Editing The Pen Addict 263/transcript (section)

== Notebook Market ==


'''Myke Hurley:''' So if they really wanted to, I think because everybody is trying to compete with them, right? Like if you make notebooks and you put them on a subscription, there's one company you're competing with. And to try and, to try and play at their level, you really have to focus and trying to do four subscription products plus running a regular business where you're trying to come up with new stuff, like making bags. Like, I don't know. It feels, I'm not surprised, right? Like, and, and honestly, I will say this, my heart goes out to them because I feel bad for them for this. Like I'm a small business owner. I know how hard this stuff can be. You do too. I mean, and I agree if you like.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I think this is why I'm so interested in it, right? Because I see myself in it.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You know, I have to put my business hat on when I think about them instead of just a product reviewer hat.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But like putting aside the issues with communication and stuff, right? Like if I look at what I think's going on here, I feel bad for them because they overstretched. I've done that so many times, you know?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Oh my God. I've made plenty of mistakes, but I think it's the open and honesty. You have to be open and honest on the front end, not just when you're questioned. And that's where they're dropping the ball.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And like. You have to be open and honest all the time, not just when it's convenient.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Even if there was a reason where they had to take the subscriptions down before they could talk about it, maybe they should say what that was. Because if they do do it that way, like what they've given out doesn't seem to be their answer. But, you know, everyone chooses to do their things differently. And like, you know, this could just have been a mistake on their part. But I agree with you that like this hasn't been handled perfectly, which honestly, I think is a metaphor for their entire subscription. Right.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You know, I want to feel empathetic towards companies I support, you know, allow me to feel your pain and your empathy and have empathy for you. But when you are not upfront and not getting out ahead of things, it makes me question you not feel bad for you. Right. Like I want to, you know, I want to, you know, anytime we choose to spend money with a company, we're committing to them on a personal level. And I feel like it's not being reciprocated in this case.