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FOR SALE GROUP BUY: Mercedes 500E Badge
- Thread starter Ntrepid
- Start date
i would like one badge as well.will paypal the total.thanks.
You can sign me up for one, too. Like I don't have enough 'stuff' around. LOL
Yeah. I chatted w him over the weekend. He was modifying a Euro N7 Relay that he received from Latvia.
Would be nice if he could find the time to indicate what the plan is with these badges, since folks prepaid and are left in the dark about the status of this group buy.
@Ntrepid, can you please let people know the status?
It doesn't appear that @Ntrepid has even logged into the forum since 15-December. I hope everything is OK. It would be good to know what the status is. I paid $300 up front, which is just a little bit more than "ashtray change" that one finds in their car, so a status report would be very helpful for everyone.
I happen to know he has been insanely busy at work, so my guess is he just hasn't had any time to do all the considerable behind the scenes legwork needed for this project lately. If we give him some time I'm sure we'll get an update as soon as there is new info.
I just chatted w @Ntrepid - right! He has a new job and has been totally snowed under w the new job. He hasn’t logged on for some time .... he has not spent any of the preorder dollars and promises to get on and update everyone!
Well first let me apologize for my absence from the Board. For over 6 years and covering two 036 ownerships, this has been my extended family. I've made friends here like @Melville, @captruff, @8899, @Jlaa, @vatc5637, and others who I have a friendship which extends beyond just digital volleys to dinners, drives, and get togethers. The reason why I do The Price is Right games on BaT E500E auctions and the Group Buys is I truly enjoy the interactions and people I've met who all share at least this one passion.
Special thanks to @Melville and @Jlaa who reached out via text to check in on me when there were questions on this particular thread. If they hadn't it may have gone a bit longer. Also thanks to @gerryvz for his concern above.
Long story short is I did start a new job where the organization was changing structure, the budget planning process was in full force, and I was on a huge learning curve. Adding to that was the FireEye and SolarWinds breaches (link) which operationally impacted the environment I am responsible for maintaining. I'm not making excuses but rather just wanted to provide some reasoning for why I've been otherwise absent. Time and sleep have personally been a premium and my family has felt it even though I am working from home.
Now onto the update for this Group Buy. As you can see in the pictures I've attached, @kwontumspeed came through with the double-sided 3M adhesive labels which fit perfectly in the back of the 3D printed badge as well as the OE badge @captruff provided. These labels will bond to the aluminum badges to secure them to your trunk. These were made for this project at no cost to us!
I've also figured out the packaging solution so that the badges can be delivered without being bent.
This project is ready to move forward with the exception of one thing: people who expressed interest following through with funding to their commitment level. Just as a recap. the pricing structure is based on volume and the quantities which were targeted were 50, 75, 100, and 125 units (see Post #118). As of today, I have received payments from less than half that are on the list. Part of that I take ownership for as my absence may have interrupted communications. Of the payments I have received, the badge count is currently for 32 badges of the now 79 total that people expressed an interest in purchasing. I have updated the first post to reflect contributions received to date (and like the SLS Reservoir Group Buy, I will continue to update this). However, we are ~43% short of the amount needed for the 75 units purchase minimum. If we do not get to the 75-unit level at least, I will have to re-price this effort which will, in effect, raise prices for all who have invested to date.
I'm heavily invested in this project from a time and financial perspective and I want this project to be successful. Please take a look at the first post to validate the payment received as well as reach out to others who you see on the list and have not paid nor responded to help nudge them to finalize their commitment.
So my request is that for those of you who are on the list in the first post of this thread and have not sent payment, please do. If there are people who thought this Group Buy was closed, please let them know it is still available. We have 6 new additions to the list and 3 of them have already submitted payment,
If payment can be sent by 15 January, I will rework the schedule in parallel to set expectations on a finished product being ready for shipment.
Thanks and apologies again for the delay. Glad to be back.
Robert
Special thanks to @Melville and @Jlaa who reached out via text to check in on me when there were questions on this particular thread. If they hadn't it may have gone a bit longer. Also thanks to @gerryvz for his concern above.
Long story short is I did start a new job where the organization was changing structure, the budget planning process was in full force, and I was on a huge learning curve. Adding to that was the FireEye and SolarWinds breaches (link) which operationally impacted the environment I am responsible for maintaining. I'm not making excuses but rather just wanted to provide some reasoning for why I've been otherwise absent. Time and sleep have personally been a premium and my family has felt it even though I am working from home.
Now onto the update for this Group Buy. As you can see in the pictures I've attached, @kwontumspeed came through with the double-sided 3M adhesive labels which fit perfectly in the back of the 3D printed badge as well as the OE badge @captruff provided. These labels will bond to the aluminum badges to secure them to your trunk. These were made for this project at no cost to us!
