Bad Business Ideas [Archive]

Wolfman

15th August 2007, 08:28 PM

For a little more light-hearted look at business, I thought perhaps people might want to share some of the bad business ideas they've encountered over the years.

My all-time favorite was a Chinese guy who invented what he called "Chastity Underwear". He had read a newspaper report that the frequency of marital infidelity in China was increasing rapidly, and he wanted to do his bit to help prevent that (while making some money at the same time).

So what he did was made underwear that operated effectively like a chastity belt. It was cotton, but with steel wiring underneath. The waistband would be cinched tight and then locked, and your partner would get the key. In this way, no access to one's genitals was possible (without actually cutting open the cotton material, which would make your infidelity immediately obvious).

Now, to be fair, this guy was no misogynist. He made chastity underwear for both men and women, and recommended that both partners in a relationship would wear it.

It was absolutely hilarious to watch this guy flagging his product on TV (he got a lot of TV coverage just because he was such a bizarre guy); he would explain that wearing this underwear would improve relationships because it would improve trust between couples. Now, I don't know about any of you out there, but my own experience would be that if I were to ask my partner to let me lock them inside a pair of impenetrable briefs in order to prevent them having sex with anyone else, this would not be something that they would react positively to, nor would it be likely to convey to them a sense of trust.

As many of you will doubtless have considered by now, there were other problems with chastity underwear. If you were unable to gain access for sex, that meant you were also unable to gain access for elimination of bodily wastes. When confronted with this on TV, the inventor simply smiled and said that this would help improve peoples' self-discipline; and he was working on a new model that had extra-absorbent material just in case of accidents.

What a salesman!

After about a year of unflagging (and entirely unsuccessful) efforts to convince Chinese people to buy his chastity underwear, he gave up in disgust. He issued a press release in which he stated that Chinese people were still too encumbered by traditional ways of thinking, and were not open-minded enough to accept new ideas.

And he announced that he was seeking investors to take his product to the U.S. market, where he was sure it would be much more popular because "Americans are much more open-minded about such things, and they have a lot of infidelity in their marriages."

The Atheist

15th August 2007, 09:41 PM

Sounds a lot like Forget-me-not panties (http://forgetmenotpanties.com/).

Most of the really bad business ideas I've seen haven't actually been bad ideas, just poorly marketed and managed.

rjh01

18th August 2007, 05:38 AM

Even worse, there are chastity belts that actually are practical. Men used to put their wives in them for months, years to ensure faithfulness.

Normal Dude

18th August 2007, 06:52 AM

Hehe.. here's a testimonial exerpt from the forget-me-nots, talking about his daughter:

They work wonderfully. My wife and I bought our Sarah several pairs so we can watch her around the clock, and if we see her temperature rising too high, we intervene by calling her cellphone or just picking her up wherever she is. My only comment is it would be great to have a video camera , maybe you can work that into V.2.

My emphasis added.

Diabolos

22nd August 2007, 12:46 AM

You all need to try these Landover Baptist Absinence Thongs (http://www.cafepress.com/landoverbaptist/429363)

Overman

22nd August 2007, 02:00 PM

http://briancurtin.com/pahc/motivationalfailure.jpg

The_Animus

22nd August 2007, 02:08 PM

I love that pic.

And just for the fun of it...

Tom Smykowski: It was a "Jump to Conclusions" mat. You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor... and would have different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO.
Michael Bolton: That's the worst idea I've ever heard in my life, Tom.
Samir: Yes, this is horrible, this idea.

juniper_ann

25th August 2007, 01:27 PM

Hehe.. here's a testimonial exerpt from the forget-me-nots, talking about his daughter:

Ew! Shudder. Creepy, creepy, creepy! I've heard people get upset about Purity Balls, but they have nothing on the dad sitting on his computer, monitoring his daughter's state of arousal. Gag.

geni

25th August 2007, 01:41 PM

Even worse, there are chastity belts that actually are practical. Men used to put their wives in them for months, years to ensure faithfulness.

There is a slight lack of evidence that this ever happened.

Gord_in_Toronto

25th August 2007, 04:01 PM

Hehe.. here's a testimonial exerpt from the forget-me-nots, talking about his daughter:

My emphasis added.

I rather like pantyMap® the tracking software. I can just visualize the pantymapper downloading co-ordinates, locations, temperatures and times into his spreadsheet for weeks.

I monitored her through the mapping software, pantyMap®, for several weeks,and then I confronted her.

:boggled:

Foolmewunz

26th August 2007, 07:39 AM

But Wait! There's More!
Ron Popeil

The spray on paint to hide bald spots - GLHF#9. (Great Looking Hair Formula Number 9)

The Pocket Fisherman

Foolmewunz

26th August 2007, 07:53 AM

Okay - these two are "bad" as in "dangerous"!

I can't find a link to them on the web, anywhere (they could all be rotting in jail), but there was a company advertising in Asia for a simple device that looked like an exercise bench, but which was really the modern equivalent of "the rack".

The commercials were godawful wonderful. Little Syau Lee moping at the dinner table because he's short... not getting along at school... being left out of sports... Then just a couple of sessions on the back stretcher, and he's about four inches taller, and smiling and healthy and popular!

The device was bound to kill someone! Lying prone on the bench, you strapped your ankles in at one end, and wrapped another strap around your head and chin, and then turned the crank which increased the spread between your ankles and skull! A few cranks too many? Permanent paralysis!

Whlie looking for the above, I did find this wonderful plan... Evidently the hypnosis guru has actual testimony that he increased one kid's height by twelve inches in one year!

http://www.deeptrancenow.com/growtaller.htm

Wolfman

26th August 2007, 09:09 AM

I can't find a link to them on the web, anywhere (they could all be rotting in jail), but there was a company advertising in Asia for a simple device that looked like an exercise bench, but which was really the modern equivalent of "the rack".

The commercials were godawful wonderful. Little Syau Lee moping at the dinner table because he's short... not getting along at school... being left out of sports... Then just a couple of sessions on the back stretcher, and he's about four inches taller, and smiling and healthy and popular!

The device was bound to kill someone! Lying prone on the bench, you strapped your ankles in at one end, and wrapped another strap around your head and chin, and then turned the crank which increased the spread between your ankles and skull! A few cranks too many? Permanent paralysis!

Yup, I saw the commercials for that, too. There's a similar one that works on the same principle of gravity boots, but instead of strapping your feet in and hanging upside down, you attach a chin strap and then hand suspended by your head (think of that crazy glue commercial where the guy glues his helmet to a beam then hangs supported by it).

