Should you adapt yourself to a new product? Or should it be the other way around?

Yesterday I posted about my first experience with a Gillette Fusion razor, and one of the comments I got was from Paulo Pires. He said that maybe I didn’t really like the new razor because first my skin needs to get used to it.

I understand Paulo’s point of view, but I believe that for most products, especially things I consider as commodities, it’s the product that should adapt to me and my characteristics, not the other way around.

I work as a consultant and, believe me, I know how hard is for people to get used to new things, whether products or services, especially if their current situation suits their needs.

I believe that a major flaw of marketers and salespeople is to think that people will gladly change their behaviors (or even physically change) or whatever just to use their products. Wrong…

Some examples:

• New Coke – People really didn’t get used to it.
• Apple Newton – It seems like people didn’t want to dramatically change their handwriting.

Always remember that there are times when people do need to adapt to your product/service/solution. Most of times, though, make an effort it can be the other way around

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