What are peoples thoughts on tackle company field testing process?
I'm not sure how it works but I would like to think before a product is put to market, extensive testing is done on the bank by testers, who then provide constructive feedback for improvements etc. Some companies seem to do this very well ie Korda whos products are usually very well thought out.
However, I notice alot when new gear is introduced by companies (more so recently) that these products have glaringly obvious flaws or issues which makes you think, how the hell did this get passed the field testers?
Now its either
The field testers are just telling the company what they want to hear to keep them sweet?
Or
They are being ignored due to the companies just wanting to get the products on the shelves fast? Do they purposly bring out gear with issues so they can release a mk2, mk3 etc.
I'm not sure how it works but I would like to think before a product is put to market, extensive testing is done on the bank by testers, who then provide constructive feedback for improvements etc. Some companies seem to do this very well ie Korda whos products are usually very well thought out.
However, I notice alot when new gear is introduced by companies (more so recently) that these products have glaringly obvious flaws or issues which makes you think, how the hell did this get passed the field testers?
Now its either
The field testers are just telling the company what they want to hear to keep them sweet?
Or
They are being ignored due to the companies just wanting to get the products on the shelves fast? Do they purposly bring out gear with issues so they can release a mk2, mk3 etc.
In reply to Post #1
Any examples mate you can think of
Any examples mate you can think of
Good post ..
I think some companies just follow on through, slightly rehashing ideas ,I can give an example ,rod holdalls ,tri sleeves,...now why oh why ,would you buy a rod in first ,sleeve I feel its a really poor design ,yet many of the known brands still do that..that aspect leaves a reel ,vulnerable to damage ,especially on bail arms on bigger reels.
The best ,and safest way to look after ready rigged rods are reel in first ,this separates the reels from banging together in transit..Cotswold and Nash do the reel first on their stuff,other marques ,don't, and I would not entertain purchasing a rod in sleeve first holdall or sleeve...very poor design...and no long term thought process..
I think some companies just follow on through, slightly rehashing ideas ,I can give an example ,rod holdalls ,tri sleeves,...now why oh why ,would you buy a rod in first ,sleeve I feel its a really poor design ,yet many of the known brands still do that..that aspect leaves a reel ,vulnerable to damage ,especially on bail arms on bigger reels.
The best ,and safest way to look after ready rigged rods are reel in first ,this separates the reels from banging together in transit..Cotswold and Nash do the reel first on their stuff,other marques ,don't, and I would not entertain purchasing a rod in sleeve first holdall or sleeve...very poor design...and no long term thought process..
In reply to Post #1
What makes you think anything is tested?
That's what customers are for. When you buy version one of something, you are the field tester.
What makes you think anything is tested?
That's what customers are for. When you buy version one of something, you are the field tester.
In reply to Post #1
At the end of the day its a cost to field test.... Get samples, send out to 'X' amount of testers... get feedback, redesign, tweak. Repeat process several times over.
So eventually they will probably find a medium between cost vs what the field testing feedback is.
Bigger companies like Korda can have people looking at initial designs and feeding back which will help the above, however smaller ones will probably be going off a supplier design and refining that way.
At the end of the day its a cost to field test.... Get samples, send out to 'X' amount of testers... get feedback, redesign, tweak. Repeat process several times over.
So eventually they will probably find a medium between cost vs what the field testing feedback is.
Bigger companies like Korda can have people looking at initial designs and feeding back which will help the above, however smaller ones will probably be going off a supplier design and refining that way.
In reply to Post #1
I had a situation with a camera bag. One of the straps broke but that was probably my fault. It was a good bag but with a couple tweaks it could have been a great bag.
At one of the carp shows, I approached this particular company's stand to talk to them about it. The person I spoke to didn't know much about the product at all but did tell me somebody in the office probably plucked it out of a Chinese catalogue, had it branded, and put it into the marketplace.
There was never a Mk 2.
I had a situation with a camera bag. One of the straps broke but that was probably my fault. It was a good bag but with a couple tweaks it could have been a great bag.
At one of the carp shows, I approached this particular company's stand to talk to them about it. The person I spoke to didn't know much about the product at all but did tell me somebody in the office probably plucked it out of a Chinese catalogue, had it branded, and put it into the marketplace.
