Products you knew wouldn't sell from day one

[Hampshire]

Have you ever seen a new product at a store that you knew from day one would never sell and was doomed to fail and wondered what the marketing people were thinking?

A couple from my BestBuy days:
Excercise equipment. Yes, back around 96-97 BBY decided to carry treadmills, excercise bikes, etc. They even had a section for it, in an electronics store.
I remember when they introduced it and thought "no way, no one's coming here to buy a treadmill, this stuff will be gone by year end." Sure enough, the idea flopped and we were soon getting rid of the crap for pennies on the dollar or sending it back.
Grateful Dead merchandise. Yep, BBY thought it would be profitable to become the exclusive seller of Grateful Dead crap. I just shook my head as they set up the displays. Everything from GD socks, GD baby bibs, to GD xmas ornaments. Sure enough, a few months later we couldn't give the stuff away for 50-75 cents.

One from Circuit City:
DIVX. Was I the only one who thought this was the dumbest idea ever? You buy a player. You buy a movie on DIVX disc. It only plays once. If you want to watch it again you have to buy it again. :smack: No way. This was doomed from the beginning.

A more recent one from Target:
Henry Kloss Tivoli table radios. Sure the guy is a legend in audio and the radios did sound good and were cute. But $199 for a mono AM/FM radio? Seriously? Who did they think were going to buy these things? I knew one day they'd be on clearance for $50 or they'd all be sent back to the vendor. Sure enough, I don't see them anymore.

And ones you've called from day one?

[Cat Fight]

A more recent one from Target:
Henry Kloss Tivoli table radios. Sure the guy is a legend in audio and the radios did sound good and were cute. But $199 for a mono AM/FM radio? Seriously? Who did they think were going to buy these things? I knew one day they'd be on clearance for $50 or they'd all be sent back to the vendor. Sure enough, I don't see them anymore.



Ooh, I want one. I guess it's off to eBay.

I pretty much think this when I see an electronics store pushing MP3 players that aren't iPods. Doesn't matter how many bells and whistles they put on the ads.

[pinkfreud]

Hostess Fruit-Flavored Potato Chips. I remember seeing these advertised in the 1970s and feeling a bit queasy at the thought. They came in orange, cherry, and grape flavors. These were introduced in Canada, and barely made it into the USA before being discontinued. I never tasted one. Apparently nobody else did, either.

[Mahaloth]

I pretty much think this when I see an electronics store pushing MP3 players that aren't iPods. Doesn't matter how many bells and whistles they put on the ads.

I was going to say you were wrong, but the more I think about it I realize you are right and what a sad statement about American susceptibility to fads/advertising it is.

Nothing against Ipods personally and I am an American :)

[Hampshire]

Ooh, I want one. I guess it's off to eBay.

I pretty much think this when I see an electronics store pushing MP3 players that aren't iPods. Doesn't matter how many bells and whistles they put on the ads.

Don't get me wrong, they were a damn nice looking little radio Model One (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.php?productid=164&cat=262&page=1) and when I first saw them I wanted one. Even at $50 it would have been expensive for an AM/FM radio but I may have splurged (as well as others) since it did have the cool factor. But I think $199 was a bit out of reality.

[Mikemike2]

Hostess Fruit-Flavored Potato Chips. I remember seeing these advertised in the 1970s and feeling a bit queasy at the thought. They came in orange, cherry, and grape flavors. These were introduced in Canada, and barely made it into the USA before being discontinued. I never tasted one. Apparently nobody else did, either.

Aww, I was going to say that as soon as I saw the thread title. I tried the orange flavor just to see what was going on. Blechh.

[Antinor01]

I avoid saying these kinds of things. When I do, the product invariably becomes a huge hit and something I like gets discontinued.

[Cluricaun]

I avoid saying these kinds of things. When I do, the product invariably becomes a huge hit and something I like gets discontinued.

Capitalist Karma gonna getcha.

[casdave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDKw5I-RwUY

I win the thread.

[Projammer]

Microsoft Bob (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob)

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

I have a fairly bad track record when it comes to guessing at the tastes of the masses.

