Instead of causing even more issues why not just take the refund Pfockerchief? We have been offering everyone on the run a refund for years. I am not coercing anyone to stick it out and I am not just sitting here ignoring it. We work on it as much as we can throughout everything else. We are completely overloaded and stressed to the limit. Running a business during the pandemic has been extremely difficult. Staffing and supply chain issues have made this impossible and just because the perception is that the pandemic is over that doesn't flip some imaginary switch. Staffing issues are worse if possible than I have ever seen in almost 40 years of being in some sort of management, and supply chain issues make things extraordinarily difficult. Accelerometers, processors, bluetooth boards, leds, batteries have all had challenges either currently or in the past 12 months.
This particular run has been cursed. The last chassis looked great, we did the install and realized that something was done backwards. It looks aesthetically beautiful but is backwards for wiring and functionality. I have a potential solution but do not have the prototype yet. At this point, I just do not know what else to do. I have spent more on the run than the retail price I quoted you all (by quite a bit now). And I am trying to honor that oommittment by manufacturing this at a loss to honor my word. I have been called names and bullied throughout the process and am at a breaking point.
Please, take the refund. I can't make it go any quicker than it is. I know for those who do not understand manufacturing it seems like "it is only 20 pieces, should be easy" but that is precisely why it is so difficult. Most places will not touch a 20 piece order at any price that mortals can afford as it is simply not cost effective. So we have been having to navigate that all this time everytime something has to be redone. Right now almost no one is taking this type of work. I am trying. When this was first designed it was designed for completely different technology, a smaller battery, and we were early in our engineering prowess which is why we had to hire other engineers to design the internals. Unfortunately since the engineer who did the externals was different than the one doing the internals, it has been very rocky. There have been several iterations, each time utilizing expensive metals and when things do not fit properly it is not something we can just squish in and release. I apologize to everyone who is on the run. When we first set out on this all intentions were to have it done in a year. But the manufacturing lagged, technology marched on and we have been playing catch up trying to get the internals manufactured the way we envisioned but functional with today's technology. We were soooo close on this last one, now it is just one part. Unfortunately an expensive part, and I have been exploring options. Please for anyone fed up at this point, TAKE THE REFUND. It will not hurt my feelings in the least. For those who still after reading this do not want the refund, I am going to have to ask that you continue to have some grace. I can't wave a wand. There are things still not right that have to be fixed. I cannot take the stress though. So please, if you cannot find it in yourself at this point to wait, I get it it has been a long time. Way too long for any run to have taken. Please take the refund. For those still committed, I will continue to plug away at it.
Also, one last thought, we took a small 25% deposit at the time. It is not like we took the whole amount upfront. We have also been offering refunds since very early on. If this is something causing you stress or anger, why hang on? Why continue to cause stress to people just trying to make glowy flashlights to make people happy, and why continue to cause yourself stress? What is the motivation at that point? This small 20 piece run has caused me years of stress. I lose sleep over it. It was a committment I made to all of you and so I keep fighting to get it done. Please take the refund and move on. To those who have remained patient, I thank you from the very bottom of my heart! You guys have been wonderful.
I am going to reiterate this ONE MORE TIME, anyone tired of waiting or just finished for any reason at all, please take the refund. I will be checking my PM box in the next week or so, any of you feel free to PM with your Paypal address and I will get it right over upon request.
Warmest Regards,
LUMI