Yesterday someone graciously pointed out to me that both of my tail lights were out. Fearing there was some more major electrical problem going on (especially because it’s a brand new car and I already had my A/C overhauled a month ago because it wouldn’t turn on), I took the earliest service appointment they could give me. I brought my car to the dealer this morning and had the following conversation with the service manager…
Me: My tail lights mysteriously stopped working, and I’m concerned it’s an electrical issue – especially because of the A/C problem I also recently had. It’s a new car.
SM (service manager): I doubt it’s an electrical issue because your middle brake lamp still works. Your tail lamps probably burned out.
Me: Both of them at the same time? That seems pretty odd.
SM: No, not really. I see this about a hundred times a week.
Me: A hundred times a week? Wow, that seems like a pretty major issue!
SM: Not really, it’s a pretty common problem.
So, what did we learn today folks? Apparently, common problems aren’t problems at all! Granted, I’m sure the “hundred time per week” was a little exaggerated, but even if it was only ten times per week I’d hope the repetition of the issue was being reported back to the manufacturer. Seems like a silly problem to ignore when “a hundred people per week” seem to be having it.
I usually have no issue with how people spend their money, but there’s something about the notion of conspicuous consumption that is totally baffling to me. Case in point: Louis Vuitton sweatbands and towels.
If there’s one place where it certainly doesn’t matter who you are, it’s the gym. Everyone is there for the same reason, and there’s something nice about a place that levels life’s playing field. I can’t imagine why someone would find it necessary to spend that kind of money on something your body is just going to make disgusting, much less feel the need to quietly convey your “status” in a place where no one cares anyway.
If I was in charge of product development for Louis Vuitton, I’d see how far I could push it. If people are willing to drop large sums of money on “high class” versions of everyday items, I’d take it all the way and add items like cotton swabs, tampons and toilet paper to next season’s line! At the very least, my customers would have the metaphorical experience of seeing where their money is going.
UPDATE: Apparently the product developers at Louis Vuitton read my blog!
Tom passed me this great article about asymmetrical competition, written by Umair Haque. The focus was on Obama, but he was kind enough to mention Threadless in his examples.
So where do we see asymmetrical competition happening in the corporate world? The real question is