GTFREAK
congratulations and good luck!
Thanks!
Thanks!
GTFREAK
Hey guys, yesterday we released the "Adjustment" series of videos. We hope they are helpful. Enjoy!
wgeuze
Nice interview with Barry!
GTFREAK
John
I reckon I can order these and get them past my wife without her noticing ................... or maybe not. Fantastic product at the price point.
coops
John go for it
wgeuze
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
We're going to be making an announcement shortly regarding all future batches (nothing to do with the waiting list).
Keep an eye on our Facebook page, our Twitter feed, and the various sim racing forums around the net.
Thanks!
We're going to be making an announcement shortly regarding all future batches (nothing to do with the waiting list).
Keep an eye on our Facebook page, our Twitter feed, and the various sim racing forums around the net.
Thanks!
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
I really wanted to put together a video for this, but each time I tried to put something together, I would get interrupted, or the video would come out terrible, or the lighting wasn't right... nothing was working. So, I decided that this was the best way to do it.
There's a few things I'd like to talk about today, and I've outlined them below:
1) what happened on June 1st, and what we're doing to fix things
2) The waiting list
3) The price of the pedals
Now, I know that the price of the pedals is probably the number 1 thing on your minds, and if you'd like to read about that, you can skip to the bottom and just read that portion. For those of you that would like to read all of it, I'll talk about them in order.
What happened on June 1st??
So, June 1st did not go as planned. I think it's pretty clear that we were caught way off guard, and things could have been handled a little differently. Some users were reporting that there was no shipping options, and others posted that they couldn't complete the transaction through PayPal. The good news is that we've identified the cause of these issues, and they've been corrected. The shipping error was a small mistake on our part, and we've made improvements to the site to prevent that from happening again. The PayPal thing was an oversight, and we've corrected that as well. The bottom line is, we screwed up. We made a statement initially that said that we would do our best to make it up to you guys, and I think the waiting list is a good way to do that.
The Waiting List
We recently sent out a mass email to all of our registered users, and directed them to a poll that had several different options for how we should handle this next batch. There were over 130 votes, and they were fairly even between the first two options. Option #1 was to have a waiting list that was based on an "Opt-In" button on the website. Option #2 was also a waiting list, but it was based on who registered on our website first/last. It ended up being very close, but the "Opt-In" won by a few votes. That doesn't mean we ignored the "registry" option. I felt that the "registry" option gave preferential treatment to certain users, and I didn't really want to go that way. If it had gotten more votes, I would have definitely considered it. However, I still feel that the "Opt-In" is the best way to go.
So, here's how this waiting list is going to work...
1) We will give you a link to a special page with the button you need to click
2) You will log into the website - preferably 1-2 hours beforehand
3) Once that date + time arrive, you'll click that button. You will need to refresh to see it - sorry ;-(
4) Once you've clicked the button, you will immediately see your place in the queue - it will be a number
5) That's it! You're now on the waiting list
The good news is, everyone will see the button, no matter what. You will have to refresh the page to see it, but you'll definitely see it. Before the date + time arrive, this button will be grayed out, so you'll know exactly where the button is, and not have to go searching for it, once we make it active.
After you've successfully been put on the waiting list, all you need to do is wait until your turn is up. This next batch will be 30 pedal sets, so the first 30 people on the list will get their sets first. The next batch will likely be larger, so #31 through XX(XX = a number to be determined) will get the next batch of pedals, and so on and so forth until everyone on the list has gotten their set.
We will be announcing a full set of instructions on how to complete the purchase once this new system is ready. The 1st 30 people will also likely get an email with those instructions.
At this time, we do not have a date + time estimate for you. We will keep you well informed, though. We will post the date + time on all of our social media networks, plus all of the forums we normally post in.
Keep in mind that this system has not been implemented yet. We're still working on it, and if we make any changes to it, we'll make sure to let you know. All registered users will get an email with a link to the page, and instructions on exactly what to do when the date + time arrive.
