Greenwashing

I just purchased a new vacuum cleaner ( A Dyson). Opened the box to be greeted with a label that said they were not supplying a printed manual in the interest of saving the environment - I should download one from the internet.

However there is an outer cardboard shipping sleeve, an inner cardboard display box and then every separate component of the machine is wrapped in an origami exercise of corrugated cardboard together with extra pieces to fill the spare space.

So they save one five page booklet, but still supply about 40 separate pieces of card - most quite large when unfolded!

The environment or their costs?

Dyson's are easy to break, hence all the packaging.

Mine had every single piece in an individual polythene bag. Why? Also supermarket veg, if you don't take it out of it's plastic bag as soon as you get it home it goes manky, so why not just sell it either loose or in paper bags

At least the cardboard is recyclable easily. I think Dyson do a fixed price repair service but nobody bothers because the designs are so full of flaws they are happy to get rid of them. I have been given several cleaners simply 'cos people can't be bothered to unblock them. Found one in a skip but no hose (probably lower down) next week I found the exact hose in another skip after the had liberated the metal bits.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 03/03/2022 13:42:09

No problems with Dyson here. The new one is a replacement for a DC01 I (alright we!) bought in 1994. Still works, but is heavy and the power cord is becoming more of a pain.

Not sure if people can't be bothered, or if they have no idea how to! The number of people who use technology that not only do they have no idea how to fix, but worse they have no idea how it works either worries me. I wonder how most of them survive.

Over engineered and over priced.A simple Henry serves just as well and does the same job at a fraction of the price and has along life.

Frank

Corporations have no incentive to protect the environment. Heads of corporations that *don't* try to maximize profit get fired...happens all the time. They have to be forced to do things via regulations. They're not including a manual as a means to save money.

[This posting has been removed]

And a Henry can survive multiple tumbles down the stairs - try that with the products of James (Winner of the Queen's Award for Hypocrisy) Dyson

[This posting has been removed]

Absolutely Bill!

Under the laws of corporate governance those heads are legally required to make all decisions in the shareholders' best interests -- which legally means maximize profit, maximize profit, or maximize profit.

That was my point.

My Henry has swallowed a screwdriver and a pencil before without the slightest problem. I think he's brilliant.

I guess my point was that it's not just the heads of corporations to blame. They are compelled by corporate governance laws to act that way -- although they probably don't need much encouragement. The focus on profit over all else is institutionalized in our legal systems and ergo the governments that legislate them. The days of companies having any consideration for the community are long gone -- by law.

If a corporation finds a way to cut costs by dumping waste into a river that complies with the pollution laws, but creates an unpleasant smell or other side effects for the small town downstream of their factory, they are compelled by the laws of corporate governance to decide to legally dump their waste in the river regardless of the community objections. Shareholders' interests by law must come ahead of the local community's.

Same thing if they can cut costs by not printing a manual. And these days, those who do print an instruction sheet seem to make it so small I need a magnifying glass to read it anyway, so an online option would be easier. A sad state of affairs to be sure.

Not sure if the printed Tower of Babel of "instructions" issued with anything now are designed to tell you how to use it anyway.

They seem merely there to teach you Greek and Finn via long lists of Regulatory waffle anyone can copy for no-one to read, and "Do Not" anthologies aimed at users with no common-sense.

it would be interesting to know if they really do save money by putting it all on-line, because it still has to be written, (mis-?)translated into umpteen languages then added to a web-site that still needs paying for.

To-day' news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-60593496

JA (not a fan of Dyson)

Corporations are in business to make money, if you don't like the way they conduct their business don't buy their products.

and yes I do think Dyson are over priced compared to other makes and I choose not to buy one because of that. I have a Henry as well.

The most likely reason for an online instruction manual is the multiple languages required in today’s international world. It will never be a 5-page booklet any more. The online manual will be accessed via a market specific link in your language meeting the legislation of your country.

I like the Henry machines, they are well made, in England, spares are available, The price is not inflated by huge advertising costs and the suction is good. Another example of "does exactly what it says on the tin".