Why pre-orders for Silver Bullet mk2 are super limited

August 29, 2021

Why pre-orders for Silver Bullet mk2 are super limited

The launch day for Silver Bullet mk2 was a whirlwind of excitement.  Within two hours of making the announcement the entire limited batch of units we released for pre-order had been sold out. If I hadn’t witnessed it all go down in real-time I wouldn’t have believed it happened. I’m so humbled by the enthusiastic response to this tool our team has poured their hearts into.

Unfortunately, some folks missed out on this initial opportunity to pre-order the new product.  It was a very limited run and it went very fast.  I’ve been asked the following two questions:

  1. Why was the run so limited?
  2. Why not just continue to take pre-orders?

These are excellent questions.

Building products over the last year, especially the Silver Bullet, has become increasingly challenging as component lead times have increased dramatically due to higher demand, pandemic-related restrictions, and material shortages.  This past spring I received anxiety-producing email responses from vendors such as: “we are not taking more orders until September”.  The availability for specific IC chips and capacitors we use were showing up on supplier websites as “more stock available August 2022”.  Some of the parts we use to create the signature tone of the box are single source components—custom transformers, electrolytic capacitors, selected transistors, etc.  If just one of those critical components is unavailable then the entire unit cannot complete assembly and there is no product to ship.  Substituting different parts or altering the design means we compromise our carefully crafted sonic recipe as well as risk schedule delays.  That is a compromise I am not willing to make with our designs, even if it means losing out on sales.

We want to deliver the highest quality product possible and meet the commitments we make to our customers.  In the spirit of those ideals, I decided that we would only make available for pre-order the exact number of units that we could commit to building with the parts I believe we will have available.  The past year and a half has been personally and professionally trying for so many of us.  There have been so many let downs and disappointments due to the state of the world.  Ethically, as a company, I do not want to promise something I cannot confidently deliver in a reasonable time-frame.  Given the events of the last year and a half I just won’t do that to my family, my friends, or my customers.  We’ve all had enough of that.

If our primary motive was money we would take endless pre-orders.  If Friday was any indication, there seems to be overwhelming demand for the new Silver Bullet mk2.  But that’s not what this mission is about for us.  I know it can be frustrating to miss out on something new and exciting.  But we feel it would be more frustrating to give us your hard-earned money only to be disappointed by unpredictable schedule delays or supply chain issues.  Every order that gets cancelled is a loss of money for us, as the banks don’t give back their credit card processing fees, and we would like to minimize the headaches for everyone.

As soon as we have firm commitments from our suppliers to deliver the missing parts we need to make more Silver Bullet mk2 units, we will make an announcement that we have more available for pre-order.  We will do our best to publish conservative ship date estimates with full transparency.  We feel it’s always best to under-promise and over-deliver. 

Thanks for taking the time to hear me out, and for sticking with us during this crazy time.  We very much look forward to getting the new mk2 out into the world for you all to try as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Brad
Mission Commander
UPDATE: On 9/3/21 at 8 am PST we will begin taking pre-orders for a 2nd batch.

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Try out our gear in your studio and, if within 14 days you're not satisfied, let us know and we'll issue a refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be "like new" and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging with all original materials (power supply, power cord, product card, etc.).  Please refrain from racking 19 inch rackmount gear during this trial period so that the faceplate and enclosure don't get scratched.

To complete your return, just give us a call or shoot us an email, and we'll send you instructions for packing up your unit and shipping it back.  Please note that you will be responsible for return shipping costs and we ask that you insure the unit for its full retail value to protect against loss or damage.  You are responsible for ensuring the products arrive safely at our shop.  Once we receive and inspect the unit we will issue a refund for the purchase price less the cost of shipping.  Units received in any condition other than "like new" may be subject to a restocking fee.

