Comments on: My life as an Early Adopter http://alfabravo.com/2009/04/19/my-life-as-an-early-adopter/ Online business development Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:01:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Henrik http://alfabravo.com/2009/04/19/my-life-as-an-early-adopter/comment-page-1/#comment-2434 Henrik Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:55:59 +0000 http://alfabravo.com/?p=192#comment-2434 Martin: About Letsbuyit: It was marketed as the ultimate online store with the lowest prices due to cooperative buying. But I wanted to buy a Palm V, and on letsbuyit.com I was given a price interval, depending on the number of peopel that ordered it within a 2-week period. I did not like not knowing what the price would be and having to wait for weeks. By using Pricerunner search I quickly discovered that I could buy the Palm V at other online estores at a price slightly below the lowest price at Letsbuyit. And get it immediately! So then there was no benefit left for me of using Letsbuyit. This made me feel that the letsbuyit model would not become a huge success and the thin margins definitely did not justify spending so much investor money. Martin: About Letsbuyit: It was marketed as the ultimate online store with the lowest prices due to cooperative buying. But I wanted to buy a Palm V, and on letsbuyit.com I was given a price interval, depending on the number of peopel that ordered it within a 2-week period. I did not like not knowing what the price would be and having to wait for weeks.

By using Pricerunner search I quickly discovered that I could buy the Palm V at other online estores at a price slightly below the lowest price at Letsbuyit. And get it immediately!

So then there was no benefit left for me of using Letsbuyit. This made me feel that the letsbuyit model would not become a huge success and the thin margins definitely did not justify spending so much investor money.

]]> By: Martin Forsling http://alfabravo.com/2009/04/19/my-life-as-an-early-adopter/comment-page-1/#comment-2433 Martin Forsling Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:10:29 +0000 http://alfabravo.com/?p=192#comment-2433 Your post brought to a smile to my face and revoked memories. It is interesting that you write that it is not about being first, it is about curiosity. I agree to most of your statements, since I tested at least the mid part in the same order. I do not agree with "Let's buy it" though, I did not see it's fall immediately. I loved the service and was was disappointed when it did not work out. One of the few "browse-around-shopping-experiences" I really enjoyed on the net. I bought several products I had absolutely no clue that I wanted, like example a designed juice machine or a safety set for my car (with a foldable shovel, a mini axe and a super-sized maglite)! Your post brought to a smile to my face and revoked memories. It is interesting that you write that it is not about being first, it is about curiosity. I agree to most of your statements, since I tested at least the mid part in the same order. I do not agree with “Let’s buy it” though, I did not see it’s fall immediately. I loved the service and was was disappointed when it did not work out. One of the few “browse-around-shopping-experiences” I really enjoyed on the net. I bought several products I had absolutely no clue that I wanted, like example a designed juice machine or a safety set for my car (with a foldable shovel, a mini axe and a super-sized maglite)!

]]> By: Patrik Hambraeus http://alfabravo.com/2009/04/19/my-life-as-an-early-adopter/comment-page-1/#comment-2428 Patrik Hambraeus Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:21:11 +0000 http://alfabravo.com/?p=192#comment-2428 I have seen quite a few of those items in my possession myself. I really liked the Palm and was sad to see that it took them a long time to get mobile - and now I have lost the faith in the brand and don't care about the product. I believe that we create a strong emotional bond to our things and services, and emotions are not rational. So I stuck to my palm a long time, tried to extend it's life etc, I got the keyboard, and tried to make it work as my ultimate travel companion. but alas.... My conclusion is that the early adopter behaviour (that is a part of me as well) is surely a quest for new techniques and a celebration of innovation, However, is an early adopter not just someone falling in love again, and again, and again. A romantic explorer! Voting with the hart and disappointed every time logic shows him that some things just don't click... I have seen quite a few of those items in my possession myself. I really liked the Palm and was sad to see that it took them a long time to get mobile – and now I have lost the faith in the brand and don’t care about the product.
I believe that we create a strong emotional bond to our things and services, and emotions are not rational. So I stuck to my palm a long time, tried to extend it’s life etc, I got the keyboard, and tried to make it work as my ultimate travel companion. but alas….
My conclusion is that the early adopter behaviour (that is a part of me as well) is surely a quest for new techniques and a celebration of innovation, However, is an early adopter not just someone falling in love again, and again, and again. A romantic explorer! Voting with the hart and disappointed every time logic shows him that some things just don’t click…

]]> By: Root http://alfabravo.com/2009/04/19/my-life-as-an-early-adopter/comment-page-1/#comment-2423 Root Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:35:02 +0000 http://alfabravo.com/?p=192#comment-2423 So basically, this calendar of sorts states that you started out a quite an early adopter, but then you have been beginning to lag behind? I mean, you still don't have an iPony? And you've been arriving late to the party of Jaiku and Twitter. Another dimension is of course what perspective to have on early adopting: You bought the P800 on it's launch day in 2002, but Nokia had better smartphones than that in its Communicator back in the Nineties. So, should one stick to brand or category? Also, the Mac was out in -84, but you waited until -86, is that early? Seems like you did the same then as you're doing with the iPhone, maybe it's about your relationship with Apple? :-) So basically, this calendar of sorts states that you started out a quite an early adopter, but then you have been beginning to lag behind? I mean, you still don’t have an iPony? And you’ve been arriving late to the party of Jaiku and Twitter.

Another dimension is of course what perspective to have on early adopting: You bought the P800 on it’s launch day in 2002, but Nokia had better smartphones than that in its Communicator back in the Nineties.

So, should one stick to brand or category?

Also, the Mac was out in -84, but you waited until -86, is that early? Seems like you did the same then as you’re doing with the iPhone, maybe it’s about your relationship with Apple? :-)

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