Originally posted by BillO I don't agree. At least not in a general sense. There are still many companies that sell extremely well made and tested products. We, as customers, have allowed the camera industry the freedom to put products with undocumented functional flaws in our hands.
Okay. Minor flaws, those that do not effect product functionality or delivery of the specified performance, are acceptable. Examples, logo falls off, battery compartment cover is difficult to release, ease of use issues, etc... These sorts of things are to be expected occasionally and they need not be tested for or documented. On the other hand, releasing a product that is rendered non-functional for some of its claimed uses, however, is not acceptable, unless it is released with these issues fully documented as 'known issues'. That way the customer can make up their own mind about whether to purchase now (because the ‘known issues’ will not affect them), or wait until they are fixed. Testing a product like the K5 to see if it meets specifications should not be a difficult task.
My last job was VP of product support for a large international company. I honestly do know of what I speak.
Interesting position.
I'm sure you do think you know of what you speak, but my experience over the past 4 decades of product use, especially cameras tells me that products rolling off an assembly line are bound to have the occasional flaw.
Compound that with the consumer's absolute refusal to pay what is required to allow for 100% quality control and in depth testing to destruction to ensure than no bad things happen, and every now and again, a flawed product is going to find it's way into the hands of users.
In a market where people will switch brands or choose brands based on a price difference of a few dollars, the manufacturer is offered very few choices regarding cutting costs.
As an ex VP of product support for a large international company, I am sure you would have a pretty good idea of where companies can cut costs to put a competitively priced product on the market.