Dyson Ball - a vacuum purchaser's dilemma

So, I'm buying a new house, and I set out to determine if I want to have a built-in vacuum or a stand-alone vacuum - specifically the Dyson. Why the Dyson? Well, they have great ads, and really seem to stand for something. So, I "Google'd" it.

The forums I found - including one by car enthusiasts - all pointed to the Dyson as the clear winner in the suction and cleaning battle. So, then I set out to find a Dyson. I visited the Dyson site and found ... that I am now very confused about what their models all do. I didn't know that there could be so many models. They all look alike, and their descriptions don't really help you tell what miraculous feature one vacuum has over the other.

Here's the punchline however. On their site Dyson sell refurbished vacuums. These are older models, and without the new "Ball" feature. Presumably, however, they machines are as good as new. AND, they are roughly half-price. However, my better half isn't interested in saving $300. She's interested in getting "The Ball." Why? Well, simply put, because Dyson has done such a darn find job of telling us all about how great the ball is, and how stupid you'd be to buy a non-ball model.

Dyson = GREAT Branding! We are willing to pay a premium just because of the value of the brand.

Will Google make you irrelevant?

Image via CrunchBase

I love Google! Who wouldn't?

But today I was going to buy some software to make a drawing of a new bathroom that I'm setting up. When I searched (on Google, of course) for some design software the first sponsored link was for Google's own Google SketchUp software. Price? You've got to know ... FREE.

Google's competitor, Microsoft, makes software, sells it for ba-zillions then goes out and destroys its competition by out-muscling them. Google, on the other hand, makes software, GIVES it away for free, and destroys competition by the ultimate under-pricing model.

This is all well, I suppose, until Google finds a way to move into your own business sector. If you see that happening, then it is probably time to go out and find another career. There aren't many examples of Google failing to bring successful products to market. If Google automates Marketing Strategy (and they will eventually), then it is time for me to go back into Project Management (unless they've automated that ...).

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