ANOTHER 348 CHALLENGE GRILL UPDATE

OK guys...this next week is going to be critical. There has been a prototype developed, and now I am awaiting word from the manufacturer IF they will agree to go ahead with production, and AT WHAT PRICE. I am feeling good about it because this manufacturer has taken an interest in the project, but what I have found out through all of this is that making ANY Ferrari part means an almost ridiculously small run. Most manufacturers won't even call you back when they find out your quantity.

I will hopefully be reporting some good news by mid-week. If we can't strike a deal, certain parts of this will be back to square one, although some of the more difficult parts of the project would not have to be re-done.

One item that has been a question mark has been the tail light converter/connectors. However, it looks like I have struck a deal with a manufacturer for these, too.

Things are never as simple as they appear.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED GUYS!

 

I am hoping to have some good news Tuesday or Wednesday!

 

There won't be any pics of this mule. That's like viewing an open casket! Stay tuned.

 

As much as I'd like to say "I'm staying with it", about all I'm doing now is awaiting phone calls and emails.

 

I will say this: I can see why various Ferrari parts are so expensive. The runs on these are so small people just hammer you to get a part made. Case in point: The tail light harnesses. This has to be one easy thing to make. It's some wires spliced together with three connectors. Big deal.

I sent out no less than 50 emails with high resolution photos attached and got exactly 7 responses. Of those 7, only 3 were interested in doing a quantity of less than 200, at any price. So it looks like I will have a minimum order of 200, and for approximately $30-ish per unit, although I do not have a final firm figure on the price. That's another $6K out of pocket just to get some wire harnesses done. And I sure hope the panels sell because otherwise, I'm stuck with a bunch of wiring harnesses!

The problem is, if I don't supply the harnesses, you can't hook the lights up!

 

Howdy guys. I've been on holiday for two weeks and just back in town. I will be talking to my manufacturer on Monday. Obviously July 15th isn't happening or I would have it on my front porch right now.

I'm a little ticked because they gave me 7/15 as "conservative" date for the first one, and they were supposed to call me middle of last week on my cell phone to tell me the status. They didn't. I just hope that I'm not getting jerked around on this. I don't think I am - I just think they don't quite have it done yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Just exchanged emails with the owner of the co., and we are supposed to talk on Wednesday - he is traveling right now. I guess some delays are inevitable in endeavors such as this - this is my first trip to the manufacturing rodeo. I am hopeful.

 

Guys, I think I may officially be in "run around" stage. We were supposed to talk today sometime, and the company owner never emailed me a time. So I emailed him again and no response. And then I called this a.m. and he was out, and he hasn't returned my call as of yet. I'm getting the feeling my tail light panel is going nowhere.

If someone isn't interested anymore, why wouldn't they just buck up and say "Look dude, I have no time for this - you'll need to find another manufacturer."


???

 

right now I'm totally frustrated. The guy is completely avoiding me right now. Meanwhile, he has a prototype of mine that I worked very hard on, along with 4 expensive tail light lenses. If I could just get all that back at this point I would probably be happy.