Roti machine for US$599???

So there is a new roti-maker on the block. But sadly, it is on the US block, nowhere yet in India. Known as Rotimatic, this is touted to be the first of its kind robotic gadget which will make fluffy rotis or chapatis, one every minute. It is currently being sold online , only for US customers and comes at a hefty price tag of US$599. And this is a pre-order tag. Once the pre-order period ends, which has not been specified as to when, the Rotimatic will sell for an exorbitant US$999. This product is a brain child of two entrepreneurs - Pranoti Nagarkar and Rishi Israni.

Now that’s a real crazy price tag – even the pre-oder one and the post-order one. It might prove cheaper to maybe hire a person there in US who would come in  and make rotis! For that price tag, it is doubtful that many households will buy the machine; after all company which makes this machine – Zimplistic, is targeting the Indian diaspora there mainly. Of course, they say that the machine can make any type of flat bread from any flour, so maybe the Mexicans could also be tempted for their tortillas. Yet, the basic truth about the target audience is something which Zimplistic has taken a very simple view of – the Indians and the Mexicans are very hard working people in US and they count and save every penny earned. Tempting as it might be, it would indeed very tough to convince them to part with such a huge sum for rotis when they already get cheaper , though not fresh rotis, readymade and frozen too in Indian and other stores across US. But what is extremely surprising is that despite all this, the hefty price tag, the first pre-order is already fully sold!

Yes, it’s a good product as it is kneads and mixes and does everything; one just needs to add water and the dough and turn on the machine. The company does not have any plans yet to sell this in India. Actually, if it sold at this price tag in India, surely buyers would be rare and they probably know that. Maybe a good product for restaurants or small eateries but surely pricey for a household.