ilovefuzz.com

What about putting down a refundable deposit with paypal - 25% of the pedal's price. If you fuck up you get billed for the remaining 75%, and if you are a good person you get your cash back. As long as the builder/company only is getting stung for any transaction fees that shouldn't be too painful for participants... should it? If you've got a decent accountant the eventual PP-costs for refunds etc might even be deductible as like um, marketing costs stuff.

that way's not as horrific as giving out my credit card info, but honestly i'd still pass on a tourbox that had restrictions like that. i guess it'd make me feel like i wasn't trustworthy and it'd make me have concerns about buying from a builder that can't afford to have a pedal out that he won't be wrecked over it not coming back pristine.

i've been on tourbox's where the box that went out was fully functioning, but in a not great condition, tester style or unfinished enclosure. most of the building expenses for smaller builders come from the R & D not the component purchases right? so if they're at the point where they're ready to start producing them than they should be able to afford a beat up enclosure filled with the good inside parts. i mean, Tourboxing is different than Beta Testing. or should be a different stage of the development cycle.

Happy to do tourbox, not going to give out my CC.

To point out the obvious past the reluctance to give out CC info, it's meaningless; I can get temporary CC #s issued to me for questionable transactions etc. that won't be funded in the event of a problem or use a disposable card with nothing on it et cetera.

Unless you're doing a deposit hold, there's nothing covering the builder's end.

I mention this stuff simply because not only is it a risk for all involved to hand out the CC info, it's basically pointless. If somebody's going to screw you, they're going to screw you. Same with Paypal - I have a second account that I use for just online transactions and Paypal, where if there's a problem, well, I'm not risking bouncing the utility check.

Ebay transaction ID isn't horrendous but it's no real guarantee.

I suppose what I'm getting at is a builder who can't afford R&D losses isn't going to be one that I'd want to trust with my money down the line - if they can't afford a pedal lost/damaged/questionable circumstances in shipping, will I believe their warranty or promises of service?

And I'll add it becuase it's sadly necessary, I've got a dozen+ transactions here without incident including trades and high value items, as well as elsewhere. I'm not out to screw anybody.

That's some good points rfurtkamp - but wasn't the point with the original idea as a means of ensuring that people stick to the timetable? That is, if you hold on too long you pay for it and a new one is sent out? I can't actually be bothered reading through the rest of the thread to check, but that sort of idea I can understand the merit in.

Stick to the timetable you basically have to pick people you believe you can trust, and hope for the best when it all comes down to it.

It's why I generally don't do that type of thing, shipping for me is a few days out at any given time as I have to use one of two people to do it for me now that I can't really leave the house. It's also why I specify ludicrous handling times on eBay or when I do listings, it's usually out in a couple days but sometimes it's a week thanks to doctors appointments etc.

I know a lot of folks basically have the best intentions on sending on a tourbox et al, but things happen.

This all helps a lot guys, thanks.

So while the CC info is good in theory, really what it comes down to is being more selective about who gets on the list? Would it be out of line in that questionnaire (when you're signing up) to ask what other tourboxes you've been on as kind of an experience thing? I like the idea too of the eBay name or even some forum handles, mainly because a good transaction record on eBay and rapport with people on forums will build that trust.

I think at this point the builder is just new, and is just trying to address all the issues I've brought up (and that he's heard from others).

Alright guys, I have to write up a proposal for the builder tonight, since the pedal "should" be ready to go. I'll compile everything I have on this thread, as well as any last minute considerations you guys might have? It sounds like I'll probably be the one dealing with all of you, so if you have any suggestions that haven't been mentioned, now is the time.

And for the curious folk, the company is Daring Audio, and we're going to tourbox the new Edge Activator HD. I'll let you guys know when the signup list is live.

i met the dooder from Daring (i'm so shit with names. Dave?) at a TB GTG we had in Oakland. nice guy.

I've been curious about Daring for a long time.... been wanting to give the Laser Canon a good workout.

excane wrote:.... been wanting to give the Laser Canon a good workout.

That's what she said.

I walked right into that

behndy wrote:i met the dooder from Daring (i'm so shit with names. Dave?) at a TB GTG we had in Oakland. nice guy.

You probably met Chris; he's the brains of the outfit. There are a couple of other guys too, but I believe they're more the "silent partner" type.

excane wrote:I've been curious about Daring for a long time.... been wanting to give the Laser Canon a good workout.

I should be getting one at some point; I know they've had some manufacturer issues, as well as trying to move everything back stateside AND lower the pricing. Sounds like things are moving forward though.

I have the Phat Beam right now, and if the LC is anything like it, it'll be a pretty slick pedal. There are a lot of cool features that the PB has that I know are in all of the Daring pedals that make it well worth the extra scratch to buy one.

Cool, nice to hear.

Yaa, I've been wondering what's up with the pricing? Directly from their site, it's $250 but at dealers they're all $350 ??

Did the prices go back down, up, dealers forgot to change 'em, etc....?