StartupNorth - Latest Comments in How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Charlie — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:20:05 -0000

I got the bad headphones from launch day. They ignore all RMA requests and just delete my posts to the web site! Razzle will be gone soon. Stay away.

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Aidan Henry — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:52:50 -0000

I agree that the company made some poor decisions. However, I do believe that part of the problem was out of their hands - it was pure bad luck. Unexpected business circumstances will come about all the time. How a company deals with these circumstances is the big issue.

Cheers,
Aidan
www.MappingTheWeb.com

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

John Philip Green — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:19:39 -0000

Yikes!

We once got busted astroturfing on MetaFilter. Don't mess with those guys! They got pissed off and Google-bombed my colleague, so that if you search his name all sorts of colourful (mostly sexual) things come up.

Won't make that mistake again. Hopefully Razzle sees that now too. Read the cluetrain... markets are conversations and so on.

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Heri — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:20:02 -0000

imho, it's mostly because the team is young

give them time, people

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Will Pate — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:15:39 -0000

It's always surprising that no matter how many people get caught astroturfing, some misguided person makes the mistake of lying about who they are to drum up interest about their company. If consumers can't trust the conversation about a company, or the people that work for it, how can they be expected to trust the company at all. Razzle may have killed their brand from day one. Hopefully someone will learn from their mistake.

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Nav — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:49:02 -0000

Razzle seems (seemed?) like a great idea with half-assed execution. I know I was quite excited about it when it popped up on RFD but even the design of the website seemed to be subpar. I do hope they get things together but as you said, they have an uphill battle. I think something video game related may help them win back some goodwill and appeal to the right demographic.

Re: How to botch a launch: Razzle.ca

Andrew — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:50:58 -0000

I was just thinking about writing pretty much this exact post. Early adopters are critical to the success of Razzle - they should be bending over backwards to right the ship. I know little about the management at Razzle, and whether they are funded or have resources available to them, from the outside it appears as this is not the case.

Jumping into social media and marketing without fully understanding the consequences of botching it is a clear sign this was a poorly written business and marketing plan. Woot (granted a much larger company) executes very well - Razzle should have started smaller and with a laser focus, no forums, better copy, amazing first week of deals etc., rather than trying to do everything perfect out of the gate.

I do wish the Razzle team well, but they have an uphill battle now - my advice shut down take the time to make sure all your customers are tickled pink and then relaunch correctly.