Why Can't They Enclose Some Instructions?

 

   C bought several devices for our cell phones earlier today. He got some pop-up stands and a couple of devices that allow the phones to be mounted on the dashboard of the car.
   The pop-up and mounting that he bought for me were pretty simple. The pop up sticks to the back of the phone. The mount sticks to the dashboard of the car and the pop-up slips into the mount. No problem.
   The ones he bought for himself are a little fancier. The pop up spins and can also be used to organize cords. The mounting device clips to the vent and is magnetic. Both came with several parts. There were no assembly instructions in the package only a picture on the back. The picture isn't very helpful.
  The picture of the mounting device shows four small round magnets. There were none in the package just two things that looked like small mirrors.  The package was sealed so there is no way the magnets could have dropped out before purchase. C and I checked the counter and the floor around where we were sitting to make sure that they were not on the floor or under something.
  The pop up that C bought for himself had the same challenge. There were two pieces, but no instructions for how to put them together. We couldn't see how either piece could pop up.
   It was especially frustrating for me. As an engineer's daughter, I'm used to being able to look at something and figure out how it goes together. Not so with this stuff. I played around with it for a few minutes and then gave up. I could see what part was supposed to go where I just couldn't figure out what was supposed to keep the parts together.
   Why couldn't the company have enclosed some assembly instructions? Maybe some gadget head could figure out how to put the pieces together, but not all people who buy these things are gadget heads. Perhaps this is a ploy by the company to keep people who aren't tech savvy from buying their products. (I've heard a certain clothing store only makes things in smaller sizes to keep larger people from shopping in their stores.)
   I can understand not wanting to have printed assembly instructions. If the company sells their product in several countries it is difficult to have to print instructions for all the languages needed. However, couldn't they just print pictures like Ikea does?
  On second thought, pictures are not a good idea. I have tried to assemble items purchased from Ikea before and those pictures aren't that much help.
   What we will probably end up doing is going to Google. Hopefully, there will be something there that can help us. It could be this is what the manufacturer wants anyway.......