Messages

I got the same "refused because its not a physical unit" reply from Paypal tonight.   

I've also appealed, but get the feeling we will only get more red tape BS from here on. 

Lodged a claim the day we got the administrator's notice... nothing heard from Paypal as yet.

I wouldn't be blaming UEC for IceTV's troubles.  For all we know it was IceTV's inability to pay per their original terms that caused UEC to withdraw from Aus.  IceTV tried to renegotiate payment terms, which UEC originally tried to support, then pulled the plug when IceTV failed to meet those terms as well. 

Like I said in my post back in early September,  I suspect that all the funds IceTV received from pre-orders was pretty well all used on R&D, wages, utilities and other overdue bills.  So when it came for paying the balance of the initial production run they were already up the creek - which is why they extended the pre-purchase offer in a hope to attract more cashflow.  Big mistake and potentially illegal if it can be shown that they were technically insolvent at that point.

Like others have said here, this blame falls only on the executive, not the staff who are just more victims like ourselves.

One option I hope the staff consider is putting forward an employee buyout offer.   

I don't pretend to know the real numbers involved, although it seems that the potential is still definitely there, if not only for the ongoing EPG service. 

Well, that answers that.   

Given the length of time this debacle has run, its highly likely that Heinz knowingly continued to trade whilst insolvent, and if so, I hope they come after him hard.

I do feel sorry for the employees as chances are they were also kept in the dark and fed the same lies, right up to the point they lost their jobs!

I just wonder if that second shipment is in fact still sitting in a warehouse somewhere, still under the ownership of the manufacturer and just waiting on a final payment for release.... and desperate now to find any buyer ...  hmmmm

Nada.

I heard that there was supposedly another customs delay, which I took to mean that the release of the goods is still pending payment of the import duty & taxes.

Actually the delays in customs at the moment are due to strike action by customs staff.

Fair enough, but then why keep us in the dark until after another deadline is blown?  All that does is piss off everyone that is still waiting.

Nada.

I heard that there was supposedly another customs delay, which I took to mean that the release of the goods is still pending payment of the import duty & taxes.

Anyone got a shipping notice from the second batch yet?

Nope. At least I havent :(

Of course they would have paid in full, when required to do so. It's not like they don't have the money.

Really?  I'm not so sure.  Lets say they get 2,000 pre-orders.  To fulfill that and hold some stock until the next production run, plus in order to secure the volume discounts they would want from the manufacturer,  I'm guessing the initial order was at least double that, so around 4,000 units.    Lets say it cost them $150 per unit to build.  That's $600k to the OEM.  Typically the production cost represents only 30-35% of a company's total expenses to get a product out the door.  So total cost of around $2m.   

So after wages, rent, R&D costs, utilities etc, the $900k taken from pre-orders would only cover half their expenses. 

Note, I'm not being critical of that process at all, its pretty stock standard practice - I'm just questioning the real reason for the delays and suspect that they have had to take delivery, both delayed and in in batches, as cashflow permitted.  And if that IS the case, shame on them for not managing and communicating the whole process better.

I really don't undertsand how a manufacturer that is capable of making 1.5million units that pushed out the skippa production the first time then the 0.5million units that pushed out your manufacture slot a second time, how on earth could it have not made your entire skippa order so that all units arrived at once instead of 3 separate shipments?
http://forum.icetv.com.au/iceforum/seored/u=aHR0cDovL3RlY2h3ZWJjYXN0LnBvZG9tYXRpYy5jb20vZW50cnkvMjAxNS0wOS0xMVQyMF8yNV80Mi0wN18wMA==

Depends on their credit terms with the manufacturer.  If this is their first order with a new supplier it is likely goods only released on full payment.

Companies typically promote pre-order "specials" to generate much needed cashflow.   

The cost to R&D, source manufacturing and then secure a production run is significant, especially for a small and/or a rapidly growing company, to the point where there is little room for error and it often becomes the "do or die" event for the company. 

I don't know IceTVs specifics and this is pure speculation, but all the signs are there ...  If the original production date was lost due to lack of cash on hand at the time, it makes sense that they extended the pre-order offer to try and generate the extra dosh needed to get that run secured.   Everything then snowballed from there ...

The reason for posting such speculation, is that if true, I sure hope they are able to sort it out and would be OK with waiting (as long as we were kept informed), as the alternative is that we will suffer far more than just a delay.   

The real irony is that companies are too scared to come clean about sharing financials, fearing that it will lead to people heading for the hills.  In reality though, the resulting PR crap they spew,  stringing some 2000+ customers along for over 2 months now,  does far more harm.

Received yesterday ...

MANUFACTURING AND DELIVERY ON TRACK
Mass production of SKIPPA® remains on schedule. We have started to fulfill the earliest pre-orders. About half of the pre-ordered SKIPPA® volume arrives in Sydney by air freight over the weekend, with the remainder not far behind. We have increased staff in our Sydney warehouse to speed up customer shipments from Monday on a "first-ordered, first-shipped" basis."

Certainly good news that it hasn't had another slip, but to say "remains on schedule" and "on track" is a bit rude when its some 2 months later!?

And that's for the start of the remaining orders. The first small batch should have gone by now, according to that notice.

Has anyone received one yet?

[small]

Received today....

Following a small initial run, the factory pushed our mass manufacturing slot back for a second time. Australia's order volumes are relatively small when compared to international markets. This makes it difficult for any Australian vendor to obtain priority, hence the delay. However, we are assured by the factory that our new production date will be adhered to.
A small quantity of SKIPPAs® will be shipped next week to customers who placed their order first. From September 10 onwards, we will fulfill the remaining orders on a 'first come, first served' basis. This means that every customer will receive their ordered SKIPPA® in September.

Call me skeptical, but the spin here is so cliche and so disappointing.  IMO its really poor customer service to continually make us wait in excited anticipation - right up to the deadline, only to then admit further delays.

We now anticipate that we will begin fulfilling orders in mid-August.

How about a mid-August update please?