I hate to be a negative Nancy, but this thread looks a lot like how the GT Sail windows thread started. A great idea mixed with good intentions that can turn sour
Be hopeful folks but be warned, projects like these have a history on PFF for spanning many years and getting kinda messy.
hope they happen myself. definately a part GT owners like myself could use.
I hate to be a negative Nancy, but this thread looks a lot like how the GT Sail windows thread started. A great idea mixed with good intentions that can turn sour
Be hopeful folks but be warned, projects like these have a history on PFF for spanning many years and getting kinda messy.
hope they happen myself. definately a part GT owners like myself could use.
While I respect your privilege to post what ever you wish, you have obviously never read the very first post I made about this project. I clearly stated that the tooling was not completed (the specs are) and that I hope samples would be ready in by the end of the year . I also stated that I am not taking any kind of orders nor deposits until a sample is produced and tested. It has been exactly two weeks (not the twelve weeks that I stated was my target date for the tooling and samples) since I started this thread so here are a few things to consider:
First, I have asked for nothing in any way, shape or form from anyone on PFF other than a "virtual" show of hands from those who might be interested in this project. I have sold ZERO trunk seals thus far as I do not have a product yet to sell. Interest in an item does not mean sales.
Second, comparing me and my intentions to the "GT Sail panels" thread is quite a stretch. You do not know me nor do you know anything about my business nor background. There are however, a very few people on PFF who do know my background and they are well aware of what I can and can't do. I am not working on a shoestring budget nor am I doing this to make a living, I see this as an investment. Period. If it can't pay for itself or at least be a a little above a break-even, it won't happen. That said though, I have the patience to see where this project leads. There is opportunity to provide a product that fills a major hole in the Fiero parts market. There are other products that could be made as well and I am making a list of the suggestions that have been given to me but I am a "do one thing at a time" kind of person. I know my limitations. Much like the fender badges I made; a bunch of tire kickers inquired, few if any replied to my responses to them and none wanted pay the price to get the quality my machinist provides. Didn't hurt my feelings at all, I just took that as a "no, I'm not a candidate for your product" situation. No big deal.
Finally, let's talk about this whole "good intentions gone sour' thing. I have only been an active member of PFF since the beginning of this year. However, I lurked for several years before that and have built several cars from the ground up since I started driving 35 years ago (yes, I am AARP certified) There are long time "vendors" on here that deal with people with honesty and fairness. They have proven that product, service and actions speak volumes about the kind of people they are. They make an offer and they deliver, they don't have anything to prove because they know they are people of integrity. There are also people on here who are hustlers, hacks, frauds and cheap shot artists. It is easy to be critical of something when you can be anonymous (via a screen name) and not looking someone face to face when you make accusations. It is also easy to find fault when you have nothing at risk nor anything to offer as an alternative. In the car world it is sometimes referred to as "bench racing". Many cast aspersions on others and when they are proven wrong, don't have the balls to admit they were wrong nor even say they were sorry for their public assertions. In both my professional and private life I chose to not pass judgment on something until I have all the facts and I certainly wouldn't do so without at least speaking to the person or persons involved myself. Second hand stories and opinions are rarely accurate.
Now that's all out of the way..... when I have some real "updates" I will be sure to post. We have two of the four sections of tooling completed, I thought the third was going to be ready a few days ago but it looks like it is going to have to be re-machined. (No, this company isn't going to drop everything to work on my little project ) I am still guessing six more weeks for the rest of the tooling and hopefully then some working samples can be run for testing.
Thanks to all for the support and interest
Regards,
\/\/
[This message has been edited by infinitewill (edited 09-19-2009).]
I did read your post, and i respect your efforts. My post was not meant for you, it was for everyone else.
If you read my post, then i am sure you noticed that I never accused you of any wrong doing. Nor did I tell anyone to avoid you or not send you money.
So please do not take offense as this was not a personal attack or an attempt to prevent anyone from supporting you. you will notice that i encouraged your efforts in my post as well as i need this part.
What i was doing was trying to temper peoples excitement about these as these seals may not happen at all or could take years to turn into an actual product. You have 4 pages deep of interest to show you how many people want these to happen.
Again, I hope these seals happen, as I could use 1 or 2 myself.
I did read your post, and i respect your efforts. My post was not meant for you, it was for everyone else.
If you read my post, then i am sure you noticed that I never accused you of any wrong doing. Nor did I tell anyone to avoid you or not send you money.
So please do not take offense as this was not a personal attack or an attempt to prevent anyone from supporting you. you will notice that i encouraged your efforts in my post as well as i need this part.
What i was doing was trying to temper peoples excitement about these as these seals may not happen at all or could take years to turn into an actual product. You have 4 pages deep of interest to show you how many people want these to happen.
