Remote Transmission Dip Stick Aftermarket Support?

[Fitzmotor]

Cha ching! Are you over 300 orders yet, Mike? ?

So, if you think think this is a "Cha ching" deal you are high AF

In fact, at the end of this run, which will be a total of 360 assembly's less the 25 or so that are scrapped, I know it looks like I got a good thing going, but I am going to re-evaluate the ROI and depending on where it ends up, I dont know if I can continue, I really hope so, but it's on the lean side, your Cha ching comment kinda stings, this requires long, long hours dude!

And no, I'm almost caught up with the topic list at about 105 sold, I'm only about 10 behind now, going to work on the voting list soon.

I know you were just having fun, I just wanted to throw in a reality snap


Thanks about the dog you guys, it was hard, her spirits were great, her body failed her.

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[Sgt York]

Hey, quite a few guys have popped up here recently requesting to be put on the list, I got you guys, I am busy at it now, for once, I'm not held up waiting for the parts to build these things.

Actually, I didn't get much done this week, it's been a tough week, I had to put my crippled German Shepherd down, it was sad, but time well spent with her.

Hopefully, (the sound of knocking on wood) from here out, I can just crank them out, build up a pile.

I am trying to get the voting list blended in with the posts here requesting one, if any of you voters have interest, please post up here, I printed out the voter list, I am cross referencing it to the topic list, so far most have been sold to people who voted, I guess I'm going to try and message everyone on the voter list that did not post to the topic, but whew, this is a good problem, but a insanely time consuming task.

Sorry to hear about you German Shepherd. We had to put down our dog a few years back and it was just as bad as losing a child. To this day we have not got another dog because we do not want to go through that again.

 

[Msfitoy]

So, if you think think this is a "Cha ching" deal you are high AF

In fact, at the end of this run, which will be a total of 360 assembly's less the 25 or so that are scrapped, I know it looks like I got a good thing going, but I am going to re-evaluate the ROI and depending on where it ends up, I dont know if I can continue, I really hope so, but it's on the lean side, your Cha ching comment kinda stings, this requires long, long hours dude!

And no, I'm almost caught up with the topic list at about 105 sold, I'm only about 10 behind now, going to work on the voting list soon.

I know you were just having fun, I just wanted to throw in a reality snap


Thanks about the dog you guys, it was hard, her spirits were great, her body failed her.

Oh man...didn't mean to be rude...sorry, I take it back...

Maybe down the road, things will smooth out for you, Mike...

 

[Fitzmotor]

Sorry to hear about you German Shepherd. We had to put down our dog a few years back and it was just as bad as losing a child. To this day we have not got another dog because we do not want to go through that again.

No, you have it wrong, nothing gets over the loss of a puppy like a new puppy!

My father in law swore the same thing, I wrapped up a Golden Retriever puppy in a box, gave it to him for Christmas, he thanked me after he stopped cussing, it became his best friend.

 

[Fitzmotor]

Oh man...didn't mean to be rude...sorry, I take it back...

Maybe down the road, things will smooth out for you, Mike...

No offense taken, just needed to give a glimpse of the reality of it.

 

[Grumpaw]

Mike, if you have too, consider bumping the price up to where you can make a comfortable profit.
No one expects you to make/continue making these for "cost"....you must make enough so your not only comfortable, but you want to continue making them.
I was one of the first, and my price was a few bucks more, and it didn't bother me at all.
I know you were trying to do it as "cheaply" as possible, but for what you are turning out, the trial and error making it and the tools/machinery/labor to set everything up.....if you have to, bump up the price.
Speaking for myself, after starting with the B&M, and then going with yours....no comparison....I would have paid for yours, what I paid for the B&M.

 

[Superspirit]

I paid the higher price for an earlier one also. Worth every Penny. Up the price and make a profit the quality you have is outstanding!

 

[Fitzmotor]

I paid the higher price for an earlier one also. Worth every Penny. Up the price and make a profit the quality you have is outstanding!

Thanks, I might!

 

[Msfitoy]

I'm glad to see more and more people signing on for MBStick...I agree with increasing the price to improve your ROI...

 

[NeilP]

Although I no longer own a Ranger or MBS stick, I have to say that out of all of the aftermarket transmission dipsticks on the market, the MBS stick is without any question the absolute BEST.

A lot of people shop for the "lowest price" and that is fine if you are comparing prices for an identical item. But when you look at the 3 aftermarket options available today, there's nothing that you can compare to the MBS stick.

