• SavvyWolf@pawb.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    175
    ·
    4 months ago

    I agree there’s a lot of problems with unpaid internships and work and such, but I don’t think this is that bad?

    It feels like “hey, if you really like our product and want to show it off, we can send you information and merch, and put you in touch with higher ups.”

    I’d complain if Microsoft or Google started doing this, because they are huge megacorps with deep pockets, but Framework seems like a small company that can’t really afford huge marketing departments. If people want to devote their time to a cause they beleive in, more power to them.

    They also aren’t doing it with the promise or threat of something, which is an issue with a lot of unpaid work. The people they’re targeting know exactly what they are getting into, and that they are doing it for their own reasons.

    • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      35
      ·
      4 months ago

      a cause they beleive in

      profitable companies are causes now

      Profitable companies don’t get to have “volunteers.” Non-profits and charities get to have those. This is data collection for product development, and advertising for products.

      This is a reason for me to not buy a Framework laptop.

      • SavvyWolf@pawb.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        36
        ·
        4 months ago

        Fix Consumer Electronics

        We know consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment. Unlike most products, ours are open for you to repair and upgrade.

        That’s the “cause” that people believe in. And the volunteers that they are looking for are those that think Framework are the way to accomplish it. Realistically, that problem can’t be solved by a non-profit - Materials, logistics and R&D can’t be done by volunteers. So a corporation is the only reasonable choice for the goal they want to accomplish.

        I’m sure they would love to be able to pay all the people that will volunteer, but they likely just don’t have the money. So it’s either give volunteers something for helping out, or just do nothing and ignore them.

      • Creat@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        25
        ·
        4 months ago

        You might want to actually read the article, cause that’s completely missing the point of the program, and ignoring all context. As with all things, context matters.

        It’s a free market though. You can just buy from the wonderful companies that are Dell or Lenovo instead. Don’t try to look to closely at them, or you won’t be able to but a laptop ever again.

      • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        4 months ago

        I think the jury is still out on whether Framework can be profitable. And by that definition, literally asking someone what product you want them to make is data collection.

        I’m not a fan of a for-profit organisation having unpaid workers, but I get it if they want to see an otherwise unprofitable, yet passionate demographic. If they can compensate the person in other ways like was mentioned above (merch, contact with decision makers, possibly info on future products) then there is some exchange happening there and maybe that’s worth it to the right person.