Price of the pedals
Ok, so this is the announcement that I've been talking about for the past few days. This hasn't been an easy decision to make, especially so soon after the first batch has been sold. We talked about this internally for weeks before we ever came to a solid decision, and we've only just made the final decision this past weekend (after the 1st batch shipped out).
We've decided to raise the price of the pedals by $40. Now, $40 is not that much. In fact, we talked about a $100 increase as recently as a few days ago. But, I didn't want to do that. I wanted to keep these pedals right around $400, and this price increase still keeps the overall price right around $400. I know there's shipping involved, but we can't do much about that.
I know this isn't exactly the best news. But, the game has changed. We need to be able to try and keep up with demand. Adding an extra $40 onto the cost of the pedals will allow us to increase batch sizes more frequently, which will allow us to get more pedals into the hands of more people, more quickly. That's our main goal.
We know this won't go over well for some of you, and I can certainly understand why. But, believe me, I'd sell them to you for $5 if I could. We just need to be able to stay in business to keep getting these things out to you guys. If we don't increase the price now, we'll continue to lose money.
I hope that you guys will understand why we made this decision.
Just to clarify: the prices for all of our other accessory products will remain the same. Also, we do not have any estimates for when the 2 pedal set will be available, but if and when it does become available again, it will also have an increase in price (to be determined).
Well guys, I think that's all I wanted to discuss today. Please go easy on me ;-)
I really wanted to put together a video for this, but each time I tried to put something together, I would get interrupted, or the video would come out terrible, or the lighting wasn't right... nothing was working. So, I decided that this was the best way to do it.
There's a few things I'd like to talk about today, and I've outlined them below:
1) what happened on June 1st, and what we're doing to fix things
2) The waiting list
3) The price of the pedals
Now, I know that the price of the pedals is probably the number 1 thing on your minds, and if you'd like to read about that, you can skip to the bottom and just read that portion. For those of you that would like to read all of it, I'll talk about them in order.
What happened on June 1st??
So, June 1st did not go as planned. I think it's pretty clear that we were caught way off guard, and things could have been handled a little differently. Some users were reporting that there was no shipping options, and others posted that they couldn't complete the transaction through PayPal. The good news is that we've identified the cause of these issues, and they've been corrected. The shipping error was a small mistake on our part, and we've made improvements to the site to prevent that from happening again. The PayPal thing was an oversight, and we've corrected that as well. The bottom line is, we screwed up. We made a statement initially that said that we would do our best to make it up to you guys, and I think the waiting list is a good way to do that.
The Waiting List
We recently sent out a mass email to all of our registered users, and directed them to a poll that had several different options for how we should handle this next batch. There were over 130 votes, and they were fairly even between the first two options. Option #1 was to have a waiting list that was based on an "Opt-In" button on the website. Option #2 was also a waiting list, but it was based on who registered on our website first/last. It ended up being very close, but the "Opt-In" won by a few votes. That doesn't mean we ignored the "registry" option. I felt that the "registry" option gave preferential treatment to certain users, and I didn't really want to go that way. If it had gotten more votes, I would have definitely considered it. However, I still feel that the "Opt-In" is the best way to go.
So, here's how this waiting list is going to work...
1) We will give you a link to a special page with the button you need to click
2) You will log into the website - preferably 1-2 hours beforehand
3) Once that date + time arrive, you'll click that button. You will need to refresh to see it - sorry ;-(
4) Once you've clicked the button, you will immediately see your place in the queue - it will be a number
5) That's it! You're now on the waiting list
The good news is, everyone will see the button, no matter what. You will have to refresh the page to see it, but you'll definitely see it. Before the date + time arrive, this button will be grayed out, so you'll know exactly where the button is, and not have to go searching for it, once we make it active.
After you've successfully been put on the waiting list, all you need to do is wait until your turn is up. This next batch will be 30 pedal sets, so the first 30 people on the list will get their sets first. The next batch will likely be larger, so #31 through XX(XX = a number to be determined) will get the next batch of pedals, and so on and so forth until everyone on the list has gotten their set.
