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Posted by: elantragt Sep 4 2007, 12:00 PM

Well, I have to tell everybody in this group buy, you've been great. But we have a problem. atlwteboy240 has seemingly disappeared. I've had no contact with him in well over a week. I'm totally flabbergasted. When Paul (Doohickie) stepped away, atlwteboy240 PM'ed me to help coordinate things and I didn't hesitate. I wanted everyone to get their decals. Even though I'm dealing with a lot of difficult issues in my life right now I was willing to try to do this.

But he simply hasn't done what needs to be done. I can't believe he's not embarrassed. Letting the club down. Disappointing 22 members in the group buy. I have no choice but to say he's now out of the picture.

Now we need to find a new source for the decals and here's where the problem is. I hardly had time to coordinate the group buy.. that was as much stress as I could handle right now. Going out and finding a new source for this is simply more than I can take on right now. Doohickie mentioned he might be able to get back in and possibly look for a new source but that's up in the air.

So... as of today I'll send refunds to everyone. The thing that kinda is no fun is that when members send money via PayPal, say, $15... it's really only around $14 because of PayPal fees. But I will refund the full original amount. Actually I guess we all lose because PayPal probably takes fees from your refunds, too.

So think about it. atlwteboy240 has me come in and do this. I do all I can in good faith..he pulls this disappearing act... real class guy he is, huh?

I'm sorry we couldn't pull this together. Paul tried... I tried.

Just know, I did my part the best I know how. I stepped in and stepped up so that the group buy would continue. But the guy who was going to make the decals apparently decided he doesn't care. In the back of my mind, I wonder if he still will try to offer these decals on his own at a higher price outside of this group buy. That way he wouldn't have to donate a portion to the club as was originally promised. But I don't know what his problem is.

All refunds will go out in the next couple hours.

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 4 2007, 01:18 PM

Mitch.... I didn't pursue other suppliers while atlwteboy240 was still in the mix, but now that he is out of the picture, let me see what I can line up. Give me a couple days (till the end of the week?) and let me see if I can line up an alternate source. I hate to give PayPal more money in fees and people end up empty handed. Several people here said they didn't need their money back right away (or at all), so let's sit tight and see if I can work a little magic (going to only to sources of vinyl from other successful goup buys). What do ya say, Mitch?

Posted by: elantragt Sep 4 2007, 01:24 PM

All money has just been refunded except to those people who said to keep it as a donation. Sure Paul, I'd love to see people get club decals. That's important! If you want to try it all again that's cool... this was all my emotion/stress level could handle for now.
-------

If anyone who wanted one DID NOT receive a full refund from me (mittam99@yahoo.com), let me know please.

Posted by: Frank Sep 4 2007, 01:49 PM

I will say that if we can get another group buy together then I am still all in.

Posted by: JohnsRedGT Sep 4 2007, 02:04 PM

I will be in again if it comes to pass.

Mitch - know that we believe you went above and beyond..... not your fault, OK?

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 4 2007, 02:06 PM

Okay.... this time before I roll out, I will make sure we are rock solid. atlwteboy started going public a little before the details were all worked out, which started things off on the wrong foot. I am already making inquiries on lining up another supplier and hope to have something soon.

I have to take responsibiltiy for this-- I started it, then dumped into Mitch's lap when things weren't going right. I want to do right by the club, so I'll do my best to get a solid supplier online ASAP.

Posted by: greg841 Sep 4 2007, 03:34 PM

Count me in for next time as well!

Posted by: Stile Sep 4 2007, 04:26 PM

I am still in as well **** happens

Posted by: sed Sep 4 2007, 04:29 PM

http://www.makestickers.com/home.asp

Posted by: popeye Sep 4 2007, 04:40 PM

^ With the vinyl stock I unearthed in the back I can make my own on the Xerox machine. Not as stable as ink, but well er ah free...

I think the site offers a different product than what the decal group buy was going to be.

Posted by: reaperangel01 Sep 4 2007, 04:40 PM

Posted by: Jonathan Sep 4 2007, 06:29 PM

Ok so like I promised I am looking into a friend of mine, they have a decal shop, I called her today and got the answering machine, but she will do stickers, shirts ect. I don't know prices yet, but she only lives 30 min. from me. So I can go get them, and keep in better contact with her..... more to come.
---------
Ok I talked to her,(Mia) and I am going to get some sweet stickers made, you will have the option to do a color fad, or just one color. Or what other options you would like. Also she is going to design a shirt for us, so please hold on, I am going to pay her, get the items and then post them for all to see.

Posted by: Silent Wolf Sep 4 2007, 06:45 PM

Cool Jonathan.


Dont worry about it Mitch. Your all good, just shit happens. Take care of ur family and let us worry about it this time.

