Super Ultimate 3rd Brake Light Build

1) Add all skus to your website and allow backorders.
2) Announce in this thread that pre-orders are open for whatever timeframe you think is reasonable. Specify the date by which pre-orders will ship.
3) Turn off the backorder function when the designated timeframe has expired.

 

That may not be too bad an idea, a slight spin on that....
Add the sku's with a pre-order price, of say 20-30% and or a flat fee

This will ensure buyers are "commited" to purchasing so you are not stuck with stock
Once you decide to go full production you can edit the site description and price, or leave as a made to order item
This way you do not have to track the thread, responses, and pms
No order placed and $ at checkout you miss the GB
Stock can be 0'd and item edited to final payment $ at GB close

Re-open stock requiring original order # once printing is complete and ready to ship
Possibly require zip as well to protect buyers​

Create a group buy thread with links to your site.

Note you need x number of purchase pre-orders prior to printing
This makes deadline "flexible"
You can update the thread occasionally noting x of the required y pre-orders as of now
Once ready to ship final payment of the remaining 70-80% due
Pre-order $ non-refundable
Lights with failed final payments could them be offered as "ready to ship" items​

 

Actually, the pre-orders should be paid in full, just like any other website where you order something that might not be in stock at that moment and ships when it becomes available.

Frankly, I think this is how Stew should handle all orders. I believe it’s what his customers want - place an order for items that may or may not be “in stock”, process payment, then ship when available. No more “hoping” to catch a release here or there. There could even be planned production runs on set schedules so that customers would know when to expect shipment.

 

I can understand his reservation in doing preorders. People turn into shitbags when they’ve given you their money and don’t instantly have your product. Not everyone, but some, and those few speak louder than the group.

That being said, doing it in batches is always nice. It’s what vendors like HomerTaco do. And I agree, pay in full, one and done. I don’t want to pay X% up front then go back and pay Y% remaining later, sounds like a headache for buyer and seller.

And if things ship in 2-3 weeks it’s not like you can’t get your money back if Meso suddenly turned into a thief, which is a vastly hyperbolic joke on my end but it’s the thought people get with preorders just in general lol.

 

As others have mentioned, once you accept people's money, everything becomes a bit more difficult. Expectations are set the moment payments are processed. If there are setbacks, errors, etc., the paying customers get upset easier and quicker (and very understandably so). I totally understand Stew's reasoning for not wanting to sell products that aren't actually packaged and ready to ship out the door! That said, there are certainly benefits of doing pre-orders too, I just wanted to bring up the alternative!

 

I’m in for a preorder. People need to understand @mesojdm is a one man operation and that waiting is just a part of the process of getting outstanding original products!

 

Don't do a pre order. Focus your time and efforts on building inventory. Your products are already sold before they even come info fruition.

 

I'm in for preorder if you decide to go that route.

 

Just do it right here for the first one
Establish the preorder process
And then after this one is successful make a new thread for the future preorders

 

Are we still debating a version that will take a camera?

 

Rigid red chase light for the 3rd brake light, 2 Rigid rock lights for the cargo lights, + NMO mount. I'd take one.

 

Yeah, I can’t see the corners of the bed... a brake light camera would be awesome!

 

@mesojdm I say no on pre-orders! Stick to what you know and what has work for you. First come, first serve all others hit that refresh button til your finger(s) rot and fall off.

A poll would be helpful to see which model brake light is favored and the data from the poll would give you an indication on how many to build per each model.

 

The benefit for preorders is people who have been following this since Meso first suggested he could make one (Nov 8, 2017 in a separate thread on a different product to be specific) don’t get snubbed because they weren’t online for the 5 minutes the item was in stock.

 

It's his products and business, however he wants to sell it or conduct his business is his choice. But I standby my opinion.

 

Cool so if he does a preorder no biggie.

 

The whole point of being in business isn’t about “you” as the business owner, it’s about your customers and what they want. Businesses that don’t understand that typically don’t survive.

 

And if he doesn't do one, it's business as usual.

 

Anyway....

I’m looking for a new soldering iron to help with this process. You guys suggest the old tried and true plug in iron or one of the butane torch/solder combos?

 

plug in for sure