"Raksha" <Raksha@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> A whole missing paragraph of a tech spec is *not* a matter of quality
control? Wouldn't you be at least slightly annoyed if you were reading a
novel, and came across half a blank page, cutting off a line of text in
mid-sentence? Isn't it *someone's* responsibility to catch that kind of
thing? <<
While I may not agree with all of Lady Raksha's comments about the OTFCC
(granted, I wasn't there myself, but I'm enjoying the debate), I do have
to
agree with her about quality control in relation to packaging. The thing
is,
most people settle for less when it comes to packaging, even though they
actually pay for the packaging, not just the product. This is why
companies
aren't as stringent with regards to quality control in certain areas as
they
could be. Until customers start to speak out in numbers, things won't
change.
The novel example, however, is somewhat off, since the words in the novel
itself are the product proper. A better analogy would be the cover of a
novel, or the binding of the spine. A lot of people might not care that
much
if the novel's cover is cut imperfectly, as long as they get the whole
story
within. Hardcore bibliophiles, on the other hand, like Transformers fans
with regards to tech specs, have higher standards. They appreciate a
greater
percentage of the entire product - the novel and its cover; the toy and
its
package.
Besides the actual companies who make a product, vendors themselves are
often a scourge when it comes to maintaining the quality of a product.
Since
we're also paying for the packaging, why should I pay full price for a
product whose packaging is crumpled or torn.
One group of individuals who don't take crap when it comes to the
condition
of the products they purchase are comic book collectors. A comic book shop
will have a very hard time selling an issue of *Batman* with a dog-earred
cover. This is why the magazine shops here lose my business. I will not
buy
a comic unless it's in relatively great condition. (Unfortunately, there
is
no comic book shop around here, so I'm limited in what comics I can buy,
and
the condition of those I can.)
Although I haven't done so yet, if I ever do decide to buy a Transformer
from Wal-Mart or Zellers, but there's only one item left, and the
packaging
is in bad shape, I do plan on asking for a discount or deal of some sort.
And if I don't get one, I'll pass on my entire purchase (and leave my
entire
purchase at the cash or service desk).
Anyhoo...
Christopher "Beautiful" Carlson
Canada's #1 Nashville Predators Fan
"You can never have too many books."
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