[sdiy] Advice for someone entering the kit business?

[Ray Wilson]

> I only sell PCBs but if I did kits this is what I would do.
> Use PayPal for payment. They have mechanisms for refunds, they keep track 
> of everything and they are very secure. It is available to anyone with a 
> bank account or credit card.
> Make the instructions as clear as possible down to placing each component 
> and dressing each wire. Have good illustrations and then get the 
> documentation printed professionally.
> Provide the instructions on-line as well.
> Come up with a clear return policy that you can live with.
> Don't get upset when you have customers act like you purposely sent them 
> bad parts or ICs. And plan to ship them replacement parts.
> Send orders to customers promptly.
> Come up with a shipping cost you can live with (packing, labeling, driving 
> to the post office, etc.).
> Find a good provider of shipping materials and order them in bulk.
> Order the electronic parts in bulk.
> Use good pots and switches (let us all know where you finally find them).
> Use prototype PC boards and test the finished product.
> Have a schedule for days that you kit and days that you ship.
> Come up with a process for kitting that reduces the kitting time to a 
> minimum.
> Believe in your products and visualize success.
> Take the amount of time you imagine spending on the business and QUADRUPLE 
> it.