Why there is such a thing as a bad product

Just how much truth is there in the idea there is no such thing as a bad product, just a bad sale? It is the line of defence used by providers every time there is disappointment with one of their products and it is one that shifts blame onto the intermediary and the end consumer. It is also the line most commonly used by the regulator when announcing another review. Falling markets have led to investor disappointment with a range of structured products, with-profits policies and straight funds but the defence of providers is that this is not really their fault: products simply do what p...