[sdiy] Those darned Casio chips!

[Scott Gravenhorst]

The flaw here is that you're only considering the benefit that you would
receive.  Corporations do not form for social responsibility, righteousness or
an other ethereal and lofty philanthropic ideal.  Good or bad, like it or not,
they are here for one reason and one reason alone - to make a profit.  They
spend millions each year to hire bean counters and economists who are far
better than any of us tech types at understanding what can make money and what
probably won't.  Their marketing decisions are based solely on this information.

What you're talking about is something like a library where you would pay to
get information.  While I agree that it's a fine idea for me and you and all
the other synth geeks out there, how could such a company make enough money to
stay afloat?  Sure you would buy, and I might, then again, those who can
easily lie about being an authorized agent can probably also easily fire up a
xerox machine, or scan and post the information too.  Also remember that there
simply would not be enough customers for the business to profit after paying
expenses and still grow.  Companies that don't grow are doomed.

The bottom line is that if you don't like company X's policies, DON'T BUY
THEIR PRODUCTS.  Better yet, don't buy instruments, build them.  Then you
control all of the information.

Synth companies don't try specifically to make super wonderful products, they
put out a mediocre device with slick presets to sell to the masses, not to
become some vintage icon.  This happens completely by accident.  It serves in
serendipity to boost profits, but nothing more.  When you bought the product,
you bought that one unit, you did not buy rights to information or any
promises other than those defined by law.  US law says they have to keep spare
parts around for 10 years after it's declared obsolete.  After that, the
company can chuck it all to make space for new products which are more likely
to make a profit.  

The "social responsibility" of corporations is defined in law, because this is
the only way to make a level playing field for all companies.  Neither your
governments nor mine have defined this information archive as part of that
"social responsibility".  For those of you who do not like this, there is a
better way than lying for advantage, that would be to become an activist to
get the laws changed.  Then again, it may not be important enough to put that
much effort into it.  I would fall into the last category.

Caveat Emptor.

If you so disagree with what I am saying here, if you truly believe in this,
then put your money where your mouth is and create this company.  Then you
will find out exactly why it won't work, why it's never been done and why it
won't be done in the future.


Richard Wentk <richard at skydancer.com> wrote:
>At 11:07 24/11/2004 +0000, Peter Forrest wrote:
>>Perhaps each company, or even each distribution company, could have a
>>'legacy parts and manuals' section, or franchise - which could possibly even
>>be run as an educational or other charity.
>
>I like the franchise idea. If you had one company dealing with everyone's 
>spares the majors wouldn't feel like they were wasting resources on things 
>that no longer interest them, but I suspect the franchise itself could 
>still be run profitably.
>
>It's unlikely to happen - unless someone with some financial backing starts 
>knocking on doors - but it's a *very* good idea.
>
>Richard
>
>

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-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
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