…You Shouldn’t Stand In Line For New Products
1. In the current environment of mass production, it is extremely rare for a product to sell out and never get restocked, even for luxury and “exclusive” goods. Is it really worth standing in line for hours to be the first among your friends to get your hands on something? Are you admired because you are the first on the block with the new gadget or Harry Potter book? (Yes? Maybe it’s time for some new friends.)
2. Prices drop quickly, especially when it comes to technology. Yes, prices always fall over time as technology becomes outdated. But in many cases, manufacturers drop prices fairly soon after launch, much to the chagrin of early adopters. Mmm…anyone remember the iPhone, Razr or the Zune?
3. Bugs. New products always have lots of bugs, especially when the manufacturer is breaking new ground. The best thing to do is to wait for service packs, patches and fixes to be integrated. User groups, forums and wikis also supply a wealth of information to solving issues with new products.
4. You never know what’s going to become the standard. While a product launch can generate a lot of excitement and hype, it doesn’t always guarantee that success or survival. For example, when the iPod launched there was no indication that it would be the player of choice. Think of the economy of accessories, hacks and add-ons surrounding the iPod. Now think of Creative’s Zen player. Mmm…
5. Lining up can be bad for your health, as was the case with the PS3 and Halo 3.
For a good summary on how long to wait before you jump into buying new consumer electronics products, click here.
