While I agree in theory, that’s not the way that it played-out. Loyal customers (for some values of “loyal”, and “customer”) were probably more often “penalized” if they tried to take the quiz, in spite of their (and SF’s historically naive) best intentions.
By giving up something you may have felt that you earned with your customer loyalty, and then “lost” because the quiz was a Fail, it’s not entirely reasonable to feel like you were mini-screwed.
Did one in fact “lose” anything by participating? Well, yes — time and patience. Is that an egregious loss? No. Did it piss people off? A bunch, yes. Was it a Net Win? Probably for SF and the charities, but clearly not for many that participated. Do I answer my own questions like Donald Rumsfeld? Apparently. It it annoying? Yes.
The problem is one of correctly managing expectations — and this is a very important business concept. This is where the FAIL was (again), for all of the good that did come of it.
To sit there and just say “Free Day is great and f-ck the haters” is, frankly, naive and simplistic at best, and ignorant at worst.
I’ll wait and read about it in the April issue of the HBR — “Why Engineers shouldn’t Market”. Maybe someone will pick up the option on the screenplay.
Actually lost on the deal because I couldn’t get served questions.
It took me ~200 “Try Again"s just so I could choose "Quiz” and lose my initial $30. Clearly I’d have taken the sure thing had I known.
Two hours of my life and 200+ mouse clicks I’ll never get back. Feh.
Be careful — most button cells that taste lithium-y are “lithium” batteries, not “lithium ion” (or LiPoly) batteries. The former are 3V rather than 3.7, and are NOT rechargeable.
Product PRT-09279 | about 3 months ago
Click on the Datasheet link above.
News - Happy Free Day | about a year ago
If you don’t get on the first plane to Vegas, you’re an idiot — ‘cause you’re one lucky SOB ! :–)
News - Happy Free Day | about a year ago
While I agree in theory, that’s not the way that it played-out. Loyal customers (for some values of “loyal”, and “customer”) were probably more often “penalized” if they tried to take the quiz, in spite of their (and SF’s historically naive) best intentions.
By giving up something you may have felt that you earned with your customer loyalty, and then “lost” because the quiz was a Fail, it’s not entirely reasonable to feel like you were mini-screwed.
Did one in fact “lose” anything by participating? Well, yes — time and patience. Is that an egregious loss? No. Did it piss people off? A bunch, yes. Was it a Net Win? Probably for SF and the charities, but clearly not for many that participated. Do I answer my own questions like Donald Rumsfeld? Apparently. It it annoying? Yes.
The problem is one of correctly managing expectations — and this is a very important business concept. This is where the FAIL was (again), for all of the good that did come of it.
To sit there and just say “Free Day is great and f-ck the haters” is, frankly, naive and simplistic at best, and ignorant at worst.
I’ll wait and read about it in the April issue of the HBR — “Why Engineers shouldn’t Market”. Maybe someone will pick up the option on the screenplay.
News - Happy Free Day | about a year ago
Resistance is futile!
News - Happy Free Day | about a year ago
Actually lost on the deal because I couldn’t get served questions.
It took me ~200 “Try Again"s just so I could choose "Quiz” and lose my initial $30. Clearly I’d have taken the sure thing had I known.
Two hours of my life and 200+ mouse clicks I’ll never get back. Feh.
Product DEV-10107 | about a year ago
The FTDI chip is $4-4.50, not $15.
Product PRT-00726 | about a year ago
Be careful — most button cells that taste lithium-y are “lithium” batteries, not “lithium ion” (or LiPoly) batteries. The former are 3V rather than 3.7, and are NOT rechargeable.
Product PRT-10290 | about a year ago
Toothless alligator clips ?!?!
That’s animal cruelty!! You guys are SO in trouble.
Tutorial - Diodes: Normal, LED, Schottky, and Zener | about a year ago
ACID — not “anode cathode is diode” ?
I like mine better.
Tutorial - Power and Thermal Dissipation | about a year ago
Well, I’d say “ouch”, of course!