Around the World for $0.10 per Pound

[xoxoxoBruce]

Theoretically, Dasani is a good idea. Take the water through a process that will render it absolutely safe, add a little minerals for taste and bottle it. Unfortunately, there's always a chance for the equipment, or an employee, to screw up. The testing has to be thorough and for the right things....no assumptions because it came from a public water supply.

But doing it right would drop the profits from 300,000% to 299,999% so that's not feasible.

[JayMcGee]

of course, for *real* profits you gotta look at the ink-cartridge industry...


at from $20 to upwards of $50 per cartridge of typically 20ml of ink, printer-ink has to be the most expensive liquid in the world.

[breakingnews]

Originally Posted by vrai_rennx

Are you serious? But us stupid Americans continue to buy the damn stuff. I just use the purified junk from my fridge.

In college, I had the opportunity to meet the jokers who came up with Dasani. They spent a buttload of cash on a yearlong marketing study that revealed people preferred the mineral-ish taste of tap water to Evian, Poland Spring, etc.

Anyway, many people say they'd rather just drink filtered water from their fridge. But if you're buying a bottle of Dasani, you're more than likely not at home. You're also paying for the convenience of getting water in a container that can be taken to go. And why pay for water? Blame the recent surge in health consciousness. For fad-driven Americans terrified about the myriad illnesses that exist today, no price is too high when it comes to health and hydration.

So, if people will buy it, why not sell it? For the most part, I believe it's up to the consumer to do research before buying a product. Of course, companies should not lie in their advertising. In the Dasani case, the argument that Coke's ads imply "tap water is impure" is an excuse to avoid admitting a complete lack of common sense, IMHO.

Ok, ok, my college has a $5 billion Coca-Cola endowment, and my business school is named after the former CEO. But that has nothing to do with my opinion. I swear.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by JayMcGee

of course, for *real* profits you gotta look at the ink-cartridge industry...


at from $20 to upwards of $50 per cartridge of typically 20ml of ink, printer-ink has to be the most expensive liquid in the world.

Good point. I have yet to actually ever run a home ink cartridge dry. I do have them bastids dry up on me, but there's still ink in them, I just can get to it any more.

[Spexxvet]

Chester Water Authority bottles and sells their water. From the Octorara(sp?) reservoir, through the plant, into bottles, on store shelves.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by wolf

Good point. I have yet to actually ever run a home ink cartridge dry. I do have them bastids dry up on me, but there's still ink in them, I just can get to it any more.

If you can't get to it, how do you know it's in there?