Bose released Wireless headphones QC35 as a successor to their vastl

Question

Bose released Wireless headphones – QC35 as a successor to their vastly popular QC25 wired headphones. While Bose claims that QC35 uses the same frame and technology as QC25 does, the average QC35 owner replaces the earcups every 12 months, twice as frequently as QC25 owner does. Since Bose did not increase the price of QC35 despite adding wireless capability, it must have reduced the quality of ear-cups in QC35 to make up for additional cost.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the author’s argument?

(A) Very few of Bose’s customers periodically clean their ear-cups, actions which can increase their life drastically.

(B) Since QC35 is wireless, it can also be worn while sleeping to reduce ambient noise.

(C) Most ear-cups tear apart when the headphones are stored in a backpack with a sharp object such as a scissor.

(D) While most QC25s are shared devices, most QC35s are used exclusively as personal devices.

(E) Bose charges a lower price for replacement ear-cups of QC35 than it does for QC25.

arvind910619 · Answer

The main point of the argument is that both types of headphones are priced same then why do the new headphone has a higher replacement rate of earplugs than that of old headphones. The author cites the reason for frequent replacement of the earplugs is low quality.

Now to weaken this argument we have find some other cause of the frequent replacement of the earplugs in the new headphones.

A This affects both type of the headphones equally and thus is irrelevant to the argument.

B Looks promising as we can deduce that folks use the new headphone more often leading to frequenter replacement of the earplugs. Keep this choice.

C This can happen to both the types of headphone hence this choice is irrelevant.

D Again we can deduce any information that can give us head start to asses the argument. Drop this choice.

E While this choice may look promising at first but this is the answer. Suppose this the case indeed then people may change earplugs for the new headphones more frequently but if we negate this choice the argument still looks good as people may continue to buy earplugs because of the low quality. Hence drop this choice.

The answer is B.

Probus · Answer

ARGUMENT CONSTRUCTION:
BOSE released a new model as successor to a existing popular model .
the new model released is on the same platform on which its previous one was built with a major feature of them being wireless.
Moreover, the cost for this one has not increased in compassion to previous model.
However, Ear cups of new model are being replaced by users twice as frequently as they were replaced by the user of previous model.

New feature added, cost not increased but ear cups getting replaced more frequently, clearly indicate reduced quality of ear cups to meet the cost requirement.

Conclusion: Quality degraded to meet cost constraint.

ASSUMPTION: The number of usable hrs after the ear-cups are replaced for QC-35 IS same as that of QC 25 
Possible Weakeners: Because of the wireless capability ,the use of QC-35 is more than doubled that of QC-25 , requiring users to replace the ear-cups more readily than ever.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the author’s argument?

(A) Very few of Bose’s customers periodically clean their ear-cups, actions which can increase their life drastically. 
This talks about customers who do not take certain measures. This does not weaken the conclusion that quality is degraded to match the cost. 
 So Incorrect.

(B) Since QC35 is wireless, it can also be worn while sleeping to reduce ambient noise. 
This option highlights the use of the newly released model. This points that the number of hours that this product us being used has increased. Because of the significantly increased use it might be possible that they require replacement. So this option brings out an aspect that author ignored while making his conclusion. Hence this option weakens the claim of the author. 
 Correct

(C) Most ear-cups tear apart when the headphones are stored in a backpack with a sharp object such as a scissor. 
This shows how dame could happen to ear cups, but doesn't weaken the conclusion.
 So Incorrect

(D) While most QC25s are shared devices, most QC35s are used exclusively as personal devices. 
Well i would categorize this as strengthener. Because all this option is saying is that each QC-25 was being used by multiple people but each QC-35 are used by limited number of people 
 So Incorrect

(E) Bose charges a lower price for replacement ear-cups of QC35 than it does for QC25.
Now this might seem like alternate reason to replace the ear-cups, but think if the quality of ear cups hasn't changed then why is Bose charging less for new model compared to previous model.
 So Incorrect.

Please note this is my understanding of argument, it may be incorrect. Appreciate if some experts reply and help point any flaw in my understanding.

Thanos7 · Answer

Straight  B . The wireless capabilities of QC35 makes it easier for its users to use it for extended periods especially at night to reduce the ambient noise. Thus increasing its wear and tear.

Helium · Answer

Quality of question appears dubious...How to select between option B) and E)?

Posted from my mobile device

Probus · Answer

Hi Harsh,

I am not sure about the quality of the question, but the source e-GMAT, they do have very good questions which traps the test taker into closely correct answer. So is the case in this question. I am not however promoting e-GMAT here not concluding the quality to be the best.

However, I will try my best to explain Choice E and Choice B

E says. "Bose charges a lower price for replacement ear-cups of QC35 than it does for QC25."

What this essential means is price of ear cup for QC 35 IS LESS than price of ear cup for QC 25.

What is the conclusion of the argument  "must have reduced the quality of ear-cups in QC35 to make up for additional cost ."

