Re: vendors etc.

[darryl@xxxx]

> Why don't some of the vendors do this?
> Put forward an offer on a part that will be reproduced. Let people 
> pre-order, and hold the credit card on file...so when the part has 
> been reproduced they charge the card and ship it out.
> This method could boost development time for replacement DMC parts 
> of higher quality...

I suspect Toby is too much of a gentleman to respond directly to this, but not 
having that character flaw, I'm going to jump in. As most of you know, Toby, 
the Boeing materials engineer and consumate hard-driving DeLorean nut, took it 
upon himself to design the ultimate high-tech fix for what he (and most of us) 
considers one of the worst safety-related shortcomings of this vehicle. The 
product he came up with, the aerospace-quality "Toby-TAB' trailing arm bolt, 
was going to be an expensive part, so he polled the DML community for support 
prior to embarking. He didn't ask for a "credit card commitment" up front as 
suggested above, just an indication of interest. As a vendor for 16 years, and 
friend of his for the same, I agreed to put up half the up-front costs based on 
the strong response received. We agreed to produce 100 sets of bolts, to be 
marketed at only very slightly over actual cost in order to keep the expense at 
the minimum as a service to the owners. Our motives were totally altruistic, 
although I could of course see the side benefit of increased traffic to my 
website and business. With some 6,000 - 8,000 cars on the road, and the 
support expressed, how hard could it be to sell 100 sets?

Harder than we thought. After 5+ months of fairly high visibility on the DML 
we have sold exactly 59 sets. Many of those who expressed initial support 
never came through with orders. But more surprising has been the "experts" 
(which the DML seems to have a surplus of) who discounted the need for them in 
spite of our continued experience with near and total failures. Just like my 
remote door opener kits and Marty's shocks, there seems to be no end to the 
number of people willing to say how unnecessary or (in one memorable exchange) 
poorly designed they are, yet NOT ONE SINGLE COMPLAINT from anyone who actually 
stepped up and purchased one. Not to sound like a total whiner, but come on, 
guys. Thats not very condusive to others to try to develop new products for 
our cars. We need to be supportive of the efforts of the Robs and Joes and 
Martys (and Tobys) of the community, or we will all pay the price in the end.

Was it worth putting up close to 6 grand to see so little (less than 1%) 
interest in the TABs? Not from a business perspective. But we who support the 
hobby the rest of you enjoy will keep doing it. Or most will. Its up to you.
Darryl T.
Specialty Automotive