John,
I spent a portion of my engineering career designing products for inventors,
some kookier than others. Many wanted me to work sweat equity, which I did
to a small extent, but always retained fees for service. Most of them had
done little or no marketing of their idea and for the most part headed for
disaster just like I believe these folks will. I observed several important
factors that make up "the inventor" mindset:
1.) Most inventors want one (1, uno, 1) for themselves, they think it's
the best idea ever and as result they believe the rest of the world will
think so as well and come running to their doorstep.
2.) Most inventors don't have a clue about business or marketing and are
usually unwilling to learn or take advice from experienced individuals
offering.
3.) Almost all inventors are so paranoid someone will "steal" their idea,
they are very reluctant to even tell anybody about it.
I once worked with an inventor who wanted a lighted accessory for his TV
remote control. I designed a cool looking device and charged him $12,000
for the engineering. He then spent an additional $30K to build a huge
inventory, set-up supply chains, contract manufacturing and distribution.
Over a two year period he sold 23. He really just wanted "one" for himself
and invested $42,000 instead of buying a new $400 TV that comes with a
lighted remote control. Here, he had done zero marketing and now he's
blessed with a great stockpile in his garage, just like the "fish bobber"
guys.
I also worked with a building contractor that had a problem with his Makita
battery powered drills going dead because someone forgot to charge the
batteries. To be sure, it was a real problem when the drills went dead and
a crew of high priced carpenters stood around waiting for the batteries to
charge so they could drive their screws. He wanted to build a 110Volt
plug-in adapter, for just those emergency situations. We built him two
prototypes using state-of-art switching power supply technology and charged
him $15,000. He was very happy. He then went to build a bunch of them, but
folded when the price tag for production tooling was $100K. We thought it
was good idea. A year later Black and Decker came out with a similar
product, not near as sexy and only for their brand not Makita, which, at
that time, had dominated the battery powered market.
He really just wanted one for himself and was really not passionate about
bringing it to the rest of world or going into the business of selling
these.
I believe the "Motorized Bobber" guys have a cute little product. Even
their little story is cute and smacks of sweetness and Dad's helping Son's,
etc. The problem is they have a horribly narrow market niche..."little boys
who are afraid to cast fishing lines" I would suspect that if they want to
fish later in life, they'd better learn how. I also suspect this device is
useless in most fishing applications, like stream, deep sea, bay, dock,
etc. (only a smooth crystal clear lake judging by the microhorsepower)
This a terrific example of asking no one if they need it, assuming everyone
wants one and building the items with no orders, spending $$ on making a
bunch which most likely will rot in their garage. What's your take?
Mark Goldsborough
"DeDe"
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 2:04 PM
Subject: Trailing Bobber
> Folks,
>
> This appeared in the Wall Street Journal classified ads:
>
> www.trollingbobber.com has patented a motorized fishing bobber. With
70,000
> in inventory, we are looking for an investor or partner. 866-876-5546.
>
> If you have time, please go to the www.trollingbobber.com website and tell
me
> what you make of it...
>
> John
Friday, July 12, 2002
bobber critique
Trailing Bobber
Re: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
In a message dated 7/10/2002 2:13:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
wileyccc@aol.com writes:
> www.trollingbobber.com
I do like to fish and yes the hook can be set away from the bobber and the 8
- 12 year old boys would just love to fish with this thing at the lake.
Problem is Regular Duty Bobber is listed $12.00 Medium Duty Bobber is listed
for $14.00 and the Heavy Duty Bobber is listed at $22.00 Now for me
that adds up to $48.00
Yet All three Bobbers are listed for $79.97. Now that turned me away from
product.
Re: spiers Training Bobber
I agree with Charles Tadros. Product is not as bad as other emails would
indicate (too close to motor, motor too lourd, etc.), but the market is seldom
as broad as we define it.
Owners need to find the nich market where this adds real value and market
specifically to that product. Maybe to handicapped via magazines that support
them, etc.
Frank Fenwick
Commwatch, Inc.
Denville, NJ
Thursday, July 11, 2002
Trailing Bobber
Re: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
"Looking for investors" means wanting to spread the risk.
