Sigh!
Another year rolls by, and I still have not received my assembled MOTM modules, which were paid for in advance, over 3 years ago as of now.
After my last on-list complaint, a year ago, Paul said this...
1st September 2012, Paul said...
> I’m starting to pack up for the move next Friday.
I will get the 2 MOTM-120s sent and the MOTM-510s
> will be in October after I unpack and set up. As of today I have 112 modules left to ship. I built up 18 this
> week and shooting for 10 next week before everything is boxed up.
...they never arrived.
Now a year later, and yet more promises, including the direct promise to build and deliver my order above, have been broken.
17th September, 2012, Paul said...
> It will be towards the end Of the week until I can start getting back to soldering.
30th November, 2012, Paul said...
> Things are now settled in here in AZ until July at least. The family drama has stabilized for the most part
> and I have all my parts to finish out the MOTM backlog.
>
I have not been able to get much MOTM out since July. But, between now and Christmas/New Year break I will
>
start shipping in moderate volumes. I now have all the MOTM-300 VCO pc boards stuffed and soldered and this
>
was the last module waiting for stuffed boards.
>
I am going to go 1 person at a time, old to new for assembled.
Notice above he says he is going 1 person at a time, old to new for assembled.
2nd January, 2013
, Paul said...
> Here is my record of people that are owed modules (order #, Name):
> 178 brower
> 350 shires
> 441 stapivic
> 446 wheaton
...there I am, fourth on the list, as of January this year. No idea if the 3 earlier customers on his backlog list above also paid in advance, 3 years ago, like I did, or not.
7th January, 2013, Paul said...
> Last 4 days were all MOTM, all the time :)
>
b) I built 11 assembled modules as well, but have about 42 to go. This coming week will still be
>
MOTM-focused
(but have to go back to work.....sigh). Happy emails will dribble out all month long.
>
MOTM assembly is ∗slow going∗ :)
...no shit!
27th March, 2013, Paul said...
> I will be unpacking my 5U MOTM parts and boards this weekend. I have not been able to ship any 5U for several
>
months, but this will not be the case for April/May. I have reduced the unboxing from the move from 93 boxes
>
to about 14. I will start shipping on Monday.
8 June, 2013, Paul said...
> do have a ∗
dream∗ of re-booting MOTM from scratch, using all new parts. But in SMT (no DIY).
>And some people have a problem with that J
>It might be possible to have some (maybe 40%) of new designs in thru-hole....quit dreaming about new MOTM, ship old and PAID FOR 3 YEARS AGO MOTM, FFS!!!
12 July, 2013, Paul said...
> Speaking of the MOTM backlog: I have not had much time since moving into the rent house in Feb. as my 2yr old
>
grandson absorbs much bandwidth. However, we have hired a nanny and next month he starts a pre-school
>
program that will relieve a lot of stress here.
I don't care about you moving house all the time, or that you are playing with your grandson, just build and ship the 4 modules that I paid for 3 years ago, FFS!!!
So, it is now 3 years since I paid for these 4 modules, and those broken promises above are only those from the last year, there have been 2 years of broken promises before that.
Paul is using $1500, of my money, as an interest free loan, under the guise of a paid in advance order for his products, for 3 years so far, this sort of behavior by a business would have to be considered fraudulent.
If Paul wants to refund my 'cash advance, he can pay the same interest that I would have to pay for cash advances on my credit cards, which is 20% and more.
So, if you want to refund my money Paul, $1500 at 20% compound interest over 3 years, calculated monthly = $2719.70.
Please either build and send my 4 modules, or send $2719.70, ASAP.
Thanks,
Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA
From: Wheaton, Simon [simon.wheaton@...]
Sent: Saturday 1 September 2012 07:20
To: MOTM List
Subject: When Will Paid for Assembled Modules Really Be Available? RE: [motm] Update
Paul,
You mentioned below, in a previous update to the list on January 1st (not to mention the many earlier broken promises), that all assembled modules would ship out by May 1, which was three months from that update. It is now 7 months since that update, and I still have not received paid for modules, or any idea if/when they might actually be produced and available.
There have been numerous update emails, from you to the list, saying how you are going to catch up with the assembled module backlog. When will modules, in my case and probably many others, that have been paid for at least a year or more ago, actually be available and sent out to customers?
I find it very bizarre that you take peoples money like this, and string them along for years with promises that they will be ready soon, but without ever supplying any product. I don't know how you can sleep well at night, knowing that you are taking peoples money like this, for product that appears to be available at the time of payment, and then not delivering for years.
I am sick of seeing you discuss new modules, plans for the future, etc., while you are not full-filling existing orders. Maybe try placing yourself in the position of one of your customers, have a think about how you might feel after paying for a product years ago, that seemed that is was available at the time, and then you keep seeing promises that they will be delivered "soon", and nothing ever happens, do you think that is a reasonable way for someone to do business?
I am not interested in tales of woe, you take peoples money for products, you have an obligation to supply those products in a reasonable amount of time. A little extension of time for problems is reasonable, but years of broken promises is not. It is no wonder that the MOTM format is dying, customers can not get hold of it even if they want it, and even if they have paid for it years ago.
The money that you talk about putting into the new MOTM, is the money belonging to existing customers, that you have not delivered paid-for product to, how about you supply all paid for product before spending that money on grand new plans?
How much money are you holding for customers that have paid in advance, what sort of times have they been waiting so far, and do you think it is fair that you have customers money for years without supplying the product?
I don't want excuses, or my money back, I just want the products I paid for years ago.
Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA
From: motm@yahoogroups.com [motm@yahoogroups.com] on behalf of Paul Schreiber [synth1@...]
Sent: Monday 30 January 2012 05:56
To: MOTM List
Subject: [motm] Update Here is the first update going forward with MOTM 3.0 :)
ASSEMBLED==========
Once the kits are 100% shipped, I will start shipping the assembled backlog. I am having additional tech help for doing this. As of today, there are 177 assembled modules in the backlog. That is a lot to do. On a 'good day' I can build and ship 5-8 depending on what they are. So, it's going to take a bit but I am on MOTM ∗full time∗ for several months at least. The goal is that the backlog is 100% shipped by May 1, when BrideChamber takes over. I do not see this being a problem.
NEW 5U
=======
Yes, both SMT refreshes and new designs (like the Morphing Terrarium and a super Cloud Generator) are in the pipeline. I am going to put over $20,000 of R&D money into starting over with MOTM, to correct the delivery issue and have new modules to play with. I am not going to address the thru-hole DIY market. CGS and YSynth, current MOTM designs and other may do so. I will focus on modules you can order on Monday and play them on Friday. In the same week. Of the same YEAR (cough).
Paul S.
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