I think "Made in the USA" has tremendous cachet. However, I do not think people will pay up for it unless there is something unique being offered.
Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
421–430 of 464 posts
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#422Earlier quoted context omitted.
The bagel button makes only one side of the slot get hot (or at least makes one side hotter than the other). Your toaster probably has a bagel icon on the top showing you which way to put the bagel in (cut side towards the center in every toaster I have seen). Source: I'm not married to toaster moguls but I do peer into operating toasters to see which wires turn red. Feel free to replicate my research and post your o…
Okay then. What does the frozen bread button do?
Ok, so that I didn't know. Here's from the Oster website: "When this feature is selected, the toaster will automatically defrost your food and then toast it in one easy step." So the temperature is lower for a little bit to thaw the food then higher to toast it.
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#423Earlier quoted context omitted.
My main issue is usually that it’s so hard to tell if something is cheap but costs a lot, or if it costs a lot because it’s not cheap. Probably also partially because of price anchoring, where products seem expensive, because many very cheap ones cost even less.
Very true, unfortunately this means that for many modern products it only makes sense to buy the cheapest because then at least you know exactly what you're getting (low quality), even though it's not really what you want. Yet again an instance of Market for Lemons (or maybe Gresham's law). [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Market_for_Lemons [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gresham%27s_law
Reputation is a mechanism to escape the 'market for lemons'. Eg I know that Miele sells good stuff, and they are defending that reputation by continuing to produce good stuff, because it allows them to charge more.
Gresham's law only applies when someone forces you to accept both moneys at par. Historically, people would require discounts for the bad coins, when they could.
That's also why coins meant for an international audience where consistently of high quality, even when the domestic coins of the same issuer where being debased. (The Spanish dollar was a very good example of this. That's what the Americans used to use.)
And that's exactly because while you can force your own subjects to accept your coins, you have to convince the foreigners. Reputation is key. No 'bad money drives out good money' here. Just the opposite.
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#424Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#425Earlier quoted context omitted.
My main issue is usually that it’s so hard to tell if something is cheap but costs a lot, or if it costs a lot because it’s not cheap. Probably also partially because of price anchoring, where products seem expensive, because many very cheap ones cost even less.
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…
> [...] why not have them also do ratings?
So the government is supposed to codify what makes pasta is tasty? Or whether pineapple on pizza is good or bad?
> 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.
Huh?
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#426Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#427Earlier quoted context omitted.
Compare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Qu...
At least they got a famous art piece out of it. All OP will have afterwards is a bunch of unsold toasters and a newfound appreciation for bankruptcy protection.
Well, OP would get a good story and life experience, too.
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#428Earlier quoted context omitted.
I bought a Breville toaster and microwave when I was moving into and furnishing a new NYC apartment from scratch, and I decided to get something a little nicer, more aesthetic, etc. They were on a major after-Xmas sale so I figured why not. What I was not prepared for was how much better quality they were by a mile. It's not even close, they're so much more sturdy and well made and they work so much better than the o…
Note for other readers: due to old licensing deals for names, the brand sold as Breville in Europe is not the same as the one in US, CA, and AU. The one being talked about here is known as Sage in Europe. And they really are superior-quality devices.
I have trouble understanding your last sentence.
Is Breville EU/Sage appliances the high quality one, or is Breville US/AU/CA the high quality one?
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#429Earlier quoted context omitted.
> midsize pickup trucks, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers... "simple machines"?
A 2004 Toyota Tacoma vs a 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a simple machine.
Does the 2004 Toyota Tacoma have fuel injection or ABS (Anti-lock braking system)? If yes, neither are simple. And, can you provide some specific examples that demonstrate 2024 model is substantially more complex than 2004 model?
Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?
#430OK now I'm starting to think we live in the matrix - I've spend the last 24 hours (unemployed currently, you see) looking at toasters and designs, with the same idea. And because my toaster just broke. The state of toasters seems quite dire. Most are basically the same mechanism internally with different style covers. Some quick learnings/thoughts: - why are they open at the top? Some expensive Japanese toasters are…
Maybe I'm just old fashioned but nothing you mentioned there excited me at all about toasters other than the "sealing in moisture" part. That seems like something practical that could be value added (make you say "hmmm") to the common denominator here; middle-class person who wants really nice toaster and is willing to pay say up to $150 for one made in the good ol' USA. Maybe it's because I'm a gen x person