New And Improved

I saw another "new and improved" label in the grocery store today. What does that mean? Why is the new placed besides improved on the label. Does this imply that something new is always improved? If that were the case they would need not included "new" next to "improved" or "improved" with "new". Either word would suffice. I am puzzled why those two words would be put in juxtaposition unless it is to use amateur psychology on the consumer, tricking him or her into thinking the product has had a major upgrade.

But is that the case? Can you name any products that had "new and improved" on the label, that were actually better? Wouldn't we be able to remember if that was the case? I can't remember any stated claim on a product I had been using all along that appeared with the new and improved label that was actually as stated...improved. I too have general doubts that newness means improvement. Let me give you examples of the new but not improved condition.

Remember "new and improved" coke? The taste of the new coke was too sweet and consumers rebelled. While the new coke remained for sale old coca cola was brought back with the name "Classic Coke". In less than 6 months the new and improved coke was pulled from the shelves and never seen again.

How about 'Web TV' in the 90's. It offered consumers Internet connection via their television sets as the new and better way to use a TV. Microsoft which bought WebTV in 1997, scrapped the brand after it failed miserably. It never passed the one-million-subscriber mark.

Then there was Life Saver's soda. Yep, the Famed life Saver candy company decided it would bring a new and improved taste to candyholics by making a soft drink that tasted like the flavors in Life Saver candy. But consumers didn't want to drink their candy. They preferred the old reliable Life Saver they always knew.

"Earring Magic Ken" of Barbie fame as supposed to be the modern style Ken. No more tuxedos and suits and instead Ken appeared in a mesh T-shirt, purple leather vest, and earring. Pretty soon "New Ken" was dubbed "Gay Ken". Parents were not pleased that this new and improved style of Ken was suitable for their little girls. It was another new and improved idea that was quickly killed and gay Ken disappeared.The idea behind Kellogg's Breakfast Mates was fairly simple. It was a new and improved Kellogg pack a box of cereal with milk and a spoon, and the child would have a tasty meal to eat anytime. Well kids don't like warm milk. The product died.

So "new" is not always "improved" in products consumers buy. But not just in direct product sales. How many people really think that all the new products are better than the established ones. Those nice electric lights are great but people actually read more by candle light than they do now with electricity. (now they rot their brains by electricity driven TV and other electronic mediums) In that sense the old candle lights were better for the brain than the improvement brought by electric lighting. Uh..speaking of TV, do the new and improved TV sets bring us better programing than what was original to TV? I doubt it.

What abut the new and improved invention of the zip code to sped up delivery of mail? I don't think it ever did that. Or the cell phones that have a clock inside to tell time....is it better than old reliable wrist watches that seemed to ensure better punctuality than is shown today?

It's a good thing humans can't be replaced new and improved products....though I think it might be easy to find a new and improved model for me..