We have the first factory-produced Pro units in the office

[hansena]

I’ll be here! sticking it out for my Pro’s, I’m three and a half hours away from the mothership though so I have a different view.

[ericinkandthread]

As a pro purchaser I am very happy about all the good news. Just sour about how nonchalantly the bad news was delivered and about the lack of a plan (or desire to create one) heading toward the finish line. Hopefully everyone takes a minute to breathe & realizes some other tube replacement solution is key prior to shipping these things.

But… Yayy pro units & long-term, high-volume production lines!

[mpipes]

I’m all in for now.

The only thing that will stop me is if GF announces that they absolutely will not sell the tubes to users for them to install themselves, even without official support.

Otherwise, I thought everything else in the announcement was awesome!

[brandtmeister]

You mean just like a replaceable tube was offered…yeah, any trust is gone now. If their is no clear replacement strategy at shipment, I’m out.

[mpipes]

@brandtmeister

You mean just like a replaceable tube was offered…

Yes. Basically the only difference being that they would not provide the tech support for installing the tube. Considering my background in product design, tooling, and writing procedures, I am not concerned with tackling it myself.

[jamesdhatch]

@mpipes

Basically the only difference being that they would not provide the tech support for installing the tube

Not exactly. There’s no mention that you’ll be able to buy their custom tube. Nor is there any commitment that another generic tube will work in place of GF’s custom tube.

[laird]

@mpipes

I’m all in for now.

The only thing that will stop me is if GF announces that they absolutely will not sell the tubes to users for them to install themselves, even without official support.

Otherwise, I thought everything else in the announcement was awesome!

I think that Dan just said that they weren’t going to sell tubes to users because if “liability”. If he said he’d sell tubes to users with a release form, then we’d be having a much different discussion.

[brandtmeister]

Yep…either they need to get a reseller of the tubes, if they won’t sell them, or figure out how we can fit standard tubes…neither is a great scenario, and once competition picks up, will there be enough of a market for their proprietary tubes for a reasonable cost to the consumer?
If it’s liability related, there should be no surprise and they had plenty of time to figure it out, it’s not that they had a their friendly neighborhood lawyer for only the last month

[jamesdhatch]

@laird

If he said he’d sell tubes to users with a release form, then we’d be having a much different discussion.

Well that was quick:

Update to the update: We'll sell replacement tubes

Thank you for the clear and thoughtful feedback about our the importance of tube replacement for the community. I heard you loud and clear, and have spent the day with the team discussing what we can do for you. As a result, we’re changing our plan. If your tube needs replacement, you’ll have two options: We will sell replacement tubes so a Glowforge unit can be replaced without shipping it anywhere (price to be announced before we ship). We’ll replace the tube for you. This is free wh…

Nice to see Dan is listening. Helps restore the faith

[mpipes]

@jamesdhatch

Not exactly. There’s no mention that you’ll be able to buy their custom tube.

No, I covered that in a previous comment [quote=“mpipes, post:23, topic:6391”]
The only thing that will stop me is if GF announces that they absolutely will not sell the tubes to users for them to install themselves
[/quote]

@laird

I think that Dan just said that they weren’t going to sell tubes to users

I dont think he said they wouldnt sell tubes at all, he said they would not support it. To me this means you can get the hardware, but you’re on your own as far as installation.

@jamesdhatch

Nice to see Dan is listening. Helps restore the faith

And speculation ends!

[jrnelson]

@jamesdhatch

Nice to see Dan is listening. Helps restore the faith

yeah i am surprised but deeply appreciative that they responded thus

[rodrigobrionesm]

@mad_macs

and signed by @dan and staff.

I want my GF signed, laser signed

[tbelhumer]

Im happy to say you were a little off [quote=“Jamie, post:7, topic:6391”]
I don’t think we’ll hear about a solution by the time shipments start.
[/quote]

[Jamie]

I’m just happy that the pitchforks are being put away and the crowd is dispersing.

[scatterbrains]

I’d love to talk about the whole update. Apparently, the post about discussing the update wasn’t the place to do that. Maybe here.

@scatterbrains

I’m happy to hear that production has moved to it’s “forever” home. That is a good sign. I’m also glad to hear that the July/August schedule remains the same for completion of shipping. The story about visiting Flex was nice, too.

Very pleased to hear that the first Pro has rolled out and look forward to any reports on how that is working. As I have one on order, this is important to me. I’ve got the filter on order as well, but am not concerned with receiving them both at the same time as I can vent outside. I do, however, hope to hear more about the filter before units ship.

Nice to see a sneak peek at the catalogue as well. I like the option to purchase one print or unlimited. Some things I may only want one of and would appreciate saving the money for the lower cost purchase. For single prints, is there a plan for if there are any problems with the “print?” Also, you might consider allowing customers that purchase one “print” to upgrade to forever. That would let me print one to make sure it is what I want before committing to the forever cost.

Glad to hear that the final shielding is in, the bad tubes are gone, and engraves are better and cutting faster. Hopefully the door gets adjusted, but that seems pretty superficial. Should still get addressed, but not a high priority.

(Took of the end bit about the tube I had since that is well covered elsewhere.)

[cmreeder]

@scatterbrains

I’m happy to hear that production has moved to it’s “forever” home. That is a good sign. I’m also glad to hear that the July/August schedule remains the same for completion of shipping. The story about visiting Flex was nice, too.

I really liked that, too. That is a really big milestone, and big news.
I really liked hearing about the factory worker that has a pre-order. That’s gotta be so cool to have such a personal understanding of what you’re buying.

Actually made me think of Henry Ford pricing his automobiles and his employee salaries so that the guys making his cars could afford to own them.

I think of the Glowforge as a bit of a luxury item that wouldn’t be readily available to everybody; but really my family’s claims that it’s way too expensive of a toy come down to priorities. After all, R.V.s and most vacations cost more.

[soldiercoleman]

@rodrigobrionesm

I want my GF signed, laser signed

That darn shielding!

I would have liked it but I’m out! here you go

[scatterbrains]

Yeah, that and the Pro showing up (as you mentioned) really seem to indicate that a finish line is in sight.

I certainly would not be in this boat if the pricing was at estimated full retail. At least, not a Pro machine. It definitely makes the technology more accessible financially and adds to that ease of use that k40s and other cheap lasers don’t offer. Just the combination required to get me interested in something I didn’t know I needed.

[julybighouse]

Hey @dan, can we please request a photo of this Pro? Preferably showing the pass through slot. #ProGlamourShot

[kennethclapp]

@julybighouse

can we please request a photo of this Pro? Preferably showing the pass through slot. #ProGlamourShot

Have to second that. It will be very nice to see a living pro, even if it just in the zoo and not yet in the wild, and yes I know they look almost identical, but it’s an emotional thing