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by bottleslingguy » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:25 am
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bottleslingguy - Black Belt
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Yeah, reasons like:
There are already other better designed patented systems out there.
The viewing audience doesn't care about details like spraying water on an electrical fire.
AC mentioned First Alert having enough faith in the product is an important issue. They only got involved for the publicity. You can't tell me they've overlooked all the myriad Christmas tree fire suppressant systems already out there, already tested, all ready to mass market and settled on this questionable design.
Spraying a fixed amount of water over trees of varying sizes and shapes is negligent in my opinion. What if the tree it seventeen feet high, would two gallons of water be enough? The better way would be as has been mentioned to use a dry chemical like you would find in an ABC rated fire extinguisher. It would coat more surface area and not depend on gravity to disperse the fire suppressant. What if the tree falls over and then catches fire? The only thing saved will be one little spot on the rug where all the water poured.
The Guardian Angel is a joke just like the Anecia and is totally hyped to play on viewers' emotions. Give it 2 years give it 5 years, it'll never see the light of day.
There are already other better designed patented systems out there.
The viewing audience doesn't care about details like spraying water on an electrical fire.
AC mentioned First Alert having enough faith in the product is an important issue. They only got involved for the publicity. You can't tell me they've overlooked all the myriad Christmas tree fire suppressant systems already out there, already tested, all ready to mass market and settled on this questionable design.
Spraying a fixed amount of water over trees of varying sizes and shapes is negligent in my opinion. What if the tree it seventeen feet high, would two gallons of water be enough? The better way would be as has been mentioned to use a dry chemical like you would find in an ABC rated fire extinguisher. It would coat more surface area and not depend on gravity to disperse the fire suppressant. What if the tree falls over and then catches fire? The only thing saved will be one little spot on the rug where all the water poured.
The Guardian Angel is a joke just like the Anecia and is totally hyped to play on viewers' emotions. Give it 2 years give it 5 years, it'll never see the light of day.
by Road Show » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:16 am
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Road Show - Brown Belt
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bottleslingguy wrote:The Guardian Angel is a joke just like the Anecia and is totally hyped to play on viewers' emotions. Give it 2 years give it 5 years, it'll never see the light of day.
LOL! Do I detect a hint of bitterness, BSG?? Just kidding my friend. You have stirred some raw emotion that I thought was behind me. You wanna know what did it for me? It was when I found out that Januz's daughter...the one killed in an auto accident...was a young adult when she died. There isn't a single shred of truth allowed to get to the viewers unless it conforms to THEIR version of the truth. Both products are fascinating but flawed. Your product, in it's simplicity, was just not WOW factor they wanted. The WOW is what they want, whether in the product or the inventor's sob story.
RSG
by Bilbo » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:14 pm
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Bilbo - White Belt
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Bill
I know exactly what you mean.
I have applied for 2 years now and the most important thing they want to see is figures- Gross profit, net profit, year 3 figures!
It doesn't matter if the idea is so good and simple that anyone watching will say 2 things:.
1. Why didn't I think of that, and
2. Where can I buy one.
They seem to treat the public like idiots, where I think they can be the most important indicator.
I think this site is full of innovative people and if someone had the business acumen to go to television companies and present a business opportunity whereby the members of this site or a similar site decided what exhibits to put forward to the Dragons- the benefits to the inventors and the public would be amazing!
No offence, but a woman on the show wanted £100,000 for a 10% share in her company which made portable shower head mountings that you could take to any hotel in the world with you in case the shower had nowhere to hang the shower head!!!
We scot's are innovative and we would probably save money and hold the shower head instead if the mounting was missing!!!!!!!!
PS Bill- Did you ever enter the Tomorrows World awards on the BBC, and if you did, I was at the awards ceremony with you.
I know exactly what you mean.
I have applied for 2 years now and the most important thing they want to see is figures- Gross profit, net profit, year 3 figures!
It doesn't matter if the idea is so good and simple that anyone watching will say 2 things:.
1. Why didn't I think of that, and
2. Where can I buy one.
They seem to treat the public like idiots, where I think they can be the most important indicator.
I think this site is full of innovative people and if someone had the business acumen to go to television companies and present a business opportunity whereby the members of this site or a similar site decided what exhibits to put forward to the Dragons- the benefits to the inventors and the public would be amazing!
No offence, but a woman on the show wanted £100,000 for a 10% share in her company which made portable shower head mountings that you could take to any hotel in the world with you in case the shower had nowhere to hang the shower head!!!
We scot's are innovative and we would probably save money and hold the shower head instead if the mounting was missing!!!!!!!!
PS Bill- Did you ever enter the Tomorrows World awards on the BBC, and if you did, I was at the awards ceremony with you.
by AmericanCynic » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:24 pm
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Road Show wrote:The WOW is what they want, whether in the product or the inventor's sob story.
