Interviews: Ask Blendtec Founder Tom Dickson What Won't Blend?

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Interviews: Ask Blendtec Founder Tom Dickson What Won't Blend?

Posted by samzenpus on Friday February 1, 2013 @07:32AM from the will-he-answer? dept.

Reducing various items to a fine powder in one of his blenders earned Blendtec CEO Tom Dickson a cult following. One of, if not the greatest viral marketing campaigns of all time, the "Will It Blend?" series has been watched almost 221,000,000 times on YouTube. In addition to receiving many marketing awards, Tom and his blenders have been featured on The Tonight Show and the History Channel series Modern Marvels. He has agreed to take a break from pureeing household objects and answer your questions. As usual, you're invited to ask as many questions as you'd like, but please divide them, one question per post.

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which ones surprised you by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 07:38 · Score: 5, Interesting

Which things really suprpised you by how well, or poorly, they blended?
Did it work? by MyFirstNameIsPaul · 2013-02-01 07:39 · Score: 5, Insightful

Did all those YouTube views, interviews, awards, and features result in increased profits?

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I once took an excursion to Reddit, and later HN. Unlimited up/down voting sucks when dealing with a hive-mind.
non-blended pen by kqc7011 · 2013-02-01 07:41 · Score: 4, Interesting

Are you going to go for a rematch with the Tuff-Writer pen?

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Passionately Indifferent
1. Re:non-blended pen by adisakp · 2013-02-01 11:55 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Are you going to go for a rematch with the Tuff-Writer pen?
  It would have been nice to include a link to their "Will It Blend" - style video.
Branching out by Sheetrock · 2013-02-01 07:41 · Score: 2

Have you ever put a slingshot in a blender or, conversely, created a blender that could be fired by slingshot?

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Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
-- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.
Pets by mooingyak · 2013-02-01 07:42 · Score: 4, Funny

Which household pets are tastiest after being blended?

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William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
Automatic refrigerator/blender? by BKX · 2013-02-01 07:42 · Score: 5, Interesting

Have you considered embedding a blender in the door of a refrigerator with hoppers and a timer and a dispenser, so that we could be awakened by an automatically created fresh smoothie/milkshake waiting for us in our fridges?
1. Re:Automatic refrigerator/blender? by StuartHankins · 2013-02-01 08:47 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
2. Re:Automatic refrigerator/blender? by alanshot · 2013-02-01 14:59 · Score: 2
  
  On a related note they do have a pro model that the motor base is mounted UNDER your counter. (think permanent install)
  Nice, but sorry, $650 is a ripoff. I dont care if it can shit tiffany cufflinks. I just want to make a smoothie.
  http://www.blendtec.com/products/professional_series
  (Still want one after seeing a similar setup on a former boss' cabin cruiser. kinda cool to remove the bit of removable countertop that plugged the hole and just drop the pitcher onto the base. No messing with the motor, plugging it in, etc. and motor storage was the best part... it was permanently in what would have been dead space under the counter.)
What was Unexpected by ChrisC1234 · 2013-02-01 07:42 · Score: 5, Interesting

Were there any things that you blended where the outcome was not what you expected?
When the Big Appliance in the sky calls by paiute · 2013-02-01 07:45 · Score: 5, Interesting

Will you be interred, cremated, or blended?

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If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
1. Re:When the Big Appliance in the sky calls by Ford+Prefect · 2013-02-01 08:06 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Cremated remains are already run through a cremulator, to reduce obvious-looking chunks of bone into a fine powder.
  "The remains are raked into a steel bin at the bottom of the cremator to cool, before being transferred into a machine called a cremulator, which contains steel balls that grind down the remains into a fine ash. [...] The cremulator may sound callous, but breaking down the remains is important because if you are going to have a scattering it means the remains can be dispersed as a fine ash rather than as bones, which is less distressing for the family."
  A blender might also do the job.
  
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  Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
2. Re:When the Big Appliance in the sky calls by Rhacman · 2013-02-01 08:24 · Score: 2
  
  And just as the cremulator starts running the spirit of Mr. Dickson will appear, gazing upon it briefly before looking up with a smile.
  
  Don't breath this!
  
  --
  Account -> Discussions -> Disable Sigs
Worst Warranty Request? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 07:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

Did anyone blend something they really shouldn't have and then send in for a warranty repair?
Blades? by domulys · 2013-02-01 07:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

Can you blend the blades of the blender?
Self blending? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 07:50 · Score: 4, Interesting

Have you ever tried to blend a second Blend Tec blender?
Will It Blend by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 07:51 · Score: 5, Interesting

What product created the most noxious byproducts after being blended? Have you ever had to get medical treatment or call out a HazMat team after blending a product?
Does "backfire" hurt business for you? by cseg · 2013-02-01 07:51 · Score: 2

That your products seem to be of much higher quality than average, I believe there is no question. However, people will always find something to complain about, or will attempt something clearly out of scope and then blame the product for the "failure." There is also, of course, those times when things just don't go so well, like on this video. Does that kind of thing "stick" and make people reconsider the product, and how bad does it get?
Re:How Crazy Is This World? by maxwell+demon · 2013-02-01 07:54 · Score: 2

Anonymous Coward doesn't know the difference between one question and three questions ...

