Not surprisingly, the tariffs affect many other hobbies. The model railroading hobby really got its start during the Great Depression when Al Kalmbach began publishing Model Railroader magazine. The hobby weathered the Depression, WWII, and other economic downturns, but these huge tariffs may force many model railroad manufacturers out of business. A significant amount of items are made in China and it's unlikely manufacturing can be brought back to the US. Previous tariffs had exempted toys and hobbies, but not this time.
I think this product (the DoughBed) will be a tough sell to the general public The price is $280, the temperature is not adjustable, and it requires the purchase of a USB-to-wall adaptor (admittedly not very expensive). All of the five-star reviews on the site probably were from early adopters who paid a reduced price via Kickstarter or some similar method.
Considering that a temp-adjustable seedling mat and a glass bowl with a lid that won't be a nightmare to clean can be had for under $50, that is... quite the product. Thanks for the context.
I'm surprised the Goldie ($150) from the same vendor sells when the B&T Sourdough Home can be had for less money ($119) and more versatility (heating and cooling).
The cynic in me wonders if the article was part of a strategy to prepare investors for the 'doughbed' crashing & burning on the market.
Still, the old saw holds true: things are worth what people are willing to pay. I appreciate industrial design, but plenty of 'high design' items sell for prices far beyond what I think they're worth.
Of course, I'm not the target market, bc I'm happiest being as gadget free as possible.
When I think about the design of this product should be, my first thought is that it should work with a range of glass pans that already exist and can be bought fairly cheaply, if the user doesn't have one already. Presto, one component eliminated, no tariff to worry about. An insulating top could be lined styrofoam... again cheap.
The unintended consequences of the tariffs than the value or merits of the actual product. It’s a niche market item used as an example for the global reliance on trade that affects everything from the seed mats/cooler hack to the mixers, pans, refrigerators, and ovens we use. The sad fact is that we now lack the capability and it’s too costly to make it or assemble it here in the USofA. We put a man on the moon once upon a time! Next thing you know we will be losing the sourdough arms race and drowning in AI slop;)
Yeah, I read this last night. Grim.
Not surprisingly, the tariffs affect many other hobbies. The model railroading hobby really got its start during the Great Depression when Al Kalmbach began publishing Model Railroader magazine. The hobby weathered the Depression, WWII, and other economic downturns, but these huge tariffs may force many model railroad manufacturers out of business. A significant amount of items are made in China and it's unlikely manufacturing can be brought back to the US. Previous tariffs had exempted toys and hobbies, but not this time.
I think this product (the DoughBed) will be a tough sell to the general public The price is $280, the temperature is not adjustable, and it requires the purchase of a USB-to-wall adaptor (admittedly not very expensive). All of the five-star reviews on the site probably were from early adopters who paid a reduced price via Kickstarter or some similar method.
Considering that a temp-adjustable seedling mat and a glass bowl with a lid that won't be a nightmare to clean can be had for under $50, that is... quite the product. Thanks for the context.
I'm surprised the Goldie ($150) from the same vendor sells when the B&T Sourdough Home can be had for less money ($119) and more versatility (heating and cooling).
The cynic in me wonders if the article was part of a strategy to prepare investors for the 'doughbed' crashing & burning on the market.
Still, the old saw holds true: things are worth what people are willing to pay. I appreciate industrial design, but plenty of 'high design' items sell for prices far beyond what I think they're worth.
Of course, I'm not the target market, bc I'm happiest being as gadget free as possible.
😹
Rob
When I think about the design of this product should be, my first thought is that it should work with a range of glass pans that already exist and can be bought fairly cheaply, if the user doesn't have one already. Presto, one component eliminated, no tariff to worry about. An insulating top could be lined styrofoam... again cheap.
The unintended consequences of the tariffs than the value or merits of the actual product. It’s a niche market item used as an example for the global reliance on trade that affects everything from the seed mats/cooler hack to the mixers, pans, refrigerators, and ovens we use.
The sad fact is that we now lack the capability and it’s too costly to make it or assemble it here in the USofA. We put a man on the moon once upon a time! Next thing you know we will be losing the sourdough arms race and drowning in AI slop;)