I've also figured out the packaging solution so that the badges can be delivered without being bent.
This project is ready to move forward with the exception of one thing: people who expressed interest following through with funding to their commitment level. Just as a recap. the pricing structure is based on volume and the quantities which were targeted were 50, 75, 100, and 125 units (see Post #118). As of today, I have received payments from less than half that are on the list. Part of that I take ownership for as my absence may have interrupted communications. Of the payments I have received, the badge count is currently for 32 badges of the now 79 total that people expressed an interest in purchasing. I have updated the first post to reflect contributions received to date (and like the SLS Reservoir Group Buy, I will continue to update this). However, we are ~43% short of the amount needed for the 75 units purchase minimum. If we do not get to the 75-unit level at least, I will have to re-price this effort which will, in effect, raise prices for all who have invested to date.
I'm heavily invested in this project from a time and financial perspective and I want this project to be successful. Please take a look at the first post to validate the payment received as well as reach out to others who you see on the list and have not paid nor responded to help nudge them to finalize their commitment.
So my request is that for those of you who are on the list in the first post of this thread and have not sent payment, please do. If there are people who thought this Group Buy was closed, please let them know it is still available. We have 6 new additions to the list and 3 of them have already submitted payment,
If payment can be sent by 15 January, I will rework the schedule in parallel to set expectations on a finished product being ready for shipment.
Thanks and apologies again for the delay. Glad to be back.
Robert
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@Ntrepid - looking for your PP id, I'm sure it's in one of the 167 posts here, I found the pricing in post 118, but must have overlooked the post about where to send the money.
Just a suggestion, I would put the price list and the payment info all in the first post with the list of buyers. That way anyone looking for the details only has to go to post #1, and not having to search the entire thread for price and payment detail info.
Also, since I'm buying 2 pieces, do I take the shipping price and multiply by 2, or assume two pieces fit in the same package?
I'll gladly send you the PP at the 50 total parts ordered figure, just in case you don't get to 75, and I don't need a refund, thanks for all this work, it's really appreciated.
3D printing of NLA parts is something that should be encouraged and supported. If successful some really needed parts could be custom made. The rear bumper filler plugs, (forgot the real name), never really took off, I think one or two owners commented on them. If I had complete confidence they would fit and stay in place I'd buy 2 sets of them as well. I'd like to see something like that get a renewed interest as well.
Thanks Again Robert...O
PS: & best wishes in the new job
Just a suggestion, I would put the price list and the payment info all in the first post with the list of buyers. That way anyone looking for the details only has to go to post #1, and not having to search the entire thread for price and payment detail info.
Also, since I'm buying 2 pieces, do I take the shipping price and multiply by 2, or assume two pieces fit in the same package?
I'll gladly send you the PP at the 50 total parts ordered figure, just in case you don't get to 75, and I don't need a refund, thanks for all this work, it's really appreciated.
3D printing of NLA parts is something that should be encouraged and supported. If successful some really needed parts could be custom made. The rear bumper filler plugs, (forgot the real name), never really took off, I think one or two owners commented on them. If I had complete confidence they would fit and stay in place I'd buy 2 sets of them as well. I'd like to see something like that get a renewed interest as well.
Thanks Again Robert...O
PS: & best wishes in the new job
Thanks for the suggestion. I will make that change. In the Reservoir Group Buy I did show how much people owed with shipping. I’ll do that again.
As for the shipping costs, since I can fit 4-5 easily on a piece of vinyl or plexiglass to ship via USPS Priority Mail, they should all have the same shipping cost. It will be people who are above that amount like @JAB12 and others who are international like @rucraig and @JC220 which will require a separate calculation.
Robert
I am still interested, but I am in fact waiting for some sort of proof on the final quality. As discussed from post #121 and the following posts, any trial/test machining will add up cost to run just 2-3 pieces. I understand that but if that workshop can be so sure about the final quality they could easily prove it with references on prior orders. But the only thing I am asking for is a close up photo of a machined surface on aluminium - not a complete part of any kind, just a surface photo of recent date. Is that possible?
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Sigh. Same old crap, people not paying and following up on their commitments. Biggest. Irritant. Ever.
Robert, I would just go with the Jan 15 date you have. If paid members need to put in a bit of extra money to cover the extra costs for the badges, because we can't get the numbers for the larger discount, then I guess so be it. I am happy to put in some extra $$$ into the general fund for this, so that you're not having to eat any costs. Just let me know what you need.