We will be announcing a full set of instructions on how to complete the purchase once this new system is ready. The 1st 30 people will also likely get an email with those instructions.
At this time, we do not have a date + time estimate for you. We will keep you well informed, though. We will post the date + time on all of our social media networks, plus all of the forums we normally post in.
Keep in mind that this system has not been implemented yet. We're still working on it, and if we make any changes to it, we'll make sure to let you know. All registered users will get an email with a link to the page, and instructions on exactly what to do when the date + time arrive.
Price of the pedals
Ok, so this is the announcement that I've been talking about for the past few days. This hasn't been an easy decision to make, especially so soon after the first batch has been sold. We talked about this internally for weeks before we ever came to a solid decision, and we've only just made the final decision this past weekend (after the 1st batch shipped out).
We've decided to raise the price of the pedals by $40. Now, $40 is not that much. In fact, we talked about a $100 increase as recently as a few days ago. But, I didn't want to do that. I wanted to keep these pedals right around $400, and this price increase still keeps the overall price right around $400. I know there's shipping involved, but we can't do much about that.
I know this isn't exactly the best news. But, the game has changed. We need to be able to try and keep up with demand. Adding an extra $40 onto the cost of the pedals will allow us to increase batch sizes more frequently, which will allow us to get more pedals into the hands of more people, more quickly. That's our main goal.
We know this won't go over well for some of you, and I can certainly understand why. But, believe me, I'd sell them to you for $5 if I could. We just need to be able to stay in business to keep getting these things out to you guys. If we don't increase the price now, we'll continue to lose money.
I hope that you guys will understand why we made this decision.
Just to clarify: the prices for all of our other accessory products will remain the same. Also, we do not have any estimates for when the 2 pedal set will be available, but if and when it does become available again, it will also have an increase in price (to be determined).
Well guys, I think that's all I wanted to discuss today. Please go easy on me ;-)
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
Today we're announcing the date when you'll be able to "Opt-In" to our new waiting list system. We've created a video that explains how this new system will work, and when you'll be able to opt-in. Check out the video below.
Today we're announcing the date when you'll be able to "Opt-In" to our new waiting list system. We've created a video that explains how this new system will work, and when you'll be able to opt-in. Check out the video below.
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
The waiting list will go live in just a few minutes!
Good luck to everyone!
The waiting list will go live in just a few minutes!
Good luck to everyone!
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
I wanted to go ahead and give you a progress report on batch #2. We are a little bit further along than what this video represents, as this was taken a couple days ago. It's just a really short video that explains what we have finished so far. Enjoy!
I wanted to go ahead and give you a progress report on batch #2. We are a little bit further along than what this video represents, as this was taken a couple days ago. It's just a really short video that explains what we have finished so far. Enjoy!
Juergen-BY
Really nice to see, how everything goes ahead.
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
I just wanted to give you a small update on things.
Batch #2 is coming along very nicely. All of the throttle pedals and clutch pedals have been assembled. We are now currently assembling the brake pedals. We have to modify the load cells a bit, but this shouldn't take very long. After all of the pedals have been assembled, we'll be testing them with their own circuit boards. After that, we'll release the batch and send them out to those first people on the waiting list.
We are also working on something really special for those of you that opted in to our waiting list. I can't give you any details yet because we're still working on it, but we'll give you some info in the coming weeks. We hope you guys like the idea ;-)
I also wanted to say thank you for your continued support. I know that our production is small right now, but we're working on that. The batch after this one will be a bit larger (probably 35 or so). The batch after that will likely be 40 or so. Hopefully, the batches will continue to grow in size, and the time between them will decrease. That's our goal, anyway ;-)
I just wanted to give you a small update on things.
