Re: bundling (again)

[Joe Moore <Joe.Moore@sdrc.com>]

"Lewis A. Mettler" wrote:
> Joe Moore wrote:
> > Your general rule is that bundling is unfair to all consumers.  This
> > premise is FALSE because there are consumers for whom bundling is fair.
> > (see previous example)
> 
> Incorrect.  The general rule is true.
> 
> If your suggestion were acceptable (and no one can accept it) then there
> would never be any general rules about anything because there are always
> at least one exception.

Your statement that "bundling is unfair to all consumers" is false. 
There are consumers for whom bundling is not unfair.  There are
exceptions to almost all generalizations and absolute statements. 
Refusing to accept that such exceptions can exist makes you look very
slow.

> Look again at the three classes:
> 
> 1) those who do not need the bundled product
> 2) those who might need the bundled product but prefer to pick their
> brand
> 3) those who need the brand and do not want to pick their brand.
> 
> Now.  Which of those classes are you claiming that bundling is fair?

4) Those who choose to purchase the complete bundle because the amount
paid for the bundle is lower than the cost of the required minimal
functionality, if purchased separately.

(snip)
> >
> > If you would like to revise your statement to be "bundling is unfair to
> > SOME consumers", I would accept it, as would (probably) most readers of
> > this list.
> 
> Sorry.  But, the proof is that it is unfair to 100% of consumers unless
> you can accurately identify the class of consumers to which it is not
> unfair.
> 
> I have explained in detail how it is unfair to all classes.

Apparently, you have missed one, since there are consumers for whom
bundling is not unfair.  Those who would choose to buy the bundle
anyway.

> You have failed to even explain the exception to the general rule.
> (There is not one.)

Err... do you not read?  Can you not understand english?  The consumers
who would buy the bundle are not subjected to unfair bundling.  You are
focusing too much on the needs of a few consumers, and ignoring another
group.  There are consumers who need all the functionality a particular
bundle provides.  They are not harmed by this bundling, nor is it unfair
to them.

--Joe

-- 
IBM's vision is apparently to make IBM hardware "scream with Microsoft 
software" --The Register,
http://www.theregister.co.uk/990927-000003.html

I have visions of screaming with (at and about) Microsoft software, too.