Teenage Engineering has launched an unusual initiative called "'25 the Flipped Out Year." This is a campaign where they run "flipped out offers," which are unconventional promotions and product releases intended to gauge customers' perceptions of value; as one example, in June the company offered their flagship OP-1 Field synthesizer with no fixed pricing, beyond a minimum of $1,399 (the unit was originally priced at $2,000 and up). The results of the campaign were never officially announced, but anecdotally, it seems most buyers simply paid the minimum price.

The next "flipped out offer" was even stranger. This month the company released Computer-2, a housing for those seeking to build their own mini-ITX computers. The price listed was $0.

"Computer–2 is a small form factor, mini-ITX computer case, constructed from one sheet of plastic with living hinges and snap hooks. just push-click the motherboard into place—no screws needed."

"We set a goal to design the cheapest computer case in the world. Lur engineers worked day and night to really push the limits and they went beyond all expectations. They engineered it all the way down to a cost of 0."

Unsurprisingly, the units "sold" out almost immediately.

Selling products for zero dollars and allowing customers to set their own pricing on others is obviously not a sustainable business strategy. So what is the company doing? I suppose they're building engagement and/or trying to bring new customers into the fold. Whatever their true intent, they say "new flipped out '25 offers will be presented during the rest of the year... (or until the world is a little bit more stable)."