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Comment by ryguytilidie | Hacker News Reader

Let me be the first to say: I don't get it, why is this a thing and why is there an entire company built around this product? Which apparently requires I screw a coconut to a self made device and then put it on the front of my bike.

Is this just satire of modern startups or are things actually this ridiculous?

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Same reason there's a company that will make you a hand drawn picture of a cat: http://iwanttodrawacatforyou.com/

people love novelties!

Sure, but all that took was someone making a website and the ability to draw on paper. This site is much more involved and they actually CNC'd a real product, so I assume they're somewhat serious about this, which makes it all the more bizarre to me.

I don't understand the 8-week manufacturing time. It's a cute gag gift, but it comes with relatively steep £25/$40 price tag and won't be available for Christmas. That alone makes me think they've missed their one-shot to sell a significant number. Add to that the fact they've basically published the blueprints[1] it seems like the type of person who really wants one of these would maybe just make it themselves.

[1] http://trotify.com/img/flatpack.png

My guess for the 8-week manufacturing time is "this is our side project, we run these things off on the CNC machine when we have some spare time, and we like being paid American wages for doing it."

>Is this just satire of modern startups or are things actually this ridiculous?

How do you know there's a company based around this and this isn't some design company's side project? It's a fun idea and the global cycling community definitely has a lot of fun people in it.

Because hipsters.

Because the economy no longer demands that everybody work in fields or factories, and no longer demands that everybody spend their money on essentials.

Basically, things like this are a glimpse into a post-scarcity society, where people make and buy things "just because".

> where people make and buy things "just because".

Because people will buy things "just because".

Well, true. I doubt most people making these sort of products/companies really place that much importance on "making it" though. If their company fails it is no longer really a big deal, so people can afford to go to market with little product research or other investment (the viability of small production batches helps a lot here). So, to a certain extent at least, I think the "just because" aspect of manufacturing is present.

Have you ever been to Spencers Gifts?

Or say thinkgeek? And this is great for kids!

Toys is a huge industry!

Also you should watch 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. And then you'll get it

Poe's Law.

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