fHerman wrote:If I understand correctly, the big expense is the initial production of the molds, after that the cost per unit drops. I may be all wrong on it, so correct me if I'm wrong. With that in mind, having a committed number sold wound lessen the finical impact on you (Bryan). How about something like the initial mouthpiece offer, up front sales for delivery at a later date? I'm in for a couple. If nothing else, you can get a good gauge of the serious buyers.
Crowdfunding either though GoFund me or internal like I did with the DSV's is NERVE WRACKING for me......I always worry that something will go wrong that I can't fix and or it will take too long and my reputation will suffer and cause me to lose customers. From the minimal feedback and replies to this post about developing the HW stuff again I'm questioning going forward and it's definitely not worth me loosing sleep over.... Not only do you have to re-develop the parts but more importantly you have to re-develop the demand and interest in that gear which is by far more difficult. ....HW was always an inexpensive line and maybe it's just doomed to stay in the shadows.
When we were at White Star a few weeks ago, Rich the owner of the diving concession pulled me aside and said...I'm paraphrasing here.....Bryan, I heard one of the guys in your group telling one of the new divers that the reason he buys old stuff is because it's cheap and you don't have to fix most of it up to go diving with it...If this is the case then I'm not sure that's safe and promoting a vintage diving event might not be a good idea for me
I assured him that the person who said that was in the minority of vintage equipment owners and that most of us take pride in our gear and go to great lengths to get it as perfect as possible....... Then again I read posts around the net by folks who prop themselves up as experts advising people to visit their local hardware store for parts and supplies ...cause they are cheaper and just as good......VDH is ripping people off charging $9.00 for a set of O-rings and a seat when you can get most of it from the small engine repair or plumbing section of your local hardware store......When I read this stuff it is somewhat discouraging as the "expert" is obviously one of those folks who will spend $2.00 in gas and 1/2 hour of their time to save .50 on an item of questionable source and quality.... They also take business away from folks like me......Yea it's only a service kit....But service kit sales add up to expanding offering of other reproduction parts.....
When I reproduce stuff for Scubapro,US Divers or Voit I have no doubt the market will be there as most divers using these brands love to maintain their gear to the highest standards possible.....So far Healthways is more along the line of Dollar Store shoppers.
I'd like to change that.....I think the line would be a lot of fun to explore and there are plenty of inexpensive regulators out there to work with.
I'm still waiting to see if a cheaper mold is available.....It could still be a GO if the seasonal sales are good.....Right now I want to make it most of all due to what Herman is working on