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The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Will a Blendtec blend? by tippe · 2013-02-01 07:54 · Score: 4, Interesting

Have you ever tried to blend a Blendtec? Perhaps a failed prototype or perhaps even a successful one that had outlived its usefulness?
Why did you start doing the videos? by Jim+Hall · 2013-02-01 08:03 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'd like to know how you got the idea to do the "Will it blend?" videos in the first place? As mentioned in the summary, it's one of, if not the greatest viral marketing campaigns of all time. Did someone at BlendTec just suggest out of the blue "You should do videos on YouTube", or were you looking for a new advertising idea and a clever marketer had this idea?
Love the videos, by they way.
What has been the least successful outcome? by Picass0 · 2013-02-01 08:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

In your opinion what is the item that blended most poorly or caused you to regret the attempt?
Showdown: Blendtec blender vs. Ginsu knife! by ShadowCat8 · 2013-02-01 08:03 · Score: 5, Interesting

They always touted the Ginsu knife as being one of the most durable knives that "never needs sharpening".
And, of course my question is.... Will it blend? ;)

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"We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem."
What is next for blender R&D? by Aristos+Mazer · 2013-02-01 08:06 · Score: 5, Interesting

Blenders do not seem like an area of technology with a lot of room for innovation, but I've been surprised before (Sears has a "hammer research division" that is kind of amazing). What do you see as the next big thing in blending? Perhaps plans for a reassembler?
1. Put item in blender, 2. ???, 3. Profit! by Anubis+IV · 2013-02-01 08:10 · Score: 2

How did you end up deciding that blending everyday objects would be a great form of advertising, and how did you even know that you could do this? Were you one day blending a hockey puck for some internal product testing, only to realize that it'd make for a great video?
The intro song by Jon+Abbott · 2013-02-01 08:12 · Score: 4, Interesting

Was the intro song written specifically for the videos, or did it already exist elsewhere? It is very reminiscent of the The Price is Right theme song.

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Re:Will it microwave? by iced_tea · 2013-02-01 08:13 · Score: 5, Interesting

Blend-tec blender: Will it recursively blend?
Universe by RedHackTea · 2013-02-01 08:19 · Score: 2

Are we just all in one big blender sitting at the top? How has blending changed your perspectives and philosophies on life?

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The G
Data destruction device by iced_tea · 2013-02-01 08:22 · Score: 4, Interesting

Have you ever thought about marketing your blenders as Data Destruction devices?
Blending thumb drives or Hard Disks?

Or doing paid placements in movies for such? Seems like a Hollywood spy movies would make a great place for a product placement.
Re:BlendTec - what they don't tell you... by CanHasDIY · 2013-02-01 08:33 · Score: 4, Interesting

I own a blendtec. Wife loves it. My OCD and I hate it.
you can put anything into it and be 100% assured that 3-4 tablespoons of any liquid you put into that blender will end up in the cavity of the lid. the lid seems purposely designed to accept these liquids as if you wanted to save them for later or as a place to hold samples. not only that, but the lid is designed in such a way as most of the liquid that is collected in the lid and will never make it back into the container where it originated. the mitigate these problems they engineered the lid to be easily broken down and cleaned. this happens no matter what speed you use and despite what kind of liquid you use - and yes ice is counted as a liquid in this sense.
In light of complaints about the design of the BlendTec lid, are there any plans to incorporate customer suggestions and introduce a new, improved model?

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An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
How Awesome by CanHasDIY · 2013-02-01 08:38 · Score: 3, Interesting

How awesome is your job? As in, other than obliterating random household goods with a blender, what else does your position entail?

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An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Ever Spoof Yourself? by CanHasDIY · 2013-02-01 08:39 · Score: 2

Have you ever considered spoofing yourself, and/or a product you're blending?
I'm thinking of something along the lines of you sticking a copy of Windows 8 in the BlendTec, and having the camera go all BSOD.

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An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Does it blend food? by jellomizer · 2013-02-01 08:41 · Score: 2

I find that sometimes when I show off something, people seem to forget its original purpose. Is there a large group of people who don't seem to realize that your device was meant to blend food?

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If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Why Are Blenders Hard? by bill_mcgonigle · 2013-02-01 09:15 · Score: 4, Interesting

I've pretty much hated every blender I've owned to date and recognize that there are only two or three blenders on the market that are actually good at their job, and they each cost as much as a new refrigerator. Clearly sticking a viscous blade on the end of a beefy motor isn't all there is to it.
So, please explain to the engineers who haunt this site what the challenges are in making a good blender.

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Re:How Crazy Is This World? by JoshDM · 2013-02-01 10:03 · Score: 2

Anonymous Coward doesn't know the difference between one question and three questions ...
Did all the guerilla marketing result in increased profits?
Re:Blending vs stirring or shaking... by sco08y · 2013-02-01 10:17 · Score: 4, Funny

Please try to shake or stir a solid food item into another or a liquid.
I'll be waiting to find out how well that goes for you...
Sounds like a job for ... Too Much Coffee Man!
Has the Mythbusters asked you to go on the show? by Joe_Dragon · 2013-02-01 11:53 · Score: 2

Has the Mythbusters asked you to go on the show?
Previous projects? by aapold · 2013-02-01 12:19 · Score: 3, Interesting

I'm interesting in what kind of background did you have that lead to this series? Did you do any video productions prior to "Will it Blend"?

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"Waste not one watt!" - CZ
The B2B Story by forbin_meet_hal · 2013-02-02 05:50 · Score: 2

The story about Blendtec that almost NEVER gets told is how your salesforce used the videos to convince smoothie shops to go with you rather than, say, Black & Decker. Can you talk about the videos' *offline* success in driving revenue?