There was never a Mk 2.
In reply to Post #1
I think the evidence we all witness suggests that very little, if any, worthwhile field testing takes place for the majority of items on the market.
I think the evidence we all witness suggests that very little, if any, worthwhile field testing takes place for the majority of items on the market.
In reply to Post #5
Exactly that
not to mention the costs of sample batches which is probably where most of the cost is, I would imagine it's not cheap setting up trial batches for small runs.
Exactly that
not to mention the costs of sample batches which is probably where most of the cost is, I would imagine it's not cheap setting up trial batches for small runs.
In reply to Post #1
General public are used as Guinea Pigs for many products
General public are used as Guinea Pigs for many products
In reply to Post #1
"Field Testers" are merely product marketers. Nothing more.
"Field Testers" are merely product marketers. Nothing more.
In reply to Post #10
Much as I'm inclined to agree on the most part with the below comments I don't think its entirely fair to brand all companies the same, i have been involved with a well known terminal tackle manufacturer that is relaunching this year and i can assure you the gear has been properly field tested for a long time now with some products being scrapped, some being tweaked etc and its been very interesting to be involved with this process and in this particular instance a proper level of field testing has taken place.
Much as I'm inclined to agree on the most part with the below comments I don't think its entirely fair to brand all companies the same, i have been involved with a well known terminal tackle manufacturer that is relaunching this year and i can assure you the gear has been properly field tested for a long time now with some products being scrapped, some being tweaked etc and its been very interesting to be involved with this process and in this particular instance a proper level of field testing has taken place.
In reply to Post #11
Which can company is that Ian?
Which can company is that Ian?
In reply to Post #12
I'm guessing Atomic?
I'm guessing Atomic?
In reply to Post #13
I didn't realise they still existed?
I didn't realise they still existed?
In reply to Post #14
That's because you're a bit dense
That's because you're a bit dense
In reply to Post #16
Can't wait,love their gear
Can't wait,love their gear
In reply to Post #15
That's surprisingly accurate.
This is the man who had a day off work yesterday. Drove round the m25 to the lakes. Walked them. Sat chatting in swims for hours. Wasted loads of time. Finally picked a swim. Unloaded and realised I'd left my unhooking mat at home.
That's surprisingly accurate.
This is the man who had a day off work yesterday. Drove round the m25 to the lakes. Walked them. Sat chatting in swims for hours. Wasted loads of time. Finally picked a swim. Unloaded and realised I'd left my unhooking mat at home.
In reply to Post #18
I once did similar but didn't realise untill the morning when packing up
I once did similar but didn't realise untill the morning when packing up
In reply to Post #18
And thats the joys.... sometimes its just nice to be out m8..... we live, talk and breath it.
And thats the joys.... sometimes its just nice to be out m8..... we live, talk and breath it.
In reply to Post #20
Sorry chaps, yes i was referring to Atomic tackle although i didn't name as i didn't want it to appear as though i was plugging them but its been an interesting process seeing the range evolve through the testing period
Sorry chaps, yes i was referring to Atomic tackle although i didn't name as i didn't want it to appear as though i was plugging them but its been an interesting process seeing the range evolve through the testing period
In reply to Post #21
Few thousand samples of hooks etc is a lot more achievable for these companies than having prototype bivvies etc made. Korda have always had prototype hooks being used on their videos. Although they also did seem to be field testing with the rods on monster carp before they launched.
Having said that, delkim laucnhed txids, fox launched the rx+, trakker launched the rs bivvy ranges, a small sample of products and firms obviously, yet none of these products ever seemed to be seen on the bank by anyone before they appeared on the marketing bits when announced
Few thousand samples of hooks etc is a lot more achievable for these companies than having prototype bivvies etc made. Korda have always had prototype hooks being used on their videos. Although they also did seem to be field testing with the rods on monster carp before they launched.
Having said that, delkim laucnhed txids, fox launched the rx+, trakker launched the rs bivvy ranges, a small sample of products and firms obviously, yet none of these products ever seemed to be seen on the bank by anyone before they appeared on the marketing bits when announced
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