About eight years ago, there was another quack invention making the rounds in China, a device that claimed to correct all forms of short and long-sightedness. They had TV commercials with several "doctors" attesting to how amazing it was.

So, what was it? It was a pair of swimming goggles with holes drilled into the eye-pieces, and rubber tubing glued into the holes. At the other end of the tubing was a bulb that you squeezed to create suction. The principle of this "miracle" device was that you put on the goggles, then squeeze the bulb to create suction inside of them; this will cause your eyes to be "sucked" into the proper shape, and correct your vision problems.

Now, never mind the fact that this is complete quackery that won't do even the slightest bit to actually correct vision problems; the problem is that these goggles could actually create quite strong suction, and the advice on the instructions said that you should create the strongest suction that you can hold comfortably, then keep that for about 10 minutes, 3 times each day.

There were huge numbers of people who had blood vessels in their eyes rupture as a result of this; and a few reports (apocryphal reports, I never saw an actual verified report about this) that a few people literally sucked an eyeball out of its socket.

jimbob

26th August 2007, 10:42 AM

the Hoover "free Flights" offer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_free_flights_promotion)

Beanbag

26th August 2007, 04:35 PM

But Wait! There's More!
Ron Popeil

The spray on paint to hide bald spots - GLHF#9. (Great Looking Hair Formula Number 9)

The Pocket Fisherman
Fie on you! The Pocket Fisherman actually worked, and quite well. MUCH easier to carry than a multi-part pole when backpacking. Sure, it didn't work worth a flip for fly fishing, but that's not the point.

As for the Hair in a Can, yeah: stupid idea. I always suspected it was a bad batch of Xmas tree flocking.

Beanbag

kookbreaker

27th August 2007, 07:35 AM

But did anyone really need to scramble an egg while it was still in its shell?

Floyt

30th August 2007, 03:33 AM

Just recently heard about in a podcast of "This American Life": About a decade ago, some guy came up with the idea for a "puppy channel". That would be a TV channel showing nothing but puppies being their uncoordinated selves. It was envisaged as a "quiet corner" in TV-land that you could flip to when everything else on offer was annoying you or all the channels showed commercials at the same time or whatever. Now to me that sounds like a particularly moronic market niche, but experiencing the TV habits of my flatmates (they basically have it on all the time, as a kind of comfy background noise - drives me nuts), I'm not so sure...
I think nowadays this could even take off, but he totally bungled it by crafting all the promotional material himself. The sound of that guy singing "Puppies, puppies, puppies, puppies, PUPPIES!" in a voice like a ham sandwich will stay with me for a long time :D

blutoski

3rd September 2007, 03:38 PM

Carbon monoxide alarm - now with snoozebar!

Ove

4th September 2007, 04:56 AM

Do yourself a favour and visit this site: http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/museum/unwork.htm and this http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/locoloco.htm

and prepare for a good laugh. :)
My favourite was the British Compound locomotive (not on this site unfortunately) where the high and low pressure cylinders drove seperate wheelsets. If started incorrectly the locomotive would stand still while the two wheelsets rotated in each direction and dug a bigger and bigger hole :)

phildonnia

5th September 2007, 11:54 AM

I rather like pantyMap® the tracking software. I can just visualize the pantymapper downloading co-ordinates, locations, temperatures and times into his spreadsheet for weeks.

:boggled:

Known issues: doesn't work if she goes out without her panties. We're working on it.

phildonnia

5th September 2007, 12:00 PM

Carbon monoxide alarm - now with snoozebar!

From my Carbon monoxide detector's manual:

IF THE CO ALARM SOUNDS:
1. Operate the Test/Silence button.
...

Horatius

6th September 2007, 10:09 AM

It was envisaged as a "quiet corner" in TV-land that you could flip to when everything else on offer was annoying you or all the channels showed commercials at the same time or whatever.

This reminds me of a show that was on back about 1992-3, called (IIRC) "Irish Waterways". It was basically an hour of a guy on a barge quietly gliding along various rural Irish waterways, with a very quiet narration about said gliding. It was just perfect as background noise when you were studying, or something.

Ah, here it is! Only 3 bucks!

http://www.amazon.com/Irish-Waterways-Forgotton-Locks-Chris/dp/6303011802

jimbob

6th September 2007, 01:22 PM

Not sure if this should be posted here or the buzzwords thread:

Companymap (http://www.companymap.com/cmc/)

check out the gallery (http://www.companymap.com/cmc/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=19&Itemid=36)

Not exactly a bad idea, as they have sold their services successfully, but the people who ordered it belong on the second spaceship.

Seismosaurus

8th September 2007, 05:57 PM

There is a slight lack of evidence that this ever happened.

Chastity belts of the middle ages are somewhat shakey, yes. But I can assure you that there are practical chastity devices available for both genders today.

Ove

12th September 2007, 05:48 AM

Chastity belts of the middle ages are somewhat shakey, yes. But I can assure you that there are practical chastity devices available for both genders today.

Called "Mother in law" ???? :D

Seismosaurus

12th September 2007, 04:58 PM

Called "Mother in law" ???? :D

lol, not quite what I had in mind...

Ove

14th September 2007, 05:56 AM

lol, not quite what I had in mind...

Weeeeelll ....lo'-tech perhaps but seems to do the trick ;)....

Tom Morris

14th September 2007, 11:20 AM

Just recently heard about in a podcast of "This American Life": About a decade ago, some guy came up with the idea for a "puppy channel". That would be a TV channel showing nothing but puppies being their uncoordinated selves.

You know about Cute Overload (http://cuteoverload.com/), right? I think they've got the market pretty tightly sewn up. So much so that

As for the Chinese guy with the chastity belts, he's just got the wrong market - he needs to get himself on a plane to America and find people like this lovely lady over at Christian Forums (http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?id=10084). The unhinged nature of quite a few of the evangelical "purity" brigade is an untapped market, albeit one that raises important ethical questions...

jimbob

14th September 2007, 01:58 PM

[crosses legs]

Thank you Tom, I'd even prefer a Prince Albert to that

But I am sure there is no confusion about pleasure and pain there.

Seismosaurus

21st September 2007, 01:30 PM

You know about Cute Overload (http://cuteoverload.com/), right? I think they've got the market pretty tightly sewn up. So much so that

As for the Chinese guy with the chastity belts, he's just got the wrong market - he needs to get himself on a plane to America and find people like this lovely lady over at Christian Forums (http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?id=10084). The unhinged nature of quite a few of the evangelical "purity" brigade is an untapped market, albeit one that raises important ethical questions...

