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New Product Announcements – an observation on the wider hobby:popGive him a soapbox!
A newbie contacted me the other day. He has his heart set on what another website has listed as a "New Product Announcement." As someone who has been active now in the hobby for two decades, I had a long chat on the phone with him about his options and was loathed to break the news to him that not all "New Product Announcements", see the light of day.
All products take considerable lead time and investment to eventuate and I for one happily support with my cash and therefore confidence in buying from reputable craftsman that take their time to steadily achieve the end goal.
As an active participant in the hobby, with some 20 subs constructions under my belt, I too have sat patiently on the sidelines waiting for boats that have not eventuated. As a rule of thumb I see a growing trend for New Product Announcements. In fact these can be divided into 3 different camps.
(1) The first is the kit maker that has a proven track record of success and shows you progress of work well underway BEFORE the kit is announced.- The professional craftsman.
Yeah you can wait a while for the boats he has under development but you know and can see with transparency what is being worked on will be achieved. The end result and quality is without rival. You’re dealing with a sincere, honest, and hard-working professional only too happy to provide feed back and communications about the scope of works in progress. So you can be confident that an achiever of this calibre will develop exactly what he says he will. Be prepared to wait however, the professional craftsman will deliver, but it might take many months or a year or more. Nonetheless the communication and feedback and progress reports will be transparent enough for you to remain encouraged that you have backed a winner.
(2) Next is what I call -The well intentioned vendor.
Often you see great potential in what is announced and sporadic bits and pieces of progress, but at day’s end its a bit of lottery to see what and when is delivered. So long as these guys are up front about the kit development being a sideline rather than a business, these vendors are and remain an asset to the hobby.
(3) Third and finally is what I consider to be a scourge on the hobby. -The Earth Salter
These are vendors with a range of skill, they might even have previous kits in the market place and might have great technical ability. They present, based on past form or even as a new supplier as “Business like”. However, quite often I think these vendors seem more obsessed with their own past success that they want to cling to the idea of them being a big wig in the hobby so much that they tend to "salt the earth" with various and sometimes multiple announcements for new kits in development. These vendors tend to have a lot to say about "scale fidelity" issues of other craftsman's kits in development and pass themselves off as "THE" definitive source for kit accuracy.
In doing so these vendors want to warn off other genuine kit makers to not trample on what they believe is their God given turf. By doing so other kit makers might feel intimidated enough that the kit they had planned or perhaps already under development is simply not worth the economic investment risk, given that a well known past vendor has plans afoot to do the same kit.
As a user of Game Theory in business I have watched this tactic do precisely that, which is why on various forums you can see it employed first hand. - It works.- When the announcer of these new products fails to deliver and or show progress, the enquirer / potential buyer of the product is fed excuse after excuse along the lines of this is a hobby not a business, and or my dog ate my homework. In some cases the enquirer of the product is then targeted as being a PITA which is the best tactic to obfuscate away from the lack of progress in the New Product Announcement.
What the Earth Salter fails to appreciate is that salting the earth against a potential kit competitor tends to salt the earth for ALL participants in the hobby.
At day’s end - newbie, and seasoned collector alike all have a limited budget. We tend to prioritise as rational consumers our hobby dollars, and in a lot of cases, this means holding off on purchasing kit X, if we have a greater preference for kit Y - where by kit Y is a New Product Announcement. The Earth Salter knows this and is capitalising on this to employ a tactic of future market capture by their product announcement or their subtle jibes regarding a revival kits accuracy. The Earth Salter does not care in the slightest about the guy waiting for the "new product announcement" to be delivered - in fact to a new entrant, the new product he is waiting for might mean he is not participating in the hobby.
I am raising this issue as one thing the Earth Salter needs to consider is that in the US and elsewhere, the deliberate tactic of “announcing a new product” should the product never be produced is in fact a breach of Anti Trust laws (laws put in place to ensure market competition). A key area where Anti Trust law has been applied is in the market of computer software. “Vapourware” is the term used– where some software companies announced New Products that they had little intent or interest in bringing to market and they were only publicly announced for one thing in mind, to derail competitors into thinking that their product development plans, or their products in development were not worth the investment.