Glad to hear that you are OK. In the current COVID environment I was a bit scared for you/family seeing that you hadn't logged into the forum for a while. I have also gone through periods in past years where work and/or travel has been so intense that I've not logged into the forum for days. Especially when I was going through my divorce in 2016, moving into an apartment, and so forth.
To the folks who have committed to buying badges and who have not yet paid -- do I really have to say this?!? EITHER SHIT, OR GET OFF THE POT. YOU ARE HOLDING UP THIS GROUP BUY FOR THE REST OF US WHO HAVE PAID. SO EITHER HONOR YOUR WORD AND COMMITMENT, OR LET ROBERT KNOW THAT YOU ARE RENEGING SO HE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GROUP BUY. DO IT SOON.
To folks who are unsure about the quality of the badges -- let me just say a couple of things.
1) I know @Ntrepid well enough to know that he DOES NOT scrimp on things, and would not sell a sub-par product. He is 100% in lock-step with my own philosophy on this. He is one of the most trustworthy folks on this forum, and his word is something you can bank on, and his judgement is something you can trust.
2) You need to either trust Robert and what you've seen, and take a leap of faith, or back off and let it go. We're talking, what, $100-125 investment here, per badge? If you're not willing to "gamble" that money on a project that is being run by a very solid guy who knows what he is doing, that's fine. Nobody is going to ridicule you here. But make a damn decision one way or the other so that we can move forward.
3) If you STILL have your doubts about this project, do note that @Ntrepid has already successfully and recently completed the group buy for the SLS fluid reservoirs and stickers. This tunk badge project is infinitely more complex and involved, but certainly @Ntrepid has a solid track record, not to mention the professional skill set to see this badge project through.
Robert, I would just go with the Jan 15 date you have. If paid members need to put in a bit of extra money to cover the extra costs for the badges, because we can't get the numbers for the larger discount, then I guess so be it. I am happy to put in some extra $$$ into the general fund for this, so that you're not having to eat any costs. Just let me know what you need.
Glad to hear that you are OK. In the current COVID environment I was a bit scared for you/family seeing that you hadn't logged into the forum for a while. I have also gone through periods in past years where work and/or travel has been so intense that I've not logged into the forum for days. Especially when I was going through my divorce in 2016, moving into an apartment, and so forth.
To the folks who have committed to buying badges and who have not yet paid -- do I really have to say this?!? EITHER SHIT, OR GET OFF THE POT. YOU ARE HOLDING UP THIS GROUP BUY FOR THE REST OF US WHO HAVE PAID. SO EITHER HONOR YOUR WORD AND COMMITMENT, OR LET ROBERT KNOW THAT YOU ARE RENEGING SO HE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GROUP BUY. DO IT SOON.
To folks who are unsure about the quality of the badges -- let me just say a couple of things.
1) I know @Ntrepid well enough to know that he DOES NOT scrimp on things, and would not sell a sub-par product. He is 100% in lock-step with my own philosophy on this. He is one of the most trustworthy folks on this forum, and his word is something you can bank on, and his judgement is something you can trust.
2) You need to either trust Robert and what you've seen, and take a leap of faith, or back off and let it go. We're talking, what, $100-125 investment here, per badge? If you're not willing to "gamble" that money on a project that is being run by a very solid guy who knows what he is doing, that's fine. Nobody is going to ridicule you here. But make a damn decision one way or the other so that we can move forward.
3) If you STILL have your doubts about this project, do note that @Ntrepid has already successfully and recently completed the group buy for the SLS fluid reservoirs and stickers. This tunk badge project is infinitely more complex and involved, but certainly @Ntrepid has a solid track record, not to mention the professional skill set to see this badge project through.
At the request of a few, I went back and got a quote for a single badge to be machined and delivered to me. I would then take it to the shop identified that will chrome the badges. The thought is that if people needed validation on the finished product by having a single badge made and then sharing pictures and video, this would be one way to do it. I have an OE badge which I could put next to it as well as prop it on top of my badge currently on my 500E.
THe cost would be $453 *not* including chroming. This equates to an additional ~$10 cost to the people who have already committed. What I struggle with is those people have already committed and are bearing this cost versus the people that are sitting on the fence.
I’m open to any ideas people may have.
Robert
THe cost would be $453 *not* including chroming. This equates to an additional ~$10 cost to the people who have already committed. What I struggle with is those people have already committed and are bearing this cost versus the people that are sitting on the fence.
I’m open to any ideas people may have.
Robert
I hate to say it, but another option would just be to refund folks’ money and cancel the group buy. If folks can’t honor their commitments, then this is a realistic option. I don’t think anyone would look down on you for doing it.
