I can't be that brilliant....

[thyme4change]

There are several things that seem so obvious to me, but the world of commerce has not seemed to catch on.  

I have eaten grocery store sushi (that is how I live on the edge) at three different chains here.  They give you a sad little packet of soy sauce, but nowhere in the little plastic container is there a depression so I can pour it out and dip my sushi.  Am I the only one that has thought that it wouldn't cost any more to have made the mold with a little square in the middle vs. the cute depressions they have around the edge.  Then it would have been functional.

My other brilliant idea is a variety pack of soda, so when I have people over I can have several types, without having to buy 12 cans of each kind.

Anyone else have an obvious idea that isn't in the market?

[cktc]

Apr 30, 2015 13:25:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

There are several things that seem so obvious to me, but the world of commerce has not seemed to catch on.  

My other brilliant idea is a variety pack of soda, so when I have people over I can have several types, without having to buy 12 cans of each kind.

Anyone else have an obvious idea that isn't in the market?

Most of my ideas involve "this should be able to do other things" so I don't need to buy/clean/store so much stuff. Why can't Pyrex double as dishware? Why don't all mixing bowls have spouts, and seal tight lids? Why did it take 8 versions for this phone to do what people wanted it to after version 1?

Unfortunately what makes sense as a consumer isn't necessarily as long term profitable for the people putting it out there.

[Abby Normal]

You can't be that brilliant if you're eating grocery store sushi!

cktc-  I'm listening to Pandora and " All about the Bass" is playing in perfect time with your Avatar.  It's cracking me up!

[aprilleigh]

I know I have 2, but I can only think of 1 right now:

The placebo pills in the birth control pack should be Midols! Or Valium, depending .... 

Oh, that 2nd one is going to bug me!! 

[Deleted]

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

[Chocolate Lover]

Did I dream recently that I saw a multi flavor pack of cokes in an ad somewhere or was it real? 

[cktc]

Apr 30, 2015 14:06:42 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Variety packs of soda seem like a no-brainer since the major soft drink companies each own several brands. Beer companies already do it.

Yeah, but I think beer companies can use it as a way to introduce new products, and unload less popular varieties. Soda is pretty cheap, and companies would probably prefer that you buy more than needed.

[thyme4change]

Apr 30, 2015 13:53:47 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

You can't be that brilliant if you're eating grocery store sushi!

Mostly it is just california rolls or cooked shrimp/crab.  I do shy away from true raw sushi.

[swamp]

you just are that brilliant. and brave for eating grocery store sushi.

[lynnerself]

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

Most of my fast food (not that I admit to this habit) have already done this.

[imawino]

Apr 30, 2015 14:35:51 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Apr 30, 2015 14:30:53 GMT -5 cktc said:

Yeah, but I think beer companies can use it as a way to introduce new products, and unload less popular varieties. Soda is pretty cheap, and companies would probably prefer that you buy more than needed.

Beer is too, from the manufacturers perspective. Most of the price is sin taxes and goes to the government, not the retailer, distributor, or brewer. It's barley, water, hops, and yeast. All dirt cheap when bought in quantity. If the government wasn't taxing the shit out of every step in the chain you could get a twelve pack of beer for around the same price as a twelve pack of Coke.

Yep.  In the Caribbean soda is more expensive than booze.  Back when I could go in the crew bar on cruise ships they sold bottled beer for $1 - and packs of cigarettes for $1 as well.  I assume the price has gone up since then though. 

ETA - I shouldn't say more expensive.  It depends on what you are drinking and how much.  But alcohol is super inexpensive compared to here, and soda is more expensive than here.  That might be a more accurate way to put it. 

[hoops902]

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

I've actually been noticing this more lately.  There's a Burger King and a Wendy's in the area that have 2 big boards of menu, 1 is by the order box, the other is just a bit earlier and aimed toward the driver's approaching.