When I was in Tokyo a few decades ago, I saw a whole lot of people playing what had to be the silliest videogame ever. I said to myself, "Can you imagine if they tried to sell that game in America? Nobody would ever play it. It would be an instant flop."

It was called Pac-Man.

[Mangetout]

The Sinclair C5. Sinclair was on a big roll, having enjoyed resounding success with his groundbreaking cheap home computers, then it all went completely tits-up. everyone in the whole world cringed with embarrassment at the C5 and said "Noooooo! Don't do it, Clive!", but he forged ahead with it and it was all steeply downhill from there.

I know they're still around and have now achieved cult fan status, but that isn't really success.

[Mangetout]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDKw5I-RwUY

I win the thread.
OK, I finally plucked up the courage to click on the link and yes, you got there first. I thought it was going to be a rickroll.

[Green Bean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDKw5I-RwUY

I win the thread.
Speaking of which...

I knew that the Segway wasn't going to be a hit. It's not a total flop, as various uses have been found for them. But remember the inital buzz? Here's a link (http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,186660-1,00.html) to an article in Time that was typical of the press it was receiving.

I kept thinking "and this is easier than just walking how?"

[Don't fight the hypothetical]

I don't give this place (http://journals.aol.com/williammorris/willspeaking/entries/2008/05/11/cereality-is-here---and-its-great-get-your-cereal-in-downtown-santa-cruz/946) much of a chance.

[Mangetout]

Yeah, I remember that excitement - I think some of it was because of the buildup though - when it was 'IT' and nobody really knew for sure what 'IT' was going to be. After working themselves up to that kind of a frenzy, lots of people couldn't just come straight back down to reality.

I mean, the Segway is a bloody clever thing.

That nobody needs.

[Lemur866]

The Sinclair C5. Sinclair was on a big roll, having enjoyed resounding success with his groundbreaking cheap home computers, then it all went completely tits-up. everyone in the whole world cringed with embarrassment at the C5 and said "Noooooo! Don't do it, Clive!", but he forged ahead with it and it was all steeply downhill from there.

I know they're still around and have now achieved cult fan status, but that isn't really success.
So his groundbreaking new product was a golf cart? Wow.

[Roderick Femm]

Speaking of which...

I knew that the Segway wasn't going to be a hit. It's not a total flop, as various uses have been found for them. But remember the inital buzz? Here's a link (http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,186660-1,00.html) to an article in Time that was typical of the press it was receiving.

I kept thinking "and this is easier than just walking how?"My father, who is 86, can't walk very well at all, but he can stand just fine. He goes everywhere on his Segway, the grocery store, the post office, other stores, and just rolls around in the store on the Segway. It's done wonders for his mobility, and makes him feel better than running one of those motorized wheelchair thingies.

Admittedly, not the world-shaking new mode of transport envisioned in the early days, but it works for him.


Roddy

[kittenblue]

My father, who is 86, can't walk very well at all, but he can stand just fine. He goes everywhere on his Segway, the grocery store, the post office, other stores, and just rolls around in the store on the Segway. It's done wonders for his mobility, and makes him feel better than running one of those motorized wheelchair thingies.

Admittedly, not the world-shaking new mode of transport envisioned in the early days, but it works for him.


Roddy I was just reading an article in the doctor's office about the new "green" city they are building in Abu Dhabi, and the plan mentioned that cars will be parked outside the city, and only Segways and other such transport will be used inside the city. Wish my mom could use one, but her problem is more with standing. I'd love to have one, because with my arthritis, walking hurts...a lot.

[melodyharmonius]

I was a pretty adamant New Coke hater.

[astro]

This (http://noolmusic.com/blogs/videos_tv_commercials_-_dominos_fudgems_-_youtube_video.shtml)

or maybe this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUhhVGAIyDc)

[Jackmannii]

The winners for prognostication have to be American automakers.

Fuel-efficient vehicles? Who'd buy one of those? Hey, here's a giant pickup! HEMI!!!

[j666]

Yeah, I remember that excitement - I think some of it was because of the buildup though - when it was 'IT' and nobody really knew for sure what 'IT' was going to be. After working themselves up to that kind of a frenzy, lots of people couldn't just come straight back down to reality.