If you decide to cancel the group buy, please keep the $300 I have paid you to help offset the 8-10x multiple of this amount that you have already invested into the project, that you will never get back.
I decided to pull the pin on doing further Lamin-X sales due to the US Mail delaying my sent packages, and multiple people pinging me with an inference that I somehow was ripping them off of $15-50 in Lamin-X because their packages didn’t arrive within a few days of when I sent them.
Two people sent me PMs this afternoon saying they just received their packages TODAY, which Id sent on 10-Dec.
Sorry to be a bit harsh, but sometimes it’s just not worth it to hassle with people who are impatient, or who can’t follow through on their commitments. It's soured me for a good long time into the future from offering things for sale like the data cards and Lamin-X. People can source/buy their own data cards and Lamin-X, and pay double or more for the privilege.
As far as this badge project, I say that if you can't keep your commitment to an honest project like this, then in the future you deserve to pay $400-500 for a tunk badge.
If you decide to cancel the group buy, please keep the $300 I have paid you to help offset the 8-10x multiple of this amount that you have already invested into the project, that you will never get back.
I decided to pull the pin on doing further Lamin-X sales due to the US Mail delaying my sent packages, and multiple people pinging me with an inference that I somehow was ripping them off of $15-50 in Lamin-X because their packages didn’t arrive within a few days of when I sent them.
Two people sent me PMs this afternoon saying they just received their packages TODAY, which Id sent on 10-Dec.
Sorry to be a bit harsh, but sometimes it’s just not worth it to hassle with people who are impatient, or who can’t follow through on their commitments. It's soured me for a good long time into the future from offering things for sale like the data cards and Lamin-X. People can source/buy their own data cards and Lamin-X, and pay double or more for the privilege.
As far as this badge project, I say that if you can't keep your commitment to an honest project like this, then in the future you deserve to pay $400-500 for a tunk badge.
Without getting into it there were delays by the OP since October and glad to see from the posts yesterday that the Group Buy is still in the works. I was initially miffed at the inference of "non payers" from others yesterday when questions were asked back in Oct and there was no response. The OP was AWOL for a period of months and this lead to uncertainty on the status of the group buy.
Notwithstanding the above - full payment sent and please update the table on initial post. (My badge is to be chromed, with textured black strip like original emblem please)
I hope for the sake of @Ntrepid and all members the group buy can go ahead.
And If it takes an additional $$ due to numbers not meeting 75: or the need for a sample to be provided I am good with that too as I sure most members would be.
I think it would be a great shame if the fantastic development efforts @Ntrepid has made to date went to waste.
Notwithstanding the above - full payment sent and please update the table on initial post. (My badge is to be chromed, with textured black strip like original emblem please)
I hope for the sake of @Ntrepid and all members the group buy can go ahead.
And If it takes an additional $$ due to numbers not meeting 75: or the need for a sample to be provided I am good with that too as I sure most members would be.
I think it would be a great shame if the fantastic development efforts @Ntrepid has made to date went to waste.
Robert - many thanks for promising updates!
I will gladly pay my share to see a sample come through. And if that sample is treated well on it's way to you, it can be a counting part of the requested number of the non-chrome/bare Alu badges. I have just paid for the 2 badges I signed up for; 1 chrome + 1 bare Alu. You mentioned earlier that the non-chrome badges would be at a lower price, but don't worry about that in my case, I am good with a flat price. I paid $220 for now which is ex. shipping, that extra sample cost, and any price adjustments, but in the end when things are sorted you just summarize and I pay the balance, we keep in touch about that.
As for the missing payments. I have participated in almost all group buys here since I joined the forum back in 2006, but I have never seen such a high rate of hesitation. About 10% appears to be more normal, but 40-50% is strange. As recently discussed with Robert on PM, my gut feeling is that several may be sitting on the fence for the same reason as I have. So let's hope a sample or any other proof of quality will help out on the situation.
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Years ago I tried to organize a group buy/discount on refinishing steering wheels. I failed miserably due to lack of time and effort on my part. It is quite generous of folks that organize and follow through with these and they deserve the commitment necessary.
drew
drew
@Ntrepid I am in total agreement with what @Jlaa said, but it seems like there are different opinions on the issue out there. Would it be easiest to just do a quick poll (like you did with your last group buy) and let the issue be decided that way? Maybe with a deadline for voting, so the issue gets decided in the non-too distant future and everyone just committed to doing whatever the majority voted for.
Thank you to everyone who have submitted their payment since my post on Wednesday. We are getting closer. I have reached out via PM to people who expressed interest and have an entry in the first post to encourage them to send payment. I have set a tentative deadline of 15 January.