Forums that are dedicated to ensuring the health of our hobby have a responsibility too. They may not have a legal duty of care to weed out the Earth Salters, but if they truly care about the hobby per se, they should have a duty to care about commercial tactics that derail participation and growth in the hobby.
I think all buyers of kits, particularly those who are new to the hobby need to carefully navigate through "New Product Announcements". When you find a reputable craftsman - do buy something – we are spoilt for quality and choice, but without Vendors we have no hobby. They need financial reward from their effort - so buy something.
I think all genuine producers of kits should go ahead with plans to produce and not be influenced or put off by the empty noise of jealous onlookers. The hobby needs quality vendors to expand the product range and grow the hobby. At day’s end don’t be put off by predatory tactics of others. The Earth Salters who engage in this ravel are easy to spot. In fact don't be surprised if they approach you with the pathetic whines of "Oh I was going to do that", and or "I have specialised info or plans" and on this last point they might appear to be helping you but the so called "specialised plans or information" will come to you at a price disproportionate to the value of your project and often will involve delaying your project as they endear themselves upon you to the point that they insist your product would have failed without them. The facts is shoulda / coulda / woulda does not cut it in the real world. Paying customers and cash in your hand as reward for your effort does. These Earth Salters are not out to help you but are out to screw you - full stop. If they can't convince you to stop production against a product that they covert as their own turf, be prepared for them to seek something that disproportionately leans on your success. As a consistent purchaser of kits around the world I simply don't loose sleep over minor scale fidelity issues in my boats, and you know what - neither will the vast majority of your future customers. Consider the laws of diminished returns when offered such information.
With the newbie that contacted me, the advice I gave him after I ascertained his skill base was to steer him to a product first up that was in the market place already and within the genre of boats he likes.
MY2C as a professional Economist, Game Theorist, and Consumer and builder of Model Ships and Submarines.
Best
J
A newbie contacted me the other day. He has his heart set on what another website has listed as a "New Product Announcement." As someone who has been active now in the hobby for two decades, I had a long chat on the phone with him about his options and was loathed to break the news to him that not all "New Product Announcements", see the light of day.
All products take considerable lead time and investment to eventuate and I for one happily support with my cash and therefore confidence in buying from reputable craftsman that take their time to steadily achieve the end goal.
As an active participant in the hobby, with some 20 subs constructions under my belt, I too have sat patiently on the sidelines waiting for boats that have not eventuated. As a rule of thumb I see a growing trend for New Product Announcements. In fact these can be divided into 3 different camps.
(1) The first is the kit maker that has a proven track record of success and shows you progress of work well underway BEFORE the kit is announced.- The professional craftsman.
Yeah you can wait a while for the boats he has under development but you know and can see with transparency what is being worked on will be achieved. The end result and quality is without rival. You’re dealing with a sincere, honest, and hard-working professional only too happy to provide feed back and communications about the scope of works in progress. So you can be confident that an achiever of this calibre will develop exactly what he says he will. Be prepared to wait however, the professional craftsman will deliver, but it might take many months or a year or more. Nonetheless the communication and feedback and progress reports will be transparent enough for you to remain encouraged that you have backed a winner.
(2) Next is what I call -The well intentioned vendor.
Often you see great potential in what is announced and sporadic bits and pieces of progress, but at day’s end its a bit of lottery to see what and when is delivered. So long as these guys are up front about the kit development being a sideline rather than a business, these vendors are and remain an asset to the hobby.
(3) Third and finally is what I consider to be a scourge on the hobby. -The Earth Salter
These are vendors with a range of skill, they might even have previous kits in the market place and might have great technical ability. They present, based on past form or even as a new supplier as “Business like”. However, quite often I think these vendors seem more obsessed with their own past success that they want to cling to the idea of them being a big wig in the hobby so much that they tend to "salt the earth" with various and sometimes multiple announcements for new kits in development. These vendors tend to have a lot to say about "scale fidelity" issues of other craftsman's kits in development and pass themselves off as "THE" definitive source for kit accuracy.
