[MF3D.FORUM:1276] Black mounts

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sam wrote:

> Paul now has enough orders to make a run of MF sleeves at a reasonable
> price. Thanks all who ordered and made it possible.

Yes, thanks to all...sort of.  ;-)

Best for me would have been 900 units at $30/100 for $270 revenue.
Because y'all pulled together and hit the 1,000 target, I only get
$200 of sales!  :-(

(Just kidding!  I like these new sleeves.  I hope they work out
well for everyone.  And I do thank everyone who decided to give
the mounts a try.)

> Got him working on
> another request which hopefully will bear fruit. So what else can I weasel
> Paul into making? Lesseee... how about self adhesive black mounts with
> glass for under 10 cents apiece? Any interest?

I hope everyone realizes that anti-smiley Sam can be quite the joker!
10 cents a piece?  In our dreams!  That's what plain 35mm cardboard
mounts cost.

I have, however, had some black cardboard (no glass, not self-stick)
mount samples made at Sam's request.  I can have them made in volume,
but even in volume they will cost about 75% more than the white mounts.
The MF 3D Expo 2000 has a sample image mounted in one of the black mounts,
plus a mount demo envelope containing:
  - two near identical images, one mounted in the current 80x132 mounts
    and the other mounted in the new (white) 80x132 mount.  This demo
    shows the significantly improved light-blocking ability of the new
    mounts (despite the fact that they are a bit thinner).
  - three empty mounts, the current white mount, the new white mount,
    and the black mount.
  
I need a reading of the market to see what the relative interest is
in white mounts versus black mounts, given the difference in cost.
The 75% higher price assumes that most people will prefer the lower
cost white mounts.  If everyone wants black mounts the price may come
down some, but not much.  I figure there are three "camps" that folks
might fall into:
  - Would continue to use only white mounts
  - Would switch to 100% black mounts
  - Would use some of both

Note: the new white mounts are different in a few respects from the
ones you have been using.  The inside is grey for improved opacity
(virtually complete light blockage); the outside surface is flat
instead of glossy; and the card stock is less stiff.  (Though that
may seem like a possible disadvantage, it also means they are much
easier to securely tape/glue shut compare to recently produced mounts,
which have been too stiff to easily fold closed.)  The mounts are cut
with the same dies, however, so all dimensions are unchanged.

If you have a good idea what your preference would be, please let
me know by writing to mailto:feedback@xxxxxxxxx .  (If you would
use both, please try to estimate the ratio.)  I can mail out (or
circulate) additional samples for those who are unsure and are not
near the front of the expo routing list.  To sign up for samples,
write to me at mailto:samples@xxxxxxxxx

PLEASE use the correct e-mail addresses listed above to help me keep
track of your replies!

Paul Talbot