Pay a close attention to reduce quality of QC 35 to adjust the cost.

Dosen't E in a way support the conclusion. 
 Think about it this way
 Say advt said "the two products are same in quality ( even same in technology , though QC 35 is better than QC 25) and from same manufacturere and of the two one is charged less and other is more 
" would you not believe that there is some factor that makes one of them cheaper than other"

I underdtand that we may have several reasons to Justify the cost of QC-35 ear cup ( like cost has decreased since QC 25 was launched, manufacturing process improved, wastage redcuced...etc ) wouldn't the same factors apply to QC -25.

Now Option B

Let me take analogy of the Question and try explaining the same.

Probus bought a car X where as Aquillia bought car Y , both X and Y are manufactured by A Corp. Car Y in comparasion to Car X has ergonomic design , superrior ride quality, ease of handling and great fuel efficiency. A Corp has decided to sell Car Y at the same price at which it sold Car X. However, Aquillia who owns Car Y had to replace the Tires of the car in less than 24 months where as Probus who owns Car X had to replace the tires after 48 months. Clearly Quality of tires was compromised to meet the cost constraint.

Now can u draw that since Aquillia had driven more miles becuase of certain advantages that Car X did not offer , he had to change the Tires more early than Probus had to.

This is exactly what is happenning in B

Now if I said Tires for Car Y are cheaper than Car X . ( lets assume the size of tire and other factors remain same and can only be bough from A Corp) What would you draw from this. That A Corp must have reduced the quality of Tires to match the price of Car X . 
This is Exactly what is happening in E.

I know analogy i have drawn may be vague, but this was my attempt to explain in a simpler way.

Let me know if this helps.

prashant6923 · Answer

I got stuck between B & E.The reason why i did not opt B is that it's written , QC35 can be worn while sleeping but is that an essential thing that people will wear it while sleeping?

abhinav770 · Answer

A Kudos for a Bose question.

Conclusion : ...reduced the quality of ear-cups in QC35... The answer choice weakening the argument is the one which acts as an evidence to disprove the conclusion. Would you click this Kudos button?

Helium · Answer

Dear Probus,

Thanks for detailed reply.

But I still have the doubt below-

Since Bose did not increase the price of QC35 despite adding wireless capability, it must have reduced the quality of ear-cups in QC35 to make up for additional cost.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the author’s argument?

So pre-thinking is

a) may be usage has increased so more wear-tear so higher frequency of replacement

b) may be user is getting it cheap( for whatever reason, you also mentioned few, may it is company's some market capture strategy or anything else) so why not replace and have feelings of owning new ear-cups

Both above reason may result into weakening the argument

Quality is not poor still replacement frequency is higher.

Posted from my mobile device

warrior1991 · Answer

It boils down to Option B and E.

Option B says that QC35 cane be worn while sleeping as it acts as a good noise cancellation. 
  This is good contender. Since people have started using this even in night time,there will be more wear and tear,resulting in frequent change of the earcups.  
 BANG ON!!

Coming to option E

Bose charges a lower price for replacement of ear-cups of QC35 than it does for QC25.

Some of us may think that this is giving us an alternate reason. If the price charged for replacement is low,people may get it replaced frequently and hence it is not because of the quality issue.

In my analysis this can even strengthen the conclusion. 
If there is a quality issue, people would get it replaced straightaway seeing that the cost of replacement is low.

IMO B is correct.

EgmatQuantExpert   gmatexam439   GMATNinja   GMATNinja 2

Please correct me if there is a flaw in my reasoning.
Appreciate your help on this.

abhinav770 · Answer

Here is how I eliminated answer choice (E) for this question: (E) Bose charges a lower price for replacement ear-cups of QC35 than it does for QC25. Implies it is cheaper to purchase the replacement cups for QC35 than it is for QC25. Doesn't specify whether Bose's customers are price conscious or not and more importantly doesn't consider the possibility of the price difference being minuscule, the difference may be only $0.99 for all you know. Insufficient as an answer choice to weaken the argument. Hope this helps!

P.S. All answer choices are explained in my detailed answer to this question here .

gmatexam439 · Answer

Hi Bro,

I respectfully disagree with your understanding of option E.
 
Here, the author is merely stating that a lower price is being charged for QC35. However, the argument never states anything about the purchasing affinity of the customers. For example, if you own a BMW and a Mercedes and the cost of replacing the door mats is cheaper for BMW than for Mercedes it doesn't mean that you will go on replacing the door mats of your BMW every month. You will change them ONLY if you require them to be changed. Thus, this option is actually irrelevant in current context.

I hope that helps!

Regards

warrior1991 · Answer

Thanks  abhinav770  and  gmatexam439  for your valuable insight on option E.

gmatexam439 · Answer

Hi bro, Kudo is also a good way to say a thank you

Regards

VerbalBot · Answer

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A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

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Bose released Wireless headphones QC35 as a successor to their vastl

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