Woman dies after water-drinking contest

[Fandango 1,440]

I'm pretty sure it's a controlled marketing strategy. Not that the company necessarily has them all sitting in a warehouse somewhere (though I wouldn't doubt that), but that you better believe that the numbers to bring to market are carefully studied and controlled.

If the Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 launches and just sits on shelves, they've lost money on the ones that don't sell. And their new product becomes the dusty thing that isn't hot. If they exactly hit the demand, that's not bad, except compared with what happens if they undershoot it. If they undershoot it, creating an artifical shortage.... well, look what happens. People know ahead of time there aren't that many. Kids wait in lines. Newspapers run stories about how it sold out in 1.3 seconds! And while they're at it, show how the new controllers work. Live feeds from Japan! Oh, now it's going for $2500 on E-bay! This builds buzz, and creates more demand.

One accidental shortage by one company I could believe. The fact that it happens with every new release? Marketing genius.

Agreed.

A basic principle of economics is that supply and demand are inversely related.

And I somewhat agree with Platy....tho I feel the ownness lies solely with the radio station.

Edited January 14, 2007 by LisaD

[Sofiyya 1,687]

My question is, why does anyone care enough about having a Wii to participate in a dumb contest? This is the ultimate in consumerist stupidity.

Edited January 14, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[pedroh 21]

I'm pretty sure it's a controlled marketing strategy. Not that the company necessarily has them all sitting in a warehouse somewhere (though I wouldn't doubt that), but that you better believe that the numbers to bring to market are carefully studied and controlled.

If the Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 launches and just sits on shelves, they've lost money on the ones that don't sell. And their new product becomes the dusty thing that isn't hot. If they exactly hit the demand, that's not bad, except compared with what happens if they undershoot it. If they undershoot it, creating an artifical shortage.... well, look what happens. People know ahead of time there aren't that many. Kids wait in lines. Newspapers run stories about how it sold out in 1.3 seconds! And while they're at it, show how the new controllers work. Live feeds from Japan! Oh, now it's going for $2500 on E-bay! This builds buzz, and creates more demand.

One accidental shortage by one company I could believe. The fact that it happens with every new release? Marketing genius.

Agreed.

A basic principle of economics is that supply and demand are inversely related.

And I somewhat agree with Platy....tho I feel the ownness lies solely with the radio station.

im pretty sure the radio station had liability forms to sign.. or they didn't expect for someone to die from water.. and i dont think nintendo can be held liable, there are tons of contests that are made by radio stations and are not related to the manufacturers like nintendo

[Fandango 1,440]

I'm pretty sure it's a controlled marketing strategy. Not that the company necessarily has them all sitting in a warehouse somewhere (though I wouldn't doubt that), but that you better believe that the numbers to bring to market are carefully studied and controlled.

If the Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 launches and just sits on shelves, they've lost money on the ones that don't sell. And their new product becomes the dusty thing that isn't hot. If they exactly hit the demand, that's not bad, except compared with what happens if they undershoot it. If they undershoot it, creating an artifical shortage.... well, look what happens. People know ahead of time there aren't that many. Kids wait in lines. Newspapers run stories about how it sold out in 1.3 seconds! And while they're at it, show how the new controllers work. Live feeds from Japan! Oh, now it's going for $2500 on E-bay! This builds buzz, and creates more demand.

One accidental shortage by one company I could believe. The fact that it happens with every new release? Marketing genius.

Agreed.

A basic principle of economics is that supply and demand are inversely related.

And I somewhat agree with Platy....tho I feel the ownness lies solely with the radio station.

im pretty sure the radio station had liability forms to sign.. or they didn't expect for someone to die from water.. and i dont think nintendo can be held liable, there are tons of contests that are made by radio stations and are not related to the manufacturers like nintendo

there's only so much a waiver will release from liability...just you watch, the station will be successfully sued or the station will settle out of court.

Edited January 14, 2007 by LisaD

[Caladan 19]

Oh, I didn't intend to imply that I think Nintendo would be sued. But I think the station probably will be, especially as the risk of such a stunt isn't exactly a highly guarded secret.

[keltic 1]

I'm pretty sure it's a controlled marketing strategy. Not that the company necessarily has them all sitting in a warehouse somewhere (though I wouldn't doubt that), but that you better believe that the numbers to bring to market are carefully studied and controlled.

If the Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 launches and just sits on shelves, they've lost money on the ones that don't sell. And their new product becomes the dusty thing that isn't hot. If they exactly hit the demand, that's not bad, except compared with what happens if they undershoot it. If they undershoot it, creating an artifical shortage.... well, look what happens. People know ahead of time there aren't that many. Kids wait in lines. Newspapers run stories about how it sold out in 1.3 seconds! And while they're at it, show how the new controllers work. Live feeds from Japan! Oh, now it's going for $2500 on E-bay! This builds buzz, and creates more demand.

One accidental shortage by one company I could believe. The fact that it happens with every new release? Marketing genius.

Agreed.

A basic principle of economics is that supply and demand are inversely related.

And I somewhat agree with Platy....tho I feel the ownness lies solely with the radio station.

im pretty sure the radio station had liability forms to sign.. or they didn't expect for someone to die from water.. and i dont think nintendo can be held liable, there are tons of contests that are made by radio stations and are not related to the manufacturers like nintendo

there's only so much a waiver will release from liability...just you watch, the station will be successfully sued or the station will settle out of court.

i am sure that is just what will happen... the radio station should have provided some electrolyte solution to correct it, or just had the competition be to drink gatorade instead of water...

Oh, I didn't intend to imply that I think Nintendo would be sued. But I think the station probably will be, especially as the risk of such a stunt isn't exactly a highly guarded secret.

but (and i am sure that i will sound like a complete b****), i also question where the individuals own responsibility ends... its not exactly a highly guarded secret that it isnt safe to abuse your body this way... its a risk that this woman took... she was an adult, yes? wouldnt you think that she has some sort of responsibility to try to preserve her health?

take the example of the marathon runners... they train for their competition and know the risks as well as the benefits... so they KNOW what to do to prevent dehydration or water intoxication... if you are going to join a contest of some sort that asks you to do something to your body that is out of the ordinary, shouldnt you check into it before you do it? especially since she had children that she had some responsibility towards...

i just really get frustrated with how when something bad happens, its always someone elses fault... sometimes it is, but not always completely

[mRx 16]

thats horrible

I wonder if she at least won the contest...

[SoL. 0]

I find really sad that she had three kids, and she said that was doing it for them. Those kids now don't have their mother because she entered this crazy contest.... It's just sad.

[Jenn! 918]

Follow up:

http://www.nbc11.com/news/10762819/detail.html