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Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

(OP)
I recently procured a yard work item, and I made some improvments. Is it a waste of time to communicate this to the manufacturer? It was manufactured in Israel by a US designer, not the usual made in China.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

It only wastes your time to write the company.  Depending on who reads it, it may never get to those that are in a position to review your recommendations.

One employer I worked at had a policy to share 5 good and 5 bad communications from customers, site-wide, across all disciplines.  This was done every month beginning.  I know those in engineering took to heart what the complaints were about and did try to make improvements if feasible.  I have been at other companies where all in-coming emails were read by a Sales Executive, and no one else at the company saw a single one, but the Sales guy had a nice collection of email praises for his next employer.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

If the improvements are worthy, I would consider manufacturing it myself... :)

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Patentable?  Sell it.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Most things you buy can be improved.  Are your impovements production and cost viable?

- Steve

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

(OP)
I wouldn't pursue a patent on this. I merely transformed an inexpensive two wheel lawn sweeper into a towable four wheel sweeper. Two skids now support wheels thru a long steel shaft. The tow is cobbled up with 3/4" tubing and pipe clamps. Turned out nice.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

I wouldn't waste time trying to tell the lawn care industry anything.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Remember Dyson couldn't sell his cyclone concept to any manufacturer, when he decided to build vacuum cleaners himself he became a millionnaire.
The idea has to be absolutely brilliant though and the marketing too...

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Bagless vacuums certainly are marketing genius. They cost a fortune, you have bag the dirt yourself (fun!), and you have to replace filters - but people love them!

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Um,
People love bagless vacuum cleaners because they work better than the ones with bags?

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

I gotta say, I'm loving my Dyson.  Picked one up (the Animal) for my SO's birthday a few months ago and it works better than I had hoped (she asked for it, so no boo's).  It removes pretty much every hair the dog leaves on the carpet (long hair), so if I can just get the dog to stop shedding, I'll be set.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Dan- Maybe you can make a similar improvement to your dyson vac that Plasgears made to his lawn sweeper... Make it towable, give your dog a harness, connect them and voila! Roomba, eat your heart out.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

justkeepgiviner,

   Pet power is a fascinating concept.  I have an automatic watch I want to keep working, and I want to wear some other watches, some of the time.  I have seen gadgets for rotating automatic watches, but I think this is a completely deranged concept.

   I have a cat who needs to be kept entertained.  If I could design a rotating cat toy, the cat would keep my watch working.  This has additional benefit of being entirely mechanical, which is why I like the automatic watch in the first place.

   Will I get rich?

   What has this to do with ethics and professionalism?

   Is it ethical to make cats work?

                          JHG

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

As long as the cat doesn't think its working, I don't think it will have a problem with it. Alternatively, you can build a perpetual motion machine with your cat and a few pieces of buttered toast.. or so I'm told. My girlfriend has a bad cat allergy so I can't test it out.

Also, re: the OP, I'd try to pass on the improvement to the manufacturer. It's valuable input "from the field" that would certainly be welcome in some firms.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Interesting comment on industry.
Dyson took his design to the major vacuum cleaner manufacturers who all rejected it.
He then set up manufacturing himself.
They then copied his designs.
E.g. Hoover:
http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2002/1/2/200085.html
Good question about patent life here since Dyson patented this 20 years or so ago.
How many times is this repeated?
Having a good idea is the beginning of ones troubles.  

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Well, I can certainly say that the Hoover bagless literally sucks.  It loses suction way sooner than any bagged vacuum we've owned.  To clean the little nozzles actually required rinsing, which then required drying.  And dumping the canister into a garbage can is sure a lot of fun.

We went back to a regular bagged vacuum.  Haven't felt the urge to pay Dyson's steep price, since it would need to be at lest double in performance, which I find hard to accept, given the performance of the Hoover.

TTFN

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RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

I bought a Dyson years ago.  Marvellous machine.  Nothing else I've ever owned or used even comes close.  I even prefer emptying it myself rather than having to fuss around with bags.  With bags you ultimately find yourself trying to empty one out to reuse it and that's a really dirty job.
 

- Steve

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

$500 is quite hard to swallow for a vacuum, but we picked it up at Bed, Bath & Beyond using one of their 20% off certificates that always clog the mailbox.  $400 was still tough, but I'd definitely do it again.  We'd change bags every 8-12 months using our two Dirt Devil MVPs... we're emptying the full Dyson canister every month or so.  This thing really sucks!

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

(OP)
Speaking of vacuums, do not allow salesmen into the house on the subterfuge that they will vacuum your carpet free. I had to kick out one bastard who became abusive and insulting.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

plasgears,
Did he become abusive and insulting before or after you started calling him a bastard?  ;)

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Don't let the magazine salesmen know you have a gun in your waistband unless you intend to immediately remove him from the Earth... the police have handcuffs for that sort of thing.  He got extremely nasty with my SO, I simply wanted to remove him from the premises... six officers, one K-9 unit, and lots of automatic weapons later I achieved my purpose, but not before undergoing some serious explanations.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

plasgears,

  Do allow vacuum cleaner salesmen on the premises the morning after you and your buddies hold a wild stag party at your house.  

  Unfortunately, I had an exam that morning, so I missed the fun.  I don't think we received the free glasses.  

                        JHG

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

(OP)
pba,
A sweet young thing came around offering a free demo vacuuming. Coundn't refuse; then the Kirby salesman made the scene. He unfolded his kit, made some disparaging remarks about my present vac, and they were all out of the house within minutes.

The process is this: Free vac offer>Kirby vac salesman>invitation to leave>supervise the exiting process. Spread the word.

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

Back to plasgear's OP.
I've been very successful with getting ideas accepted of rejected by seeing if the company has an outside suggestion program. I don't think many do now or even have an inside suggestion program. It might pay to check and if they don't follow some of the above advice.

In my career I probably got 15 of 25 or so suggestions accepted and approved and received a stipend for each one accepted. I always got an answer.  

RE: Should I pass along a product improvement to mfr?

If you beleive in karma, make the suggestion, even if you do think the idea will get filed in the trash. I also pick up the occasional gum wrapper off the sidewalk because it is the right thing to do.
  

Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com

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