Eric <[email protected]> wrote: > > Its the feeling you get when you buy something you really want to keep for a > long time and a new version rolls out just a week of your purchase. I think > thats what Prathap is trying to comunicate. >
I understand what he means, but that's life. In today's competitive world you can't expect stuff to be stagnant. Technology is gonna drive products to get better and cheaper. Whether a computer, a cellphone or a bike! The only things that would normally go up would be Land and Gold! I would have liked to add Oil to that list, but even that has defied in the short term! > Trust me, it is a terrible feeling. I felt terrible when I bought a brand > new pulsar 180 classic in March 2003 and there was DTSI announced 6 months > down the line to be launched in November. > There are so many like you. Atleast you had 6 months of honeymoon time. Prashanth Susarla and I both bought our 180s in October 2003. His is a classic, mine a DTS-i. Does he hate his bike? No. Does he regret? No! Infact I too have had a lot of opportunities to sulk that my 5 year old bike is outdated to the core now. At first, within months the Bajaj logo changed. Then there was this heel protector on the exhaust pipe. Then the toe only shifter was heel-n-toe. Then the gas shock absorbers came in. Then mag wheels. Then FTB. Then the digi-speedo and LED tail lamps. Then improved gearbox. Do I feel I am riding an outdated machine! No! I enjoy that mine is one unique 2003 model and a few of those 18" left! > While it sure is good for the new buyers, it does not feel so happening with > the existing customers. I dont intend to offend anyone, but when they came > with something new each year, it only gave me the impression that BAL does > this intentionally to retain / strengthen their market share with each > upgrade in addition to the known fact that they have partly used customers > for 'testing' their R&D too. While the products from BAL may not be the best or most reliable around. But they sure offer the latest to the customer. Innovative ideas, no one else considered seriously earlier. Not all of them may benefit or be really beneficial. But they do increase the appeal of the product to the customer. Who made Disk brakes standard on the front? Who offered electric self start as standard? Who offered the first rear disks? Who offered the first tubeless tyres? First successful mainstream FI? First digi speedo? First LED lamps? First auto cancellation of indicators? and so much more. Yes some of them may be just gizmos and not appeal to a serious rider like you and me. But then there are hundreds of thousands of potential buyers who crave for such things. Is it wrong not to satisfy their needs? Yes there are teething troubles with any technology. Some have it more than others. But then overall as long as the people don't stop buying for these reasons, you don't have an issue. > Remember, other makers launch a varient and > continue it for a couple of years atleast. > You are in the Gulf. You yourself have seen how every car changes each model year. Take the popular Japanese ones for example. Camry, Corolla, Accord, Civic (even your Maxima). Isn't it different (improved) every single year? Yes, some may not be as good as what it was earlier, but it still is new. Even in bikes you get to see that. Just look at the litre-class SBK range. Every single year there is something new. The way I look at it, Bajaj is the only bike manufacturer here living up to that standard. Barely so! Only in India do we stick on to older products like glue. The 800, Alto, Zen (old) and A-star. What are those? They are all Altos. Different years, improved models. The Octavia and Laura. What are those? Octavia only again! Corolla and Corolla Altis. Corolla again. Accent and Verna. Accent again. Santro and i10. Versions of the Atos again. Ikon and Fiesta. Fiesta again. If someone like Honda stops the City twice and introduces an all new City. Does someone complain? Sameer Shisodia has the first generation City. Does he feel cheated? He loves it! > BAL's strategy depreciates a > vehicle too quickly. BAL sells you bikes for transportation and for the associated fun. It does not sell you mutual funds or (investable) real estate as an investment. So looking at it from the resale point of view is fundamentally wrong. Yes, resale is a factor you may consider. But it is not the only factor. The Pulsar range may suffer from poor resale, but does that stop anyone, (you included) from buying them. You had the best looking bike at that time. Didn't you? The value of the bike far exceeds the loss one would make at resale. People know that. Those who don't are free to choose something else! > They ought to be more considerate to existing customers. They were considerate to you when you bought it. Offered you the best they (reliably) could at the price you could afford at the moment. If someone wants to buy something today why should they offer depreciated old, out dated technology today? Doesn't the person buying today have the same right to get the best at what today's market and technology conditions can offer? Why sell something old and out dated manufactured from very depreciated machines at same or higher prices? Who is cheating whom then? > I'm always open to a peaceful discussion and even changing my opinion should > I read some solid facts that I never knew about. > No offences meant! But by improving a product, you are not cheating existing customers! Cheers, Glifford.
