Website structure

[yablanowitz]

I still remember how close the Mule Team project came to dying on the vine due to lack of interest. Demand is a hard thing to outguess. Which is worse, customers unhappy because they couldn't get one or customers unhappy because you couldn't develop that new model they wanted since all your capital was tied up in inventory that wasn't moving?

[cabfrank]

An old adage about not fixing something that isn't broken comes to mind.

[potahto]

I would like to thank Sal and Kristi for holding their trigger fingers. I apologize for busting in the door abruptly, and being uncomfortably blunt and possibly abrasive. VooDoo and ugaarguy, I apologize to you if I was offensive and you guys are right about how I came off. This is a humble apology for my behavior. I appreciate the space and look forward to engaging in constructive criticism.

Now that we've broken the eggs, it's time to make some omelettes, eh?!

Mule Team as an example...

With forum input, ongoing batches:

1. Poll the forum for desired steel
2. Open preorders (gathers email addresses)
- Threshold met > Start production and go to step 3
- Threshold not met > Notify that it wasn't and go back to step 1
3. Notify of first batch launch and open next wave preorders (same steel)
- Threshold met > Start production and go to step 3
- Threshold not met > Notify that it wasn't and go back to step 1

With forum input, single batch:

1. Poll the forum for desired steel
2. Open preorders (gathers email addresses)
- Threshold met > Start production and go to step 3
- Threshold not met > Notify that it wasn't and go back to step 1
3. Notify of first batch launch and open interest queue (get their email OR make the interest queue forum-only so they join) (same steel)

Spyderco's choice, single batch:

1. Announce the project
2. Gather email addresses via MT page for lottery (I'd say 125-150% names:unit ratio to pad for dropouts.)
- Threshold met > Start production and go to step 3
- Threshold not met > Notify that it wasn't, change steel, go back to step 1
3. Notify of first batch lottery winners and open interest queue (same steel)
- Release on the 1st or 15th (pay dayyy) and only hold until the next 1st or 15th. If purchase isn't finalized, swap with someone from the lottery list overflow giving everyone a chance at the unobtainium. Limiting cart quantity will cut out flippers :)

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Just for kicks - What was the largest MT SPY27 quantity purchased? Are they a forum member? (match the receipt email with forum email)

[Wartstein]

I would like to thank Sal and Kristi for holding their trigger fingers. I apologize for busting in the door abruptly, and being uncomfortably blunt and possibly abrasive.

Hi potahto,

Though I did reply in this thread, I did not join the actual discussion, but still let me say:
I have a lot of respect for that constructive and honest post of yours, and that you are obviously one who really thinks about things and not "just ramble" and have the class to apologize if perhaps words got to harsh! Well done! :)

/ On topic: I can understand that people get angry, annoyed or sad if they love Spyderco and then can´t get a particular model they want really badly.
I just can´t really weigh in myself, since all the sprint runs I wanted (actually just four in total) happened to be ones that were easy to get, some even longer after their release (HAP 40 Stretch and Endura, REX 45 Manix 2 LW, VG10 Straight Spine Stretch)