Batch #2 is coming along very nicely. All of the throttle pedals and clutch pedals have been assembled. We are now currently assembling the brake pedals. We have to modify the load cells a bit, but this shouldn't take very long. After all of the pedals have been assembled, we'll be testing them with their own circuit boards. After that, we'll release the batch and send them out to those first people on the waiting list.
We are also working on something really special for those of you that opted in to our waiting list. I can't give you any details yet because we're still working on it, but we'll give you some info in the coming weeks. We hope you guys like the idea ;-)
I also wanted to say thank you for your continued support. I know that our production is small right now, but we're working on that. The batch after this one will be a bit larger (probably 35 or so). The batch after that will likely be 40 or so. Hopefully, the batches will continue to grow in size, and the time between them will decrease. That's our goal, anyway ;-)
Corti
thanks for the info and effort.
regards, Corti.
regards, Corti.
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
Well, it's about that time again. Batch #2 is now complete, and we're ready to release it to the public. We've made a short video that reveals the release date, and also talks about some new products that we've added to the product selection screen. Please watch and listen to the video carefully, as it explains how we're handling these new products.
Also, as a reminder for those of you that are in batch #2, please remember to check your spam folders for emails from our website. Also, if you have "receive emails from admins" checked off as "no", then you need to switch that to "yes", otherwise you will not get the email once the batch is officially released.
Enjoy!
Well, it's about that time again. Batch #2 is now complete, and we're ready to release it to the public. We've made a short video that reveals the release date, and also talks about some new products that we've added to the product selection screen. Please watch and listen to the video carefully, as it explains how we're handling these new products.
Also, as a reminder for those of you that are in batch #2, please remember to check your spam folders for emails from our website. Also, if you have "receive emails from admins" checked off as "no", then you need to switch that to "yes", otherwise you will not get the email once the batch is officially released.
Enjoy!
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
Batch #3 has now begun. This batch will consist of 35 pedal sets + 1 additional set. The additional set will go to one random person that is not in batch #3. What this means is that if you are not currently in line for batch #3, you still have a chance to get your pedal set. We will have the full details soon, but this is the idea that we've been hinting at for a few weeks now.
This new system will start with batch #3, and then continue for each proceeding batch. Again, we'll have more details soon, but we just wanted you guys to know that even if you aren't in the current batch, opting-in might be a good idea ;-)
Batch #3 has now begun. This batch will consist of 35 pedal sets + 1 additional set. The additional set will go to one random person that is not in batch #3. What this means is that if you are not currently in line for batch #3, you still have a chance to get your pedal set. We will have the full details soon, but this is the idea that we've been hinting at for a few weeks now.
This new system will start with batch #3, and then continue for each proceeding batch. Again, we'll have more details soon, but we just wanted you guys to know that even if you aren't in the current batch, opting-in might be a good idea ;-)
wgeuze
You sir are not kidding!
Gives me more than time enough to set aside some funds
Gives me more than time enough to set aside some funds
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
Today I'm making 3 announcements in one video. I decided to do a video on this to make things a little easier. We've made some changes to the website and a couple of our products, and I just wanted to make sure you guys are aware of these changes. Also, I talk about the new "+1" system that I've been hinting at for some time now. This new system will be implemented once batch #3 has been released.
Also, I mention in the video that we've decided to include the heel rest with the mounting plate, and not have it as a separate product. Essentially, this makes it easier on both the customer and us. Along with this change comes a new pricing structure. We've bumped up the price for the mounting plate, and the pedals + mounting plate combo by $10 each. So, those of you that want the heel rest anyway will end up saving about $15.
Now, I know that we just sold the heel rest at a specific price, and now we've changed it right after that. Some of you that purchased the heel rest might be a little upset by that, and that's certainly understandable. Therefore, if you purchased the heel rest in batch #2 and would like a $15 refund, contact me through the website, and I will issue you that refund. I would be more than happy to do that for you ;-)
Enjoy the video!
Today I'm making 3 announcements in one video. I decided to do a video on this to make things a little easier. We've made some changes to the website and a couple of our products, and I just wanted to make sure you guys are aware of these changes. Also, I talk about the new "+1" system that I've been hinting at for some time now. This new system will be implemented once batch #3 has been released.
