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I recall we (my family) bought a couple things from them. The big thing about DAK, Sharper Image, etc was that this wasn't just selling regular electronic stuf

I recall we (my family) bought a couple things from them. The big thing about DAK, Sharper Image, etc was that this wasn't just selling regular electronic stuff. They were selling electronics that were new inventions. So the hype was not just on the product, but the product category -- CD players, Bread Machines, DVD-ROM with massive databases [such as encyclopedias, greatest book collections, etc], and all the hi-fi equipment such as compact speakers with a separate subwoofer. This is something that makes be a bit sad in that now that I have money to buy whatever, there isn't anything "new" category wise (just upgrades on existing tech) that are worth buying. I miss dreaming about gadgets. I think the closest modern gadget that opens up a new category to play in is things like 3D printers and laser cutters/etchers.

rconti 3y ago
The internet and globalization of markets and cheap shipping has taken a lot of the wonder away. It used to be a friend would go to Japan and come back with this absolutely futuristic walkman that simply wasn't available in the US market, and looked like nothing you had ever seen before. That's not really a thing anymore, and to the extent that it is (there are still products that aren't sold/marketed worldwide for various reasons), you can always just buy it on eBay or something.
- fomine3 3y ago
  It seems that it's still a thing in China, especially for a bigger products that's hard to ship by mail by AliExpress.
  - derekp7 3y ago
    What types of products would these be? Are they new categories of products, or variations of items that we currently have but work in a novel way? Examples would be ebikes before they were widely available, or electric cars that is more ebike material than car material.
    - fomine3 3y ago
      Mainly the latter. Most significant one is China domestic xEVs. I sometimes find interesting model but very few English info available. Foreign house equipment are tend to be incompatible and local brands are strong, so sometimes weird one is found like this https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/18335 https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/18335

rconti 3y ago

The internet and globalization of markets and cheap shipping has taken a lot of the wonder away. It used to be a friend would go to Japan and come back with this absolutely futuristic walkman that simply wasn't available in the US market, and looked like nothing you had ever seen before. That's not really a thing anymore, and to the extent that it is (there are still products that aren't sold/marketed worldwide for various reasons), you can always just buy it on eBay or something.

fomine3 3y ago
It seems that it's still a thing in China, especially for a bigger products that's hard to ship by mail by AliExpress.
- derekp7 3y ago
  What types of products would these be? Are they new categories of products, or variations of items that we currently have but work in a novel way? Examples would be ebikes before they were widely available, or electric cars that is more ebike material than car material.
  - fomine3 3y ago
    Mainly the latter. Most significant one is China domestic xEVs. I sometimes find interesting model but very few English info available. Foreign house equipment are tend to be incompatible and local brands are strong, so sometimes weird one is found like this https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/18335 https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/18335