[Chocolate Lover]

Apr 30, 2015 15:13:45 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

I've actually been noticing this more lately.  There's a Burger King and a Wendy's in the area that have 2 big boards of menu, 1 is by the order box, the other is just a bit earlier and aimed toward the driver's approaching.

I've never seen one that's the FULL menu though, just the combo meals they want you to buy. You want to know about the cheap stuff you wait until the speakers. And then see if you can spot it. 

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 15:13:45 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

I've actually been noticing this more lately.  There's a Burger King and a Wendy's in the area that have 2 big boards of menu, 1 is by the order box, the other is just a bit earlier and aimed toward the driver's approaching.

I live in a small Midwestern town.  We're not that progressive.   

[Phoenix84]

Apr 30, 2015 13:25:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

There are several things that seem so obvious to me, but the world of commerce has not seemed to catch on.  

I have eaten grocery store sushi (that is how I live on the edge) at three different chains here.  They give you a sad little packet of soy sauce, but nowhere in the little plastic container is there a depression so I can pour it out and dip my sushi.  Am I the only one that has thought that it wouldn't cost any more to have made the mold with a little square in the middle vs. the cute depressions they have around the edge.  Then it would have been functional.

My other brilliant idea is a variety pack of soda, so when I have people over I can have several types, without having to buy 12 cans of each kind.

Anyone else have an obvious idea that isn't in the market?

The last one is obvious. They.DO want you to buy several packs of soda instead of one variety pack.

[Opti]

Plus variety packs simply don't sell all that well. I think there is a reason you see variety packs for beer, etc.

only around holidays. Many "good" ideas in practice turn out not to be profitable.

[thyme4change]

Instead I buy none.  I serve ice tea and lemonade.  I can't buy 12 cases of soda - especially since we don't really drink it.  I do not drink anything with NutraSweet, and I have asked my kids to stay away from it also.  But if I have 4 sodas out there and none of them are diet, people get a little belligerent.  So, if you won't sell me 2 or 3 diet sodas, I will just skip soda all together.  

[hoops902]

Apr 30, 2015 15:19:40 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Apr 30, 2015 15:13:45 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

I've actually been noticing this more lately.  There's a Burger King and a Wendy's in the area that have 2 big boards of menu, 1 is by the order box, the other is just a bit earlier and aimed toward the driver's approaching.

I've never seen one that's the FULL menu though, just the combo meals they want you to buy. You want to know about the cheap stuff you wait until the speakers. And then see if you can spot it. 

Isn't everything in a combo these days though?  The only non-combo items I ever see on the menu are the combo items minus the fries and drink. 

[Cookies Galore]

Apr 30, 2015 15:26:22 GMT -5 Opti said:

Plus variety packs simply don't sell all that well. I think there is a reason you see variety packs for beer, etc.

only around holidays. Many "good" ideas in practice turn out not to be profitable.

No, variety packs of beer are available year-round. Unless it was Christmas on Sunday.

[Chocolate Lover]

Apr 30, 2015 15:31:14 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Apr 30, 2015 15:19:40 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I've never seen one that's the FULL menu though, just the combo meals they want you to buy. You want to know about the cheap stuff you wait until the speakers. And then see if you can spot it. 

Isn't everything in a combo these days though?  The only non-combo items I ever see on the menu are the combo items minus the fries and drink. 

No, you can get stuff like a snack wrap at McD's or maybe just want a small burger or something. The salads, if they sell them, aren't there either. They just want you buy the combo and be gone. 

[Chocolate Lover]

I'd buy a 2 liter but that's me.

[vonna]

LOL!  I think just maybe you ARE that brilliant!!

[cktc]

Apr 30, 2015 14:35:51 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Apr 30, 2015 14:30:53 GMT -5 cktc said:

Yeah, but I think beer companies can use it as a way to introduce new products, and unload less popular varieties. Soda is pretty cheap, and companies would probably prefer that you buy more than needed.

