Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

[DkN]

FURTHER UPDATE CLICK HERE

I just had a discussion with the manager on the phone. He gave some details as to what exactly is being worked on in the software and what is left to do, and he believes that it will be ready by the end of this week. I am a bit wary of his time frame now though, my safe bet would be double what he quotes me so that would be by 10 August. Of course, if it all works out earlier I would post the video earlier and get the orders going ASAP. So fingers crossed that the manager's estimate would pull through this time and I would have a demo video up by this weekend.

In the mean time I thought I will post up some screenshots from the software I currently have - I will avoid posting up parts of the software that have not yet been implemented / updated, in the test version that I'm running.

I want to stress that I am simply trying to update everyone as soon as I have new information, though that turned out to be a problem when the manager continuously gave me false dates. That said, I understand it would be frustrating for many of you, especially those that signed on early. To hopefully mitigate some of that, I will throw in an extra raffle unit into the mix (so 60+ is now 4 free units, and 75+ is 5 free units).

Screenshots of updated parts of the software below:

Radio:




Phonebook:




Some new settings:

[benoz11]

Looks good Sandy!
Anyone who had ever worked construction knows that fixed delivery times are always optimistic...

[kwalsh24]

Thanks for the update Sandy, I just sold my navi system from my car and well, I miss having it haha. What are the chances that the ans line and DNS line share the same connections for the GPS antenna and other wiring harnesses that aren't in the main VW harness loop?

[sinclap2]

Thanks for the update Sandy. My opinion, I don't mind waiting a little bit longer for them to fix the bugs you mentioned. It's not like they're not coming, there has just been a delay. I totally understand ***** happens sometimes. When you rush to get stuff completed other mistakes can be made, I have been on the wrong side of that.

[bradsm87]

I think all potential buyers would agree - I would highly prefer that the price per unit is discounted rather than random people getting free units. That would seem a lot more fair to me.

[dvestate]

Sandy I would be interested to hear your overall thoughts on the unit (even with the software bugs that are present), look/feel, quality, responsiveness, etc in comparison to the ANS series and factory units.

I think all potential buyers would agree - I would highly prefer that the price per unit is discounted rather than random people getting free units. That would seem a lot more fair to me.

I think this was raised in the thread and the decision was made for a raffle style system, he might have to do a video of the draw or something so people can't claim favoritism or something. Had a guy on another forum do it when giving away a prize, he video'd the whole thing. Cutting out all the names screwing them up and tossing them into the hat and then drawing the name, long video but made sure there were no complaints.

[jib6984]

I think all potential buyers would agree - I would highly prefer that the price per unit is discounted rather than random people getting free units. That would seem a lot more fair to me.

Although I realise it was raised earlier in the thread I have to agree entirely. After all what is the point in raising numbers in a group buy if we don't all benefit from a better discount?

[DkN]

Although I realise it was raised earlier in the thread I have to agree entirely. After all what is the point in raising numbers in a group buy if we don't all benefit from a better discount?

It's an issue when there are so many people in the group buy. Assuming we have 70, even giving $10 off per unit will cost me $700. And as I do make a profit from these units, giving away a free one does not cost me $700 whereas someone else does get $700 worth of value. Plus, since I am receiving free units from Audiosources, it's much easier for me to just pass on these free units rather than worry about how much discount I should give.

This is what I was explaining before, and most people seem to prefer a chance at a free unit rather than something like $10 off their purchase.

I don't much feel like cutting up 70 pieces of paper and drawing them out of a hat, but I'm happy to record the whole process through a 3rd party random draw service here:

Random Line/Name Picker - Contest Winner Picker

Feel free to look around the system and verify that the draw is genuine.

[dvestate]

That site looks good, although in my 10 tests my name didn't come out in the top 20 once :p

[DkN]

That site looks good, although in my 10 tests my name didn't come out in the top 20 once :p

That's surely a sign your name is waiting for the real draw

[jib6984]

It's an issue when there are so many people in the group buy. Assuming we have 70, even giving $10 off per unit will cost me $700. And as I do make a profit from these units, giving away a free one does not cost me $700 whereas someone else does get $700 worth of value. Plus, since I am receiving free units from Audiosources, it's much easier for me to just pass on these free units rather than worry about how much discount I should give.

