Re:To Make Dishwashers Great Again? (2020)
by selcuka on Sunday September 10, 2023 @11:41PM
(#37462610)
> [...] an obvious target for trivial optimization with no change in substantive composition.
On the other hand, if they care enough to manufacture the pods with multiple liquid compartments, why not put the good stuff in them? I don't think the chemical composition will meaningfully change the cost.
Re:To Make Dishwashers Great Again? (2020)
by chongli on Monday September 11, 2023 @01:50AM
(#37463360)
I think the point is that those pods with all the colours of liquid as well as the tablet of powder at back are actually no more effective than plain old store brand loose powder, yet they cost 5 times as much.
Re:To Make Dishwashers Great Again? (2020)
by throw0101b on Monday September 11, 2023 @12:57PM
(#37470109)
> why not put the good stuff in them?
Because the good stuff may cost more than the 'placebo', and given each pod can cost 10-30¢ each, small amounts matter in terms of margin.
Right. Specifically, its the kind of advice that even if it works on the market at the time it is written, if it gets popular, it is very trivially subject to gaming in the way that gives truth to Goodhart's Law. "More colors of liquid in the pod = sells better" is an obvious target for trivial optimization with no change in substantive composition.