SakeBomb Garage - FD HID Headlight Group Buy
04-11-16, 01:59 AM
#76
Hey you guys! Thank you for all your patience with us. We sent a newsletter/email out to all of our customers explaining the situation but I'll do my best to summarize here.
First off, the turnout was way larger than we ever imagined for these headlights. What was supposed to be a 15 kit order turned into a 50 kit order in a few weeks time, and we were already having trouble sourcing components for the initial batch of 15 kits. Sourcing components went slower than anticipated but that worked out, just slower than we had hoped for.
In addition to that our order list expanded, which is what really threw us for a loop... we're a small three person company and these headlights are still completely built by hand! Yours truly and two two employees are all we have to build these, with an estimated 8-9 hours per kit after everything is all said and done. Trying to do this and maintain the rest of the business has been BRUTAL, to say the least, and to make them all at the same time assembly line style has slowed down everything to a crawl. Once we added in the additional orders and required product releases that happened to coincide such as our S2000 AP Competition brake kit and FD Wilwood brake kit (among other things), we were absolutely slammed for time.
The good news is' we're in the home stretch, sort of. We're very far through the build process with all of the headlights as a whole, but in an attempt to appease the people who've been waiting longest we've split this into two groups, and will ship the initial 15 kits this coming week, and the remainder within the next two weeks. I hate to do this but I also hate to drag this out any longer for those who've been waiting the longest at this point.
We're trying our best to make this all work but it's solidified our previous position on these headlights as a "product"... they're simply not sustainable for our business long term. The labor involved is just too great considering the size of our business and ultimately will prevent us from continuing to develop new products and sustain the incoming sales. We appreciate the outpouring of support to continue to produce the lights, but I have to be honest, our days of being able to hand-build components is coming to a close. We still have to hand-assemble products like brake rotors and coil kits... we're slammed daily, which is why I'm writing this to you guys late on a Sunday at midnight
If anyone needs anything please don't hesitate to email us directly info@sakebombgarage.com and we'll try to get back to you as fast as possible. We're committed to customer service, and I have no intentions of reducing the personal interactions with our customers, it's just taking longer and longer to get back to you guys the more work we accept. It's an odd problem to have.
A humble thanks to everyone in this group buy for your extended patience! We've never bailed on a single customer since we've opened, but I do want to apologize for being slow to respond. Thanks for the kind words from our previous customers and friends. We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business.
-Heath
First off, the turnout was way larger than we ever imagined for these headlights. What was supposed to be a 15 kit order turned into a 50 kit order in a few weeks time, and we were already having trouble sourcing components for the initial batch of 15 kits. Sourcing components went slower than anticipated but that worked out, just slower than we had hoped for.
In addition to that our order list expanded, which is what really threw us for a loop... we're a small three person company and these headlights are still completely built by hand! Yours truly and two two employees are all we have to build these, with an estimated 8-9 hours per kit after everything is all said and done. Trying to do this and maintain the rest of the business has been BRUTAL, to say the least, and to make them all at the same time assembly line style has slowed down everything to a crawl. Once we added in the additional orders and required product releases that happened to coincide such as our S2000 AP Competition brake kit and FD Wilwood brake kit (among other things), we were absolutely slammed for time.
The good news is' we're in the home stretch, sort of. We're very far through the build process with all of the headlights as a whole, but in an attempt to appease the people who've been waiting longest we've split this into two groups, and will ship the initial 15 kits this coming week, and the remainder within the next two weeks. I hate to do this but I also hate to drag this out any longer for those who've been waiting the longest at this point.
We're trying our best to make this all work but it's solidified our previous position on these headlights as a "product"... they're simply not sustainable for our business long term. The labor involved is just too great considering the size of our business and ultimately will prevent us from continuing to develop new products and sustain the incoming sales. We appreciate the outpouring of support to continue to produce the lights, but I have to be honest, our days of being able to hand-build components is coming to a close. We still have to hand-assemble products like brake rotors and coil kits... we're slammed daily, which is why I'm writing this to you guys late on a Sunday at midnight
If anyone needs anything please don't hesitate to email us directly info@sakebombgarage.com and we'll try to get back to you as fast as possible. We're committed to customer service, and I have no intentions of reducing the personal interactions with our customers, it's just taking longer and longer to get back to you guys the more work we accept. It's an odd problem to have.
A humble thanks to everyone in this group buy for your extended patience! We've never bailed on a single customer since we've opened, but I do want to apologize for being slow to respond. Thanks for the kind words from our previous customers and friends. We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business.
-Heath
__________________
SAKEBOMB GARAGE LLC
www.SAKEBOMBGARAGE.com
Specialty aftermarket parts & service // Fremont, California
Contact: info@sakebombgarage.com
SAKEBOMB GARAGE LLC
www.SAKEBOMBGARAGE.com
Specialty aftermarket parts & service // Fremont, California
Contact: info@sakebombgarage.com
04-14-16, 10:33 AM
#78
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (3)
I know alot of people get very impatient nowadays for things (you can thank websites like Amazon for peoples impatience).
Gotta remember our cars are now considered "vintage". Getting any sort of parts either OEM or 3rd party will take time and patience.
