Discussion of June '17 update

[drkstr318]

Hope it works out for you and good luck. DINSTAAR!

[dan]

@tawatkin2000

It’s the fact that (and I may be mistaken) that there appears to have been very little effort to either mitigate the high shipping costs for international buyers, or to compensate them in a manner relative to that given to those within the mainland USA.

We do, in fact, spend more dollars and time (even after accounting for higher shipping rates) per customer on our international customers than we do our domestic ones.

@eric2

I ordered the air filter with the PRO model. Does that mean that my Glowforge will not come till September, with the Air filter is ready?

No, we’ll offer to ship your Pro as soon as it’s ready, and the air filter separately when it is ready.

@mad_macs

Something is at odds here. Could Flex have underestimated production so poorly? We are told they are the best in the biz. How could they have made such a miscalculation, so very late in the game?

At each step along the way we learn things. What we’ve determined with Flex is that we need a more measured ramp to full production velocity than we planned, or we risk our quality bar. If we ramped faster, we’d wind up missing problems. For example, right now we have an extremely long test period for each unit. To ramp, we shorten that test pass. (Fewer hours per machine means more machines per day). We don’t want to do that until we’re certain that moving faster won’t result in shipping defects.

@emilycarolinemiller1

I was under the, perhaps mistaken, impression that Glowforge founder was a lifetime appointment and that founders would have a 10% discount in the glowforge store.

Previously we said that founder was a lifetime appointment, and that the first founder benefit was 10% discount through the end of 2017. We just increased that benefit to last through the end of 2018.

@jimstock60

Question on the monthly $20.

$20 per full month.[quote=“violettatalley, post:266, topic:8394”]
I feel it is my place to give you a virtual pat-on-the-back, a high-five (and a hug, if needed) for all of your efforts to-date.
[/quote]

Thank you. I don’t think I deserve it until I deliver for you (and everyone else), but will take it just the same!

@vsaunders

When the Pro safety information is released, will it be posted to the forum or emailed?

We haven’t decided on the delivery plan. This may seem odd, but Class 4 laser instruction typically costs thousands of dollars (and is costing us immense dollars to produce), so we’re not jumping to post it all over the internet. We’ll announce distribution plans here when they’re ready.

@rachelreneelim

Shipping is very expensive. Is there any way that we can purchase whatever materials to be shipped together with the glow forge in order to save some money?

We tried to make that happen for you, but unfortunately couldn’t design the logistics & packaging to accommodate it.

@palmercr

I think they will be organised by purchase time when that particular country starts shipping but each country will only start when its legal and logistical requirements have been solved.

Correct.[quote=“dledoux, post:290, topic:8394”]
I ordered a Basic on 9/25/2015. On the spreadsheet I see that some of the orders placed AFTER mine have already gotten emails.
[/quote]

We shipped out some of the prerelease units and first production run (<100 units) to selected folks for early feedback. You will also see that if you ordered a different product, or from a different country.

@destiney_glenn

People have a right to be upset and people also have a right to be optimistic, there is really no reason to rag on anyone for their feelings, everyone is entitled to them.

I agree completely. People have every right to be upset with us. We’ve let you down. We hope you’ll forgive us when you get your Glowforge.

@gmckayca

As many of the lucky ones who have one on hand have said, it will be worth the wait. I’m sure that goes for twins, too. Right, @dan?

Darn tootin. Congratulations!!!

[rpegg]

And a good one. Much younger but even my mortality has crossed the mind in relationship to the wait.

[bailey]

It’s…somewhere north of that but south of 24/7.

[tk_0384]

Agree with the folk feeling disappointed with the delivery window update. I’ve been telling clients “when I get my laser cutter” ever since early 2016. I’ve had to pass on a good bit of what could have been profitable work as well, more than once telling a client “I’ll have a cutter in a month” and then having to go back and say “oh sorry, that’s 7 months now, you’ll need to go elsewhere.”

Am I happy that units are shipping now? Sure. Am I ok with the delivery window now going out until October 31? Nope.

[caribis2]

@mad_macs

I have a K40, It has little in the way of safety, no interlocks, poor grounding, and no FCC. I did get a mild shock from it once. It still seems to have made its way here.

If the K40 doesn’t have WiFi or Bluetooth then it shouldn’t need an FCC approval. In my experience over the years the US cares somewhat about an appliance burning something down and considerably less about someone being electrocuted. But put a radio in it and all sorts of rules come down on your head.

[palmercr]

All electronics need FCC to show they don’t emit RF noise and are immune to a certain level of RF noise. It isn’t just radio devices, which have further requirements.