Again, I hope these seals happen, as I could use 1 or 2 myself.
I too, am sorry for the confusion, I was mixing two replies while only quoting one, which I shouldn't have done I wasn't taking your post as an accusation toward me, I was mainly referring to the GT Sail window thread, were there were/are a lot of threats and mis-information being tossed around. I too agree that there are those on PFF that have unrealistically high expectations any time a thread like this pops up. In the big picture, this is really a minor project for the rubber company to handle; for me it's kind of a big deal but for them I am more of an accommodation
I too have followed all the threads on the GT sail panels (both potential vendors), and over the years have seen some great ideas for replacement parts that have not happened. I can add however that I have met Will in Chicago this past spring when he was here giving a seminar for his "real job". I can tell you he is a dedicated, enthusiastic, quality minded person in his job field and for the Fiero. There is no doubt that he will come up with a quality product that we will all appreciate. Like the quarter glass windows, this is a costly, time consuming development process, and requires patience and $$$.
I will take 1 for a 87 gt if you will post it to me in Australia?
Wyatt, no sweat. Once they are in production I should be able to ship them to OZ. As a matter of fact I will be in Melbourne in March giving a lecture for my book tour. I can swing by HI to see Tom and then on to see you
Wyatt, no sweat. Once they are in production I should be able to ship them to OZ. As a matter of fact I will be in Melbourne in March giving a lecture for my book tour. I can swing by HI to see Tom and then on to see you
**** BREAKING NEWS **** (Insert dramatic news channel music here.....)
I just met with the fabricator and have been told that samples will be ready on or before Oct 31st! Upon approval, from those of you whom I have already contacted about being product testers and reviewers, we should be in full production no later than the second week of December! This is great news as it should push forward production by a full month! Keep you fingers crossed
Even better news, subject to the sample approval, we should have a selling price of $80 ea. U.S. Quantity discounts on six pcs. to a single shipping address will be considered but less than that will discount combined shipping only. I believe shipping can be done via a large Priority mail flat rate box which I think will hold two gaskets for under $12 shipping to the US. International rates will apply to non-U.S. shipments. Given that the factory/OEM part was $139 list when it was discontinued, I am very pleased to offer this discounted selling price. Without the support and enthusiasm of the PFF members this wouldn't/won't happen.
I have interest from enough people to consume most of the first run of product. Each additional run will take approximately 8 weeks to produce. I will not be taking orders nor deposits until we have an approved sample but I will be accepting PayPal.
Thanks to all of you for your interest and support, let's see how the samples turn out and move forward!
Pax,
\/\/
[This message has been edited by infinitewill (edited 09-25-2009).]
I just wanted to let you know, even if this does not work out in our favor, I will never fault you for that. You tried, which is more than any of us in here could ask for.
On that note, that is some exciting news!!!! When you are ready, send me a PM and the money will be on it's way.
Thanks again for the hard work you have put into these.
------------------ Adam 1984 Sport Coupe Auto., 130,~~~ miles, bad duke 1985 Sport Coupe 5 Speed, 55,000 original miles 1987 GT Auto., 155,~~~ miles, partial daily driver 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 5" lift, 35" tires, partial daily driver 1989 Yamaha V Max (oh yeah, it's fun!) 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, 25,000 original miles 1936 Dodge Two-door Touring Sedan
I just wanted to let you know, even if this does not work out in our favor, I will never fault you for that. You tried, which is more than any of us in here could ask for.
On that note, that is some exciting news!!!! When you are ready, send me a PM and the money will be on it's way.
Thanks again for the hard work you have put into these.
Andy
Thanks Andy, and thanks for serving (Didn't you say you were Army?). My nephew is headed back to Bagdad for his second tour and my son was inducted into the ROTC contract program at Pitt State (KS) last Sat. Hopefully you will be home long before he ever makes it there.
Thanks Andy, and thanks for serving (Didn't you say you were Army?). My nephew is headed back to Bagdad for his second tour and my son was inducted into the ROTC contract program at Pitt State (KS) last Sat. Hopefully you will be home long before he ever makes it there.
Will
Yes, I am south of Baghdad right now, and I will hopefully be home in January, possibly December from rumors I'm hearing. I wish your nephew and your son well, and tell your son I said congratulations. Your family will be in my prayers.
) I am still guessing six more weeks for the rest of the tooling and hopefully then some working samples can be run for testing. 
I wasn't taking your post as an accusation toward me, I was mainly referring to the GT Sail window thread, were there were/are a lot of threats and mis-information being tossed around. I too agree that there are those on PFF that have unrealistically high expectations any time a thread like this pops up. In the big picture, this is really a minor project for the rubber company to handle; for me it's kind of a big deal but for them I am more of an accommodation 