Also, I mention in the video that we've decided to include the heel rest with the mounting plate, and not have it as a separate product. Essentially, this makes it easier on both the customer and us. Along with this change comes a new pricing structure. We've bumped up the price for the mounting plate, and the pedals + mounting plate combo by $10 each. So, those of you that want the heel rest anyway will end up saving about $15.
Now, I know that we just sold the heel rest at a specific price, and now we've changed it right after that. Some of you that purchased the heel rest might be a little upset by that, and that's certainly understandable. Therefore, if you purchased the heel rest in batch #2 and would like a $15 refund, contact me through the website, and I will issue you that refund. I would be more than happy to do that for you ;-)
Enjoy the video!
mixer61
For the connection with the steering wheel, it is via usb?
GTFREAK
I'm assuming you're asking if these pedals connect to a wheel, and the answer to that is no. These connect to your PC using a USB cable.
mixer61
Thank you.
GTFREAK
GTFREAK
I don't know that I have ever talked about this before, and perhaps I should have. Some time ago, we invested in two small vibratory tumblers. These tumblers are used to put a nice, smooth, uniform finish to the outside of just about any material. These tumblers worked great for some of our smaller parts, and we even tried it on our pedal faces (batch #1). We absolutely loved the surface finish that it gave, and it looks similar to galvanized metal. The problem is that our tumblers are not big enough to handle any parts bigger than about 3 inches in diameter. Therefore, we've decided to invest in an industrial vibratory tumbler. The one we have our eye on is able to tumble all of our larger pieces with ease.
So, what does this mean, exactly? Well, it's actually a significant change. What this means is that we will no longer have to handle any of our parts with regards to their surface finish. Basically, the tumbler does all the work, and the parts come out looking great. Here's an example of what the finish might look like. This is just an example of one type of finish you can achieve with a certain type of tumbling media. The surface on the left is plastic media, and the surface on the right is ceramic media. We will most likely be using ceramic media, as we prefer the finish it produces.
As you can see, the finish is quite good, and there's really nothing to it. You just drop the parts in, and the tumbler does the rest. In the long term, this will save us a significant amount of time. For example, it takes us at least a week to sand blast all of our parts for 36 pedal sets, if not longer. On top of that, before the parts are sand blasted, they have to be prepped with a cleaning solution, otherwise all of the dirt and grease will get blasted into the metal, and it's very difficult to clean it after the parts have been blasted. This tumbler will help eliminate both of those steps in the finishing process. This is definitely a step in the right direction for us. We need to get these things done much faster than we currently are, and this will help us do just that.
When we first announced these pedals, we wanted to have them powder coated, but once we started to do that, we quickly realized our mistake. I didn't want to make the decision to switch to sand blasting, but we had to do something. Things just weren't working out. Well, we're facing the same problem once again. This sand blasting thing just isn't working out. I'm having to stand at the sand blaster for hours and hours every day for at least a week, and it's starting to take it's toll. So, we're going to move in a different direction.
BATCH #4
We will be starting production on Batch #4 after the 1st of the year. In my last video, I explained that things were starting to get a little too hectic around here, and I took some time off. The biggest issue with that is that I didn't tell anyone, and I should have. I just want to apologize again for not letting anyone know about it. Anyhow, I'm going to be spending the holidays with my family, and I'm sure most of you can understand why.
So, between batch #3's release, and the start of batch #4, we will be installing the new tumbler, and also making some much needed changes to our milling machine and cnc machine. Our cnc machine is not as rigid as it could be, and the manufacturer has released a kit that really makes the thing much more rigid (this will allow us to complete parts faster). We've also invested in a belt drive kit for our milling machine. This will essentially double the RPM's on the machine, and eliminate those awful plastic gears (really, Grizzly? Plastic gears?).