I mean, the Segway is a bloody clever thing.

That nobody needs.
The marketing was screwy, for sure, but have you ever been on one? It's so much fun. And convenient. And versatile. And goofy-cool.

Next job, I am definitely getting one.

[Typo Knig]

CueCat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuecat)

How is this is easier than typing a URL? You don't necessarily even have to type the www and the .com parts1. Also, the only person I know who even tried to install the drivers crashed her computer quite thoroughly. POS, and I don't mean Point of Sale.

1 Don't try this with whitehouse - the real domain is whitehouse.gov .

[Shamozzle]

Olestra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olestra)

"So....I can eat all the potato chips I want and I won't get fat.......but I'll shit my pants?"

[Shamozzle]

Oh, I forgot to mention:

Windows Vista

I knew it would tank.

[Ellen Cherry]

I'm like InvisibleWombat. If I pronounce it horrible, it'll take off and be the next coolest thing EVER. So it went with a certain type of shoes. I saw a picture of them on the internet about a year before they hit it big ... I think a bunch of pro football players were wearing them. I hooted. "Nobody would every buy and wear something as ugly as that!!"

Crocs.

[Mangetout]

I still think the iPod won't catch on.

[Dung Beetle]

I hooted. "Nobody would every buy and wear something as ugly as that!!"

Crocs.
Hey, I still can't believe it.

[Harmonious Discord]

ET glowing fingers were never going to sell as a kids toy, because every adult would think glowing dildo. Parents didn't buy the glowing fingers for their kids to play with, even after drastic clearance pricing. It was on of those things we had to destroy and put in the dumpster.

[Illuminatiprimus]

I'm pretty good at guessing which computer games that are massively hyped up will actually get lousy reviews and tank.

[minor7flat5]

The Palm Foleo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foleo)

When I saw the first announcements of it, I kept thinking "Why?"
I was a serious Treo user, but I couldn't see why I would need such a device to compliment my Treo. One more thing to carry around. It died a quick death.

[Cervaise]

Princess Diana collectible plates.


People suck.

[tdn]

A FOAF wrote a song that he promised, PROMISED was going to be the biggest hit the world had ever heard. He was going to get filthy rich from the royalties. It was timely, relevant, and healthful.

This was in the days when AIDS was a pretty new scare. The song was about how it was a good thing to use condoms.

"My mama always told me, to wear a raincoat, outsiiiiiide."

Aside from the crappy lyrics, the horrible melody, and the beat you couldn't dance to, it was, all in all, still a pretty sucky tune.

I guarantee you've never heard it.

[Hampshire]

A FOAF wrote a song that he promised, PROMISED was going to be the biggest hit the world had ever heard. He was going to get filthy rich from the royalties. It was timely, relevant, and healthful.

This was in the days when AIDS was a pretty new scare. The song was about how it was a good thing to use condoms.

"My mama always told me, to wear a raincoat, outsiiiiiide."

Aside from the crappy lyrics, the horrible melody, and the beat you couldn't dance to, it was, all in all, still a pretty sucky tune.

I guarantee you've never heard it.

Is he the kind of guy that if you ask him about it today will still insist that it was brilliant but some big wig in the industry who knows nothing about music blocked it from going big?

[even sven]

I don't give this place (http://journals.aol.com/williammorris/willspeaking/entries/2008/05/11/cereality-is-here---and-its-great-get-your-cereal-in-downtown-santa-cruz/946) much of a chance.

Years ago I was working at the Super 8 Motel in Beach Flats...the one that is right across the street from the other Super 8, and I mused that the only thing anyone ever seemed to want to eat at the UCSC dining halls was the cereal. Couldn't figure out why they were spending their thousands-of-dollars meal plan on Fruity Pebbles. I then thought I should one day open a restaurant that served only cereal and expensive add-ons - something that would cater to the hipster regressive crowd.

We live in a strange world.

