New product sneak peek photos...

[OSCAR]

Okay, here is where I stand on the DOT spinners.  My only holdup right now is the tempered spring steel springs.  I have sent them all over for pricing and they came back all over the map, some as high as $11/set!  As I was sifting through the quotes, I noticed that not everyone was quoting the correct material, or thickness, or whatever.  What a nightmare.  I can't figure out why that happened, the RFQ & drawings clearly state this info, but anyway...

I'm tentatively setting the price of these at $99, knob not included.  To be totally honest this is 5% above my cost, 3% of which will get chewed up by the credit card fees.  If I work it out just right, I might just be able to keep one out of the first batch for myself.    I'm still in the process of beating up some of my suppliers for lower pricing, but I'm not having much luck so far.  Obviously my goal isn't to make a load of $$ off of these things, I just want to get them out there because the BYOAC'rs have been asking for a DOT spinner solution before I ever made my first post on these boards.  If I start bleeding cash too badly, then I may have to increase the price.  However I am doing everything I can to try to keep it at $99.

Another alternative I'm looking at to bring the price down is to have all the flat stock fabricated by the older technology panel cutter/forming machinery in lieu of laser cutting.  Many of the old arcade controllers, like the Tempest spinner bracket, are made this way.  I am still investigating this (possibly) cheaper fabrication process, so I don't know what cost impact it will have.  I can say that the laser cut pieces are a higher quality and more precisely fabricated part, so I will have to weigh the pros/cons before I make a final decision on that.

[shmokes]

$99 + the price of the knob, eh?  My wife is going to be piiiiiiisssssed when I order this  

[Wienerdog]

To be totally honest this is 5% above my cost, 3% of which will get chewed up by the credit card fees.

There is a way to accept paypal payments without getting charged processing fees, isn't there?  I beleive if I pay you from an existing Paypal balance, you are not charged processing fees.

I'm sure that many of the people here would be willing to make a payment a certain way if it meant that you would double your profit.  It is possible that you would have to set up a second paypal account that did not allow payments from credit cards.  If you say it doesn't matter to you, then I would probably pay by credit card.  However, if you say that paypal is making more money on this spinner than you are, I would be mad.  

If the fees are different, you might also want to list what your prefered method of payment is (on your order.htm page).  

I know you don't need advice from me, but I thought I would give it anyway.

Nice spinner!  I assume shipping would be cheaper if we wait for a spinner + DOT knob, right. (lol, I don't want UPS to make more than you either!).

[OSCAR]

There is a way to accept paypal payments without getting charged processing fees, isn't there?  I beleive if I pay you from an existing Paypal balance, you are not charged processing fees.

I'm sure that many of the people here would be willing to make a payment a certain way if it meant that you would double your profit.  It is possible that you would have to set up a second paypal account that did not allow payments from credit cards.  If you say it doesn't matter to you, then I would probably pay by credit card.  However, if you say that paypal is making more money on this spinner than you are, I would be mad.  

If the fees are different, you might also want to list what your prefered method of payment is (on your order.htm page).  

I know you don't need advice from me, but I thought I would give it anyway.

Nice spinner!  I assume shipping would be cheaper if we wait for a spinner + DOT knob, right. (lol, I don't want UPS to make more than you either!).

Thanks for the suggestion.  I had briefly considered something like that, but I don't want to add to the complexity of placing orders.  Believe it or not, but sending payment via PayPal is actually the #1 source of emails I get asking for help, not tech support for spinners!  This was one of the reasons I added a standard internet CC processing shopping cart to compliment the PayPal shopping cart.  I'm afraid that adding an extra step or complicating the ordering process by requiring certain stipulations would actually cause me more headache than just sucking it up and paying the CC fees.  Besides, I'm used to not even seeing a good chunk of my so-called "profit".  

Regarding the knob purchase, I agree that if you would like to also purchase the DOT knob to go with the spinner, then it would be cheaper to wait until they are available together to avoid double shipping costs.

[Xiaou2]

 Hi Oscar,


    You may wish to put up instructions for something like western union.  

    I had heard that there were troubles with paypal service... so in a recent ebay winning,  the seller directed me to use 'Bidpay'  @ www.bidpay.com      Is a service of western union.

