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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:07:46 GMT
As people will know, I am hoping to sell kits for building my GPS and/or Autopilot panels. This is going to be a description of the various possibilities I am thinking of for kits, so let me know what you think. I have not yet attached prices to these, but that will be coming soon.
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:08:35 GMT
Kit #0
This isn't really a kit at all, it's an eBook. It will describe in detail the process of building either panel from scratch, including all the measurements and the Lua code (there isn't a lot of it) to help you program the finished panel with LINDA. (Of course the Lua file will also be available to download for free, but for an eBook you need to be able to create it from scratch too.) With all that in mind, here's a summary of possible forms a kit might take.
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:12:49 GMT
Kit #1 That's it - a pair of acrylic panels. Of course you'll also get the parts list to complete the panel, the construction manual and the LINDA library. This picture shows the Autopilot panel. (The front acrylic still has its protective film in place, which is why it appears white!)
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:14:35 GMT
Kit #2 This is the acrylic panels plus all the components you need. As before you will also get the construction manual and the LINDA library. This is the GPS panel.
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:21:16 GMT
Kit #3 This would be, hypothetically, a kit that didn't require any soldering. It comprises the acryclics plus all the components with wires pre-soldered. In practice I think it is unlikely that I will offer this as a kit because it would be too expensive. The real benefit of offering a kit-build product is the cost savings you get by doing the work yourself. To create this kit takes me so long to cut, solder and test all the wires (54 for the GPS) that I don't think people would be prepared to pay what I would need to charge.
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:22:41 GMT
Kit #4 This is the pre-soldered kit with the Leo Bodnar BBI-32 board included. As with Kit #3, it seems likely that this would prove un-economical in practice.
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Post by MarkH on Dec 27, 2014 21:28:48 GMT
Here's a picture showing a rotary encoder mounted in one of the recessed holes.
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gren
Almost Aviator
Posts: 2
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Post by gren on Jan 5, 2015 23:07:54 GMT
The kit two options look good Mark. If you are up to self assemble it probably means you would be up to speed with wiring and soldering anyway
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Post by MarkH on Jan 6, 2015 8:15:31 GMT
The kit two options look good Mark. If you are up to self assemble it probably means you would be up to speed with wiring and soldering anyway Yes, I hope so. The soldering really is what takes the time - or, to put it the right way around, it's one of the main ways where you save money by doing it yourself! It's really not hard but there's a lot of it.
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Post by MarkH on Mar 9, 2015 18:28:49 GMT
Nobody's buying my stuff, so I need to do something else. The idea was the eBook would advertise the existence of my panel kits and people would want to buy them, but it ain't happening. The eBook sales are healthy so I can only think people are either set on building themselves or that they are still put off by other stuff like the soldering.
I may go back to the idea of a more comprehensive kit such as kit #3 or #4 in this thread, or as a last resort to fully-assembled panels. The further along I go with the assembly, the more work it is for me, the less profit I can make on each one and the more risky it is from things like returns. What do people think? I would like to think the kit #3 would be a more attractive option and I could sell these for £100 if I was intent on getting my money back. I am not sure how long I could keep that up, though, as the amount of work involved in the soldering is the limit (55 or 65 wires per panel).
Ideas on a postcard!
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Post by ScottB on Mar 10, 2015 1:09:24 GMT
Well, I hate to hear that. You were generous enough to put all of your work on video and make it easy for the rest of us. Not to mention your software work and this forum. Maybe not enough exposure yet. The full blown panel would probably sell better but certainly that'd be a lot of work for a one man operation. It will be interesting to hear others opinion on this.
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Post by cptmatt on Mar 13, 2015 16:30:15 GMT
Completely my own thoughts but I think you may be positioning the wrong product to the wrong crowd.
I think there are essentially two consumers in the space, three if you include people who don't buy peripherals but we'll ignore them here.
Those who buy ready made gear
Those who build / make their own
Those who only buy ready made gear aren't going to do the assembly required to take kit one to a finished product, that's obvious.
Putting myself into the build / make category I watched all your build videos, bought the ebook, enjoyed both, thought about buying kit 1 but more or less am at the point where there is so much work still to do with it that the temptation of a bespoke setup outweighs the time saving of buying the kit, not withstanding the fact they're laser cut and drilling them looks like a total pain in the bum.
Putting my marketing hat on for a minute I would -
Market the kit as 'everything you need in the bag' and include all the switches, wires, instructions etc... But don't do any soldering assembly yourself or you'll have to charge too much or lose money based on your time. This makes the kit look fun and easy. People who buy ready to go stuff my be happy to give it a go and people who make their own stuff may be lazy enough just to grab a kit. The ad should say "This kits contains everything you need to make this amazing panel!"
Advertise - I only know you're selling them because I followed you videos through. It's not obvious to me any where on your YouTube channel or this forum that they're for sale. I'd suggest a stand alone website linked to this forum and your YouTube channel (unless this exists and I've missed it)?
Maybe this is helpful maybe not but I'd like to see you sell some as I think it's really cool stuff.
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Post by MarkH on Mar 13, 2015 17:44:03 GMT
'everything you need in the bag'...Advertise Yes, the 'all in one' (but still a kit) solution is worth trying and I will consider it. I can make it more favourable by buying the Bodnar boards ten at a time, but that's a bit of a gamble (another one!) but I would do it if I sold a few. As for advertising, you are right and all I have done is post in a few forums. This is okay (it got me two direct sales) but it gies out of sight quickly. The YouTube channel and the eBook are the real showroom and maybe that's not enough. Maybe I should change my Youtube channel banner to say 'buy my awesome yet simple GPS and autopilot all-inclusive kits'! That is a semi-serious idea, by the way. I am also working on getting a mention in PC Pilot magazine, which would be a big kick. Would be interested in hearing suggestions about other places or ways to advertise.
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Post by cptmatt on Mar 13, 2015 18:01:32 GMT
Maybe change the battle of Britton video to a specific sales video on your channel homepage so every time a new person loads the channel they see it.
I still think you need a stand alone web page though with all the kit details and a paypal / buy now button.
For 30 odd quid if it was that simple I think you'd get a bit of why not.
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Post by MarkH on Mar 13, 2015 20:25:20 GMT
Maybe change the battle of Britton video to a specific sales video on your channel homepage so every time a new person loads the channel they see it. I still think you need a stand alone web page though with all the kit details and a paypal / buy now button. For 30 odd quid if it was that simple I think you'd get a bit of why not. Yes, I could easily change the video. As for the web site, I will have to think about that. I had a web site for years but gave it up not that long ago
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