Custom color kit priced way too high and how to purchase after you have a k2 unit already
I really like this but $40 for a $.05 piece of plastic? I mean that's more expensive than nearly half the protective phone cases for these $1000+ halo super premium mega 5g phones. Also it appears that you can only buy them when you buy the head unit. It should really be a separate item in the store so you can buy it even after you have the k2, should you choose.
https://bikerumor.com/2021/05/13/re-skin-your-hammerhead-karoo-2-gps-computer-with-new-custom-color-kits/
-
-
It does seem very odd the company can manufacture screw in colour kits for the body but can’t make a simple silicon case.
Why would it be odd? The body kit is made by the same supplier to the same engineering specs, on the same moulding equipment with the same dies using fundamentally the same raw materials (and therefore the same supply chain) - it's just a question of using coloured rather than grey pellets. A silicone case requires different technology, equipment, engineering/design and materials. At the very least the silicone case is a significantly higher business risk and upfront cost.
Whether there is greater demand (and higher overall margin) for a protective case than for a fashion accessory is a different question, and whether your (my) hard earned money is better spent on the former or the latter is another question still.
-
Oh, brother. I have posted numerous times to this forum about missing features in K2. I've gotten a lot of pushback from Hammerhead apologists, some of whom say that Hammerhead should focus on bug fixes before working on new features.
Well, evidently Hammerhead has time to spend developing and marketing a completely unnecessary and nonfunctional cosmetic add on, which they want to sell for the absurd price of $39.
You can't make this stuff up ....
-
@Davide A silicon casing made from a moulding of the unit can’t be an expensive proposition when they are ten a penny for pretty much every electrical device going.
It probably costs less to manufacture than the cost of the screwdriver and screws provided with this colour kit.
Heck, people on Etsy home manufacture their own casings for products.
And they can even licence the case out to any one of a million case manufacturers there if they didn’t want to invest in the basic equipment themselves. They surely have a mould / 3D model already of the body from its initial development and build.
-
@Damon - I've tried to explain why industrial logic (can) work the way it does. I've also pointed out that its result is not necessarily the most profitable or the best outcome for the consumer.
If you think it's so easy to produce a good quality protective case, and that there is a sufficiently large niche to do so profitably for the K2, go ahead and make it.
-
Just a question: I see some things on the screen which I don't have: the icon in the upper left corner and the icon in the battery. Also I'm missing the refresh icon in the elevation graph: it's zoomed in so normally you see the refresh icon, which is very annoying by the way because you can't see the elevation numbers. Is it new firmware?
-
@davide And I've tried to explain that accessories like these can be easily outsourced if manufacturing is a direct issue or risk. If I had the licensing rights to outsource the case, I probably would. HH do have the licencing rights, they really should.
Just like they did with water bottles they sell on their site. Surely you agree a silicon case is more pertinent to K2 customers than a water bottle?
I would wager a very high percentage of K2 owners would buy a £15 silicon case, and don't try and tell me there's no markup per unit on a £15 moulded case made out of silicon. Even if that is thru a licensing agreement.
The 'best outcome for the consumer' would be their ability to actually protect their purchase from scratches chips and other damage.
-
@Damon -
No, you didn't explain (to start with). You expressed perplexity as to why Hammerhead is producing coloured backs rather than protective cases. As someone that works with supply chains and production management (amongst other things), I can understand the decision from Hammerhead NOT to get involved with the accessories. Are they missing an opportunity? Maybe. But it's their decision, and it's perfectly understandable.
You are posing an interesting question there: is a license even needed? Probably not - as long as you are not using their trademarks. I doubt that the multitude of people making cases and accessories for iPhones or S21s are asking Apple or Samsung for a license. And I equally doubt these guys asked for a license:
I totally agree on (what was) your second paragraph; the discussion was never about whether a case would add more value than a coloured back panel - or a water bottle. If you make a protective case, I'll probably buy it - if I don't buy the one linked above first!
-
@james Likely they have multiple teams all working on different things - some of which specialize in certain areas. I'm not a developer, but in all orgs/companies I've worked for, these operate as different teams (unless it's a very small company), some will work on bugs, others new features, others.. new products.
Bringing out new items, whether any of us find them meaningful or not, will ultimately attract other buyers. I have no interest in a different back plate (at least not in these colours), but based on comments I've seen in social media, lots of people do like them.
-
@Davide well if the case has Hammerheads name on the front (as Garmin cases have and the naked K2 has) licensing would definitely be a thing. Particularly if HH want to make any money out of it.
Right now, me, and I’m sure quite a few others, are riding using our K2s with a cover that has Garmin written on the front.
If the thing gets popular someone in China will do it anyway, but it would really serve HH to spend a little time reaching out to companies already set up for this work as they did for the, ahem, water bottle.
Also, I wonder if HH have lost any potential sales due to not having the most basic protection accessories available to buy? There will be some people that blank out refuse to spend so much money on a gadget they can’t protect while out on the road. Might not be a large number, but I bet it’s happened.
Edit: just seen the case in the link. As much as the Garmin Explorer case did its job, having something half proper with side buttons (assuming it has them) is a far better solution.
-
The reason Garmin don't offer that is because they know most users put their Garmin in a case. That's why they offer multiple colours of the silicon case, and 1 colour for the product.
BTW to update, I bought that silicon case on Amazon (£11.99) and it's perfect. Made to fit and even has mic holes on the back, and padded side button on the side. Only black available atm tho.
-
Must be a thing where you are. I’ve never seen anyone with a latex case on a 1030 at races I go to. Just see lots of white 1030s everywhere. If this product doesn’t sell out every color, I’ll be shocked. Many people like the idea of custom colors. This isn’t a cell phone that gets tossed around, most people simply leave them on their bikes.
-
First I've had the same opinion as OP that the custom color kit is too pricey and never would I bought it. And then a week later guess what..I ordered it and now riding all pimped up, LOL :D I just couldn't resist.
And regarding the silicon case. Never understood why I should put that hideous silicon case on my precious Karoo. I rather risk the unit to be scratched/broken than put that ugly case on.
-
As much as it pains me to put more money down with this platform given I continue to suffer with simple functions working, I am a sucker for color options. I bit as soon as I saw the announcement and the entire package supplied is well done. Is it worth $40? maybe not, but I'm now considering getting the Lime one for my week day rides :-).
-
@Matt White racers do not represent the majority of cyclists. From casual sportives to just general riding, the majority of riders I've seen using bike computers have them in cases of some kind. Look at the reaction on Facebook etc to this announcement. Most people replying asking about cases.
@Martin B hideous silicon case? Its basically a second skin.
But hey, horses for courses. Scratch yours, I don't care :)
-
To each, their own. Maybe this is a national thing (I've noticed, for example, that Komoot seems to be popular in Europe, but here in the US I don't know a single person who uses it; everyone I know uses Ridewithgps). I have been an avid road cyclist in the US for something like 13 years. I have been involved in group rides, club rides, fondos, charity rides, etc., and as a parent I have been involved in both the road racing and cyclocross racing scene. And in all these years, I don't ever recall seeing anyone with a protective case on their cyclocomputer. That said, if people want protective cases, then someone will sell them, and good on them for doing so.
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
22 comments