In doing so these vendors want to warn off other genuine kit makers to not trample on what they believe is their God given turf. By doing so other kit makers might feel intimidated enough that the kit they had planned or perhaps already under development is simply not worth the economic investment risk, given that a well known past vendor has plans afoot to do the same kit.
As a user of Game Theory in business I have watched this tactic do precisely that, which is why on various forums you can see it employed first hand. - It works.- When the announcer of these new products fails to deliver and or show progress, the enquirer / potential buyer of the product is fed excuse after excuse along the lines of this is a hobby not a business, and or my dog ate my homework. In some cases the enquirer of the product is then targeted as being a PITA which is the best tactic to obfuscate away from the lack of progress in the New Product Announcement.
What the Earth Salter fails to appreciate is that salting the earth against a potential kit competitor tends to salt the earth for ALL participants in the hobby.
At day’s end - newbie, and seasoned collector alike all have a limited budget. We tend to prioritise as rational consumers our hobby dollars, and in a lot of cases, this means holding off on purchasing kit X, if we have a greater preference for kit Y - where by kit Y is a New Product Announcement. The Earth Salter knows this and is capitalising on this to employ a tactic of future market capture by their product announcement or their subtle jibes regarding a revival kits accuracy. The Earth Salter does not care in the slightest about the guy waiting for the "new product announcement" to be delivered - in fact to a new entrant, the new product he is waiting for might mean he is not participating in the hobby.
I am raising this issue as one thing the Earth Salter needs to consider is that in the US and elsewhere, the deliberate tactic of “announcing a new product” should the product never be produced is in fact a breach of Anti Trust laws (laws put in place to ensure market competition). A key area where Anti Trust law has been applied is in the market of computer software. “Vapourware” is the term used– where some software companies announced New Products that they had little intent or interest in bringing to market and they were only publicly announced for one thing in mind, to derail competitors into thinking that their product development plans, or their products in development were not worth the investment.
Forums that are dedicated to ensuring the health of our hobby have a responsibility too. They may not have a legal duty of care to weed out the Earth Salters, but if they truly care about the hobby per se, they should have a duty to care about commercial tactics that derail participation and growth in the hobby.
I think all buyers of kits, particularly those who are new to the hobby need to carefully navigate through "New Product Announcements". When you find a reputable craftsman - do buy something – we are spoilt for quality and choice, but without Vendors we have no hobby. They need financial reward from their effort - so buy something.
I think all genuine producers of kits should go ahead with plans to produce and not be influenced or put off by the empty noise of jealous onlookers. The hobby needs quality vendors to expand the product range and grow the hobby. At day’s end don’t be put off by predatory tactics of others. The Earth Salters who engage in this ravel are easy to spot. In fact don't be surprised if they approach you with the pathetic whines of "Oh I was going to do that", and or "I have specialised info or plans" and on this last point they might appear to be helping you but the so called "specialised plans or information" will come to you at a price disproportionate to the value of your project and often will involve delaying your project as they endear themselves upon you to the point that they insist your product would have failed without them. The facts is shoulda / coulda / woulda does not cut it in the real world. Paying customers and cash in your hand as reward for your effort does. These Earth Salters are not out to help you but are out to screw you - full stop. If they can't convince you to stop production against a product that they covert as their own turf, be prepared for them to seek something that disproportionately leans on your success. As a consistent purchaser of kits around the world I simply don't loose sleep over minor scale fidelity issues in my boats, and you know what - neither will the vast majority of your future customers. Consider the laws of diminished returns when offered such information.
With the newbie that contacted me, the advice I gave him after I ascertained his skill base was to steer him to a product first up that was in the market place already and within the genre of boats he likes.
MY2C as a professional Economist, Game Theorist, and Consumer and builder of Model Ships and Submarines.
Best
J
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