I wish I had some pics I could post, but my laptop (well Vista install) has decided to call it a day in recent weeks, and taken all my pics etc with it..
Contrary to popular opinion I haven't been ignoring this thread or the Group Buy, however my 2nd cock up in this situation was not to post on here, even just to say no new news. My reason was that I often had nothing new to add, and was going to risk sounding like a stuck record on the 'update' of proceedings. In retrospect that only made things worse and therefore made myself less keen to post nothing new.. So for that I apologise. However to insinuate that I had got my products and buggered off, attempting to wash my hands of all responsibilty of seeing it to the end, is very far from the truth.. I would point at the fact that the new tabs have been milled for example, whereas I recieved the original folded ones.. (Which to be fair to TTV worked fine with a 15 mins spent with a file on the washers and bolts, tested at the Nurburgring!)
My 1st cock up was in the initial explaination of what was needed, which resulted in 1/2 the batch of tabs being made incorrectly. I felt a bit of an idiot, however TTV were very good about it, so again I would like to apologise for that mistake. The material to be used was discussed, however I didn't specify what manufacturing process should be used, I assumed from the drawings I had given it might be obvious.
Just to clarify also, these are the drawings I handed to them to be made:
Basic engineering drawing of the tabs, with dimensions (same as DanThe used)
An image of the finished article..
The initial error was discovered when I was up there in person, and I pointed out the correct tabs, and left one on their desk so the rest could be made like it..
I then left them to it, and after got a message to say they were done, where I went up, paid for mine, Dan's and Dave's (3 sets of 8..) and left a list of addresses of everyone who had PM'd me theirs, and discussed the sending out of the tabs.. Then 10th of March I sent an e-mail saying all tabs other than Hoshy's and Winx's could be sent ok, but those 2 were looking to have them welded and collect 'ready made'.. On the 17th of March I sent an e-mail confirming the correct orientation of the tabs (the original 'engineering drawing' was re sent again). Around this time JaiStanley went up and collected a set of folded tabs (8 off..). I believe he at the time discussed the tabs with TTV, however to what extent I am not sure.
So on this I left it with TTV, as far as I knew and had posted they were all done and ready to go out.. However it turned out the tabs had been manufactured as per the incorrect ones.
I am not sure exactly what happened here, but it would appear TTV were waiting to hear back from Jai on the functionality of the folded tabs, so were not going to manufacture any more until this feedback was given. I was however completely unaware of this situation..
I then spoke to them again end of April/beginning of May time I believe and following our conversation sent them the drawing again with instructions to mill the tabs. A couple of weeks later iirc I spoke to them again and they had done the milled tabs and were ready to send them out to everyone who had paypal'd and everyone who's addresses I'd given (accept for Winx and Hoshy)..
Then we arrive at TTV signing up, where by I sat back to allow them to sort it out, rather than get involved and create a too many cooks situation..
Iirc the ARB tabs, the initial few were made non handed, however this was rectified right at the beginning and were fine from then!
I am a little confused about how I can be difficult to get hold of, I have had the same number for 6 years and my phone is ALWAYS switched on. My e-mail and phone number are on file, however if they were lost, BBB in close proximity have it, as does even Granty the welder across the road.
I stated in the thread, and still stand by, that I don't feel what has gone on, is an accurate reflection on TTV, hence my reluctance to reveal who was manufacturing the tabs.
I set this up to help other e30zone members, not to make any money or anything else, and am pretty gutted about how it turned out.. So again I would like to apologise to all involved.
I am sure points have been missed in my reply, I had to sit back and think it through for a couple of days (I caught up with it after getting back from the Nurburgring), I spoke to a few people and they confirmed it was for the best this way.
If anyone has anything they would like to say to me in person I will be at meets, and willing to discuss the matter to their faces as I have nothing to hide, and am only in this as an enthusiast for the rotten snotters that are e30's.
Regards
Dan
(You now have now both been sorted I believe)