[Shoeless]

ET glowing fingers were never going to sell as a kids toy, because every adult would think glowing dildo. Parents didn't buy the glowing fingers for their kids to play with, even after drastic clearance pricing. It was on of those things we had to destroy and put in the dumpster.
You know, that reminds me... about five years ago when the first "Hulk" movie came out, I remember seeing these Hulk "Smashing Fists" in the toy department at Target. I guess kids put them on their hands and smash them together and they make some kind of noise. I thought it was a really stupid idea and wondered who would buy such a thing. Fast forward to this summer and a new Hulk movie, and guess what I saw in the toy department at Target? I seriously wonder if they made a new Hulk movie just to move the merchandise that didn't sell after the last one.

[tdn]

Is he the kind of guy that if you ask him about it today will still insist that it was brilliant but some big wig in the industry who knows nothing about music blocked it from going big?
I didn't get to know him enough to say. I'm hoping that he's since gotten a clue.

It does remind me of the "pink toe shoes" story, though. Someone I know was in group therapy pink toe shoes woman. Said woman always brought her ballet slippers to therapy, and constantly remarked about how if it weren't for her father's abuse, she would have been a top ballerina. Her shoes showed no sign of wear, and she had the physique of a moose.

[Hampshire]

I don't give this place (http://journals.aol.com/williammorris/willspeaking/entries/2008/05/11/cereality-is-here---and-its-great-get-your-cereal-in-downtown-santa-cruz/946) much of a chance.

The Mall of America used to have a minor attraction called Cereal Adventure which was sponsored by General Mills since they are headquartered here. They had a "Cereal Bar" that was adjacent to one of the malls food courts.
I don't think I ever saw anyone eating there.

[Chronos]

Couldn't figure out why they were spending their thousands-of-dollars meal plan on Fruity Pebbles.Doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't know UCSC, but at some schools, the reason to get a meal plan is that everyone living on campus is required to buy one, and the reason to use the meal plan to get cereal is that it's the only thing that's remotely edible.

[Sublight]

ICO.

Remember Iridium, the global satellite phone network? ICO was its less successful competitor.

The handsets were going to go for US$3000 each and they estimated calling costs at $10-25/minute.

According to Scientific American, just getting the network running (launching satellites, building receiver stations, etc), not counting staff, marketing or operating expenses, was $10 billion. When I asked who'd buy them, I was told "relief workers in remote areas, people on small ocean-going boats, businessmen who want the convenience, that sort of customer."

There was no way they'd find enough customers to recoup their expenses even at half price. Unfortunately, the reason I know about them is because I was working for them (indirectly. I was producing the training courses for receiver station and satellite management staff. They went bankrupt before a single rocket launched, so it's just as well I spent all that time surfing the net).

[Weirddave]

Yeah, I remember that excitement - I think some of it was because of the buildup though - when it was 'IT' and nobody really knew for sure what 'IT' was going to be. After working themselves up to that kind of a frenzy, lots of people couldn't just come straight back down to reality.

I mean, the Segway is a bloody clever thing.

That nobody needs.
The Chinese beg to differ (http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6280/clipboard45cp6.jpg). Tell me that's not cool.

[Cervaise]

"Scram, you mugs! It's the Oreo Police!"

[Eva Luna]

I kept thinking "and this is easier than just walking how?"

The one guy I've met who had a Segway had had polio as a kid, and had the associated atrophied leg muscles as an adult. He could stand just fine, but walking was a problem. He loves his Segway.

[Shamozzle]

ET glowing fingers were never going to sell as a kids toy, because every adult would think glowing dildo. Parents didn't buy the glowing fingers for their kids to play with, even after drastic clearance pricing. It was on of those things we had to destroy and put in the dumpster.You reminded me of the E.T. video game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial_(Atari_2600)) made for the Atari 2600. I was only around 11 years old when I played it but I thought it was complete garbage, even at 11.

It turned out that that Atari had to dispose of millions of copies of the game by dumping them in a landfill in New Mexico.

[Leaffan]

Some guy I met about 20-odd years ago invented a board game to help kids with spelling. Admirable concept, but it sucked royally. He convinced us all to sit around the table and play it one night. Boring as shit, but he kept telling us how he was in talks with Milton Bradley and the likes, and he was going to be a millionaire.