To be fair, at least Carlos Reid's building blocks never made it to the finals despite his sob story. Ditto for the Voice Inside. Neither would have worked and would have been an embarrassment, not that spending four weeks and $50,000 to make a stainless Saran Wrap dispenser was any less embarrassing. What a waste of money.
Bad news for the OP of this thread. Dragon's Den is getting a new audience. BBC America will start showing it here in the US in January.
by Bill Saint » Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:37 pm
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Bilbo wrote:Bill
I know exactly what you mean.
I have applied for 2 years now and the most important thing they want to see is figures- Gross profit, net profit, year 3 figures!
It doesn't matter if the idea is so good and simple that anyone watching will say 2 things:.
1. Why didn't I think of that, and
2. Where can I buy one.
They seem to treat the public like idiots, where I think they can be the most important indicator.
I think this site is full of innovative people and if someone had the business acumen to go to television companies and present a business opportunity whereby the members of this site or a similar site decided what exhibits to put forward to the Dragons- the benefits to the inventors and the public would be amazing!
No offence, but a woman on the show wanted £100,000 for a 10% share in her company which made portable shower head mountings that you could take to any hotel in the world with you in case the shower had nowhere to hang the shower head!!!
We scot's are innovative and we would probably save money and hold the shower head instead if the mounting was missing!!!!!!!!
PS Bill- Did you ever enter the Tomorrows World awards on the BBC, and if you did, I was at the awards ceremony with you.
Hi Bilboe
Thanks for your comments.That really was agood suggestion that the I veiwers had the decision to select what product was aired ..
I thought I was a bright spark with good ideas ..but you beat me there. Good thinking.. I will work on it.
Ref Tommorows world .
A few years back I visited an inventors exhibition in London which was sponsored by the Tommorrows world team.
On one stall holder approached me and claimed they had £12m given to them by the UK governement to invest exclusively in innovative products .The idea , they said, was to keep British products in the uk and stop them going abroad ( USA) .They claimed they were part of the tommorows world gang and named Carol Vordaman as one of the directors. ( name dropping).
I think they were called Inventions Direct or something..
They promised me the earth.. lots of technical help and financial backing.
At the death I forked out £3000, and all I got was an interveiw with a company that was toughting for the job to manufacture them.The last thing I needed!
They were based in the Highway London. I think they have since run off with the money..
I thought I was wised up by then and cute.. but they still took me for £3000 which I could not afford.
So guys ..and girls.. be aware .. there are no end of so call investors.. business angels out there ready and willing to con you out of your money.
All very nice polite people.. but con men.
My advice..NEVER PAY ANYONE TO GET YOU MONEY
We never learn..Last year I went to a similar exhibition in Florida ( the home of investors and financial con men),
I met about six pre arranged and breifed., so called financial investors. They all claimed to love the product, and offered me money. Lots of it!
I was given 20 minutes with each of them to make my pitch..There was no shortage of inventors queing up for the meetings.
The fee was £2000 for them to arrange the meetings and my fare of course. Luckily some else paid for me..
I think they were called United Finance Corporation or something..
One guy was really impressed with my invention..he said he was a director in one of the US banks and had unlimited funds..He offered me National tv.publicity, manufacturing marketing and £12M investment from hois bank..Of which he was to get £1m commission for arranging it.
I thought Christmas had arrived early that year!
As he was to be paid from the money he was raising I had no problem with that. No personal warranty from me.
I accepted the offer ( as you might guess) .
I did not hear from him for about three months. Then he contacted me and said he had it all arranged and approved.
All he had to do now was to draw up the business plan..
oh and..could I just let him have a cheque for $35,000 to pay for the
accountant.
Surprise surprise..I told hime to take the money out of the funds he was raising and his commission..( £1m)
He finally reduecd it to $5000.. I told him where to go..
I heard no more.
Anyone esle got roped in with this scam!
Later I heard the US Gov. had locked they whole team up for fraud.. So at least the Us did keep an eye on such scams.. and they acted.
So again.. be wise and be aware.
Dont ever part with your money to get investors..or investment.
Any way in the words of Ronnie Corbet.. I digress..
Anybody know how I can find if any other Inventors have had similar experinces like mine.. Then I can put it all together and get some adverse publicity for the Show..Nice chatting ..
Bill
by Work2XL » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:46 pm
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Work2XL - Blue Belt
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I guess I don't see the issue with Dragon's Den. I've watched the show for a couple seasons and I love it. It is NOTHING like Am. Inventor. These people are using their own personal funds in the investments. The show really has nothing to do with the next great invention. It is about what it is like trying to get funding from an investor. From the dragon's point of view, it is 99% about the bottom line. What is the risk to reward? As for someone not getting on, that's something you have to consider. If I didn't get a single offer why would I expect to get 25% of the episode devoted to my product? (60 min show - 15 min commercials = 45 min left for product. My product pitch 10 min = 22% of air time.)
I guess I don't see how it is a scam. The money you spend for a business plan, patent ECT is what ANY investor would require to make sure you are pitching a legitimate business idea and not a scam or presenting bogus information.