If the Bobber were selling well, no investors would be
needed.
Lots of inventory means poor understanding of who is the
customer or what the customer wanted or how many the
customer wanted or what the price point should be, etc.
Charles
Charles Tadros, Proprieter
Tadros Properties, L.L.C.
11939 Manchester Rd., #246
St. Louis, Missouri 63131
U.S.A.
Cellular Telephone: 314-974-6750
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Trailing Bobber
RE: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
I don't think it will fly. Casting is part of the fun in fishing. It
takes the fun out of fishing. This guy just wasted a ton of money on
patent. Any body can easily redesign this thing with similar idea.
-----Original Message-----
From: wileyccc@aol.com [mailto:wileyccc@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 2:05 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
Folks,
This appeared in the Wall Street Journal classified ads:
www.trollingbobber.com has patented a motorized fishing bobber. With
70,000
in inventory, we are looking for an investor or partner. 866-876-5546.
If you have time, please go to the www.trollingbobber.com website and
tell me
what you make of it...
John
Trailing Bobber
Re: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
In a message dated 7/10/02 2:13:51 PM Pacific Daylight Time, wileyccc@aol.com
writes:
> www.trollingbobber.com
Hi John,
I am a little skeptical about this. First of all, is there actual proof that
this catches bass ( or anything else for that matter)? Secondly, wouldn't
the sound from the motor scare away any fishes? Doesn't sound travel seven
times faster in water and is much more pronounced than in anir because of the
density? Finally, the hook seems to be much too close to the motor itself.
Is a bass supposed to gulp the entire bait (motor and all)? I am thinking
that if the hook is put at a much greater distance it would solve the problem
of the sound scaring off the fishes, and allowing the bass or any other type
of fish to snatch the bait.
I'm not a fisherman so I may be wrong about these assumptions. Other than
that, I think with some minor modifications, this MAY be a hit.
Trailing Bobber
Re: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
I visited the website. I am not much of a fisherman
(as in not at all) so I found the product line to be
rather kitchsy (I know that's not how you spell it, but
you'll catch my drift I'm sure.) On the other hand the
product will probably have potential customers. I
didn't notice any persuasive narrative to say why one
should buy the bobber, though. For myself, no I
wouldn't be interesed in investing in such a product.
On Wed, 10 July 2002, wileyccc@aol.com wrote
>
> Folks,
>
> This appeared in the Wall Street Journal classified
ads:
>
> www.trollingbobber.com has patented a motorized
fishing bobber. With 70,000
> in inventory, we are looking for an investor or
partner. 866-876-5546.
>
> If you have time, please go to the
www.trollingbobber.com website and tell me
> what you make of it...
>
> John
Reply: Re: [spiers] Trailing Bobber
Hi John,
An unmanned, floatation fish hook?
I thought these these were already on the market.
It seems kind of silly - if a large fish got a hold of it, they'd swim away with
the buoy behind them, and (poor things) they'd have the hooks stuck in their
mouths. Looks inhumane. I don't care for hunting animals in any form -
however, for the fisherman, I thought they have always said the sport was in
pulling up the fish. They could be napping when these fish are caught. [Could
be why 70,000 buoys in inventory are sitting around.]
Maybe I didn't look long enough at their site (I glanced for a few moments.) I
did like their fishy graphics.
Interested in hearing everyone's comments.
Thanks!!
In a message dated Wed, 10 Jul 2002 4:04:34 PM Eastern Standard Time,
wileyccc@aol.com writes:
>Folks,
>
>This appeared in the Wall Street Journal classified ads:
>
>www.trollingbobber.com has patented a motorized fishing bobber. With 70,000
>in inventory, we are looking for an investor or partner. 866-876-5546.
>
>If you have time, please go to the www.trollingbobber.com website and tell me
>what you make of it...
>
>John
Trailing Bobber
Folks,
This appeared in the Wall Street Journal classified ads:
www.trollingbobber.com has patented a motorized fishing bobber. With 70,000
in inventory, we are looking for an investor or partner. 866-876-5546.
If you have time, please go to the www.trollingbobber.com website and tell me
what you make of it...
John