This is what I was explaining before, and most people seem to prefer a chance at a free unit rather than something like $10 off their purchase.

I don't much feel like cutting up 70 pieces of paper and drawing them out of a hat, but I'm happy to record the whole process through a 3rd party random draw service here:

Random Line/Name Picker - Contest Winner Picker

Feel free to look around the system and verify that the draw is genuine.

Hi Sandy

I don't want to tell you how to run your business but it would be nice if everybody got SOMETHING of a discount I suppose. No matter how small. I'm not going to argue anyway. If general concensus is for the raffle then so be it.

If I may however I'd like to make a suggestion regards the demo video that I'm sure all the noobies will appreciate.

If possible could you do it in a comparison style with the DNS and older ANS side by side so we can see in real time maybe the performance benefits of the DNS over the ANS as well as the other features the ANS doesn't have?

Cheers

[cpkk]

Hi Sandy,

I realise the discount vs. raffle was discussed earlier and apologies for getting into the detail, but assuming that you receive a certain number of free units from Audiosources once you've reached the order threshold (3 free units for 45+ orders, 4 for 60+, 5 for 75+ and so on), then I can't see how giving a discount will 'cost' you anything?

For example - assuming we've reached 70 orders for the group buy, lets take 3 of those units to be the 'free ones', therefore 67 'actual' orders.

Now the two scenarios, either (1) giving 3 free units or (2) giving a discount:

1: Cash flow (revenue less refunds for free units) = ($700 x 70) - ($700 x 3) = $700 x 67 = $46,900

2. Cash flow (revenue from 67 units) = $700 x 67 = $46,900

However, each person will be paying $46,900/70 = $660.56

That's a pretty decent saving for each of us and doesn't impact your profits.

This is of course assuming the logistics work the way I've illustrated above.

Cheers.

[DkN]

Hi Sandy,

I realise the discount vs. raffle was discussed earlier and apologies for getting into the detail, but assuming that you receive a certain number of free units from Audiosources once you've reached the order threshold (3 free units for 45+ orders, 4 for 60+, 5 for 75+ and so on), then I can't see how giving a discount will 'cost' you anything?

For example - assuming we've reached 70 orders for the group buy, lets take 3 of those units to be the 'free ones', therefore 67 'actual' orders.

Now the two scenarios, either (1) giving 3 free units or (2) giving a discount:

1: Cash flow (revenue less refunds for free units) = ($700 x 70) - ($700 x 3) = $700 x 67 = $46,900

2. Cash flow (revenue from 67 units) = $700 x 67 = $46,900

However, each person will be paying $46,900/70 = $660.56

That's a pretty decent saving for each of us and doesn't impact your profits.

This is of course assuming the logistics work the way I've illustrated above.

Cheers.

You're right, I was thinking of it in terms of a unit costs me $x whereas $10 off per order costs me $700, so I really was comparing cost price with revenue.

There is a mistake with your calculations though, $46,900 / 70 is $670. But considering there would be 4 free units for 70 orders, the average price would be $660 each. The only thing with this approach is I will not know exactly how much discount you get until all orders are confirmed, but you can do rough calculations yourselves.

I have set up a poll in the thread, feel free to make the vote. Of course, please do not vote if you have not yet signed on to the group buy - I don't think anyone will do that but just a reminder that the poll is public so everyone can see who voted what.

Also just pointing out that since the amount of discount remains the same, the gains vs risks ratio between the two options are evenly matched, so it's purely about whether you want to try your luck or take the safe option.

[asa572]

Where's the I don't give a f#@k about getting my unit for free or getting more of a discount off the retail price, I just want my unit option?

[cpkk]

There is a mistake with your calculations though, $46,900 / 70 is $670. But considering there would be 4 free units for 70 orders, the average price would be $660 each. The only thing with this approach is I will not know exactly how much discount you get until all orders are confirmed, but you can do rough calculations yourselves.

Yep you're right! Was in a rush when typing up the calcs.

Thanks for taking the approach on board and having a poll to let the buyers to decide.

Despite not knowing the exact number of orders, the discounted price will sit around the $660 ballpark for those interested (assuming we hit the enough orders).