Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

I was confused by the comments here. Surely someone is going to post the Technology Connections video on the toaster. I see you did it indirectly. That video is great.

Consumer Reports is really the only objective measurement out there.

Considering the various federal agencies do this for many many other things for certification/regs ... why not have them also do ratings?

You need objective tests and experienced testers. We know from restaurant recommendations online (4 stars +/_ .2 stars for EVERYTHING) that in the general public there is far too much variance in "good".

Of course the "experts" often fall into the "audiophile" trap in stereos, where a perfectly functional cheap alternative is downplayed for a laundry list of features or a pretty packaging. I mean, we are talking about toasters here.

I wonder how much easier it is for OP to simply walk into China and get a factory setup to do this. Probably some bribes involved but the net cost might be less than regulatory approval here. Then get Chinese manufacturing work and the reverse-migrate a factory here.

If I was overlord of the US, I would be actively pushing US companies to start doing this with heavy US government coopoeration. You know, like China did to us.

Try doing a Kickstarter. Over the years, I've spent way more money than I should have on Kickstarter projects that are highly specific and non-refundable. Both of these characteristics will likely be important to leverage as you are starting out this venture. Kickstarter targeted advertising through Facebook and Instagram seem to be very good at getting your product in front of people willing to buy it - even if it's an expensive American-made toaster.

Once you have a prototype, you may want to consider getting a review by Technology Connections. He's done multiple on toaster design novelty:

https://youtu.be/zLFG068HtgM?si=LkiWH2n8mtZJ6JBK

https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y?si=eOFYQRVUNq-zqFaS

https://youtu.be/2vcdbtAca0Y?si=iKY-Y2CjhoABQeWd

https://youtu.be/bLk1cjZ4ll0?si=lZt3zngxOmeHdN22

Your inlaws had the best information in '97 and wealth of knowledge about specific products but the right entrepreneur might see it differently these days. (e.g. your inlaws could sell out and get into another business because their brand still had value)

I went to Best Buy to buy a microwave oven last weekend and noticed that all the microwaves: (a) had a Proposition 65 label (see https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2023/06/why-most-applian...) or (b) were made in China.

Had any microwave been different on front (a) or front (b) it would have been shortlisted in a second. Instead I had to compare a number of twisty little claims that all looked alike and face the strong temptation to buy the absolutely cheapest because it seems the $250 microwave could just as well burn out in two years.

As for toasters my recollection as a kid growing up was that toasters were made of metal and could toast bread quickly. When manufacturing went to China I remember my mother-in-law buying several plastic toasters from Wal-Mart in succession that burned up within weeks. Eventually Chinese toasters became reliable at the expense of running at half the speed of old toasters which they countered by adding more slots.

Today there are more concerns than ever about China's centrality in manufacturing so politics alone mean more consumers are like me and would be receptive to products which have a different origin (say Vietnam, Pakistan, Tunisa, etc.) particularly if this is coupled with a clear difference in quality, which I know is possible because of my history with toasters.

It is so for toasters but also for other domestic appliances. If you could communicate that you're really different there is a frustrated consumer who would listen.

Ooh,ooh, can I be the guy who pouts and says "this isn't Reddit?"