[jason.fuller0]

@tk_0384

Am I ok with the delivery window now going out until October 31? Nope.

Well, the same options remain as have been in place for some time.

[caribis2]

Yes, emissions and susceptibility testing, but you don’t necessarily need the FCC mark without a radio. With it, obviously, you need it. I don’t doubt there is a middle place as well, but I have yet to run afoul of it. If the device has a screen you can place the FCC info in the software as long as it isn’t more than three levels down from the main screen. I placed one two levels down once because I didn’t know if the optional login screen counted as a level. I assumed that is what he meant by “no FCC” was no FCC mark on the device.

[dan_berry]

@caribis2

If the K40 doesn’t have WiFi or Bluetooth then it shouldn’t need an FCC approval.

By the regulation, the FCC DoC certification mark is mandatory for devices classified under part 15 (IT equipment like computers, switched-mode power supplies, monitors etc., television receivers, cable system devices, low-power transmitters, un-licensed personal communication devices) and part 18 (industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) devices that emit RF radiation) of the FCC regulations.
–Wikipedia

Power supplies alone meets one classification, but also being an industrial piece of equipment whose whole purpose is to emit high-frequency energy waves in the visible spectrum makes it doubly-so.

Then there’s UL/CSA approval that basically attempts to assure people “it won’t kill you”.

[newbies_234]

Wow the bottom of this topic has gone WAYYYY off the rails

[dan_berry]

lol… honestly, the ability to merge topics in Discourse is great, but I wish there was more of a feature to fork topics (and all replies) at a certain message.

[caribis2]

Pretty much been part 18, but not emitting RF (if you emit radiation, as in medical imaging, FCC rules are the least of your problems.) We’re very picky about our power supplies and only buy expensive ones that meet certain standards, but they don’t have a FCC mark. This would explain why my monitors have an FCC mark without a radio.

As regards CSA approval, that’s because you’re in Canada and they care about you.

[markwal]

Actually I think your totally made up numbers are as good as anybody’s random guess at the moment and probably a bit better. Sure, it’s an over simplification and anybody with real production information isn’t going to share it with us anyway, so doing some handwavy math is the best we’re gonna get. I’m glad you made the attempt and shared it.

And also I’m glad that you put the caveats there since without them there’s bound to be somebody who thinks that you owe them something if you’re wrong (probably anyway, such is the internet).

Also, I bet, unfortunately, that the Pro ramp is still a bit optimistic since these things almost always have a way of surprising you as you ramp up production. Also, I think there were more than the average number of orders on the first day which I think would also generally make your estimates optimistic until the end. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out. Hopefully more folks will enter their info on the crowdsource sheet. It’s a fun diversion while we wait anyway.

[kittski]

@lcronkite

Let me tell you my story: I was 84 when I order my Pro and figured I would have it for my 85th birthday . I now see that I won’t even get it for my 86th in July. I

Rock on Icronkite
Personally, I think anyone over the age of 80 should have their shipping put at the very front of the line. Hell, I’d be willing to set back my own shipping a few weeks if it’d help.

Oh yeah, my Momma is 84 and cute as hell if you’re ever in CA Icronkite.

[lgibson]

As a customer of your product I want to know if my money is in significant jeopardy of being lost. As you continue to delay orders and offer additional incentives to stay, that adds up in cost. Can you as a company offer any financial evidence and or guidance that you could sustain your business model? I want the product and not a refund, but on the other hand I don’t want to lose my money.

At this point I am left to believe that some people are being treated with preferred shipment priority beyond order date. For example I understand forum status may increase or decrease when you will get your product. Can you confirm this? Are there any other factors that may influence the delivery date (besides model type / air filter combination / international orders)?

[lcronkite]

@kittski

Oh yeah, my Momma is 84 and cute as hell if you’re ever in CA Icronkite.

Sorry, I’m happily married.

[ihermit2]

@kittski

Personally, I think anyone over the age of 80 should have their shipping put at the very front of the line.

Well that’s a slippery slope. I think anyone with a forum name starting with I should get moved first in line?

[kittski]

@ihermit2

Well that’s a slippery slope. I think anyone with a forum name starting with I should get moved first in line?

Sure, if you’re over 80 and you’re name starts with “I” you can go in line right after Icronkite. Now, if you’re older then him, I’ll let you go first.

[ihermit2]

I feel solid on moving @lcronkite to the front of the line. I’m just happy that ordering the first day I’ll be close to the start of pro shipping for my country