So many physical products come with paper manuals. Why? What’s a good argument for having them?
Could just include a QR card that sends you to a page to download a pdf if needed, or searchable interactive element.
Imagine how much money and paper you’d save.
I bet this could be a business. Hosted, white labeled downloadable product guides.
Ngl I keep a lot of paper manuals for things in a random drawer. I know a quick Google search usually finds a pdf of the manual, but not every product has the make/model clearly visible.
Like good luck looking for "coffe mate 12 cup coffee maker manual" and finding the specific you bought 10 years ago if you need to look something up
I’m guessing there’s liability in people not knowing how to use a QR code……but maybe not for people being illiterate 🤷♂️
Generally agree. That said, I'm working on one now, trying to make it add enough value where people would want to have the booklet even if they don't own the product. Will also have a QR download link fwiw.
I’m just curious what percent go into trash. I keep some but they all eventually end up in the garbage bin
Oooh I love this idea!
Paper manuals come in handy for assembly mostly. A lot easier to have an ikea style manual in front of you than an iPad or equivalent. Can a pdf work? Yes, and the find feature is priceless… but given the choice I’d go for paper in a diy/install most of the time.
Oh and the paper manual won’t break like an iPad would if you drop a tool on it.
Which is fine for consumer grade trinkets and garbage.
(It will somehow become a subscription based system subject to bureaucratic mismanagement and neglect, however)
Paper manuals for more durable goods that have much longer life cycles are far less likely to become unavailable over time as storage technologies or hosting entities change and orphan "less desirable" information.
I imagine people don't always have internet or electricity.
