FireMoth
08-21-2018, 06:13
OK, kiddos, its time once again for the old man to have "one of those talks" with you all.
Recently another exciting product was announced by an exciting manufacturer that was going to do the same shit as products we have long had, but in new and exciting ways.
To keep the interest fresh, they very helpfully posted "Now Shipping" notifications to the electronical-interwebs, to let us all know that a product we didnt know we needed 6 months ago would soon be available to satisfy our now pressing, urgent need to get rid of the old dead weight we have hanging around.
...And approximately 6 milliseconds later, I began receiving phone calls asking if I had said new product in stock.
So, lets explain "shipping", for those who are new to the concept of material transportation.
"Shipping" involves every step in a process that starts with contacting someone to transport said material, creating labels, weighing, boxing, counting, and staging product, waiting for the shipper to arrive, loading, signing, etc.,etc.,...
What it does NOT involve is a fat man with a heavy Scottish brogue setting said product on a bit of lexan flooring with a circular halogen light beneath it, throwing a lever on a 1960s era sound mixing board, which subsequently disintegrates the product, blasts it accross sub-space, and instantly rematerializes, pre counted, checked in, and labeled, in the hands of your favorite retailers.
Much like many retailers online, manufacturers of new and exciting parts will often post "shipping" notifications as soon as the shipping process has started... which could mean as early the creation of the first shipping label.
More importantly, is WHO they begin shipping to.
Other then the obvious advertisi... er... media outlets that assure us that the new and exciting version of the product today is so much better then the last product they reviewed that did the same thing, no matter how much of the rhetoric they recycled from the last review for the current article;
The next in line to recieve said product is DISTRIBUTERS, who will then segregate, and DISTRIBUTE the product through that same shipping process.
Believe it or not, thos IS the most expedient way to get the new product into your sweatly little paws.
Because DISTRIBUTORS are in the business of DISTRIBUTION, they are generally better at it then MANUFACTURERS, who we have discovered in ths little article consider a product shipped as soon as the head of the shipping departmwnt has clocked in for the day.
So, now that we understand how products reach retailers, perhaps we can temper our need to get on the phone right away, and make declarations like "But such and such already has a REVIEW up! Why cant i have one?".
Because, sparky, like any addictive substance, there are producers, movers, distributers, and PUSHERS, before it gets down to the lowly dealer.
The PUSHER's job is to get you sweating and scratching your veins, thats why they get the first taste.
...But that doesnt change the fact that those "mules" in brown still have to put things on trucks, drive them places, and take them off again, before you can get your "fix".
So now you understand "shipping", and why No, I DONT have it yet. But i promise it will be just as fresh and crisp and exciting as you expect, when we, your lowly neighborhood dealers are able to get it to you.
Good talk. Now run along and play outside. If youre not SHOOTING your guns, your certainly dont need new things on them. Play with the toys you have, and wait for christmas morning like everyone else.
Recently another exciting product was announced by an exciting manufacturer that was going to do the same shit as products we have long had, but in new and exciting ways.
To keep the interest fresh, they very helpfully posted "Now Shipping" notifications to the electronical-interwebs, to let us all know that a product we didnt know we needed 6 months ago would soon be available to satisfy our now pressing, urgent need to get rid of the old dead weight we have hanging around.
...And approximately 6 milliseconds later, I began receiving phone calls asking if I had said new product in stock.
So, lets explain "shipping", for those who are new to the concept of material transportation.
"Shipping" involves every step in a process that starts with contacting someone to transport said material, creating labels, weighing, boxing, counting, and staging product, waiting for the shipper to arrive, loading, signing, etc.,etc.,...
What it does NOT involve is a fat man with a heavy Scottish brogue setting said product on a bit of lexan flooring with a circular halogen light beneath it, throwing a lever on a 1960s era sound mixing board, which subsequently disintegrates the product, blasts it accross sub-space, and instantly rematerializes, pre counted, checked in, and labeled, in the hands of your favorite retailers.
Much like many retailers online, manufacturers of new and exciting parts will often post "shipping" notifications as soon as the shipping process has started... which could mean as early the creation of the first shipping label.
More importantly, is WHO they begin shipping to.
Other then the obvious advertisi... er... media outlets that assure us that the new and exciting version of the product today is so much better then the last product they reviewed that did the same thing, no matter how much of the rhetoric they recycled from the last review for the current article;
The next in line to recieve said product is DISTRIBUTERS, who will then segregate, and DISTRIBUTE the product through that same shipping process.
Believe it or not, thos IS the most expedient way to get the new product into your sweatly little paws.
Because DISTRIBUTORS are in the business of DISTRIBUTION, they are generally better at it then MANUFACTURERS, who we have discovered in ths little article consider a product shipped as soon as the head of the shipping departmwnt has clocked in for the day.
So, now that we understand how products reach retailers, perhaps we can temper our need to get on the phone right away, and make declarations like "But such and such already has a REVIEW up! Why cant i have one?".
Because, sparky, like any addictive substance, there are producers, movers, distributers, and PUSHERS, before it gets down to the lowly dealer.
The PUSHER's job is to get you sweating and scratching your veins, thats why they get the first taste.
...But that doesnt change the fact that those "mules" in brown still have to put things on trucks, drive them places, and take them off again, before you can get your "fix".
So now you understand "shipping", and why No, I DONT have it yet. But i promise it will be just as fresh and crisp and exciting as you expect, when we, your lowly neighborhood dealers are able to get it to you.
Good talk. Now run along and play outside. If youre not SHOOTING your guns, your certainly dont need new things on them. Play with the toys you have, and wait for christmas morning like everyone else.