I'm still not seeing a problem. I can understand your disappointment, but I think SCAM is a bit harsh.
Randy
I guess I don't see how it is a scam. The money you spend for a business plan, patent ECT is what ANY investor would require to make sure you are pitching a legitimate business idea and not a scam or presenting bogus information.
I'm still not seeing a problem. I can understand your disappointment, but I think SCAM is a bit harsh.
Randy
by Bilbo » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:15 pm
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Bilbo - White Belt
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Work 2xl
I agree with you in that I don't think its a scam but the initial backroom staff are too keen on figures rather than what the product is and does it work.
The Judges on Dragons Den are all Multi Millionaires and in getting to where they are, should easily be able to see if the product is marketable or not- after all, that is how most of them made their money.
The business plan and marketing strategy I make up might be totally false but this is what the backroom staff want to see!
Whilst not a scam, I think that it may be flawed as there are probably a lot of great ideas and designs that don't get in front of the Dragons because some utterly obscure ideas are backed up by perfectly written business plans and profit projections, which are exposed when these individuals are in front of the judges.
This is not sour grapes- just a balanced opinion from someone who has applied for the programme with a sound idea and seen some totally obscure invention (with a sound business plan) go in front of the judges.
I agree with you in that I don't think its a scam but the initial backroom staff are too keen on figures rather than what the product is and does it work.
The Judges on Dragons Den are all Multi Millionaires and in getting to where they are, should easily be able to see if the product is marketable or not- after all, that is how most of them made their money.
The business plan and marketing strategy I make up might be totally false but this is what the backroom staff want to see!
Whilst not a scam, I think that it may be flawed as there are probably a lot of great ideas and designs that don't get in front of the Dragons because some utterly obscure ideas are backed up by perfectly written business plans and profit projections, which are exposed when these individuals are in front of the judges.
This is not sour grapes- just a balanced opinion from someone who has applied for the programme with a sound idea and seen some totally obscure invention (with a sound business plan) go in front of the judges.
by AmericanCynic » Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:14 am
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Bilbo wrote:The Judges on Dragons Den are all Multi Millionaires and in getting to where they are, should easily be able to see if the product is marketable or not- after all, that is how most of them made their money.
Past success is no guarantee of future success. That's been proven by so many massive flops where previously successful businessmen and investors lost billions. Remember the Edsel? Iridium? New Coke? The Adventures of Pluto Nash? If multimillionaires could pick surefire successes, they'd be multitrillionaires.
by Bill Saint » Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:11 pm
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Bilbo wrote:Work 2xl
I agree with you in that I don't think its a scam but the initial backroom staff are too keen on figures rather than what the product is and does it work.
The Judges on Dragons Den are all Multi Millionaires and in getting to where they are, should easily be able to see if the product is marketable or not- after all, that is how most of them made their money.
The business plan and marketing strategy I make up might be totally false but this is what the backroom staff want to see!
Whilst not a scam, I think that it may be flawed as there are probably a lot of great ideas and designs that don't get in front of the Dragons because some utterly obscure ideas are backed up by perfectly written business plans and profit projections, which are exposed when these individuals are in front of the judges.
This is not sour grapes- just a balanced opinion from someone who has applied for the programme with a sound idea and seen some totally obscure invention (with a sound business plan) go in front of the judges.
Hi Bilbo.. and fellow inventors.
I would like like withdraw my opionin of thew Dragons den as a SCAM.Its not really SCAM.. more a SHAMBLE . A complete waste of inventors time and money.
Of course it is useful ( important ) for any prospective investor to have an idea of the return on their money. SO THEY NEED SOME SORT OF FORWARD PROJECTION. So I can't gripe about that.
But long before they ask me ( OR OTHER INVENTORS) to go down that expensive road, they should be 99% confident the product. will be shown..OR GIVE A VERY GOOD REASON WHY ..
If the BBC go to the trouble of actually filming, then the inventor by that time has spent a lot of time and money.. I think it reasonable then to expect them to at least air the film..FAIR OR WHAT?
In my case ,and I am sure in the case of all the other inventors that turned up for a full filming that day at the studio, we were all just used.
Personally I think the decision not to air the film was nothing at all to do with the content of the film ( product), but just very bad timing and organisation on behalf of the producer for Dragons den ( Dominic Bird).
He, and others on the production team, would have known months before the filming it the inventor or product were suitable or not. (A COMPLETE SHAMBLE) If they back out then they should cough up compensation for the cost at least.
It seems they just film load and loads of products, so they are spolit for choice..Having said that some of the choices they have made is beyond belief!
I have no gripe with them not selecting my product..that's their option.. but to waste my time and then try to cover up their inadequencies by taking the easy way out and saying the material could not be editted, just adds insults my intelligence.
That Is why I am so keen to get stories from other Inventors who had similar experiences.
So far I am not having much luck..
Any further suggestions folks?
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