Well, this post turned out to be much longer than I anticipated. I hope you guys can understand why we are making these changes, and I hope you will all bare with us as we spend a little quality time with the family, and get ready for batch #4 ;-)
If you guys have any questions, please feel free to ask. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
So, what does this mean, exactly? Well, it's actually a significant change. What this means is that we will no longer have to handle any of our parts with regards to their surface finish. Basically, the tumbler does all the work, and the parts come out looking great. Here's an example of what the finish might look like. This is just an example of one type of finish you can achieve with a certain type of tumbling media. The surface on the left is plastic media, and the surface on the right is ceramic media. We will most likely be using ceramic media, as we prefer the finish it produces.
As you can see, the finish is quite good, and there's really nothing to it. You just drop the parts in, and the tumbler does the rest. In the long term, this will save us a significant amount of time. For example, it takes us at least a week to sand blast all of our parts for 36 pedal sets, if not longer. On top of that, before the parts are sand blasted, they have to be prepped with a cleaning solution, otherwise all of the dirt and grease will get blasted into the metal, and it's very difficult to clean it after the parts have been blasted. This tumbler will help eliminate both of those steps in the finishing process. This is definitely a step in the right direction for us. We need to get these things done much faster than we currently are, and this will help us do just that.
When we first announced these pedals, we wanted to have them powder coated, but once we started to do that, we quickly realized our mistake. I didn't want to make the decision to switch to sand blasting, but we had to do something. Things just weren't working out. Well, we're facing the same problem once again. This sand blasting thing just isn't working out. I'm having to stand at the sand blaster for hours and hours every day for at least a week, and it's starting to take it's toll. So, we're going to move in a different direction.
BATCH #4
We will be starting production on Batch #4 after the 1st of the year. In my last video, I explained that things were starting to get a little too hectic around here, and I took some time off. The biggest issue with that is that I didn't tell anyone, and I should have. I just want to apologize again for not letting anyone know about it. Anyhow, I'm going to be spending the holidays with my family, and I'm sure most of you can understand why.
So, between batch #3's release, and the start of batch #4, we will be installing the new tumbler, and also making some much needed changes to our milling machine and cnc machine. Our cnc machine is not as rigid as it could be, and the manufacturer has released a kit that really makes the thing much more rigid (this will allow us to complete parts faster). We've also invested in a belt drive kit for our milling machine. This will essentially double the RPM's on the machine, and eliminate those awful plastic gears (really, Grizzly? Plastic gears?).
Well, this post turned out to be much longer than I anticipated. I hope you guys can understand why we are making these changes, and I hope you will all bare with us as we spend a little quality time with the family, and get ready for batch #4 ;-)
If you guys have any questions, please feel free to ask. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
John
Engineering solutions to improve the product and output is always good. I've still got my eyes (all 4 of them) on your pedals, having to replace my wheel has just put a purchase back a bit. But by the sounds of it - you don't have a shortage of customers at all. Keep posting the videos and pictures, every one of them helps sell the product.
GTFREAK
Thanks, John! I appreciate that. I'll keep you guys updated ;-)
GTFREAK
whitmore
Recently purchased these and so far can only say good things about the pedals and the service from Proto Simtech. I had quite a good time installing adjusting and calibrating. The how to videos are highly recommended befors starting adjustments.
My rig is a Vision Racer3 so pedal placement took a little work but turned out beautifully. Photos of G27 pedals fitted before replacement.
The pedals are everything I hoped they would be thankyou Proto Simtech
My rig is a Vision Racer3 so pedal placement took a little work but turned out beautifully. Photos of G27 pedals fitted before replacement.
The pedals are everything I hoped they would be thankyou Proto Simtech
GTFREAK
Awesome!! I'm so glad you are enjoying them! Setup looks great ;-)
One small detail...
The heel rest really wasn't meant to be raised up like that, and still be stable. I'm sure it probably works, but I just wanted to be sure that you knew that it wasn't designed to be in that position.
With that said, if it's functioning how you like it, then I say enjoy it ;-)
Thanks for sharing the pictures!
