# Products you knew wouldn't sell from day one **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739 "2008-07-16T20:14:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/41 "2008-07-17T16:54:44Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/42 "2008-07-17T19:13:28Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] [The Chinese beg to differ](http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6280/clipboard45cp6.jpg). Tell me that’s not cool. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/43 "2008-07-17T19:22:46Z")
“Scram, you mugs! It’s the Oreo Police!” ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/44 "2008-07-17T19:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=Green Bean] I kept thinking “and this is easier than just walking _how_?” [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/45 "2008-07-17T19:49:56Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/46 "2008-07-17T20:51:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/47 "2008-07-17T22:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=Shoeless] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/48 "2008-07-17T23:18:34Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] Agreed. Same with the rice pudding place in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/49 "2008-07-17T23:21:07Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] I hear that the new “mystery flavor” Doritos are Mountain Dew flavor… ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/50 "2008-07-17T23:34:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/51 "2008-07-17T23:55:25Z")
Never mind! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/52 "2008-07-18T00:00:34Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/53 "2008-07-18T00:11:29Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] I am such a loser. I want a Segway. I wear _knock-off_ crocs. And my favorite computer game is still Letter Invaders. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/54 "2008-07-18T02:44:46Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] [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. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/55 "2008-07-18T03:14:45Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] the reason to use the meal plan to get cereal is that it’s the only thing that’s remotely edible. [/QUOTE] Don’t be silly. The ice cream is edible, too! (Or at least it was at my school.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/56 "2008-07-18T04:57:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/57 "2008-07-18T19:04:37Z")
Here you go: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAIt4MgnHc](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. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/58 "2008-07-18T20:44:17Z")
[QUOTE=winterhawk11] Here you go: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAIt4MgnHc](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_. [/QUOTE] Actually brown was the most popular color and outsold white and black. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/59 "2008-07-18T21:06:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739/60 "2008-07-19T02:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight] 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. [/QUOTE] 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). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-knew-wouldnt-sell-from-day-one/456739.md?page=4)