Looking for help testing new tools...

rhardman

Thank you A+.
I sent you a proto blade today which should be delivered by Thursday. Let me know if you have any ideas to improve it.

I appreciate your words (above) and at the end of the day, I guess I'm just a knucklehead with some good ideas. If things work out, then we'll make some advancements in the field. If they don't, at least I tried. The excitement is that right now, we don't know the future so some will shut their door thinking we're crazy (those of a more conventional mindset) and others will watch to see how it turns out. A few like yourself, are offering encouragement which really hit's home many nights when I can't sleep.

Either way, I want to thank you (and the other contributors to the thread) for riding along with me. It shouldn't be too long before we know one way or the other which path we're on.

Rick
Personally, I think we're going to do pretty well.

Neck Brace update: I received my sample yesterday and tried it out. While it's a very clever idea, unfortunately it's not a product we can endorse or promote.

rhardman

Giving respect to the forum for which we hold in such reverence...


DWT Respect.JPG



Thank you Nathan.
Rick

rhardman

Attachment 198One step forward, three steps back...1985
HSI 1985 Power Unit #3.JPG

Then you turn around a couple of times and things look pretty good!

HSI Circuitry.JPG
Aaron sent some Raptor circuit diagrams for me to evaluate yesterday.
(Full SMT & shock proof heavy power circuitry, complete conformal
coating and potted with military specs where vulnerable to abuse.)

Attachment 198

Nothing for sale today.

We're planning the launch for the hand tools and to begin accepting pre-orders from local area distributors June 1. Lifetime warrantee on every tool as well as a satisfaction guarantee. Full technical assistance and sales support 24/7. After hours and weekends, the phone number forwards to my personal cell. I've been warned about using my own number 24/7 from everyone on my team. The way I look at it is, either we're going to do this right, or we're not. And you don't have the time to be jacked around by someone that can't answer everything you ask during your very first call. I have more respect for our business partners than that!

We're holding off on the launch so we can finish up the DWT reviews for the Mesh Taper and make last minute improvements to them (before they are offered for sale).

Rick
Oh, on the "Friends" tab there is a DrywallTalk.com logo that can be "clicked" and immediately takes the viewer to the DWT home page. There is absolutely no connotation of support or endorsement by DWT, it's just a friendly thank you from us and a referral.

Saturday Update: Hey mfrs and distributor's that are following DWT. Why don't you add a www.drywalltalk.com link too?

Build the community and show some respect.

rhardman

I'm setting up the vendors for materials and sub assemblies and keep running into this "If you're lucky, we'll bless you with the ability to buy our products" attitude.I'm so sick of it.

Large organizations that are (very) successful recognize the importance of treating the customer well. But it seems that when you're dealing with companies between $2 -$12 million, you too often find these attitudes of arrogance that has got to hurt their business more than it helps. Or you get jacked around behind a veil of "professionalism" that makes them unreachable as they infer that slow service is an acceptable standard of operation.

At the end of the day, we're getting some good reliable vendors. But the garbage I've had to go through...geesh! I've been up since 3:00 this morning upset about it.

After our site goes live, if you ever encounter anything but perfect service and absolute respect, call me direct at the 24/7 phone number and please let me know.

Rick

rhardman

Waiting for results of seal evaluation.
Drawings complete for pump/reservoir/hopper.
Moving equipment to single location for mfg.

Will advise of new developments.

Rick

Whitey97

you're an amazing man Rick... much respect

rebel20

Saturday Update: Hey mfrs and distributor's that are following DWT. Why don't you add a www.drywalltalk.com link too?

Build the community and show some respect.[/quote]


Added it on the home page a long while back.

rebel

__________________
Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.
www.edp-inc.net

rhardman

Porta Tex0002.jpg
This was a great little tool for minor touch up. You could leave the mud in it for a month, pull it out and match any machine texture in 2 minutes. No clean up.

I really liked this one. I designed it so it tilted away from your body when you carried it (to ensure that it wouldn't bump into your knee).

Rick

Tuesday Update: The Porta Tex was introduced about 20 seconds before the aerosol texture cans came out. I demonstrated the better texture matching capabilities but most guys didn't care; they just wanted "good enough to pass." I also had several ways to adjust the pattern for fine tuning the texture so it would blend into the existing texture perfectly. Many found it too complicated. The replacement tanks were $5.00 and behind the counter. Masking was almost nothing as you could get a spray pattern ranging from 2" in diameter up to 18".

I'm still proud of it even though we didn't sell too many.
Excellent quality; powder coat, aluminum, engineered clear polycarbonate lid which would flex (leak) at the proper pressure to ensure safety (along with a back up relief valve).

Our mfg costs were too high which was the big lesson here (along with bad timing to market).

rhardman

[/quote] Added it on the home page a long while back. rebel[/quote]

That's 'cause you are a class act kind of guy!

rhardman

Today I spoke with a U.S. company that utilizes robotic manufacturing practices which may be able to provide our tools for us at a better cost than we can do many of them in house ourselves. Specifically we discussed the paddle and the new "Man Pan."

Later this month Randy is meeting with a supplier that represents 200 local plastering and EIFS suppliers to discuss furnishing our Mesh tools. I also had a great email discussion with a new online drywall tool supplier today that went very well.