   Basically, the payee gives the information via creditcard on the net via thier site - which in tern they end up charging the buyer a small fee of like 5$ or less.  They then send a money order (and a confirm incomming email) to the seller - as soon as the transaction has been settled.

  I was lazy and didnt want to go to the post office... and the 5$ fee wasnt going to kill me... so it turned out rather nicely.  

  Was alo good because I didnt have to wait for the seller to actually get the money order via mail.  As soon as the email was sent to him that I had paid... he sent out the merchandise - thus illiminating a much longer wait time : )

 

[GroovyTuesdaY]

In  response to the PAYPAL slam, i can honestly say that in over 2 years of using PayPal that i have NEVER had paypal screw something up  and i have done ALOT of transactions with paypal.  My most recent being for my slikstik.

So in short, i think some people out there are just trying to start rumors against paypal for no good reason.

This is just my humble oppinion!

G~

[SirPoonga]

In  response to the PAYPAL slam, i can honestly say that in over 2 years of using PayPal that i have NEVER had paypal screw something up  and i have done ALOT of transactions with paypal.  My most recent being for my slikstik.

So in short, i think some people out there are just trying to start rumors against paypal for no good reason.

This is just my humble oppinion!

G~

I like paypal.  I've had them screw up over a little bank problem, right now my account doesn't have a bank assigned to it because of that.  Paypal is being a ---tallywhacker--- about it.  I just need to start a new savings account sometime and assign that to it.  Which I think would be more secure.  I could transfer the money only needed for paypal electronically from one savings account with my bank to the new one.  Then go off and paypal:)  Otherwise I paypal all the time between friends and online services.

[CM]

$99 + the price of the knob, eh?  My wife is going to be piiiiiiisssssed when I order this  

but certainly she will forgive you the first time she fires up DOT  and appreciates the authentic controls .. certainly ... women notice these things  

[1UP]

Hah!  1UP, you must be rolling in money.  You've already got a Pro with up/down functionality and you're going to swap out with a brand new, presumably expensive spinner?

Pick one up for me while you're at it   !

Not really rolling in money, I just can't pass up authentic controls (I'll be eating Top Ramen for weeks if I actually decide to get one...   )

However, I'm reconsidering now after seeing the price.  I want Oscar to make a profit, but I don't actually play DOT enough to justify replacing my practically brand-new Pro just yet...

Still, it's way cool and makes me green with envy!  

[CitznFish]

either I can't remember, or I am a saaad individual. Not once when playing DOT do I remember pulling up or pushing down on the spinner.    No wonder I sucked at that game.

[Xiaou2]

 Hi CitznFish,

   Well, you only got to use the up/down part later in the game.  I think it starts at the 6th level.   The platforms then are either vertically higher or lower than the next - or they also move up/down as well... thus you have to aim up/down to be able to hit sark.

 
  Some of the levels are quite tough... so getting to the up/down part can be a real challenge for sure.


   There is another option for DOT spinners that I had thought up a long time ago... and that was to make the enitre spinner assembly mount on a pivot.  

  So the x position was read as normal... without any adjustments needed to be made to the spinner... and the y reading would be from moving the spinner forward twords the monitor, or back twords yourself.   The pivot attaches on one end to an optic disc / reader... or the assembly itself
hits 2 leaf or microswitches.

  Should be fairly easy to make... and should play decently... maybe even better than the original.   Might be interesting for other games as well.

  Additions could be removable centering springs,  and or a locking system that keeps the vertical axis locked when not needed.

 

[KevSteele]

I'm glad the DOT spinner will have a DOT knob -- it just wouldn't be "right" otherwise. Black anodized is also cool beyond words.

Speaking of knobs, Chris at SlikStik just emailed me a sneak peek of their new spinner knob:

Solid one-piece milled aluminum. No word on pricing or dimensions, but it sure looks pretty. In addition, they'll be offering red, blue or purple anodizing.

Looks like it'll be a good time to go knob shopping soon!

[planetjay]

A comparison photo of the OSCAR DOT, Pro, and an original Tempest spinner.

So after looking at this again I have to ask... A Tempest clone would be downright easy wouldn't it? Maybe also modified for 3/4" plywood? Maybe a smaller diameter inside but the same number of "spokes?" on the wheel? Maybe an option to be mounted on an original Tempest CP with a plate or adapter? Optional repro knob or maybe a lookalike done in aluminum and anodized black?