2961
7 min 4 sec

Q&A: “What’s the best way to pre-sell a product I haven’t made yet?”

Can you sell a product that doesn’t fully exist yet? In this episode, we help an engineer navigate the world of pre-sales, with tips on how to test demand while building trust with potential customers.

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What It's About

Can you validate a product idea through a presale?

Notes from Chris

Episode 2961
One of the smartest ways to validate a business idea is to pre-sell it before committing to production. But what happens when you’re selling something that doesn’t fully exist yet? That’s the challenge Mark, an engineer, is facing with his modular coffee brewing kit.

He’s in the prototype stage and wants to test demand through pre-sales, but he’s worried about potential pitfalls—like managing customer expectations and handling refunds if demand doesn’t pan out. Let’s dive into how Mark can approach this with confidence.

"Hey, I’m Mark. I’m an engineer, and for the past few months, I’ve been working on a modular coffee brewing kit for home enthusiasts. It’s still in the prototype stage, and I want to test demand before going all-in on production. I’m considering pre-selling it to gauge interest, but I’m nervous about how to present something that doesn’t fully exist yet. And what happens if it doesn’t sell as well as I hope—will people lose trust in me if I have to refund their money? How do I do this the right way?"

Listen to today's episode to learn more...

 
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