I've been waiting since late December, so I know I've still got a while to go before I ever see mine, and I'm not really complaining, just putting out a general observation.
I've been an Engineer and Project Manager for almost 25 years, and for a few years had a pretty nice eBay business until other obligations (and supply issues / eBay rules outside my control) made me decide to pull the plug on it after selling off my remaining inventory.
I've seen this happen many times in the past, where somebody has a good idea, decides to pursue it, and starts to become a victim of their own success. Sometimes the world beating a path to your door smashes the door down and runs you over.
In all the projects I've managed or business endeavors I've pursued (especially when dealing with the general public), communication is vital, especially when it's a product where the consumer has a certain expectation, and a certain wait before receiving the product. Even the nicest person can become rabid if left in the dark long enough.
For those of you who are friends with Carlos, or can talk to him, please give him some advice from a few here who have managed businesses or large projects. Help him to keep from being a victim of his own success.
1. Help him to set up as a supplier (or manufacturer, take your pick) on ECF or any other popular forum where updates are to be posted. It's key that people know EXACTLY where to go to get information or updates, not just post some stuff here or there (and have the updates get lost in the noise) or send out occasional updates. You can email updates out to a million people, or you can work more efficiently and put out updates in one spot that the business controls and let a million people read it.
2. Help him to understand he's not just a modder now, he's also a business owner, and along with that comes certain responsibilities. Yes it's cool that many have tried to help by posting updates, conversations, video's, etc, and those are noble efforts, but he needs to understand it's probably already grown beyond that. He now has customers, demands, supply issues, shipment deadlines, etc, etc. Certain tasks (like communication with customers) is not just a bother that can done on a piece meal basis, it's now called customer service and should be managed like any other part of a business. Either himself or a single appointed representative needs to take over posting updates as a supplier or in a customer service controlled thread in one spot (preferably as a supplier) on these forums (or a website, which offers maximum control).
3. It's great to see video's of him working hard, showing he's no slacker, has great moral character / work ethic (which I have no doubt he does), but this doesn't necessarily show to the buying public that he's got everything under control. To show the business is under control means to have a set plan and to execute that plan. In any business there's delays, shortages, etc, but those need to be relayed to the customer (again customer service) in a timely manner, or on a schedule that customers can rely on for their information. In other words, as a supplier, post an update every Monday, or two times a week on set days, so it can be expected. Even if it's not always in control, at least the flow of information is steady and reliable.
I could go on, but that's enough for now. To those of you that know him, or can talk to him, or are under his employ, help him out to understand that it's just as important for him to provide customer service in the way of timely and consistent updates as it is to spend all of his time slaving away at making the boxes themselves, since a long wait is now just part of his business model due to tight production controls. A great customer experience and consistent flow of information to those customers is a very important part of running a successful business or managing a large project. He's probably at a point now where he really needs to set aside some time every day to keep his appointed representatives updated on where things are at and what problems / successes are coming up. Think of them as business meetings or just business metrics updates.
Just producing a great product isn't enough if you want to be really successful, there's got to be a plan, execution, and a level of professionalism if he wants to take it to the next level or just have happy customers.
Those of you who are personal friends of his, don't let him be a victim of his own success, help him organize this important part of his exciting new business venture he has launched. A little planning, execution, and consistent information flow can go a LONG ways to success, and proves that he has the business under control.
That's my $.02, learned from many years of battling it myself, and I really hope this becomes a great success for him that DOESN'T end up killing him in the process.
Now, where's my juicebox?!?!
