What convinced Rubik's brand to try to get speedcubers back?

[LNZ]

I suspect that it was done as a response to V-Cubes putting out a 3x3x3 cube.

V-cubes have clearly stated that they want the market of Rubik's for themselves.

 

[Eduard Khil]

Probably their desperate attempt to attract lost customers...

Ive had their Version 1 Rubiks brand cube for something like 7 years, which back then I dont even know how to solve the cube.
The Rubik's brand is great for non-cubers, as a fast cube would be too fast without fingertrick-ing, and which building the cross would take them something like 2 minutes, a slow cube shall suit them.
Which the Rubik's brand is extremely durable, it's great for non cubers, doesnt break/ no popping/ impossible corner twists, it is terrible to fingertrick it.

 

[kinch2002]

They did not make the speedcube to convert existing speedcubers to their brand. We (most people on this forum) are not their target. They know full-well that their speedcube is not preferred to many Chinese brands. Remember that speedcubers are in the tens of thousands (approx). They sell millions of cubes every year.

Essentially, they made the speedcube for money (crazy business idea right?). The average guy in the high street shop isn't going to have heard of any Chinese brand. They see the product in the shop and think it's cool so they buy it.

People say that they're bad compared to the Aolong etc, but actually the cube is exactly what Seventowns wanted. A high-quality, durable cube that can be sold to the masses. In some aspects, they are far better than any Chinese brand - just probably not in categories that existing speedcubers really care about. In order to make a high-quality product, they have to compromise slightly on corner cutting etc.

I'm grateful that they've released the v2 and the speedcube. They're not a threat to the Chinese market, and at least people picking one up in the shop can now turn it reasonably well. In the long term, it may get more people into "real" speedcubing.

 

[ender9994]

I suspect that it was done as a response to V-Cubes putting out a 3x3x3 cube.

V-cubes have clearly stated that they want the market of Rubik's for themselves.

They are not doing a good job then. Compared to Rubik's, how many stores can you just walk into and buy a V-cube 3x3? Most large chain stores sell Rubik's brand (at least in the U.S.), but very few sell V-cubes.

Probably their desperate attempt to attract lost customers...

Ive had their Version 1 Rubiks brand cube for something like 7 years, which back then I dont even know how to solve the cube.
The Rubik's brand is great for non-cubers, as a fast cube would be too fast without fingertrick-ing, and which building the cross would take them something like 2 minutes, a slow cube shall suit them.
Which the Rubik's brand is extremely durable, it's great for non cubers, doesnt break/ no popping/ impossible corner twists, it is terrible to fingertrick it.

I don't think they really care about the speedcubing community. When compared to the >350 million rubik's brand cubes that have been sold, we are not exactly a major factor in their profits.

On a side topic: Has anyone tried the new Lube and new tiled 4x4 that Rubik's is now offering?

 

[Hypocrism]

I suspect the logic is this:

1) Speedcubing is cool and people see videos of it online and want to try
2) They automatically go to rubik's brands for their first cube
3) Selling them one cube before they go onto real speecubes is better than selling them none ever.

 

[Eduard Khil]

Or, that people see someone solving the cube, which they think it is cool and made up plans to get one.
They see one at the local toy store, and purchase it.
So they end up with some durable-reasonably-smooth cube for 5 hour-solves.

 

[Berd]

I'm tempted to get a Rubiks speed cube.

 

[josh42732]

I got a Rubik's speedcube (v1 from Target) for Christmas just to see how it was, and overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Granted, it locks up every two face turns, and it is very loud, but the turning and corner cutting is way better than I would expect Rubik's to come out with.

They did not make the speedcube to convert existing speedcubers to their brand. We (most people on this forum) are not their target. They know full-well that their speedcube is not preferred to many Chinese brands. Remember that speedcubers are in the tens of thousands (approx). They sell millions of cubes every year.

Essentially, they made the speedcube for money (crazy business idea right?). The average guy in the high street shop isn't going to have heard of any Chinese brand. They see the product in the shop and think it's cool so they buy it.

People say that they're bad compared to the Aolong etc, but actually the cube is exactly what Seventowns wanted. A high-quality, durable cube that can be sold to the masses. In some aspects, they are far better than any Chinese brand - just probably not in categories that existing speedcubers really care about. In order to make a high-quality product, they have to compromise slightly on corner cutting etc.

I'm grateful that they've released the v2 and the speedcube. They're not a threat to the Chinese market, and at least people picking one up in the shop can now turn it reasonably well. In the long term, it may get more people into "real" speedcubing.

I think that this is the main reason that they tried to make a new speedcube. They were tired of people saying that the Rubik's brand is horrible and they just wanted to get a decent speedcube out there so nobody would complain anymore. And when people with the original Rubik's cube who don't know how to solve it see that Rubik's has come out with a new cube, they will buy it because they haven't used theirs in a while and will attempt to get into cubing again.

 

[qqwref]

I don't think they're tired of people saying the Rubik's brand is horrible at all. It's more likely they're trying to get a piece of the "I saw a Nakajima/Feliks/Hays video once and wanna try this speed cubing thing" crowd.

 

[Eduard Khil]

Cos the Rubiks brand is the most widely available cube, which people dont care about the quality;
they only care about the "Brand" cause this is the "real" rubiks cube

 

[tps]

I have a Rubik's brand "speed" cube. I'm definitely not a speed cuber yet, but it is OK for my 2 - 3 minute solves. Out of the box it was rather stiff, but it improved somewhat after I took it apart and lubed the screws and nylon shoulder washers. Cubes are cheap, so it's probably worth buying several different brands and types so I can understand what's out there. By the way, the Rubik's brand cube is clearly marked "Made in China", but even with lube, in my uneducated opinion, it does not turn nearly as well as other Chinese "magic cubes" I have.