionate about toast, you will not work at a comp

Another reason why things are worse and they will keep getting worse. About a toaster company: "If you are passionate about toast, you will not work at a company that does not build toasters, that only does marketing. So my central thesis here is that if as an organization, you outsource too much with the idea that we will still retain the designers and our own power to innovate, it will not actually work. The smart people will not work for your company, because you have turned into a marketing and financing exercise. And the smart engineers, they want to build better toasters, they want to touch actual stuff. So the thing is, there is a point of no return. If as a company you have outsourced too much. No good engineer will still want to work for your company." https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37540271 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37540271

Spivak 3y ago
And honestly this doesn't even have to be an allegory to something else, this is literally true about the toaster market right now. There are so few companies that actually design and manufacture toasters themselves. I ended up buying vintage because it turns out technological advancement has been directed to finding and building an ever more minimal viable toaster to keep prices sorrrrta constant under inflation. So that 80's-90's toaster is delivering value right now.
- thelastparadise 3y ago
  > So that 80's-90's toaster is delivering value right now. This is such a nice (and accurate) way to look at it. Imputed value. I'm interested to hear about the rest of your setup: espresso machine, clothes washer, car?
- Doxin 3y ago
  Man, trying to find a toaster that will evenly toast a slice of tall loaf (which is the default bread where I'm at) is like pulling teeth. I've settled for one that toasts one side much more quickly than the other and resorted to flipping the bread around halfway through. It's much larger than I'd like though since it's built for 4 regular slices. That way I can fit two and two half slices of tall loaf. Can I just pay someone $50 for a toaster that actually works please?
- RetroTechie 3y ago
  Hehe. Once went about repairing a rice cooker. Iirc, there were something like 2 different models of the thermal regulator, available from maaaany sellers. Wouldn't surprise me if virtually every rice cooker out there includes one of these few models thermal regulator. Probably true for many parts. 1 or 2 highly specialized manufacturers that are absolute king in their market niche. Vendor picks a bunch of such parts, slaps custom housing around it (made by yet another specialist), and moves the boxes. Branding, logistics & perhaps assembly (if not outsourced to 3rd party too), rather than manufacturing most of an appliance themselves.

Spivak 3y ago

And honestly this doesn't even have to be an allegory to something else, this is literally true about the toaster market right now. There are so few companies that actually design and manufacture toasters themselves. I ended up buying vintage because it turns out technological advancement has been directed to finding and building an ever more minimal viable toaster to keep prices sorrrrta constant under inflation. So that 80's-90's toaster is delivering value right now.

thelastparadise 3y ago
> So that 80's-90's toaster is delivering value right now. This is such a nice (and accurate) way to look at it. Imputed value. I'm interested to hear about the rest of your setup: espresso machine, clothes washer, car?
Doxin 3y ago
Man, trying to find a toaster that will evenly toast a slice of tall loaf (which is the default bread where I'm at) is like pulling teeth. I've settled for one that toasts one side much more quickly than the other and resorted to flipping the bread around halfway through. It's much larger than I'd like though since it's built for 4 regular slices. That way I can fit two and two half slices of tall loaf. Can I just pay someone $50 for a toaster that actually works please?
RetroTechie 3y ago
Hehe. Once went about repairing a rice cooker. Iirc, there were something like 2 different models of the thermal regulator, available from maaaany sellers. Wouldn't surprise me if virtually every rice cooker out there includes one of these few models thermal regulator. Probably true for many parts. 1 or 2 highly specialized manufacturers that are absolute king in their market niche. Vendor picks a bunch of such parts, slaps custom housing around it (made by yet another specialist), and moves the boxes. Branding, logistics & perhaps assembly (if not outsourced to 3rd party too), rather than manufacturing most of an appliance themselves.