Oh, that lady is talking about a KTB - a Kali's Teeth Bracelet. That is NOT something to be worn for long periods, unless you want a trip to the emergency room.

There are much, much better things that that available.

Starthinker

21st September 2007, 02:10 PM

You know about Cute Overload (http://cuteoverload.com/), right? I think they've got the market pretty tightly sewn up. So much so that

As for the Chinese guy with the chastity belts, he's just got the wrong market - he needs to get himself on a plane to America and find people like this lovely lady over at Christian Forums (http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?id=10084). The unhinged nature of quite a few of the evangelical "purity" brigade is an untapped market, albeit one that raises important ethical questions...

That can't be real. I mean, we hear stories in this forum from all types, but, really? If it is true, she must be really hot for him to go through that.

bruto

22nd September 2007, 10:05 PM

But Wait! There's More!
Ron Popeil

The spray on paint to hide bald spots - GLHF#9. (Great Looking Hair Formula Number 9)

The Pocket Fisherman

Discussions of the relative merits of the Pocket Fisherman aside, there's a difference between a bad business idea and a bad product. Ron Popeil did pretty well, as I recall.

DRBUZZ0

23rd September 2007, 02:28 AM

Discussions of the relative merits of the Pocket Fisherman aside, there's a difference between a bad business idea and a bad product. Ron Popeil did pretty well, as I recall.

Yep. Without doubt. Some of the worst products have been the most successful..

Wolfman

23rd September 2007, 02:40 AM

Yep. Without doubt. Some of the worst products have been the most successful..Just think of McDonald's

balrog666

23rd September 2007, 03:19 PM

Discussions of the relative merits of the Pocket Fisherman aside, there's a difference between a bad business idea and a bad product. Ron Popeil did pretty well, as I recall.

HA! And he's still doing it! From Beverly Hills, no less.

Starthinker

24th September 2007, 11:38 AM

Yep. Without doubt. Some of the worst products have been the most successful..

Sylvia Brown books? It amazes me that she can sell books. I'm so tempted to write drivel and just put it on Amazon and see what happens.

rjh01

25th September 2007, 04:31 AM

If you want to write a book write a self help book. Most of them are junk.

Foolmewunz

25th September 2007, 06:49 AM

Discussions of the relative merits of the Pocket Fisherman aside, there's a difference between a bad business idea and a bad product. Ron Popeil did pretty well, as I recall.

Pedantry and accuracy accepted. :spjimlad::spjimlad:

Yeah, I was kinda thinking of 'products you'd never buy' instead of bad business ideas.

rjh01

26th September 2007, 04:17 AM

Bad business idea - advertising woo on this site.

Oh dear it has been done twice. I admit once it was on 1 April.

ThatSoundAgain

26th September 2007, 02:34 PM

There's also timing to consider. In Frank Zappa's autobiography, that has an appendix of failed business proposals (some of them very silly and obviously designed to fail), there's a proposal from 1983 about a digital music download service. It involved the phone system, unutilised nightly cable channels, and some form of descrambler. All this would enable the public to record to tape all the music that they wanted at a flat monthly rate. Zappa envisioned it could make the record companies' quality back catalogues, which he thought were too hard to get at, available as well as curtail tape swapping.

Here (http://blog.boondoggle.eu/2007/02/frank_zappa_pro.html) is a short extract.

There's a time and a place, I guess...

alfaniner

26th September 2007, 03:38 PM

dudalb

26th September 2007, 04:20 PM

Foolmewunz

26th September 2007, 07:12 PM

Zappa was like Da VInci's designs for machines: His concepts were brilliant and ahead of his time,but the technology to make them practical was just not there yet.

This technology wasn't so far away back then. We were already using primitive fax machines, which started the whole thing going, and the knowledge was there that music could be digitized, so the leap to sending digitized music over modems and cables wasn't that huge. The only real element missing in the 80s was bandwidth, and there, too, everyone knew of the advances in fibre optics and that cables were going to be able to carry massive quantities of data in the near future. If someone had proposed this in 1950, I'd be a little impressed, but by 1983 this was just a bit of logic, I'd say.

GreNME

29th September 2007, 01:43 PM

This technology wasn't so far away back then. We were already using primitive fax machines, which started the whole thing going, and the knowledge was there that music could be digitized, so the leap to sending digitized music over modems and cables wasn't that huge. The only real element missing in the 80s was bandwidth, and there, too, everyone knew of the advances in fibre optics and that cables were going to be able to carry massive quantities of data in the near future. If someone had proposed this in 1950, I'd be a little impressed, but by 1983 this was just a bit of logic, I'd say.

Sure, it was logic, but in the business sense it would have sounded completely outrageous. I would actually love to hear of any reactions to his proposal had he been able to make it to anyone.

ThatSoundAgain

30th September 2007, 10:38 AM

Yes, Foolmewunz, bandwith was coming, and Zappa's proposal even points out one workable solution in the unused cable channels. AD/DA units for recording hi-fi digital sound on VCRs were available to the consumer, if a bit pricey. The proposal, IIRC, was quite detailed, with price estimates for the descramler and so on. It seemed workable.

I think that GreNME is right, it's the business side that was the problem, hell, the recording industry has only recently been dragged kicking and screaming into doing business online at all.

DRBUZZ0

30th September 2007, 12:12 PM

I always thought one of the biggest missed opportunities to grow was Western Union. Back in the 1950's, 1960's they were a well established, reputable multinational organization which was huge in the telecommunications business. In addition to telegrams they had leased out teletype lines and other sorts of text-based communications to news agencies, government and so on. They had wireless services and whatnot.

Their lines were generally prettymuch baseband, which limited the use to that sort of thing because they couldn't carry very much data. However, they owned the cable right-of-ways and had a good customer base and a huge, if limited in capacity network.

Had they decided to embrace data transmissions in the 1970's, incrementally upgrading their capacity to handle first simple fully digital text (as opposed to the baudot-based teletype stuff and the analog "picture wire") and then move into fax and beyond then they really could have become a major player.

The phone companies did not have nearly the data exchange rates of today either, but they went for it and got involved with the arpanet then started putting in dedicated digital trunks, later started laying fiber and then moved into private WANS and finally the internet.

Western Union is just a way of sending around money today.

