Hello Everybody,
I am just finishing the third to last order from 2007.
I finally looked at orders from 2008, and again there is 2 years or more of assembly
booked in a single year. My prices must be set too low. But still, $800 for a VCO whose
BASIC functionality can be replicated by a rack of cheap modules for half the price?
This was never anticipated in the design of the modules, or the design of the assembly
process, or the design of the business model, or what the future was SUPPOSED to be like.
Success is going to put Wiard out of business, if I don't manage it realistically.
I always operate in good faith. If I talked to you on the telephone, and guessed at a
delivery period, that was the reality at that moment. The fact that next week, 18 months
work of business came in one week, who could anticipate that?
Wiard is based on and "old world" hand crafting methodology. There is basically no way to
increase production, without changing the product into something different. European's
have no problem with this, but it drives some American's into hissy fits.
At Wiard we use EE volunteers as technicians. This kind of assembly is an art form. Anyone
who possesses the skill level to do it is unaffordable to the business. There is no practical
method to increase production, again without redesigning the entire thing.
I am going to have to contact each individual and negotiate with them. I haven't deposited
the down payments yet, so returning them is no problem (for the most part).
Here is the adjustment to business practice. I can only offer six modules per person, per
year. You have to be willing to wait as long as it takes, no more delivery dates or promises.
No more multi-rack orders. All module modifications after today are $100 per module.
Also, this is not a conspiracy to prevent access. I am ten years older than when I started. I
am not physically or psychologically capable of the marathon bench sessions which were
routine in the early years. And I am NOT willing to die for my art. That is just stupid.
Barack Obama say's American's must learn to live within their means. I think this also
applies to your physical means. Acting like your 40 when your 52 may be Macho, but 2
days of bed rest afterwards is not Macho. It's also stupid, and sure wrecks your weekends.
Nobody panic! Wiard is not going out of business. I am adjusting the business practice to
fit the current state of affairs. And I am not even asking for a Government
bailout to do it.
I'm not going to spoil anyones Christmas, we will work something out to each customer's
satisfaction.
With gratitude for the uber-fantastic support, and humility for my limitations,
Grant Richter
Wiard Synthesizer
Message
Re: [wiardgroup] Adjustment to business practice (humility of age).
2008-12-09 by watson
grant, in my opinion you dont have to apologize, but the fact that you did in a concise and honest manner just shows how great your character is... custom handbuilt work is that, its done when it gets done. and if anyone doesnt understand that, then that just means ill get my modules a little sooner and youll have less stress
but seriously contact me about anythng at all, i think most of us on here are understanding customers that are buying your products for reasons beyond being able to "replicate a wiard vco functions with (insert manufacturer name) modules . i am not buying them cause i need something now, i am buying them because i love the design aspect, the way the system is laid out i am able to do things with less patch cords and more options, the thing that seperates wiard from other modulars is that the designs really feel like you werent just trying to put the most amount of stuff into a space and then just sell it.... it feels like to me you have very very specific ideas for being able to do certain things that sound really good without a lot of extra things thrown on the module that are rarely used. for instance you an very easily get a very very pretty lead line or bass with just a few patch cords on a classic vco, but when you start adding modules you dont just get double the functions, your functionality exponentially grows. the layout is just amazing and all the patch cords are left to the bottom so that it doesnt get in the way of sound design....these are just a few thing and obviously is just my opinion.
i have been buying synthesizers for over 10 years and have owned A LOT of different things and had to wait months-years to get some of them. i got to play a wiard at a festival a few years ago and i was immediately shocked by the sound quality and layout, i decided i had to have one..... i saved up for a few years, sold a few pieces of gear that werent being used as much and made my order this year. i bought a few modules second hand over the past couple of years and have had immense joy out of them and really tend to use them the most.
knowing that this year was going to be so overwhelming i would have just bought the modules one at a time while i was "saving up the money", but i had no clue you were going to be so busy this year and i had this grand idea of just getting everything i wanted when i had the money, it was more of a personal goal and obviously i could never have seen that the business would pick up so much.
anyway this is jut my rant/appreciation.... and you feel free to call me whenever you need to and we will work out whatever needs to be worked out to keep you sane!!!
watson
On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 2:22 PM, Grant Richter <grichter@asapnet.net> wrote: