What if toothbrushes were sold like proprietary ERP software?
Based on an IRC conversation by Derek Neighbors and Jason Cater
of GNU Enterprise
(www.gnuenterprise.org).
1. Instead of 1.00 for a brush that lasts a year, you pay 200 for a
toothbrush license. Brushing your teeth saves on average 2 cavities a
year, and cavities cost 800 to fill - so 200 for a brush that saves
you 1600 is an INCREDIBLE deal.
2. Then the 500 for the toothpaste contract - that's where the REAL
value is. I mean, for 700 you will have your money back in less than 6
months - how incredible is that?
3. The vendor just makes sure his toothpaste is incompatiable with
other vendors' brushes, so you are locked into that toothpaste
contract - or forced to buy a new brush.
4. The toothbrushes require their own special "holder" (custom
installed, of course). You can't re-use your existing holders.
I know the slots are the same size; but ours is calibrated especially
for our toothbrushes. Also, who's to say your holder can withstand
the extra load? Crest's holders just dont 'scale' well - I mean a
family of 5 or 6 and you're screwed.
5. Let's not forget "user training" - and floss. That's high
performance dental care - you pay top dollar for floss. One member of
the family will need to be flown to our "flossing seminar" BUT it's in
Miami this year - so what member wouldn't mind going to Miami?
6. For only 4,500, I can get Crest 'Reach' Toothbrush Certified -
with that certificate I am like 80% less likely to have gingivitis which
is a huge value - peridontial disease is SO costly.
7. The toothbrush vendor regularly is able to sell brush, paste and
floss to folks with dentures. Of course, the vendor has a 20% stake in
the Denture company "to spread his risk".
(and be thankful that I spared you the "What if toilet paper was sold
like proprietary ERP software?" debate...)
Oh, and all toothbrush-related trademarks duly acknowledged.
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