Beanbag

30th September 2007, 12:53 PM

One of the poorest decisions made last century was when the railroads decided they would stick with rail, and not go into the "upstart" airline business. When you look back, it was an obvious fit. The railroads had a system already in place for scheduling traffic through limited resources, facilities, and avenues. They knew how to provide excellent customer service. They had baggage handling down to an art. They knew how to maintain large, complicated pieces of equipment. And they had a nationwide presence through their network of depots and stations. However, they decided to stay with what was proven.

"Fads may come and go, but there will always be a market for a good buggy whip."

At least one steamship line tried to get into the overseas airline business, Ernest Gann talks about flying with them in his book Fate is a Hunter. Unfortunately, Pan Am had a stranglehold on overseas flights at the time, and managed to kill it off.

I've dealt with a lot of "we don't do that" attitudes as a watchmaker. I approached several executives at my last job -- heck, I'll go and say it was Cartier -- with the idea of producing a line of high-end digital watches. I am firmly of the opinion that there is an unserved market out there for people who would buy a tastefully designed digital watch in gold or stainless steel, and would pay in the $2k plus range. Witness the people who paid that much for the first LED digital watches from HP. What's more important, I worked out a design that was essentially maintenance-free except for replacing the cell every few years, and was water-resistant to at least 100 meters.

Unfortunately, the company is dominated by classic watchmakers who gag at the thought of anything digital (they barely tolerate quartz analog movements, even though they sell more of them than mechanicals). I received an aristocratic sneer and was told in a heavy European accent that "that's not what Cartier does." Their idea of cutting edge ended with their Crash Watch. http://www.timezone.com/library/comarticles/comarticles0025

Beanbag

kittykatkarma

30th September 2007, 03:10 PM

Some not so good business ideas by toy manufacturers:
My Little Pony Glue? Or, how about the ever popular Trailer Transformer?
http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/976047000d922ee9e.gifhttp://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/976047000d924cb26.jpg
This ones real:
Get the whole set!
http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/976047000d92392ac.gif (http://www.giantmicrobes.com/)
Give your beloved child a stuffed representation of the Chickenpox, a Pimple, the Kissing Disease, or even the Clap.

jimbob

30th September 2007, 03:31 PM

Re post above, from a classified adverd read out on the news quiz (BBC Radio4, ages ago),

For sale: My little pony Abbatoir and pie factory, with meathooks and usual accesories, as new £15

I wish I had thought of spending a few quid putting that in.

Jim

DRBUZZ0

30th September 2007, 08:33 PM

One bad business decision I have seen is the whole idea that you can maximize profits by cutting manufacturing costs being taken too far. Yes, it helps if you can make things cheaper to produce but eventually when enough materials have been replaced with lower-quality materials and when features and reliability of a product are compromised enough you'll loose customers.

This has been seen time and time again. In the 1950's and 60's "made in japan" meant "crappy manufacturing" but they did a 180 on that by the 1980's. Many high quality US consumer products brands like Zenith and RCA went in the opposit direction and are trying to reestablish a good reputation to this day.

ThatSoundAgain

1st October 2007, 06:53 AM

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/976047000d92392ac.gif (http://www.giantmicrobes.com/)
Give your beloved child a stuffed representation of the Chickenpox, a Pimple, the Kissing Disease, or even the Clap.

I think those are pretty cool, actually.

Re post above, from a classified adverd read out on the news quiz (BBC Radio4, ages ago),

I wish I had thought of spending a few quid putting that in.

Jim

Sure it wasn't the Now Show? I definitely heard it.

TjW

1st October 2007, 08:59 AM

IllegalArgument

1st October 2007, 09:15 AM

Mrs TjW is a microbiologist, and she bought some of the giant microbes as gifts for her co-workers. They have taken over the lab.

I agree, my girlfriend is a research scienist in genetics.

Gave her about three of these, she loved them.

jimbob

1st October 2007, 02:07 PM

Sure it wasn't the Now Show? I definitely heard it.

Maybe, but this was when Barry Took was chair...

I think that Radio4 might sometimes recycle gags

ThatSoundAgain

1st October 2007, 03:02 PM

They must recycle a bit then, I've only listened to the News Quiz after Sandi took over. The My Little Pony bit was definitely presented as having been printed in the classifieds somewhere, and (maybe) having been mailed in by a listener.

Sorry for the derail, everyone.

malbui

2nd October 2007, 12:58 PM

I've dealt with a lot of "we don't do that" attitudes as a watchmaker. I approached several executives at my last job -- heck, I'll go and say it was Cartier -- with the idea of producing a line of high-end digital watches. I am firmly of the opinion that there is an unserved market out there for people who would buy a tastefully designed digital watch in gold or stainless steel, and would pay in the $2k plus range. Witness the people who paid that much for the first LED digital watches from HP. What's more important, I worked out a design that was essentially maintenance-free except for replacing the cell every few years, and was water-resistant to at least 100 meters.

Unfortunately, the company is dominated by classic watchmakers who gag at the thought of anything digital (they barely tolerate quartz analog movements, even though they sell more of them than mechanicals). I received an aristocratic sneer and was told in a heavy European accent that "that's not what Cartier does." Their idea of cutting edge ended with their Crash Watch. http://www.timezone.com/library/comarticles/comarticles0025

Beanbag

This is a derail but I'm interested by your comments. I work in Switzerland with many, many watch junkies and possess a couple of modest examples of the watchmaker's craft myself (a 1959 Tudor and a beautiful limited edition Frederique Constant), but I've never heard anyone express any enthusiasm at all for an expensive, designer digital watch. Most of us own them but essentially for when we go skiing and biking and stuff like that, on the principle that it's better to have a CHF50 Casio that will take a few bangs and can be binned without regrets when it finally shatters than risk damaging something cherished. I'd be really interested to know if there has been any research pointing to a market for expensive digitals.

Beanbag

2nd October 2007, 05:00 PM

This is a derail but I'm interested by your comments. I work in Switzerland with many, many watch junkies and possess a couple of modest examples of the watchmaker's craft myself (a 1959 Tudor and a beautiful limited edition Frederique Constant), but I've never heard anyone express any enthusiasm at all for an expensive, designer digital watch. Most of us own them but essentially for when we go skiing and biking and stuff like that, on the principle that it's better to have a CHF50 Casio that will take a few bangs and can be binned without regrets when it finally shatters than risk damaging something cherished. I'd be really interested to know if there has been any research pointing to a market for expensive digitals.
I'm kinda short for time at this instant, plus as you said, it's a derail of the thread. If you're interested, we can move this discussion to PM. I spent many years developing the concept of a high-grade digital watch, and can run on for page after page on the subject. And, no, it isn't just shoving a Casio-type movement into an 18k case. Suffice to say that the original LED watches in the 70's were selling for about $3000 USD in quality gold cases, and did quite well. I believe ( based on what I saw while working in the industry) there is a definite market of consumers who would purchase an elegant, refined digital watch if such a thing were available. The biggest problem is in overcoming the institutional inertia of the established watch companies. It requires that certain prejudices and traditions be overcome.