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
We've recently made some design changes to our pedal set, and I made a quick video that highlights these changes.
Over time, our pedals will continue to evolve, but the overall design and functionality will remain the same. You may see some new additions to the pedal set after awhile, or you may see a completely different component then what we've used in the past. With that said, I assure you that they will function exactly the same as they always have ;-)
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video!
We've recently made some design changes to our pedal set, and I made a quick video that highlights these changes.
Over time, our pedals will continue to evolve, but the overall design and functionality will remain the same. You may see some new additions to the pedal set after awhile, or you may see a completely different component then what we've used in the past. With that said, I assure you that they will function exactly the same as they always have ;-)
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video!
wgeuze
I really like how you continue to improve your design with cost effectiveness in mind.
The new mounting plates don't look like they are flush with the bottom of the pedals anymore. Are you going
to provide spacers to fill out this small gap? Have you tested overtightening the bolts on the mounting plates?
It'd suck if they end up bent because of said gap when trying to mount the pedals securely .
Some advice though though, be sure not to turn this into a Heusinkveld copy
The new mounting plates don't look like they are flush with the bottom of the pedals anymore. Are you going
to provide spacers to fill out this small gap? Have you tested overtightening the bolts on the mounting plates?
It'd suck if they end up bent because of said gap when trying to mount the pedals securely .
Some advice though though, be sure not to turn this into a Heusinkveld copy
Prodigy
Why is that?Some advice though though, be sure not to turn this into a Heusinkveld copy
GTFREAK
2 things....
1) If you bend those tabs when bolting down the pedals, you're bolting them down waaaaay too hard. If you watched the video, you'll notice that the tabs don't even move when I use the pry bar to bend the bolt.
2) We're going to provide you with spacers ;-) No worries, we got you covered ;-)
wgeuze
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
I really wanted to do a video on this, but we're super busy with batch #4, and I just don't have the time at the moment. So, rather than risk springing this on you guys at the last minute, I wanted to fill you in on what's happening.
Small Price Increase
As some of you may have noticed, we've updated the price of our pedal set on the front page of our website to $439. This is a $20 price increase. This was done for a couple of reasons. Some of you may disagree with this price increase, and for some, this could be a deciding factor as to whether or not to buy this pedal set vs.a different set, and I can certainly understand that. With that said, and no matter how much I hate increasing our prices, I want to be sure that I've done my job of passing this info on to you.
As we continue to grow, our operating costs grow as well. This is just the natural progression of any successful business. Normally, as more products are shipped out the door, the more money you make, and this can sometimes offset the increased costs of doing business. In our case, we haven't increased the number of products just yet, but we're getting there. With the recent changes made to our shop and the design of our pedals, this should help decrease batch times which, in turn, will get them into your hands quicker. That's the goal, anyway ;-)
We're also having to deal with an increase in aluminum prices. The price of aluminum is out of our control, and as you know, our pedals are 90% aluminum. This means we have to pay for it, no matter what it costs. We've actually been dealing with this since we began production on batch #3, but we held off on the price increase as long as we possibly could.
OK, so now that you've heard the bad news, let me try and give you a bit of good news.
The good news is that we're really cookin with batch #4. Now, the last thing I want to do is jump the gun, so I'm not going to be giving out estimates. All I wanted to say was that the recent changes to the shop (and pedal design) have really helped. I've said this since the beginning, but as we continue to build these things, we find better ways of handling certain tasks. One small example is the way that we polish the springs for the clutch and throttle. The end result is the same, but the amount of work needed to achieve that result has been cut by more than half. Little things like that can really have a dramatic affect on production as a whole.
At some point, we may decide to reduce the price of our pedals again, IF we can increase production by an amount that would make a price reduction feasible. I'd really like to be able to do that. I don't like increasing prices. I really don't. In fact, I hate it. But sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, ya know?