For the guys on the group buy, you guys won't be sorry. This kit is phenomenal! I managed to get on the last one finally after a few years of scraping up enough cash to pick up the kit. It was worth every penny.
They said it best.. "We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business."
Keep up the great work guys! I'll be scrounging up cash again for the AP BBK!
Gotta remember our cars are now considered "vintage". Getting any sort of parts either OEM or 3rd party will take time and patience.
For the guys on the group buy, you guys won't be sorry. This kit is phenomenal! I managed to get on the last one finally after a few years of scraping up enough cash to pick up the kit. It was worth every penny.
They said it best.. "We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business."
Keep up the great work guys! I'll be scrounging up cash again for the AP BBK!
Hey you guys! Thank you for all your patience with us. We sent a newsletter/email out to all of our customers explaining the situation but I'll do my best to summarize here.
If anyone needs anything please don't hesitate to email us directly info@sakebombgarage.com and we'll try to get back to you as fast as possible. We're committed to customer service, and I have no intentions of reducing the personal interactions with our customers, it's just taking longer and longer to get back to you guys the more work we accept. It's an odd problem to have.
A humble thanks to everyone in this group buy for your extended patience! We've never bailed on a single customer since we've opened, but I do want to apologize for being slow to respond. Thanks for the kind words from our previous customers and friends. We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business.
-Heath
If anyone needs anything please don't hesitate to email us directly info@sakebombgarage.com and we'll try to get back to you as fast as possible. We're committed to customer service, and I have no intentions of reducing the personal interactions with our customers, it's just taking longer and longer to get back to you guys the more work we accept. It's an odd problem to have.
A humble thanks to everyone in this group buy for your extended patience! We've never bailed on a single customer since we've opened, but I do want to apologize for being slow to respond. Thanks for the kind words from our previous customers and friends. We consider the FD community family, and we continue to develop for this platform not because we think we can turn a quick dollar but because we are passionate about the FD and always will be... for us this is art, not business.
-Heath
04-21-16, 11:08 PM
#81
I was #8 and haven't got mine yet, nor received a tracking number via email and just checked my SB acct and didnt see the tracking #.
04-22-16, 03:18 AM
#83
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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I first bought Sakebomb HID for my RX-7 Spirit R back in 2009. It was one of their first runs. My take on this boutique company is: They are doing a great service for the RX-7 community. Sure, they may take some time to deliver the hand built stuff, but I have never felt insecure about giving them payment beforehand. I would always try to buy regular stuff from them and support them in any way I can.
Moreover, they take extra care of their long time customers. So I wouldn't worry too much about the delays. Its not as if any body else has this sort of amazing product.
p.s. I ordered another set from them, as these will be unavailable soon, and financially not feasible to make anymore, as they said.
Moreover, they take extra care of their long time customers. So I wouldn't worry too much about the delays. Its not as if any body else has this sort of amazing product.
p.s. I ordered another set from them, as these will be unavailable soon, and financially not feasible to make anymore, as they said.
04-22-16, 06:09 AM
#84
04-22-16, 01:12 PM
#85
I Raise Chickens
Just to make you guys jealous, I got my kit yesterday and started the install. Installed the lights into the buckets, ran the wiring and mounted the ballasts. Still need to wire up the positive lead and secure the harness.
more pics to come.
more pics to come.
04-22-16, 10:39 PM
#87
I Raise Chickens
Update: Finished the install, no issues. Fit great, works great. Awesome work SBG!
Short video I took post-alignment: twitter.com/srw/status/723717037285990400
Short video I took post-alignment: twitter.com/srw/status/723717037285990400
04-25-16, 07:34 PM
#88
We've had a couple customer comments and inquiries and we wanted to clarify what's going on: We ran our Group Buy on multiple websites, and the final customer list came up to 47 orders. We completed our first batch of 15, and sent them out in chronological order of payment received.
The second batch of HID kits that we're currently constructing accounts for 25 units, and should account for most of, if not all the orders placed through this forum.
We do want to apologize for any issues with communication, and the delays. Fulfilling all these HID kit orders has consumed our existence, we'll have some more photos and updates for everyone soon!
The second batch of HID kits that we're currently constructing accounts for 25 units, and should account for most of, if not all the orders placed through this forum.
We do want to apologize for any issues with communication, and the delays. Fulfilling all these HID kit orders has consumed our existence, we'll have some more photos and updates for everyone soon!
__________________
SAKEBOMB GARAGE LLC
www.SAKEBOMBGARAGE.com
Specialty aftermarket parts & service // Fremont, California
Contact: info@sakebombgarage.com
SAKEBOMB GARAGE LLC
www.SAKEBOMBGARAGE.com
Specialty aftermarket parts & service // Fremont, California
Contact: info@sakebombgarage.com
04-26-16, 03:22 PM
#90
^ i also thought i was part of the 1st batch but they went by chronological order of payment received and apparently other paid before me.
I'm hoping to receive an email update with tracking numbers in the next two weeks.
I'm hoping to receive an email update with tracking numbers in the next two weeks.
05-12-16, 03:41 PM
#99