I have also updated the table to reflect the changes requested so people can understand the costs. Since the badges are light and dimensionally not challenging to send (as opposed to the SLS reservoirs), you'll see that domestic shipping for the most part is $7.75 but international recipients will have a choice to make between the slower, untraceable USPS First Class International Mail and USPS Priority Mail International.
Please let me know if you have questions. I really appreciate the help to get this over the goal line.
Robert
Great news to share. We have crossed over the 50 badge purchase threshold!!!
My plan is to place the order at 8P ET (New York City Time) on Friday, 15 January. I have to submit an exact number so I want to apprise all of those who are either still considering this or have indicated intent but have not made payment that once I close this Group Buy, you will have to wait for if there is another Group Buy. Much like with the Group by @5thscaleracer did for exhausts,, there will be a minimum entry of 25 units. Also, the price per badge will increase as fewer units will be ordered Than in this Group Buy.
this is the best opportunity to maximize the savings on buying a reproduction badge Which has been carefully planned and will be specifically produced to look original on your trunk.
Thanks to everyone who has participated and paid. The project is officially moving forward!
Robert
First off, huge thanks to @Ntrepid for putting in all of this time and effort to help us all.
If my opinion matters on this topic, since communication went dead for a few months and just got updated last week, I think giving to the end of the month to get orders paid for is not an unreasonable request. I personally paid right away and think everyone else should have as well. However, many that may have initially expressed interest may have not gotten the memo yet.
I vote against the sample which will drive the price up for all. If it doesn't hit the 75 mark, so be it, but worth a shot to save everyone from having to pay-up the cost difference.
Just my 2 cents.
If my opinion matters on this topic, since communication went dead for a few months and just got updated last week, I think giving to the end of the month to get orders paid for is not an unreasonable request. I personally paid right away and think everyone else should have as well. However, many that may have initially expressed interest may have not gotten the memo yet.
I vote against the sample which will drive the price up for all. If it doesn't hit the 75 mark, so be it, but worth a shot to save everyone from having to pay-up the cost difference.
Just my 2 cents.
Most people ordered 1 or two u it’s. We are not talking a big ticket item here ... a couple hundred dollars for most people, max. Something that folks should be able to afford. I contrast this with the 5SR exhaust systems, which were $2-3K+ and less affordable. I say stick with the original deadline, and rattle the non-payers” trees between now and then.
if no response, F “Em. Folks have had plenty of time to get their shit together, including the past week.
if no response, F “Em. Folks have had plenty of time to get their shit together, including the past week.
Absolutely. I actually like doing these types of things because it helps others and I get to decode a problem by doing it.
As I intimated in my post bringing this thread back to life, I admit to owning some of the blame for this going dormant.
Note that 14 badges were purchased by people who had not originally committed to this project. I will say that I have sent a separate PM to each person (with the exception of @Schwayz which would not allow a PM) who expressed interest providing them with a total I needed based on their commitment. This has resulted in a lot of thanks in response and subsequent payment. My bet is the PM generated an email that went to their inbox and served as a reminder for those who have not checked in (like yours truly until recently).
Since I posted the update from earlier today, I've received payments for another 2 badges and @JAB12 committed to my having payment tomorrow.
This will bring us almost to the magical 75 number.
Also, I did reach out to @jhodg5ck via text as I had not seen him weigh in on his interest. Given his business (and his previous purchase of SLS reservoirs), I thought I'd remind him in case he had missed this.
Robert
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Great! Thanks again.
Ok folks. Many thanks for getting us to this point where the order for the badges has been placed!!! I submitted the order and have received confirmation that the STEP file has been approved by engineering and accepted for production. The next step is it to be placed in the queue with other projects that have been submitted. I am hoping to get a date this week or the beginning of the next as to when the parts will enter CNC production.
Once I receive the parts, I will then deliver them to the chroming shop in VA who will first polish and then apply the nickel, copper, and finally the chrome finish. From there I will pick them up and have a textured black paint applied under the 500E. From there it will just be a matter of packaging them up for shipment and delivery to each of you.
This has been a fun journey and I am excited to see the results!
Robert
It appears that the order has now entered the queue for production (Note that Fabrication in Progress in the picture below is not indicative of the cutting of metal but the start of activities needed to begin fabrication like allocation of raw material, loading of STEP file, etc.). I have inquired if they can give me a better insight for how long until it reaches the stage inspection and I will let you know what I find out. The good news is that our production quantity is small and the size/complexity of the part do not pose any issues for a 6-axis CNC machine to create from billet aluminum. The key here for me is the inspection which is done by hand.
Forward progess.
Robert
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