Tomorrow I meet with UPS to negotiate better shipping rates especially to our brothers in the UK and Australia (you know who you are).

Spoke with the university testing the prototype seals and should have their results next week sometime.

Cory's pump drawings look great, we just had to tweak a couple of things to clear up a gravity issue and to provide a better long term appearance.

Things look solid for the June launch.

We've used the DWT reviews extensively on our web site and are giving views of the site to the companies we're talking with about mfg and distribution channels. We've provided the good reviews, the bad and actual links to the forum so they could see the rough comments too.

The whole thing really illustrates our desire to be open about everything. A few people have been surprised by us providing the negative comments, but I think it shows our intention to be honest with them and everyone important to our success has come on board.

Thank you....again!

rhardman

In keeping with our intention to be honest, I received a couple of emails today from someone waiting for a mesh taper.

I explained that shipping the taper, paddle and other tools will cost $150.00 UPS (he's very remote) and we'll do it, but not until we receive our test results from the current person evaluating the taper. I just want to be sure we correct anything that might be found inadequate.

"...really starting to wounder if these tool will ever show up !!!!! most of the other tapers i have talked to think it's a bunch of BS !!! i am starting to agree . mesh taper- creaser wheel - paddle are they just photos ? if your not going to send any my way just let me know."

His final sentence: "and last of all ... you will never find one of your tools with me on a job site."

This is a really good guy, but apparently he told his buddies about the tools and since he hasn't received them yet, they're giving him flack about it. We'll make it right with him as soon as we can.

If anyone has similar frustrations, please let me know so I can address the issue directly and resolve any misunderstanding.

Rick
"Come to Jesus" statement: Ultimately his frustration is understandable since I thought his prototypes would be delivered by now. This one I guess is totally on my head. I didn't think the process would take so long.

Tim0282

There are two ways to ask for a freebie.... And that aint one of them. Well, I guess it is. I ordered and paid for an item three months ago. (not a tool to work with) Still not here. I emailed and asked for an update. Problems out of their control has created the situation. It happens... There is more to life than getting upset. Rick, you are quite graceful (professional) in the way you handled this. Good for you!

A+ Texture LLC

Someone like that is simply a liability. Do you think if someone getting something for free would rip you a new one for something like that would still give your product a fair review? Id say "later bro"...

Tim0282

I would too, A. But that is probably why I use the tools instead of make and sell them...

rebel20

Rick,
I have been reading this thread from the beginning and found that you were fair and very honest to all the guy's here. It is hard to say what havoc one bad apple will create. Making a complaint of such would make me think twice if he will give an honest opinion. I feel that covering the shipping costs for free tools is not much to ask of someone. That's my opinion. I would do it. Unless you have been paying all along for the shipping. Which I have seen no where here that you are paying for shipping. And I am sure through your professionalism you will find a happy medium with this one tester.


Keep up the good work,

rebel

__________________
Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.
www.edp-inc.net

rhardman

Tim0282, A+ and Rebel,

Those are all good points and from a business standpoint very legitimate.
I lost a partner years ago because he wanted me to start selling the tools that were already finished and use that money to develop the larger systems. That was a very strong and vaild point too.

The problem I've always faced is "What is the long term goal and what is the right thing to do?" And what it finally came down to for me was, I want to prove that my dad's original concepts in the late 70's were far beyond anything anyone else had ever thought about. I remember his partner "Tom" bad mouthing him when things took longer than he thought so this recent issue with the frustrated tester is really hitting home for me. I've been up since 4:00 this morning thinking about it.

I've seen too many "business people" $crew the customer for the 30 day profit and it fry's me every time I encounter it.

I really don't have any need for anyone's approval and at the end of this little adventure, whichever direction it ends up, all we can do is our best. At a certain level, we have no control over the final outcome, that's up to the market.

So...I think I'd better call this guy this next week and turn things around. I learned a long time ago that if I encounter a bad situation, take my lumps and make "it" right, it's easier to sleep and builds long term relationships.

The guy did trust me to send those tools by now.

Rick
(Rebel, yea I've paid for all the shipping out of my personal pocket. The partners didn't think it was a viable expense but I thought it was the least I could do for those that took time out of their day to try our tools. It's turned out to be one of the best investments I've ever made.)

tricounty dwall

i am interested in trying out new tools.. my email is tricountydwall@aol.com

Tim0282

You didn't have the internet to spread the word as quickly, either!
Looks like a great tool! I'd buy one! I always will "buy one." You know me, and most drywallers. We will always try the new "thing". I have a few that didn't work so great. They make pretty cool looking wallhangings!

rhardman

Porta Tex mailer0001.JPG


That's just wrong.
If you don't like our tools, we'll buy them back from you.

Funny you should mention that 0282. The Porta Tex was primarily designed to perfectly match textures. After many years of production work, I moved into high end remodeling on homes built between 1900 and 1950 matching old style plaster textures, arches, coves and so forth. You can do some real magic using a drywall base with some innovative texturing techniques.

It may come back in a little different design.

Rick

rhardman

The communication ended up being by email.

"... I think the biggest issue here is that I over committed on when I would be able to deliver and also, I did not communicate as well as I should have. Sir, for those mistakes I am sorry and accept full responsibility. "

Well, I put out the olive branch so we'll see how it goes.

Rick