[MF3D.FORUM:1318] Black mount update

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, folks, for the feedback on the black mounts.  It
appears Sam's inspiration paid off; virtually everyone who
has seen the black mount seems to have fallen in love with
it!  The downside is that everyone wants them now, and
there aren't any here now to sell.  (Sam paid to have
the samples sent by FedEx by purchasing a small quantity
for himself.)

While it would be possible to have a small run of the
black mounts made and sent here "relatively" quickly (say
5-6 weeks as a WAG), it would be expensive to do so.  For
example, air freight for a run of 2,000 mounts would add
$10/hundred to the cost (rough estimate).  I previously
said the black mounts would probably cost 75% more than
the white mounts, but I'm now targeting a maximum retail
price of $30/hundred for the black mounts.  Air freight
would push that up to $40/hundred.

If there is enough pressing interest in the black mounts,
I'll be happy to place an order to have some sent by air.
Otherwise, assume that March will be the earliest availability
for the black mounts.

There is one other approach I can think of that might get
the mounts here by mid-January without the air freight cost.
If enough people are willing to pre-pay now for a definite
order, it could help speed things up.  (There are two factors
at work here: a) I have to pre-pay for the mounts; b) with
enough pre-paid orders I can set the order quantity high
enough that it will be economical to ship the mounts by sea
without waiting for other mount products that are under
development.)

Note that I do plan to have all four sizes of the 80x132
mounts run in black.  There will be five product offerings,
square, landscape, portrait, pano, and 645 mix.  The 645 mix
will have landscape and portrait mounts, probably in a 2:1
(or 3:1 ?) ratio.

So what do you say?  Who's willing to step up to the plate?
BTW, unless virtually everyone on this list orders, we'll
need firm commitments of more than just 100 mounts per person
to make this happen.

Cast your vote on the rmm order form.  Use the notes field
to indicate whether you are intersted in the more expensive
air option, or just want to help speed up the regular price
process.  http://www.rmm3d.com/ordering/order5.shtml

I'll give it a few days and report the results before charging
anyone's credit card.  If there aren't enough takers, I won't
charge anyone's card and we'll all just wait for things to
play out normally.

Thanks,
Paul Talbot