Consumers tend to get infuriated when a manufacture gives them the same exact product at a much higher price. Equally disappointing is the fact that companies tend to release a slightly different product with the promise of vast and significant improvements from the original.
Crown Paints recently unveiled a new product which is intended to give buildings long-lasting exterior finishes. East Africa’s leading paint’s manufacture, has launched Permacote with Teflon, a product which the company claims can survive any of the country’s adverse conditions. Whether a building is located in a high altitude environment or exposed to humid coastal conditions, Crown Paints assures clients that their product will brave the storm.
But It’s Just Paint
Some may argue that it’s nothing more than the same product with a shiny new look. However, Crown Paints begs to differ.
“The innovation guarantees long-lasting paint on buildings hence saving homeowners and contractors maintenance costs. There will also be significant reduction in repainting time,” said Company CEO, Rakesh Rao.
With some of the country’s buildings in a dilapidated state, Crown Paints believes that the new product will serve as a milestone in the field of aesthetic renovation. Structures like the Kenyatta National Hospital and Jogoo House, which have served as eyesores for the past few years, could use a little shine.
But is it really as good as they claim? Take a look at rebranded products like Omo. The popular washing powder started adding “power-foam” to its surprisingly long list of ingredients. Just what in hell’s unholy name is power-foam? Aren’t all powder-based washing soaps supposed to produce foam? Is Omo’s foam somehow superior to all the other soaps in the market?
What about these enzymes that other powder-soap manufactures claim to add to their products? Have you ever noticed blue and green specs of powder in your soap? Are those the dirt-fighting enzymes the manufacturer speaks of? High-school Biology states that enzymes are quite small. And are used in digestion. So, is the powerfoam produced when the enzymes belch after digesting the dirt?
Don’t forget mobile phone manufacturers who make deals with distributors so that old models are sold out just before they release newer, better and more efficient phones. LG recently pulled a similar stunt when they released the Optimus L3, a smart phone model which forces the user to download an app to move the existing apps from one storage device to another.
Shortly thereafter, the world’s leading consumer electronics provider released a slightly better version of the phone which can hold 2 sim cards. This happened just after Safaricom embarked on a Bonga Points campaign to get rid of the old stock. Both models have the same price. Nevertheless, some consumers would have waited a few weeks to get the better phone had they known it was coming.
Toothbrush companies are no different. The world is riddled with advertisements about some new revolutionary tooth-cleaning device that has been approved by 9 out of 10 doctors. Why can’t the engineers responsible for making these things just consult an actual dentist before they roll out the next one? Some advertisements support the electronic toothbrush while others encourage consumers to use the one with microfibers. Going forward, will there ever be an all-inclusive device which does everything the actual dentists want it to?
On the other hand, Crown claims to have added “special” Biocides that have the power to resist and retard mould and algae. The paint manufacture claims that their product is self-cleansing, but only when it rains. Note how the paint takes the credit for a natural phenomenon.
The product follows the previously unveiled Silk Vinyl Emulsion and Solo Permacote, revolutionary paints that were once the best they had to offer. The company describes Silk Vinyl as an extremely tough and washable paint with the finest quality pigments.
All things considered, different paints are adapted for different surfaces. This means that some may work well on wood while others are better suited for concrete surfaces. Even with this in mind, Crown has been making unsubstantiated claims for years.
Can a product really be the best if you already have a better one the works?
Teflon surface protector, a product that is under a registered trademark, is brand of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a colourless, odourless powder. It is one of the world’s most slippery substances. Apparently, Teflon was accidentally discovered in 1938 by one Dr. Roy Plunkett at a research laboratory in New Jersey.
Crown Paints are also proud to announce a series of facts that has been in effect for decades: Teflon is resistant to weather and Ultra Violet rays. It has a high melting temperature that protects it from damage, unless of course, the heat applied exceeds its limits. It is a non-stick substance which also happens to be resistant to wetness. Crown also feels the need to state that Teflon has “excellent optical properties”. This means that it looks good.
Crown has therefore managed to establish the fact that Permacote with Teflon is, in fact, a more superior product than what they currently sell. Which begs the question, what took them so long?