Beanbag

Starthinker

3rd October 2007, 10:49 AM

I'm kinda short for time at this instant, plus as you said, it's a derail of the thread. If you're interested, we can move this discussion to PM. I spent many years developing the concept of a high-grade digital watch, and can run on for page after page on the subject. And, no, it isn't just shoving a Casio-type movement into an 18k case. Suffice to say that the original LED watches in the 70's were selling for about $3000 USD in quality gold cases, and did quite well. I believe ( based on what I saw while working in the industry) there is a definite market of consumers who would purchase an elegant, refined digital watch if such a thing were available. The biggest problem is in overcoming the institutional inertia of the established watch companies. It requires that certain prejudices and traditions be overcome.

Beanbag

Just butting in. Make the watch and the other watch makers be damned. If you make it well enough and price it high enough, people will buy it just to say they have "that rare watch."

I just adapted some advice given to me to your idea.

kookbreaker

3rd October 2007, 10:47 PM

I'm kinda short for time at this instant, plus as you said, it's a derail of the thread. If you're interested, we can move this discussion to PM. I spent many years developing the concept of a high-grade digital watch, and can run on for page after page on the subject. And, no, it isn't just shoving a Casio-type movement into an 18k case. Suffice to say that the original LED watches in the 70's were selling for about $3000 USD in quality gold cases, and did quite well. I believe ( based on what I saw while working in the industry) there is a definite market of consumers who would purchase an elegant, refined digital watch if such a thing were available. The biggest problem is in overcoming the institutional inertia of the established watch companies. It requires that certain prejudices and traditions be overcome.

Beanbag

I'm sorry, Beanbag, but I keep thinking of the ad for the digital grandfather clock in one of the Bruce McCall books.

NoAstronomer

4th October 2007, 11:38 AM

Beanbag

4th October 2007, 05:16 PM

Just butting in. Make the watch and the other watch makers be damned. If you make it well enough and price it high enough, people will buy it just to say they have "that rare watch."

I just adapted some advice given to me to your idea.
Ah, but it isn't that simple. To build a brand from the ground up takes time and a lot of money. I was looking to work with an established brand to take advantage of the name recognition as well as their R&D budget. At present, no one produces a digital watch movement with the features needed (the design elements exist in both digital and quartz analog movements, so there would be little development costs there, just mainly integrating them), plus the design of the case is considerably different internally from the typical watch case. To launch the product would take a very modest commitment for a large company, or a huge investment for an individual.

Like I said, I've been working on this for many years. It is still possible for an individual to produce their own mechanical movements, but digital movements are beyond the capability of the individual watchmaker.

Beanbag

Beanbag

4th October 2007, 05:18 PM

I'm sorry, Beanbag, but I keep thinking of the ad for the digital grandfather clock in one of the Bruce McCall books.
They exist in the real world, some with LED "pendulums."

Beanbag

a_unique_person

5th October 2007, 07:22 AM

The P76.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_P76

sophia8

5th October 2007, 07:55 AM

Hehe.. here's a testimonial exerpt from the forget-me-nots, talking about his daughter:

My emphasis added.
Sorry, but the Forgetmenot panties site is a hoax. It's one of the fake media-baiting websites operated by PantyRaiders.org (http://pantyraiders.org/), a "female-run collective" in New York.

sophia8

5th October 2007, 08:08 AM

I can't believe no-one has mentioned the Sinclair C5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_C5)!

That has to be the worst business idea ever. Not only did it fail mieserably but the research costs drove the company into the ground.Yeah, I really don't know why a bright bloke like Sinclair thought it was so great. The first time I saw it on TV, I thought "Brilliant! It's got no room for passengers, shopping or kids; you're lying back with your face at other vehicles' exhaust levels and below most other drivers' eye level. And it has a top speed of 15mph. Why couldn't he have just developed an electric three-wheeled bike?"

jimbob

5th October 2007, 08:22 AM

sophia8, and NoAstronmer, Agreed about the C5.

What about Lord Simpson's idea to sell off the defence part of GEC and blow invest all the money in telecoms, at the hight of that speculative bubble.

The remaining compant "Telent" has just been bought by a company that makes profits by managing pensions liabilities. (I presume by investing the fund as capital, and taking pension holidays?)

And the Hoover free flights promiotin that reulted in Hoover UK being sold to Candy

What about what IBM did with the early PC (practically creating microsoft).

Beanbag

5th October 2007, 05:57 PM

I can't believe no one has brought up the latest personal transport boondogle: The Segway.

The original Dorkmobile. Probably comes with a pocket protector and a propeller beanie.

Beanbag

bruto

5th October 2007, 06:26 PM

Look no further than Jref forums for one of the more amusing examples of a bad business idea: Welcome to the grocery store from hell. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=90206)

balrog666

5th October 2007, 08:22 PM

I can't believe no one has brought up the latest personal transport boondogle: The Segway.

The original Dorkmobile. Probably comes with a pocket protector and a propeller beanie.

Beanbag

You mean the Segway Human Individual Transporter is still around?

Has it taken over from the most popular two-wheeled human transporter? This one ... ?
http://www.pipe-bender-1.com/rimages/115/bicycle_01.gif

Unalienable

6th October 2007, 03:19 AM

TjW

6th October 2007, 07:42 AM

This is a bad business idea, not because they don't have money, but because you don't get very much of it.
You need to vertically integrate. Sure, supply the signs. But also supply costuming, scout good locations, training in good pitches or looking soulful... in short, franchise. Then you get a percentage of the take every week.

jimbob

6th October 2007, 01:09 PM

Maybe one could put a treadmill on a segway, to ensure that people would continue to get the exercise that they would otherwise get from a "bicycle".

They could possibley use the treadmill to charge a dynamo, so that the segway wouldn't be so limited in range.

Is it any worse idea than the treadmill desk (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/05/14/desk-treadmill.html)?

