Product designers’ stupidest mistake
Sunday, June 10th, 2007I don’t really want to turn my blog into a continual “I hate this product” rant site, but the problem with being something of a perfectionist myself is that I think companies ought to be run by people with a bit of common sense, at least.
So here’s a tip for all you manufacturers out there: women are your customers, too.
When you design a product and you test it (assuming you do test it — sometimes I wonder) if you don’t include women users in your testing process, you are capital-L Losers.
What has this top of mind for me this morning: I bought a Bolens push mower from Lowes last fall. I bought it to replace a mower that had come with my house and was literally falling apart. I never had trouble starting my old mower. This Bolens mower, on the other hand, is a bear to start. Priming doesn’t help. Nothing helps. The ONLY time it starts up easily is when it’s already been running and has only been off for a couple of minutes (e.g. I have finished the front lawn and have dragged it down the driveway to do that back).
So I invariably end up yanking the cord over & over.
I guess it was only a matter of time before I wrenched my back.
I couldn’t stand up straight yesterday morning. And have you tried getting a chiropractic appointment on a weekend?
So thanks a lot, Bolen. I spent this week running my a*s off for other people — my clients, my firm’s account managers, my kid, my girl scout troop. And all week I was thinking, just get through this, because come the weekend, I can get out and golf.
And now I can’t swing my club.
Words can’t express how upset I am.
And what recourse do I have? None. Lowe’s has my money. Bolens has my money. My ruined weekend is of no concern to them.
The best I can hope for is that someone who’s shopping for mowers will read this post and avoid buying this horrible, terribly designed product. Save your money. Throw your money down a sewer, even, you might be out $200 but at least you’ll be able to swing a golf club.
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