Beer is too, from the manufacturers perspective. Most of the price is sin taxes and goes to the government, not the retailer, distributor, or brewer. It's barley, water, hops, and yeast. All dirt cheap when bought in quantity. If the government wasn't taxing the shit out of every step in the chain you could get a twelve pack of beer for around the same price as a twelve pack of Coke.

True, but as is, when you get to the consumer end, you are less likely to try a whole case of something new when the price is $9-20 instead of $3.50, or however much soda costs .  

[Robert not Bobby]

Apr 30, 2015 13:25:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

There are several things that seem so obvious to me, but the world of commerce has not seemed to catch on.  

I have eaten grocery store sushi (that is how I live on the edge) at three different chains here.  They give you a sad little packet of soy sauce, but nowhere in the little plastic container is there a depression so I can pour it out and dip my sushi.  Am I the only one that has thought that it wouldn't cost any more to have made the mold with a little square in the middle vs. the cute depressions they have around the edge.  Then it would have been functional.

My other brilliant idea is a variety pack of soda, so when I have people over I can have several types, without having to buy 12 cans of each kind.

Anyone else have an obvious idea that isn't in the market?

I have this brilliant idea, I think...instead of having buttons on a man's pants...you know, when he has to go, I invented this newfangled thing called the zipper. But be careful, or ouch.

Don't tell me that someone beat me to it? How about the reversible umbrella: it keeps you dry when it is raining, flip it over and it give you a golden tan when it is sunny?

No...I didn't think so.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 30, 2015 13:25:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

There are several things that seem so obvious to me, but the world of commerce has not seemed to catch on.  

I have eaten grocery store sushi (that is how I live on the edge) at three different chains here.  They give you a sad little packet of soy sauce, but nowhere in the little plastic container is there a depression so I can pour it out and dip my sushi.  Am I the only one that has thought that it wouldn't cost any more to have made the mold with a little square in the middle vs. the cute depressions they have around the edge.  Then it would have been functional.

My other brilliant idea is a variety pack of soda, so when I have people over I can have several types, without having to buy 12 cans of each kind.

Anyone else have an obvious idea that isn't in the market?

Ever think of opening the pack of soy sauce and drizzling it over the sushi?  That's what I do.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

The menu doesn't change that much. It's the same thing as last week, and the same as next week.

[hoops902]

Apr 30, 2015 16:09:05 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Apr 30, 2015 13:59:09 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I could never understand why they don't have the menus for the drive up BEFORE you get to the kid asking for your order.  I end up just stress orderering the same thing I always get because I didn't have time to look for anything else.

The menu doesn't change that much. It's the same thing as last week, and the same as next week.

Clearly you aren't familiar with the limited time offering of the McRib or the Shamrock Shake.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 30, 2015 16:17:47 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Apr 30, 2015 16:09:05 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

The menu doesn't change that much. It's the same thing as last week, and the same as next week.

Clearly you aren't familiar with the limited time offering of the McRib or the Shamrock Shake.

Ugh! Surely they advertise these limited time offers on TV. It's not a big surprise. How about the McLobster? Just plain nasty.

[Robert not Bobby]

Can you imagine what McLobster would taste like...chicken?

In my area Burger King is advertising "Two for one Chicken sandwiches", or something like that.

I always go to the mom and pop places when I want a quick bite.

OK, I don't mind Wendys...maybe I just have a weakness for redheads...but some of their food is actually, OK.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 30, 2015 16:35:09 GMT -5 Robert not Bobby said:

Can you imagine what McLobster would taste like...chicken?

In my area Burger King is advertising "Two for one Chicken sandwiches", or something like that.

I always go to the mom and pop places when I want a quick bite.

OK, I don't mind Wendys...maybe I just have a weakness for redheads...but some of their food is actually, OK.

When I was pregnant, Wendy's was the only food that wouldn't stay down.

And I don't have to imagine McLobster...we have it. Tasted like mayo.