Just remember the Sinclair C5 was worse, because there were all the disadvantages of the segway plus the stealth aspect of being roughly the same height as lorry wheels.

rjh01

6th October 2007, 09:30 PM

Another idea that did not quite work are the zone system for movies on DVDs. Now most DVD players can play any DVD no matter what zone it is in.

ChristineR

7th October 2007, 07:50 AM

I see Segways everywhere. A week ago I was in Philadelphia; there was a guy with a whole truck full of them parked on the perimeter of the old city. He seemed to be renting lots of them.

ThatSoundAgain

7th October 2007, 10:23 AM

Another idea that did not quite work are the zone system for movies on DVDs. Now most DVD players can play any DVD no matter what zone it is in.

Argh. This restriction, easy as it is to circumvent, is actually really really annoying. The only thing it's good for is annoying legitimate customers. paradoxically, if you buy a name-brand DVD player or drive for your computer, you'll generally have more trouble with this than if you get a generic one.

Like in my case, I've bought DVDs that can't be played in my Powerbook (which I most often use for DVD viewing), and simply don't exist with a Region 2 code (I'm in Europe). The otherwise excellent DVD burner drive in the Mac doesn't have an all regions hack and is unlikely to ever get one. So, to use these discs, I have to either play them on my Linux box, or rip them there and reencode them, then burn a new copy for the Mac. Meanwhile, people who download these illegally can view them just fine.

Grrr.

kookbreaker

9th October 2007, 05:36 PM

I see Segways everywhere. A week ago I was in Philadelphia; there was a guy with a whole truck full of them parked on the perimeter of the old city. He seemed to be renting lots of them.

They run tours with them starting around the Art Museum.

jimbob

14th October 2007, 01:21 PM

Tokenconservative

14th October 2007, 03:02 PM

But Wait! There's More!
Ron Popeil

The spray on paint to hide bald spots - GLHF#9. (Great Looking Hair Formula Number 9)

The Pocket Fisherman

Spray on hair I will buy as a bad idea.

Pocket Fisherman?

Did you ever own one? I did. For years. Used to travel in my job by car a lot and man, that thing was GREAT! I could pull over at a roadside tavern and down a couple a cold ones, or pop the trunk, retrieve the PF and drop a line in a cold lake, instead.

And hell, beer's always cheaper at the 7-Eleven, and tastes better outside on a crips fall afternoon with the wind in the pines and the fish staying as far as possible from your lure as you nap on the shorline, anyway.

I don't travel anymore, but if I did, I'd probably pay up to only $200, no, wait...$250! for one of these today.

Tokie

Tokenconservative

14th October 2007, 03:04 PM

This is one from my company:

"Right first time"

I think it should be make "our mistakes quicker, and correct them before release" as opposed to trying to second guess every eventuality, and the consequent delays.

LOL.

I have my own company and I always find it more efficient to make the mistakes right out of the box. That way you have your client on the phone in minutes, rather than hours or days, screaming that you are the most incompetent $#@!*&%%! he's ever worked with...oh, and here's the next order....

Nothing quite like staying in their faces to ensure client loyalty.

Tokie

Tokenconservative

14th October 2007, 03:08 PM

They run tours with them starting around the Art Museum.

Other than on TV, I've seen exactly 3 (count 'em, THREE!!) of these in non-promotions operation (radio stations like to set up those vans, and have some goof driving one of these around in circles nearby for some reason). Three yuppies riding them downtown one day. They all looked quite smug. But seemed to be...unappreciative of the cloud of exhaust my SUV sent their way.

Of course, I live in a place that was utterly shut down by snow for about 3 weeks last year. It's my understanding that you can get studded snow tires for these things, but that when you hit an 8-inch deep pothole full of meltwater it electrocutes you.

Oh...and they cost upwards of $3000. Now, give me a scooter, any day. You can get these for under $1500, they go for a thousand miles just on the fumes from passing by the Citgo, and they are really great for picking up chicks.

Tokie

Tokenconservative

14th October 2007, 03:34 PM

I'm looking for startup capital to launch my new business venture.

I plan on making durable and pre-made "Will Work for Food" signs to be sold at convenience stores. Other slogans will be available as well including "Vietnam Vet * Seven Kids * Please Help * God Bless" and the all time favorite "Why lie? I need a beer!"

I know, you're thinking "But your target consumers are homeless people without any money!" Believe me bubs, these guys make more money than you know!!

Who wants to buy some shares???

LOL!

A news station here did a piece on these screwballs a few years ago, found out a number of them were part of a business venture. Guy would house the bums at a notel-motel, pick them up in his van every day, drive them to "their" corner, apply an appropriate sign (someone may've already beat you to this idea), pick them up in the evening. He'd take a cut, they'd get a place to stay, etc.

Another guy as pulling down close to $30k/year. This was back in the mid-90s when that was still real money.

Anecdote warning: over the course of several weeks I would see this woman and a teen-aged boy on a corner at a highway intersection near where I live. The sign read: "stranded! Please Help! God Bless!"

So one day, I am coming by there in the late afternoon. I'm at the light and see them walking to a late model Honda in a parking lot nearby. They get in and drive away.

Then there's the "Vietnam Vet! Please Help!" guy who MAYBE could've been in the first Gulf War, but was nowhere near old enough to have been in Vietnam as anything other than a tourist.

And the guy I used to see on an intersection near a bike path I use. In one of those hospital wheelchairs (not the kind people live in, the kind they use to push people around in hospitals). Then I see him early one morning walking down the path to a footbridge, going under, retrieving his wheelchair and heading off to work.

Try this: give one of them an application to a McDs or Hardees. And keep moving. Because they will spit on you.

Tokie

bruto

14th October 2007, 04:26 PM

LOL!

A news station here did a piece on these screwballs a few years ago, found out a number of them were part of a business venture. Guy would house the bums at a notel-motel, pick them up in his van every day, drive them to "their" corner, apply an appropriate sign (someone may've already beat you to this idea), pick them up in the evening. He'd take a cut, they'd get a place to stay, etc.

Another guy as pulling down close to $30k/year. This was back in the mid-90s when that was still real money.

Anecdote warning: over the course of several weeks I would see this woman and a teen-aged boy on a corner at a highway intersection near where I live. The sign read: "stranded! Please Help! God Bless!"

So one day, I am coming by there in the late afternoon. I'm at the light and see them walking to a late model Honda in a parking lot nearby. They get in and drive away.

