Wrapping everything up!


In my experience it's quite common for someone on a loose leash to start telling fibs once things become more tricky, especially if they're working for someone who is nice and trusting. They'd rather keep them happy in the short term by lying to them, because when they're eventually found out a nice boss won't be too awful to them, and in the mean time all is good and unstressful. It's something of a lack of foresight, because they should realise that a short term bit of stress as they tell them progress isn't good will result in better progress overall and longer term happiness for them, but I tend to think that kind of behaviour is quite rare even in developed economies.

I don't think it automatically applies that anyone who's doing this is depressed, although they will likely become more stressed as their fibs are found out, so it might look as if they're down at that precise moment. But who can be sure from this distance, so treading carefully is probably for the best, even if it allows you to be more taken advantage of in the wider context. As a nice person myself, I've not found the best solution to this problem when I'm forced to work with someone at a distance.
 
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They certainly haven't honoured the contract....which is lying.

In what way?
The deal with FormAction is that they design the case and produce the moulds for a set price.
And the other end of the deal is that I have to order at least 500 cases from that setup (as such companies usually make more money from the production of the cases, not from the design).

That's all there is.
Yes, I've told my contact deadlines and asked him to check back when everything will be ready.
But it can't be proved that he ever told that to FormAction nor can I prove that he didn't. We know something is wrong there, but there's no proof who didn't tell the truth and who did.

So the only proper and correct way dealing with this is that I communicate directly with FormAction, without any middle man. As that means that I can be sure they know the dates and timeframes.
 
So the only proper and correct way dealing with this is that I communicate directly with FormAction, without any middle man. As that means that I can be sure they know the dates and timeframes.

Sorry to hear about the issues with the contact in Greece. Hope they and theirs are all OK - or at least will be in the long term.

Good to see that you are getting things in order. Has FormAction agreed in writing or correspondence to the dates that you have requested?

With (hopefully) known dates for cases to be produced, maybe it is time to revisit the master list of 'things that need to be done before production' to see if anything else can be checked off or assigned preliminary dates for production?

Things known in-flight:
Production of new prototype PCBs - is Nicolaus done/submitted on the final tweaks/changes? Are they getting produced as I type this?

Prototypes...
The first message of this thread hinged prototype production on receiving cases. Are there other dependencies? If we're waiting on cases anyway, would the new batch of prototype PCBs arrive in appropriate time to use them for this?
 
Hm? New prototype PCBs? What for? The one we have are working fine and don't need any more fixes :)

So yes, we're only waiting for the cases and for Nikolaus to finish the files for the mass production of the PCBs.
 
@ED If the deadline goes by . Will FormAction protest the move to a new case maker based on the fact they didn't get to make the 500 cases as per the contract.

ie isn't the contractual obligation for them to make the 500 cases still an issue?
 
I assume he told them that he considered it a breach of contract if they didn't produce the parts by the date they'd agreed. In which case, as he's already explained, the moulds are his property, NOW GIMME!
 
Move forward Ed, or wait for the resolution but don´t let the cases be what holds Pyra release (I know you know ;) ).
I´m confident you are handling this the right way, so I´m interested on news on other fronts, OS, software, battery management and what not.
Keep it up! :)
 
They are closed (as most companies are) from Dec. 24th to Jan 7th for christmas holidays, so I have to give them a bit more time, but if they don't finish everything until Jan 15th, it's over and we move.
Wow, I'm not aware of any company in Germany with such a long holiday.
It is too late now, but for the next project: Why not work with a local company, that one can visit by train easily?
My employer works e.g. with Bopla in Westphalia. They are not the cheapest one, but so far they never let us down for only a second.
 
Wow, I'm not aware of any company in Germany with such a long holiday.
It is too late now, but for the next project: Why not work with a local company, that one can visit by train easily?
My employer works e.g. with Bopla in Westphalia. They are not the cheapest one, but so far they never let us down for only a second.

Well, the problem was the price. I got some quotations, and the moulds were 300k EUR (instead of 60k), so the price of each Pyra in the first batch would'v been 240 EUR more per unit :/

On the other hand, yes, it probably would've been more reliable.
Take a look at my ColUSB adaptor:
Case, packaging and production made in Germany.
All deadlines kept, I'm already shipping it...

It's a lot simpler, but it shows differences.
[doublepost=1545391692,1545388500][/doublepost]Quick update:
I had a phone call with my contact right now.

Oh well... he seems to be doing fine (which is good).

But here's the continuation of the drama:
According to him, FA has already PARTLY produced the parts. They are only producing 100pcs of one mould at a time, as they only have two machines.
That explains the slowness.
We are trying to arrange a FedEx pickup to move the produced parts to me now. Let's see how this works out.

Why do they not know that the moulds are being moved? Well, could be that they "didn't get" that information - or that they're now trying to keep the production by contacting me instead of talking to him.

We don't know and we probably never will know, and honestly, trying to find out who said what and who lied and who not just to BLAME him doesn't make sense.

The IMPORTANT part is that I personally told them about the move of the moulds now and given them a production deadline.
Whatever happened, they cannot blame my contact anymore not telling them about that. So whoever didn't tell the truth - it won't work anymore now.
 
The whole Pandora / Pyra story reads like novel. It is awesome!
Don't really need it but might pick up a Pyra after launch anyway, just to remind myself it isn't fiction :)
 
I would have said Schrödinger's moulds, at the same time producing and being moved to the other company... But yeah there seems to be some music there. With dissonances, the kind that can make ears bleed.

Schopenhauer = German philosopher.
Schubert, Schumann = German composers.
Schrödinger = German physicist.

Yeah well, jüßt FYI.
 
My contact has visited them today... and he feels like they rushed the parts so the quality is probably not the best.
But I should decide on that.

So, our decision:

  • We keep the deadline Jan 15th which I told them
  • I will personally visit Greece (again...) then to check on the parts and either accept them (if the quality is good) or get a refund and throw them away (if they're rushed)
  • I also intend to do the movement of the moulds when I'm in Greece, so I can personally check on that. Otherwise, we fear they'll just delay it even more.
I hate dealing with such issues, when everything could be simple and perfect if everyone just did their job, but it seems like I have to.
 
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