[Student Driver]

You know, that reminds me... about five years ago when the first "Hulk" movie came out, I remember seeing these Hulk "Smashing Fists" in the toy department at Target. I guess kids put them on their hands and smash them together and they make some kind of noise. I thought it was a really stupid idea and wondered who would buy such a thing. Fast forward to this summer and a new Hulk movie, and guess what I saw in the toy department at Target? I seriously wonder if they made a new Hulk movie just to move the merchandise that didn't sell after the last one.

Those Hulk fists from the first movie were a surprise hit, and were difficult to keep in stock even after the movie had left theaters and become a catalogue DVD title. The toy idea was so profitable that it's been redone several times-- the new Hulk fists of course, as well as Thing fists for the two Fantastic Four films.

My own record on "products that won't sell" is pretty good, but I tend to limit it to things sold OTC in my pharmacy. I'd say I have ~95% accuracy in guessing which items selected by the corporate buyers will be duds... it always makes me wonder why the corporate buyers seem to have no experience with pharmacy retail.

My latest pet peeve is "SlimShots," little coffee-creamer-cup-thing-like "diet aids" that consist of vegetable oil, water, and flavoring. $25 for 21 coffee creamers. Corporate has forced over a gross of the things on us in the last few months, and we sell less than one a week. They're also packaged in a flimsy box that has a tearaway panel to turn it into a desktop dispenser-- a tearaway panel that, in shipping or basic handling by customers, tends to pop open and spill 21 little creamer packets onto the floor. The manufacturer apparently realized late in the process that the box ends would be easy to open and "sample," so they used adhesive dots all over the package to seal it shut... but the box is coated with glossy plastic, so the adhesive dots come loose and end up sticking to other boxes, display trays, collecting dust, etc.

[Key Lime Guy]

I don't give this place (http://journals.aol.com/williammorris/willspeaking/entries/2008/05/11/cereality-is-here---and-its-great-get-your-cereal-in-downtown-santa-cruz/946) much of a chance.

Agreed. Same with the rice pudding place in NYC.

[Tool of the Conspiracy]

Hostess Fruit-Flavored Potato Chips. I remember seeing these advertised in the 1970s and feeling a bit queasy at the thought. They came in orange, cherry, and grape flavors. These were introduced in Canada, and barely made it into the USA before being discontinued. I never tasted one. Apparently nobody else did, either.
I hear that the new "mystery flavor" Doritos are Mountain Dew flavor...

[ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness]

I'm like some other posters here. If I say it'll tank, it'll become huge. My primary example:
In the early 1990s I worked at Hughes Aircraft in the satellite division. They were just starting to brainstorm DirecTv. The initial sales model was ridiculous. You had to buy the dish for around $700 + pay a monthy fee comparable to cable + no local channels. My opinion:"So it's like cable TV with a $700 installation fee, but you still need an antenna to watch broadcast channels? Who's stupid enough to go for that? It's gonna bomb!!'

Shows what I know.

[An Gadaí]

Never mind!

[enipla]

I'm like some other posters here. If I say it'll tank, it'll become huge. My primary example:
In the early 1990s I worked at Hughes Aircraft in the satellite division. They were just starting to brainstorm DirecTv. The initial sales model was ridiculous. You had to buy the dish for around $700 + pay a monthy fee comparable to cable + no local channels. My opinion:"So it's like cable TV with a $700 installation fee, but you still need an antenna to watch broadcast channels? Who's stupid enough to go for that? It's gonna bomb!!'

Shows what I know.Yeah, it's great for people like me that can't get cable or any stations. I was one of the first in line. Now run my internet over it too.

[j666]

Some guy I met about 20-odd years ago invented a board game to help kids with spelling. Admirable concept, but it sucked royally. He convinced us all to sit around the table and play it one night. Boring as shit, but he kept telling us how he was in talks with Milton Bradley and the likes, and he was going to be a millionaire.
I am such a loser.

I want a Segway.

I wear knock-off crocs.

And my favorite computer game is still Letter Invaders.