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We ship to (just about) any address in the world via USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express. When you place an order, we will estimate shipping delivery times for you based on your location and the shipping option you choose.  Delivery time estimates are given on the checkout page.  Once payment is approved, in stock products, other than Silver Bullets will ship out from Rogue Planet Command within 2-3 business days.  We ship Silver Bullets within 7-10 business days.  Once an order ships you will be sent tracking information via email and/or Facebook Messenger (if selected at checkout).  Please coordinate with the shipping company to have your package held for pickup if you know you will not be home when the package is expected to arrive.

Please note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are dimensional weight-based. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, weights may be rounded up to the next full pound.  We may substitute UPS for FedEx ground service and vice versaWe also may upgrade UPS and FedEx ground service to USPS Priority Mail if we are feeling extra nice.  

Also note that international customers are required to pay all import duties and taxes required by their respective countries.  When filling out customs forms we declare the actual purchase price.  Please do not ask us to declare lower values.

If you reside outside of North America, we highly recommend DHL Express when ordering a Silver Bullet for the quickest delivery and with zero customs headaches.  If you are in Canada we recommend selecting USPS instead of FedEx or UPS since the customs process is easier and less money.

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FAQ

When can I expect to receive a response to my email or phone call?

Most emails or phone calls will receive a friendly reply within 24 hours, and often within just a few hours.  However, sometimes we get sucked into the glorious nebula of designing and building products.  Or need to do laundry, shop for groceries, or sleep.  We appreciate your patience as we balance the demands of our intergalactic commitments, and try to enjoy time off on the weekends.  Please don't be upset if an email you sent on Friday evening doesn't get returned until Monday or Tuesday morning.

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How much will it cost to ship my order overseas?

Our shopping cart has a shipping calculator that is configured to estimate shipping to anywhere in the world.  All you have to do is add a product to the cart and then click the cart icon in the upper right corner of your browser.  At that point you can select your country, province, and enter your postal code.  A list of available shipping options will be displayed after you click Calculate Shipping.  As mentioned above, international customers are responsible for paying all import duties and taxes for their respective countries.

What shipping option do you recommend for European customers?

If you are ordering a Silver Bullet or 500 series module, we highly recommend that you select DHL Express shipping.  DHL acts as the customs broker and offers exceptionally quick door-to-door service.  We've been seeing packages arrive in the UK in 4-5 days.  There is no hand off with local postal services like there is with USPS so you will know where your package is every minute of the day by accessing the tracking information. They will require you to pay all customs and import taxes before delivering the package to your door.

My country charges high import taxes.  Can you adjust the customs value to help me out?

Sorry, but no.  As a rule, we declare the actual purchase price on all customs forms.  Defrauding a foreign government is not a wise business move.

Do you accept wire transfers, ACH payments, or Paypal as forms of payment?

We only accept payment through our online store using major credit and debit cards at this time.

How are you guys able to sell products of this quality level at these impossibly affordable prices?

We simply reject the notion that a middleman like a dealer or distributor needs to come between the guy that designs and builds the gear and the artist that uses it.  By adopting a direct sales model we have been able to pass that savings onto our customers.  Do you really want to pay 30% more for your gear?  All we ask in return is that you make lots of great music and help spread the word about our company and products.

Can I have my favorite pro audio dealer get me a Silver Bullet?

Sure, if you want to pay more money for our products.  See the question above.  Our pricing model does not allow for typical dealer margins.  Really.  If you'd like to order 10 Silver Bullets we'd be happy to give you a sweet discount though.

I just bought a used unit from some dude online.  Can I have the seller send it to you first to check out?

As a policy, we decline to get in the middle of third party transactions on used gear.  If you receive the unit and it requires repair please contact us and we can go over service options.  

What in the bloody galaxy is Void Corp?

Void Corp is a character in the Louder Than Liftoff universe.  Some of our products are made as limited edition Void Corp versions with a black aesthetic.  Click the link for more info.

It would be really cool if you guys had t-shirts.  Can you make me one?

Yes.

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