Diaperman95 said:
It is the same companies that get listed ever year and they always suck. You know what ever company pays them the most to get top spots will be listed. You know damn good and well they did not ask a single incontinent person... They are asking hospitals and nursing homes. They have to be!... because no incontinent person would ever say they choose to rely on McKesson to get them through life. No that is the cheap shit the government shoves down the throat of these poor people that cant afford to buy quality products and or refuses to educate them better products exist. Tranquility is normally the best one on these top diaper list although last year I seen Abena and wellness made the list not that they are anything special.. I have not read through the 2023 list yet because I know the people that write them knows nothing of the subject they speak of. It is sad because NorthShore, InControl, Dry 24/7 & Better Dry deserve to be on that list. I can personally understand why the leave out the ABDL companies. I doubt this community will be accepted anytime real soon.
Same reason they did not go into ABDL when trying to show the increase in Adult Diaper awareness. They feel it cast a negative impact on they industry. I am no AB or DL in the same manor as most here, but I know the big impact that ABDL companies made on the industry. If not for Bambino and a few others we would not have Mega max and all of these great diapers that was inspired to compete to the sales of.
Thanks Diaperman95 for your post and thoughts.
While you have some really good points about the quality of diapers not getting the recognition, the research here and most other “market share” research is about volume of sales and percentage of market in terms of product sold.
I totally agree with you that there are much higher quality diapers than companies like Procter and Gamble, Kimberly Clark and so on make. But the truth is that these companies sell way more diapers than companies like Northshore, and brands like Dry 24/7, etc which are all superior in quality.
How many times have you walked into a a grocery store, Walmart, or even most pharmacies and seen anything but products from these mega-companies? Typically you need to go to a medical supply store or purchase these other products online. And while their growth and market share may be increasing, it is a slow process.
It is very difficult when because a company obtained such a high share of the market and their products lined store shelves that the very nature of the product took on the brand name as another term for it. You used the example of vice-grips. That is a good example, I could also point towards Xerox which became a term for making a copy. Similarly are brands which became “genericized” such as thermos, chapstick, frisbee, post it notes, Jell-O, and… even most people refer to looking something up on the internet give credit to Google by saying they “googled it” even though they are using Microsoft edge. And when you are sick and blow your nose, most of us use a Kleenex (another Kimberly-Clark product). So when a company has such market sales and advertisement that their product brand becomes the natural term for the product itself, it’s no wonder so many people depend on Depends!
So take heart, Diaperman95, I don’t think this is some evil 👿 thing going on where companies are paying for their brand to show up on top. Rather, they are big enough to pay for the advertising and promotion of their products to stores and hospitals — and also large enough to develop cost efficiencies to make less expensive products and distribution. While they likely could make much better products, the bottom line is profitability for their shareholders. So they make a product that may not function as well, but is inexpensive and is attractive to hospitals and insurance companies that try to keep their costs down and profits high. Even non-profit nursing homes that provide healthcare services will seek low cost products as they are operating many times on a shoestring just to keep things going.
However, in time, I think the information world will win out and as more reports about quality of adult diapers and their effectiveness become addressed, then you will see some of the market share change. So does word of mouth, as users of adult diapers share with others their satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the products.
But even then, cost will always be a factor. If you are on a limited budget, you likely aren’t going to buy a Lexus or Mercedes. Rather, you will likely purchase a Ford or a Hyundai. And for something that is a disposable product like a diaper, some folks (or their caregivers) simply overlook the poor performance and seek for a space between workable and what might break their budget.
And hence, I would ask, is it the government that is the cause why we are not all driving a Cadillac and instead driving something cheaper? No, it is simply the laws of supply and demand and companies that seek to capitalize on where the sweet spot is for maximum sales in meeting what the market is asking for. So I don’t think we can place the blame on Big Brother here.
Does that mean that folks who wear diapers (for whatever reason) wouldn’t prefer the better quality that is available? I would propose that is not the case —even as I would much rather prefer to be driving a new 2023 truck with all the bells and whistles, but my almost 25 year old truck still works sufficiently (though not as good) but it’s paid off and I’m not spending $500 or more a month for the better product.
Companies like Kimberly-Clark know this. Based on their extensive research, they have made decisions to offer to consumers what they are willing to pay for and then market their product extensively. It is all part of providing to folks what they are willing and can afford to buy. If the market showed that making a higher quality adult diaper and charging a premium price would be more in demand, I am certain these companies would be all over it. However, for now, quality diapers which come at a higher cost is unfortunately more of a niche than the general rule.
I was impressed that in the report I shared it did mention NorthShore in its Key Companies Recent Developments secretion. It states, “
- In February 2021, NorthShore Care Supply, the premier brand of great absorbent adult diapers and continence supplies announced its launch in Canada. To enhance revenue, the company is constructing a factory in Canada and collaborating with salespeople such as Healthwick Canada and AgeComfort.”
So again, keep your chin up and hope for better products to eventually gain a higher market share and more commonplace and availability for the common people.