[Duckster]

Hostess Fruit-Flavored Potato Chips. I remember seeing these advertised in the 1970s and feeling a bit queasy at the thought. They came in orange, cherry, and grape flavors. These were introduced in Canada, and barely made it into the USA before being discontinued. I never tasted one. Apparently nobody else did, either.

Flat Earth Chips (http://www.flatearth.com/flavors/). The Garlic and Herb Field, Farmland Cheddar, and Tangy Tomato Ranch are all pretty good.

OTOH, Apple Cinnamon Grove, Peach Mango Paradise and Wild Berry Patch are just so wrong.

[Kat]

the reason to use the meal plan to get cereal is that it's the only thing that's remotely edible.

Don't be silly. The ice cream is edible, too! (Or at least it was at my school.)

[Green Bean]

To all the people who are sharing anecdotes of people who use Segways:

My point wasn't that they are not used at all. It's that their level of usage doesn't even begin to approach what the creators expected. And that the creators apparently expected them to be widely used by people without mobility issues as an alternative to walking or driving. That hasn't happened.

It was supposed to be revolutionary. It wasn't.

[Infovore]

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAIt4MgnHc

I agree with the poster who mentioned Divx. I had exactly the same thought.

Also, the Microsoft Zune. "Hey, guys! Let's make an iPod killer! But let's make it *brown*. And call sharing music between users "squirting." And use pics like this (http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/zune.jpg) and this (http://static.flickr.com/103/294929001_b67b0b5225.jpg) to advertise it! And, oh yeah, let's not actually let them share much music at all, and only for a limited time! That'll show those punks at Apple!"

I'd actually like to have a Segway. But not for the prices they're charging for them. If I could get one for about $1K, I'd probably have to think about it.

[BurnMeUp]

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAIt4MgnHc


Also, the Microsoft Zune. "Hey, guys! Let's make an iPod killer! But let's make it *brown*.

Actually brown was the most popular color and outsold white and black. Go figure.

[Tastes of Chocolate]

Mountain Dew is currently running a campaign that involves 3 new flavors, and getting people to vote for which one will contine to exist.
I predict that people who want to drink something that doesn't taste like Mountain Dew will go buy something that isn't Mountain Dew. All 3 will be gone by the beginning of next summer.

[Martini Enfield]

I pretty much think this when I see an electronics store pushing MP3 players that aren't iPods. Doesn't matter how many bells and whistles they put on the ads.

We sell about 50/50 iPods and Creative Mp3 players, FWIW. As staff, we push the Creative MP3 players because they're A) Better than the iPods (cheaper, more features, no iTunes) and B) They don't suck (iPods seem to break down a lot and they're a pain to deal with).

[Shamozzle]

We sell about 50/50 iPods and Creative Mp3 players, FWIW. As staff, we push the Creative MP3 players because they're A) Better than the iPods (cheaper, more features, no iTunes) and B) They don't suck (iPods seem to break down a lot and they're a pain to deal with). Wow, I have a 180 degree opinion on that.

I stuck with Creative players for years because the software gelled with my sound cards. I found them frustrating and counter-intuitive. The last straw came when my player stopped working and Creative offered no online or digital support save a firmware update that fried my player back to the Stone Age. I said "F it" and bought an iPod and I haven't looked back. They are simple, easy to use, intuitive, and iTunes is a no-brainer. It's no wonder iPods are crushing everything else.

[Inner Stickler]

Really? I bought a 4gig creative zen v plus a couple years ago. I've dropped that sucker 4 or 5 times while riding my bike and it still works fine. S'all scratched up but plays music. (The four gigs no longer really satisfies my musical needs but whatever. And it will play songs that I download off of spiralfrog.com so there's another plus.

[beowulff]

Not exactly a product, but a food store with an odd twist opened near us awhile back. Their feature was that all their food products were cross-referenced by dietary restriction. So, if you were a lactose-intolerant vegetarian who has a wheat allergy, you simply looked up all the products with green tags and codes 92 and 315 on them.

I told my wife they'd be out of business in a year, but I don't think they even lasted 6 months.


_________

How about "Orbitz (http://joelavin.com/orbitz.html)" soda? Just what people want - a drink with things floating in it.