I think the MBS stick is priced to low & would bought it even if it was the priced the same as the B&M dipstick.

 

[Grumpaw]

^ x 2.
Mike, I think when you started you posted a starting "price point"/"target price", but before you started, and before you found out all the specialty equipment you needed and supply costs of the specialty parts you needed to buy.
I appluade your trying to keep price low, but in a start up enterprise, as you have found, costs can go up and up.
I don't think many people have an idea just what it takes to start up, organize, and run a cottage business, and those of us who do would not criticize you at all for raising your prices....it's just the cost of doing business in these times.

 

[Fitzmotor]

You guys are great, thanks!

I'm my own biggest problem, if I just went at it with a "bust them out" frame of mind it would go faster, I'm getting more efficient as I go, I'll have to post up a pic of my latest "streamlining" it is going a bit faster now.

So my rant this morning was out of line, Sid always gets me going though, he's been really great support along with the crowd here, but none of this would have happened, if Sid had not got me going with the "it seems to me a simple matter of simple CAD design". So I really can't complain, his comment has been good for me from the business experience side of things, starting a business is certinally a challenge.

 

[TJC]

So, if you think think this is a "Cha ching" deal you are high AF

In fact, at the end of this run, which will be a total of 360 assembly's less the 25 or so that are scrapped, I know it looks like I got a good thing going, but I am going to re-evaluate the ROI and depending on where it ends up, I dont know if I can continue, I really hope so, but it's on the lean side, your Cha ching comment kinda stings, this requires long, long hours dude!

Fitz,
While this may be a labor of love on your part, it is difficult to sustain without a profit motive. Labor is expensive.

My wife designs and creates high quality quilts. The material alone is more than most will pay for a quilt, not to mention the 25-35 hours needed to create the top, then another 24 hours to quilt it. I built her 14' quilter from piecemeal technologies, and it has been remarkably reliable. Even with that automation, and paying herself minimum wage, the cost of most comes to over $1K, materials alone will run $300-$600 depending on the size.

Boutique businesses can thrive, but you must realistically set your pricing to stay in business. Working for nothing sucks big time.

Your quality is outstanding. Your product is simply the best available from anywhere. I can't speak for others, but I am willing to pay for that quality.

A great deal of your costs are fixed material costs, and it is difficult if not impossible to lower those costs, but your time is something you can focus on. Keep working on that aspect.

In the meantime, figure your product cost to stay in business and set your price. Don't short change yourself. I purchased the B&M before they broke the $200 barrier. I think they are at $250 now. B&M can't make a profit for less than that. You produce a far superior product. Price it accordingly.

BTW, I have over $400 invested in Dipsticks!

I know how crazy that sounds, but when one trip to the grocery store costs over $200, and filling up our trucks costs $50 - $60. Perspective begins to bring pricing into focus. Sadly, the $100 bill is the new $20!

Best of luck to you.

 

[Msfitoy]

You guys are great, thanks!

I'm my own biggest problem, if I just went at it with a "bust them out" frame of mind it would go faster, I'm getting more efficient as I go, I'll have to post up a pic of my latest "streamlining" it is going a bit faster now.

So my rant this morning was out of line, Sid always gets me going though, he's been really great support along with the crowd here, but none of this would have happened, if Sid had not got me going with the "it seems to me a simple matter of simple CAD design". So I really can't complain, his comment has been good for me from the business experience side of things, starting a business is certinally a challenge.

I wanted to celebrate the rising interest momentum and "Cha ching" was probably premature ?...but I'm hoping that will follow very soon in your future, Mike...

I think you should raise the price back to where you started and higher if needed to cover your startup costs (including RD)...once your production kinks gets worked out, I'm sure you'll be busy again to cover all the other "dip-stick-less" trannies out there (Bronco, G6R, etc)...that'll be endless work ?...

 

[Buckbull]

IDK Mike. Keeping track of votes and PM's on this forum seems like a PITA. Maybe the forum owner would allow you to post some kind of link that would handle the ordering part for you like Quiken or whatever small business software is out there? Maybe becoming a sponsor gives you that? I know this was kind of a grassroots process of folks wanting a way to check their transmission fluid easier and you delivered a home run. Maybe you are to the point of streamlining the ordering process to get you more time in the shop than managing orders. Anyway, I hope you figure this out. You have a fantastic product, your packaging is fantastic, your instructions are fantastic. You got a lot of good going on.

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