"polygonum" wrote in message
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On 07/09/2014 16:36, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Coca Cola & WD40 are a success because they meet a specific need.

If WD40 was such a success when it was sold as a universal "does everything" product,
why are there now a confusing number of separate "specialist" products (I think there
might be 7 at Screwfix)? (Not saying it sales weren't high enough to be called
"successful", but have questions over its performance.)

Either they needed to introduce products that actually work in each role. Or they are
ripping us off. Or both.

In a word, marketing.

Three of the products on the Screwfix site are lithium grease, silicone
lubricant, and PTFE lubricant. These are quite separate products
which are marketed by a number of different suppliers. Quite possibly
all sourced from the same one or two manufacturers. WD40 are simply
selling their own "badged" version making use of their "trusted"
WD40 brand name

Other lines are simply WD40 in different pack sizes or with different applicators

Other than that, possibly a lot of potential customers simply didn't believe
the versatility of the basic WD40 product, and so its necessary for the
manufacturer to spell this out for them by marketing a number
of diffferent lines Contract Cleaner, Lubricant, Degreaser
quite possibly are all based more or less on exactly the same basic
formula.
So that while basic WD40 might well do the job the "tweaked"
more expensive product will work even better. Allegedly.

michael adams

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