50-Dollar Follow Focus

Just a quick update to let everyone know where we stand with follow focus shipments. Generally speaking, we've shipped everything except for about 100 orders with red knobs (see below), custom powder-coated colors, or orders that had an issue of some kind that we're awaiting a response for. A large number of people put down yes for a gear adapter on the survey, but we can't find verification of payment (via kickstarter or the Hondo Garage website). In these cases, Keifer has sent an email seeking clarification.

UNITED STATES SHIPMENTS

All but a few of the U.S. orders have been shipped. If you're one of those and we haven't sent you a shipment notice, then it's for one of the following reasons (1. we're waiting for a response about a gear purchase you said you made, 2. you responded late to the survey and didn't get onto the master ship list, 3. yours was returned and we're awaiting a response to correct your address). If you live in the U.S. and have yet to receive a shipment email from keifer (check your spam folder) then send an email to keifer@hondogarage.com to inquire.

ALL BLACK INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS

We think we've shipped all of the all-black (knob and clamp arm) follow focuses to international backers. If you have not received yours or at least an email saying we've shipped, then again, contact keifer@hondogarage.com and we'll track down whatever problem has caused the delay.

COLOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS

Most of the international color has shipped. As parts have dwindled, we noticed we were running short on red knobs. It seems we got fewer red knobs and more black knobs back from anodizing. We've shipped all the red knobs that we have, but still have about 100 to go. We'll have those back from lasering early next week and will ship them out straight away.

Cheers,

Wiley Davis

hondogarage.com

1. Kevin Lee on May 17
  
  @Wiley: np dude. Can't wait :)
2. Stephen Hyers 6 days ago
  
  When should I expect shipment?
3. Mark Prince 3 days ago
  
  Wiley, when can I expect to get mine? Thanks.

Update #12: Shipping Continues

For backers only, Posted on May 1

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Update #11: We're Shipping!

Posted on April 9

Hello,

As the subject line says, we began shipping last Friday. So far we've shipped about 100 of them. We got the all black units in first, so that's what's shipping now. We should have the color parts back from anodizing this week, so no holdups there.

We can assemble, package and ship approximately 100-200 per day right now. You'll get an email from Keifer (keifer@hondogarage.com) when your order ships. We'll also send an update when we think we've got them all out, that way you can let us know if you never got your follow focus (or even an email saying it was shipped.)

And because I'm a huge sucker for dance movies...I'll share this link to a Kickstarter project that needs one last push to meet it's goal...only 3 days to go.
http://kck.st/zuDs7q

Cheers,

Wiley

1. Mark Prince on May 1
  
  I'll echo the other comments. We're into May now and I have no notice about my order. Can you please provide updates.
2. Gilles Dignard on May 1
  
  100-200 per day / 1527 backers = Between 8 and 16 days. Update #11 posted on April 9, it's now May 1st.
  
  No email, either saying that the unit is shipped or that they've all gone out. From the other comments, it's clear there are lots of us in the same boat.
  
  The only conclusion is that we're being fed a line. How about an update with an honest description of what's actually going on?
3. Wiley Davis on May 1
  
  Just a heads up...for some reason the kickstarter system doesn't send me a notification for comments in this section...hence the late replies.
  
  We're a little over halfway through shipping. The bottleneck is laser etching of the parts. We get batches in every friday and get the processed over the weekend. You'll receive an email from keifer@hondogarage.com when it ships.
  
  And I'll be sending out a mass update as soon as we think we've got them all, that way you can let us know if we missed you.

Update #10: Where My Follow Focus At?

For backers only, Posted on March 28

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Update #9: Estimated Delivery Timeline

Posted on March 2

Hello All,

Hopefully by now you've received and filled out the survey. It's been brought to my attention that the survey listed an expected shipping date of March 1. I'm not sure where the 1 came from (either KS assumes March is March 1 or I made a mistake when I created the surveys) but the actual number should be closer to the 21st of March. This is the date we expect to BEGIN shipping FDFFs. I'm reposting a general outline from the comments of the production process below so you'll have an idea of the the various steps in the process.

So you got the wrong survey
There have been a few cases where people's pledges and rewards were not appropriately matched up (this happened when pledges were originally made and we are powerless to change it at this point). If you're one of these cases, know that before we ship, we'll be comparing how much you pledged with your chosen reward. If there's a discrepancy (you gave us $150 for a lens cloth, for instance) we'll contact you before shipping anything to make sure we get your order right.

The Production Process

The parts are being machined as I write this. You probably saw the video of the knobs...I hope to have some more videos of the other parts next week.
All of the parts we're not making ourselves have been ordered. This includes the belts, pulleys, gears, teflon washers, spring washers, clamp handles, mustaches, and lens cloths. The suppliers have shipped what they had in stock and most of what they didn't has a lead time of 4-6 weeks. As long as they hit that window, all the parts will be in by the end of the month.
Now that we have (most of) the surveys back, we have a color count so we know how many of each color to have anodized. We'll ship the raw machined parts to the anodizer in Idaho, then they'll ship them back.
Once we get the anodized parts back, then the marker lines get laser etched onto the knobs and arms.
Then we assemble them, box them up, and ship. In addition to the updates I'll be posting along the way, we'll let you know as soon as we begin shipping and will send an email confirmation letting everyone know when their FDFF has shipped.

If anything pops up that could cause a delay to this estimated timeline, I will post an update as soon as I find out about it. I'm excited to get the FDFF out into the world and will do everything I can to make sure that happens as quickly as possible. If anyone has any questions about the process, don't hesitate to ask.

1. James T on March 28
  
  @Terry VerHaar Thanks, silly me. Reading truly is fundamental.
2. Khaleb Sealey on April 13
  
  @Ronnie I'll make sure it's available and very affordable. It's around 1lb (2.2kg) so I'll be taking a look into averages. I'll probably go $10 worldwide and if it costs a little more take the hit.
3. Ronnie Bell on April 14
  
  @Khaleb Thanks for the reply, any idea when they will be ready or when the kickstarter will go live?

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This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 13.

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THE DREAMER - Hey, you don't need a 50-Dollar Follow Focus now, but you might, soon. Think of this as insurance that the FDFF will be available when you need it. As a reward for your forethought, you'll get a lens cloth imprinted with a fabulous handlebar mustache design, as well as the words, "Stand by for action." Add this option to the other levels if you want an FDFF and a lens cloth.