Then there's the "Vietnam Vet! Please Help!" guy who MAYBE could've been in the first Gulf War, but was nowhere near old enough to have been in Vietnam as anything other than a tourist.

And the guy I used to see on an intersection near a bike path I use. In one of those hospital wheelchairs (not the kind people live in, the kind they use to push people around in hospitals). Then I see him early one morning walking down the path to a footbridge, going under, retrieving his wheelchair and heading off to work.

Try this: give one of them an application to a McDs or Hardees. And keep moving. Because they will spit on you.

Tokie

I wonder what percentage of the people begging are fraudulent, and am probably as guilty of wishful thinking when I suspect your sample is unfair as you are when you suspect it's representative, but it's certainly true that many people abuse the charitable impulse of others, and false beggars of one sort or another must be just about as old as begging itself. I remember back in my student days (we're talking 60's here), some of my acquaintances making surprising money from panhandling, pulling the "stranded in the city" routine. I thought it despicable, but they did pretty well - or at least they might have if they'd not blown it all on drugs and had to do it all over again the next day without even clearly remembering the "fun" they'd had. A good racket wasted. I hope at least that your local bums are investing their income better.

a_unique_person

14th October 2007, 11:42 PM

You mean the Segway Human Individual Transporter is still around?

Has it taken over from the most popular two-wheeled human transporter? This one ... ?
http://www.pipe-bender-1.com/rimages/115/bicycle_01.gif

What a work of genius. To make it turn, you just have to lean the way you want to go. Who would of thought it?

quixotecoyote

15th October 2007, 12:26 AM

I wonder what percentage of the people begging are fraudulent, and am probably as guilty of wishful thinking when I suspect your sample is unfair as you are when you suspect it's representative, but it's certainly true that many people abuse the charitable impulse of others, and false beggars of one sort or another must be just about as old as begging itself. I remember back in my student days (we're talking 60's here), some of my acquaintances making surprising money from panhandling, pulling the "stranded in the city" routine. I thought it despicable, but they did pretty well - or at least they might have if they'd not blown it all on drugs and had to do it all over again the next day without even clearly remembering the "fun" they'd had. A good racket wasted. I hope at least that your local bums are investing their income better.

In Kansas City, you can tell who's fraudulent by the geography. The beggars on the plaza live in houses and drive cars. The beggars downtown live in apartments and take the bus. The beggars in the West Bottoms and East of Troost will probably mug you before you can find out. Beggars north of the river are probably transients passing through on their way to somewhere else.

Puppycow

20th October 2007, 01:12 AM

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/10/20/world/20japan.xlarge1.jpg
Article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)

quixotecoyote

20th October 2007, 02:33 AM

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/10/20/world/20japan.xlarge1.jpg
Article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)

According to the article, it may not be a bad idea. Financially, at least.

Whack01

20th October 2007, 06:04 AM

The absolute worst idea I've ever heard in my life, Pre-moistened toilet paper.

It wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't spent over $100,000,000.00 on the product launch and I can only cringe in terror at their R&D costs.

Cottonelle Fresh Rollwipes (http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/archive/02sep/MKTG.htm)

aofl

1st November 2007, 06:24 PM

I wonder what percentage of the people begging are fraudulent, and am probably as guilty of wishful thinking when I suspect your sample is unfair as you are when you suspect it's representative, but it's certainly true that many people abuse the charitable impulse of others, and false beggars of one sort or another must be just about as old as begging itself. I remember back in my student days (we're talking 60's here), some of my acquaintances making surprising money from panhandling, pulling the "stranded in the city" routine. I thought it despicable, but they did pretty well - or at least they might have if they'd not blown it all on drugs and had to do it all over again the next day without even clearly remembering the "fun" they'd had. A good racket wasted. I hope at least that your local bums are investing their income better.

Back when I first moved out to California I was walking into a grocery store and was stopped by a beggar saying "Can you help? I'm really hungry." Feeling generous (which doesn't happen often) and not thinking (which is S.O.P) I blurted out what to me made perfect sense: "What would you like? I could buy you some bread and meat." Imagine my surprise when he got angry and told me to go away. It wasn't too hard to figure out what he was really hungry for.

A

NewtonTrino

2nd November 2007, 10:56 AM

Ah, but it isn't that simple. To build a brand from the ground up takes time and a lot of money. I was looking to work with an established brand to take advantage of the name recognition as well as their R&D budget. At present, no one produces a digital watch movement with the features needed (the design elements exist in both digital and quartz analog movements, so there would be little development costs there, just mainly integrating them), plus the design of the case is considerably different internally from the typical watch case. To launch the product would take a very modest commitment for a large company, or a huge investment for an individual.

Like I said, I've been working on this for many years. It is still possible for an individual to produce their own mechanical movements, but digital movements are beyond the capability of the individual watchmaker.

Beanbag

Beanbag,

I'm one of the people that would buy such a watch. My dream is to take the movement out of my submariner and replace it with a computer. My watch would then become a PDA/cellphone communicating with various input devices using bluetooth or something similar (including a large display if needed). I know this probably goes beyond what you were thinking and is probably impractical at the moment, but within years this should be possible.

I do love mechanical movements as well btw.

Puppycow

28th January 2008, 01:54 AM

Hello Kitty Launches Men's Line (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080119f2.html)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/images/photos2008/nn20080119f2a.jpg

I'll let you know if I ever see men buying and wearing this stuff.

下品。 :covereyes

bruto

28th January 2008, 07:53 AM

joobie

28th January 2008, 02:42 PM

doesn't seem so farfetched when you realize there are hello kitty firearms.

bruto

28th January 2008, 03:35 PM

doesn't seem so farfetched when you realize there are hello kitty firearms.Better than "goodbye kitty" firearms.

LostAngeles

31st January 2008, 01:45 AM

doesn't seem so farfetched when you realize there are hello kitty firearms.

There are Hello Kitty vibrators and I own one.

Only because I can say that.

The N-Gage exists, but that was a flop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-Gage)

But the Phantom was EPIC FAIL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system))

I'll skip Sega's CD add-on and the 32X and just move right onto how they made on of the greatest systems ever (Dreamcast) and then went right into failure, hardware and now software wise.

What happened to you Sega. You used to be cool.

Tokenconservative

31st January 2008, 04:48 PM

Tokenconservative

31st January 2008, 04:49 PM

Back when I first moved out to California I was walking into a grocery store and was stopped by a beggar saying "Can you help? I'm really hungry." Feeling generous (which doesn't happen often) and not thinking (which is S.O.P) I blurted out what to me made perfect sense: "What would you like? I could buy you some bread and meat." Imagine my surprise when he got angry and told me to go away. It wasn't too hard to figure out what he was really hungry for.

