Troopy brethren:
Know a lot of you still have questions and concerns related to the group buy. I have a phone call set up with Cassiem on 31 October to get after all these concerns, but need your help so I answer all your questions. Please add your additional questions to the ones I have below, and I will get after answering them.
Questions:
1. Is it possible to ship to each coast of the US and/or can each individual purchase individual shipping.
1.a. How is payment done? Wire transfer/ credit card/ etc?
1.b Is full payment expected up front or is it 50% to start the order, and then 50% when it comes time to ship?
1.c. What is the timeline for this deposit, final payment, and shipping fee?
2. What is cheaper for shipping - air freight or ship freight? Does this impact if orders can go to multiple locations?
2.a Is all shipping required to go through a freight terminal and does it require an import inspection and customs duties?
3. Have we already met the requirement for 15% off because someone who was interested in this group buy originally has already purchased 3 tents?
4. Are other items on the alu-innovations website eligible for this group buy discount (15% or 20%)
5. Where is the video showing a full walkthrough of the tent itself, not some tic-tok bulls*** video.
5.a. Size comparison of standard vs tall tent.
5.b. Schematic/video of how interior platform hinges up and down and where this hinge point is.
5.c. Pictures of color choices for both interior and exterior.
6. What warranty is provided on this equipment?
What else am I missing?
Paul
Troopy brethren, talked with Cassiem today for about 30 minutes to discuss each of the notes above.
1. Shipping can be done individualized or via container. Individualized shipping much more expensive. all tents however will be imported to one port on the west coast, one port on the east coast. Cassiem has a shipper that he works with that will then arrange freight transpo from the port, to individual destinations. Or, buyers can go pick up their tent directly from the port. That is available as well. Shipping via ship container is going to much much cheaper than air transport.
1.a. Payment is done via wire transfer. Each individual must do their own payments utilizing the reference number from their order.
1.b. Payment timelines: 50% due up front to get the build started. Typical timeline is 4-5 weeks for a batch of 4-5 tents to be built, however, we can ask to have them all sent at the same time (say shipped 15 Jan or something like that). Given that this is a group buy with a discount built in, I'd prefer to not try and "rush" any of these orders. So depending on how many people want in (I think we're at 3 or 4 confirmed right now) would like to plan for a 15 or 31 January ship date from South Africa.
1.c. Addressed above.
2.a. Cassiem told me that his shipping agent will be in touch with me regarding import duties, etc, but he told me that he has a shipping agent that will be working all these details and they will handle all the details.
3. The individual who contacted me separately and told me he'd be buying 3 tents hasn't purchased them (this is what Cassiem told me) so we're currently at 15% off. But if we get enough tents (6 or more) we'll get 20% off.
4. Unfortunately, Cassiem said that his additional items he has on his website (tables, etc) he cannot offer a discount for. He sells these very close to his build price so his margins are very thin.
5. Cassiem sending me videos via WhatsApp that that I will upload.
5.a. Tall tent is 4" taller than the standard tent.
5.b. ALL tents pivot at the A Pillar unless it is a special order. The video showing the pivot at the B pillar was a special order that Cassiem made at owner request. So this video has now caused all sorts of confusion and issue. Again, ALL tents pivot at the A Pillar the exact same as Alu-Cab.
5.c. Cassiem will color match ANY color free of charge. Red/Blue/White/Beige/Black etc. Send him the VIN of your troopy and he'll paint match the top. Those with Red Troopies can now get their top color matched based on the paint code. Interior colors are light or dark gray.
6. Warranty information: Cassiem has a very low failure rate on certain parts (approx 3-5%). However, within the next 6 months Cassiem expects to open a US distributor that will support all warranty claims should something go wrong.
Other notes from our discussion:
- Cassiem worked on the original Alu-Cab design. He ended up leaving an opening up his own company.
- Cassiem and his team now make bumpers, don't believe they're on his website yet, but he gave me a video tour of his shop. (I have added some photos of tents he was showing me).
- Cassiem builds center fridge consoles as well, check out his TikTok/Insta for more details.
- Cassiem will send a "build sheet request" to me, which I will post here and/or forward to interested parties to select their build data. This group buy is going to proceed!
Let me know your questions,
Paul
forum.ih8mud.com