Posted by: sciphi Sep 4 2007, 06:50 PM

Eh, sometimes people are tools. It happens.

If there's another GB, please count me in.

Posted by: sed Sep 4 2007, 07:53 PM

that sticker place will make anything for you...

just send em the template and they will cut and ship for you

it doesn't have to be a bumper sticker, just what they are marketing to the main public.

Worth an email I would think

-shawn

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 4 2007, 09:16 PM

Thanks to everyone who is helping with possible suppliers. At this point, I would like to proceed as follows:

1. Get bids from potential sources. Bids will be based on the following assumptions.

a. Everyone who either said not to return the money, or said they would be in for a revamped Group Buy, I'm conisdering firm commitments. Everyone else who has gotten a refund and has not indicated an interest in the new group buy is a "maybe". Based on replies to the threads, then, the numbers come out like this:

Total of all 6" decals = 39 (21 hard commitments and 18 maybes)
Total of all 12" decals = 13 (8 hard commitments and 5 maybes)

b. Some of these will be Outside (i.e., normal, or read properly when stuck to the outside of the window) and some will be Inside (i.e., reversed, or read properly when stuck to the inside of the window). I think potential suppliers should only need to know that some are reversed at this point, we'll provide the breakdown later.

c. The color should be etched glass (i.e., silver, but more toward metallic gray than chrome). I know other colors, and fades and stuff, are available, but obviously it's not withing my limited mental means to keep track of that much stuff! Once we have a supplier chosen, then maybe we can worry about extras.

d. The art is available http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/EClubDecalArt.jpg.

e. I will be contacting several suppliers, but for those of you who have volunteered to get quotes, use the numbers above. If you have any questions, contact me.

2. Upon receiving the bids, we'll go with the lowest price (including shipping to a single address, if they cannot be picked up by a member).

3. Once we have a supplier picked, we will call for payment again for anyone who needs to do so, and place the order. And well, if someone missed out on the last Last Chance, you get one more crack at it.

For anyone who is talking ot suppliers, etc., please PM me with any bids or quotes. I would prefer to not air that out on the open board.

If the lowest (or close to lowest) bid is a supplier near me, I will place the order and make sure the decals are sent to the members. If it is near another member, I will make arrangements with that member to make sure everything is sent properly.

My goal is to have all bids in by close of business this Friday (Sept. 7) and a supplier chosen over the weekend. We will then re-open orders for a short period (2 days?) and then place the order as soon as practical. This may have a mail delay in it depending on how payment to the person actually placing the order is made.

If I'm forgetting anything, please let me know.

Posted by: Frank Sep 4 2007, 10:42 PM

Sounds good to me.

Posted by: Silent Wolf Sep 4 2007, 10:48 PM

second

Posted by: Jonathan Sep 4 2007, 10:50 PM

...third

Posted by: judys01GT Sep 4 2007, 11:13 PM

Posted by: reaperangel01 Sep 5 2007, 10:52 AM

Moi aussi.

And like I said, I'll pay again. As I told Mitch (via PM), I consider these group buys more like donations to begin with...but with the possibility of a "door prize".

I love the T-shirt idea that Jonathan brought up, but let's not jump the gun prematurely (er, was that a double-positive?)...we need some "definite"s here.

Posted by: sargeants Sep 5 2007, 12:53 PM

I'm still in for the decals as requested... I like the idea of promoting some sort of club.

Let me know who and when to pay and I'm in!!

Posted by: JohnsRedGT Sep 5 2007, 04:52 PM

I'm still in................

Posted by: elantraelite Sep 6 2007, 02:23 AM

im still in!

do I send my money back?

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 6 2007, 09:34 AM

After we get the pricing and stuff finalized with a new supplier.

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 9 2007, 04:02 PM

I have a new supplier set up, this one comes with references and is in my local area. I am busy with some other stuff right now, but I will be starting a new thread to confirm existing orders and solicit new ones... if not today, it should be up by tomorrow. I think this time we'll do the PayPal to me since I am placing the order (as long as Mitch is cool with that), and we'll get these things out to everyone who wants one ASAP.

Posted by: Cite 3 Sep 9 2007, 04:03 PM

did anybody try to contact Bugs on this? he has a vinyl plotter...

Posted by: judys01GT Sep 9 2007, 09:27 PM

Posted by: Jonathan Sep 9 2007, 10:09 PM

I am ready too!!!!

Posted by: Doohickie Sep 9 2007, 10:11 PM

Posted by: spoonanator Sep 9 2007, 10:24 PM

oh man...
ive wanted one of there for a while. im in.

Posted by: winc Sep 9 2007, 10:28 PM

Bugs hasn't been on here since April. I hope everything's okay.

Posted by: RHINESEL Sep 9 2007, 11:00 PM

Last we heard he was overseas doing a civilian contract with the military I believe.