A

Hmmm....let me see...something wrapped in a 40oz can?

Tokie

bruto

31st January 2008, 09:05 PM

Was just mentioning Pogs and Beenie Babies in another thread...everybody remembers B Babies, how about Pogs?

Now, not a bad idea for the manufacturers and the pushers of these things as "collectible," but for the rubes and fools who dumped small fortunes into them?

Very bad.

Pogs were basically tiddly winks made out of paper with various insignia and such on them (usually Japanese, I believe) and were traded like baseball cards at conventions and what not...I believe some game could be played with them, too.

TokiePogs are even stupider than that, when you realize that they started out just as bottle caps (like the insert in old glass milk bottles, except they were for a juice drink), which kids then started using for games, and collecting, which other manufacturers then started producing and selling just as collectible game pieces.

I remember at the time reading a newspaper article about the fad, and it contained an interview with an avid pog-collecting kid, who said that at first he thought the whole thing was stupid, since they were just bottle caps, but then some store he thought was really cool started selling them, so he decided it was really cool too. The anatomy of a stupid fad, right there.

The pog bubble burst partly because their perceived value made the game too serious when played for keeps, and schools started banning them. Once the social function was lost, their utter lack of value became apparent.

I wonder where all the little caches and piles of pogs went.

Tokenconservative

1st February 2008, 06:16 AM

Pogs are even stupider than that, when you realize that they started out just as bottle caps (like the insert in old glass milk bottles, except they were for a juice drink), which kids then started using for games, and collecting, which other manufacturers then started producing and selling just as collectible game pieces.

I remember at the time reading a newspaper article about the fad, and it contained an interview with an avid pog-collecting kid, who said that at first he thought the whole thing was stupid, since they were just bottle caps, but then some store he thought was really cool started selling them, so he decided it was really cool too. The anatomy of a stupid fad, right there.

The pog bubble burst partly because their perceived value made the game too serious when played for keeps, and schools started banning them. Once the social function was lost, their utter lack of value became apparent.

I wonder where all the little caches and piles of pogs went.

Was a radio yakker here that cued me into this...because his son was a "collector" and gamer...(how'd the game work? Like that Yugio thing, today? Kids sit and throw the things at each other?).

He'd talk about going to the "conventions" traveling to other states!

Tokie

bruto

1st February 2008, 07:53 AM

Was a radio yakker here that cued me into this...because his son was a "collector" and gamer...(how'd the game work? Like that Yugio thing, today? Kids sit and throw the things at each other?).

He'd talk about going to the "conventions" traveling to other states!

TokieI had to look this one up, but the traditional game seems to be to stack a number of pogs up, then throw something at them. Those that land upside down are captured. I'm sure there are more subtleties to the refined rules of the international pog federation, or whatever, but that's the gist of this lucrative, intense and exciting pastime.

ZirconBlue

6th February 2008, 04:31 PM

I had to look this one up, but the traditional game seems to be to stack a number of pogs up, then throw something at them. Those that land upside down are captured. I'm sure there are more subtleties to the refined rules of the international pog federation, or whatever, but that's the gist of this lucrative, intense and exciting pastime.

Wasn't there a "slammer" that you slammed down on the pogs? Just the way you want to treat a cardboard "collectible": smash it with a piece of metal.

bruto

6th February 2008, 09:33 PM

Wasn't there a "slammer" that you slammed down on the pogs? Just the way you want to treat a cardboard "collectible": smash it with a piece of metal.I think in the "official" game during the time of the fad, there was a special platform or pad, and you were supposed to slam the platform rather than the pogs. As I understand it (having done only the most cursory research but probably still more than the subject warranted), the original Hawaiian folk game with milk bottle caps may have just involved throwing another cap at the pile.

Damien Evans

7th February 2008, 05:38 AM

The P76.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_P76

along the same lines, the Peel P50

iN0LQJLabqA

NoZed Avenger

7th February 2008, 03:14 PM

Renovating a houseboat to hold mediations on the Lake.

Epic Fail.

shadow revolution

12th February 2008, 01:14 AM

The pancake maker pan thing that made pancakes/breakfast easier, my ass! The pan heated way to quickly (Ok I have crappy eggmaking skills.) and trying to flip it gave me a95% chance setting the smoke alarm off, next time I am just using a spatula and a frying pan.

Crundy

12th February 2008, 09:59 AM

I wonder what percentage of the people begging are fraudulent
I am concerned about the number of tea addicts on the streets of London. I am stopped every five minutes by someone who needs a few pence for a cup of tea. Poor souls.

Ravenwood

18th February 2008, 05:08 AM

But the Phantom was EPIC FAIL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system))

You just got the wrong Phantom. Mine works just fine & has given me almost 15 years of trouble free service... :D
http://www.phantomonline.com/images/2011-V-45-11-T.jpg

Gazpacho

19th February 2008, 06:00 PM

One bad business idea that just will not die: Smell-O-Vision (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smell-o-vision)

It was a bad idea in 1939, it's still a bad idea, but there seems to be no shortage of self-styled revolutionaries who want to give it another go:
http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,23654,00.html (They called their device an "iSmell". Marketing geniuses, I tell ya.)
http://www.francetelecom.com/sirius/rd/en/galerie/senteurs_multimedia/doc_avance.php
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-12-08-internet-smell_x.htm

Now let's see, who is the target market for this?
Content producers? No, because real-time scents are already known to be a bad experience.
Advertising? Forget it, nobody's going to pay to participate in an ad campaign.
Perfume companies? No, because you wouldn't be getting their actual scent. Besides, you can go to the cosmetics counter at the mall and get a sample of any perfume.

devnull

19th February 2008, 06:30 PM

Sounds a lot like Forget-me-not panties (http://forgetmenotpanties.com/).

Most of the really bad business ideas I've seen haven't actually been bad ideas, just poorly marketed and managed.

I think *Commodore* is the epitome of poor marketing. They had the best products (Amiga was about 7 years ahead of the competition), they had stacks of cash (You dont sell 70 million commodore 64s at about 3000% markup and go broke overnight), they had geek mindshare (commodore 64s and amigas are still used today, 16 years after the demise of the company) and yet *somehow* they were able to mismanage the company into oblivion, mostly through poor marketing.....

Its a truly staggering story. How they managed it Ill never know.