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230

Out-Law Small Print!

230 points posted to Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies, Enterprise by aikiwolfie 05/28/08

Please ban all small print from your advertisements, documentation, special deals and any other information disseminated via print, broadcast, internet or other media.

This is about "Simplifying IT" for everybody. It's also a policy you should enforce with ALL of your retail and supply chain partners that have direct contact with your customers. Both corporate and consumer.

Some might argue that this would dramatically increase the amount of paper distributed with your products. I would argue this need not be the case. Alternatives are available.

Documentation can be distributed in many forms. Commonly CD's and web sites are now being used to distribute EULAs, manuals, FAQs and guides in HTML and PDF format. Strangely many suppliers still include small print in these digital formats? Why?

What purpose does this small print serve other than to hide restrictions and trip up customers?

My solution is much simpler and a lot more sensible. Make product warranties, EULAs, etc simpler. Be up front and honest with your customers and be more flexible.

Your customers have no need of small print Dell. Please "Simplify IT".

jmxz
05/28/08		 Especially I think the legalese should be full-sized so people can understand it and know exactly what they're buying.

Dell should force their distribution channels to follow the same - especially considering that the recent issue with Dell not owning the warranty on Dells from Best Buy. If this was shown to the unfortunate Dell/BestBuy customer, it's almost certain it was in small print.

And for anyone who doubts that this is a good idea, small print can be very hard to read yet often contains important details.
james-94
05/28/08
I hate small print
sugarbear
05/28/08		 That makes two of us that hates small print. It gives me a headache and eye strain.
phubert
05/29/08		 I like small FONTS in order to see more information... but I think I'd clarify this -suggestion- with "simply say what you mean - CLEARLY" ...no hidden qualifications in the fine print!

COMCAST does this all the time with offers I'd never accept once I READ the fine print!
aikiwolfie
05/29/08		 There's a difference between using a smaller font as a matter of preference and deliberately hiding stuff in the small print, bird seed, fine print, whatever else you want to call it.

I got a mail shot from AOL the other day. Sign up with AOL and get a free HP laptop. Nice and simple and easy to read and understand. But in really, really tiny print way down the bottom there was a clause listed for that the deal was only valid so long as AOLs stocks lasted. So I checked some stuff from Dell. And sure enough it wasn't any better.

All these smaller fonts do is hide important details that might make people stop and think before they buy.
phubert
05/29/08		 Yes, I believe I was trying to make that contrast, aikiwolfie... (no one ever UNDERSTANDS me (mutter, mutter))

:-)
aikiwolfie
05/29/08		 It's because IdeaStorms font is too wee. :op
 
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