Anyhow, I know this post was long, but I just wanted to make sure you guys understood my position. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them, as always ;-)
Chris
I really wanted to do a video on this, but we're super busy with batch #4, and I just don't have the time at the moment. So, rather than risk springing this on you guys at the last minute, I wanted to fill you in on what's happening.
Small Price Increase
As some of you may have noticed, we've updated the price of our pedal set on the front page of our website to $439. This is a $20 price increase. This was done for a couple of reasons. Some of you may disagree with this price increase, and for some, this could be a deciding factor as to whether or not to buy this pedal set vs.a different set, and I can certainly understand that. With that said, and no matter how much I hate increasing our prices, I want to be sure that I've done my job of passing this info on to you.
As we continue to grow, our operating costs grow as well. This is just the natural progression of any successful business. Normally, as more products are shipped out the door, the more money you make, and this can sometimes offset the increased costs of doing business. In our case, we haven't increased the number of products just yet, but we're getting there. With the recent changes made to our shop and the design of our pedals, this should help decrease batch times which, in turn, will get them into your hands quicker. That's the goal, anyway ;-)
We're also having to deal with an increase in aluminum prices. The price of aluminum is out of our control, and as you know, our pedals are 90% aluminum. This means we have to pay for it, no matter what it costs. We've actually been dealing with this since we began production on batch #3, but we held off on the price increase as long as we possibly could.
OK, so now that you've heard the bad news, let me try and give you a bit of good news.
The good news is that we're really cookin with batch #4. Now, the last thing I want to do is jump the gun, so I'm not going to be giving out estimates. All I wanted to say was that the recent changes to the shop (and pedal design) have really helped. I've said this since the beginning, but as we continue to build these things, we find better ways of handling certain tasks. One small example is the way that we polish the springs for the clutch and throttle. The end result is the same, but the amount of work needed to achieve that result has been cut by more than half. Little things like that can really have a dramatic affect on production as a whole.
At some point, we may decide to reduce the price of our pedals again, IF we can increase production by an amount that would make a price reduction feasible. I'd really like to be able to do that. I don't like increasing prices. I really don't. In fact, I hate it. But sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, ya know?
Anyhow, I know this post was long, but I just wanted to make sure you guys understood my position. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them, as always ;-)
Chris
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wgeuze
You are right Chris, a decision has been made. I've opted out, thanks for your clear stream of information along the way
Juergen-BY
Sure?
View attachment 19092
Well...as the price for aluminium comes more and more down since 1 year, it`s time to reduce the pedals price
GTFREAK
Yes, I'm absolutely sure. The price per sheet from our supplier has gone up by over $150 since we started back in 2014. We've also checked other suppliers and have seen similar results. We've considered other suppliers, but most often they can be more expensive due to shipping costs. You see, it's not just the aluminum we're paying for ;-)
Just to give you an example as far as costs are concerned, Ledford Steel Company today sells 4'x8' sheets of aluminum for $561 per sheet. Back in 2014 we paid $427 for the same sheets. When we purchased the aluminum for batch #4, we paid $584 per sheet, with other suppliers selling for similar prices.
Also, your graph doesn't tell me much of anything. For example, what type of aluminum? 6061? 6063? 5005? 3003? 7075? 5052? 5086? 6101? All of these types of aluminum have very different costs because of the type of aluminum and how they're produced.
The bottom line is, we're paying more for it than we did when we started, as I stated in my original post.
GTFREAK
You are right Chris, a decision has been made. I've opted out, thanks for your clear stream of information along the way
You're very welcome, wgeuze. I try to keep you guys informed as much as possible.
I can certainly understand your decision, and I'm sure a lot of others will make the same decision. Unfortunately, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.
Gotta roll with the punches, I guess ;-)
GTFREAK
Hey guys,
I've created a really short "Update" video for you regarding batch #4. I am super excited for 2016, and I hope you are too!
Enjoy!!
I've created a really short "Update" video for you regarding batch #4. I am super excited for 2016, and I hope you are too!
Enjoy!!