rhd
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"A Humbling Lesson in Selling to Fellow Enthusiasts"
Well, after perhaps half a dozen sales on LPF, to perhaps 3 dozen elsewhere, I'm sad to say that selling these at $75 to the LPF community is proving to be a huge loss-leader. The LPF sales have proven to be a money-loosing proposition. Some may find it interesting to read my reasons.
At $75, the Mosquitoes are not a sustainable item on LPF
At $75 to the community (less than I was selling them for elsewhere), I was making them with almost no profit margin on LPF (perhaps $12). When I produced a batch of 10, there were generally 1 to 2 diodes that couldn't handle the high 1,666mA currents that these are being run at, which meant that it effectively took 12 diodes to produce 10 modules. The LPF sales were a zero profit margin endeavor with that consideration in mind.
However, that wasn't the deal killer.
I wasn't trying to make any kind of substantial profit here. These were meant as really easy drop-in modules for people who were getting stared in the hobby. They were supposed to be a quick and easy way to get a good functioning high powered blue laser for inquisitive new entrants into the community who were not yet ready to jump into a complete DIY yet. I wanted to sell them at an awesome price, as a way to get new entrants into the hobby engaged in doing more than just posting a thread in the BST saying "WTB: 1W blue laser!!!!"
Of course, anyone is free to purchase anything from me, and it would be crazy (even borderline sleazy and unethical) to say "no vets allowed". My skin cringes. But, as a junior-mini-semi-vet (fair characterization I hope), I can certainly attest to the fact that we have high expectations in the laser hobby community. Heck, even five or six builds into the hobby, most hobbyests start to develop high expectations. Again, that's cool, and that's why we're on the cutting edge of a fringe hobby, those high expectations are a good thing.
Unfortunately, it also makes the idea of a really low-cost all-in-one laser module, unsustainable.
Of the half a dozen LPF sales, 3 of those have proven to take more time and overhead than the entirety of all 35-ish sales I've made elsewhere. In the end, those 3 LPF sales have done relatively little for my feeling of having contributed something positive to the community, that others were happy about. So, at almost zero profit, it just doesn't make sense to keep producing these.
Despite my own (perhaps naive) notion of who the target market for these modules would be, the sales on LPF have generally been to somewhat experienced users, who are drawn to the notion of saving some build time, with LPMs, and power expectations to go with them.
If I was selling these for $100
Then I'd cherry-pick high efficiency diodes, custom set the current on each driver, LPM each module, include chart printouts with the purchases, and warrant every sale with a power guarantee.
But I didn't want to sell these for $100 as a premium item, nor does it do any good to continue selling them for $75 to members who consistently expect high efficiency diodes. Not when 1/3rd of the buyers get low efficiency diodes and are unhappy, 1/3rd are lukewarm, and only the remaining 1/3rd (who get high efficiency diodes) are really happy (yet tend to remain silent anyway). It's loose/loose/win for me, and I'm just not cool putting my name behind a proposition with odds that are so poorly stacked against me. In the end, this was a cool idea, but I messed up in determining the target market.
Now what?
First and foremost, to the two purchasers with Mosquitoes in the mail right now - you'll of course get my full attention and support through your process of building your lasers. That doesn't change just because I'm not selling these going forward.
In figuring out what to do next with this thread, and with this concept, my first gut thought was "Post the Eagle PCB file on the forum, donate it to the public, and let everyone use it however they see fit!". I love this idea - it's totally in line with my approach to contributing to the community.
But then it occurred to me that while the V3 of this module was designed by me from the ground up, the V1 and V2 were designed for me by another forum member. While I gave him a 445 diode as a thank-you, the designs really should be seen as the result of his brain-power, not mine. So ethically speaking, the V1 and V2 schematics and PCB designs are not mine to give away. However, the V3 (which would have been very cool!) IS. So V3, once the boards arrive and I can test that the schematic + design works, will be donated to the forum. The V3 schematic / PCB is a quad AMC-7135 driver, that is smaller than V1/V2, and has a substantially lower voltage dropout.
I'm considering selling a "Mosquito Kit", consisting of a driver, diode (pressed), lens, wires, spring, and then a bunch of resistor combinations so that purchasers can set their own current, attach the diode in whatever configuration they want, add leads and a spring, etc. We'll see. I'd love feedback as to whether this would be a valuable contribution to the community, or whether I'd be likely to wind up saying the same thing as above, a month from now.
I also have a very cool "Mosquito Red" driver in the works for our 635 Mitsubishis, that I may sell on it's own. Stay tuned for that. And of course, the big whopper project (project "NovaLuxy") that I've been engaged in for 4 or 5 months now, is looking fairly close to some tangible success.
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-------------
------------------------------------------------------
"Mosquito" Version 2
Complete 445nm Diode+Module+Driver+Lens
------------------------------------------------------
Intended as all-in-one, ready to use, 445nm modules. I think these will be useful DIY components for both beginners and pros alike.
HERE ARE THE SPECS:
- 445nm Diode Pressed into a Standard 12mm Aixiz Module
- 1084 Based Low-Dropout Custom Driver
---- @ 1,667 mA Output Current
---- Reverse polarity protection built-in
---- Driver runs fine unheatsinked for at least 4 minutes (potentially 3 inside a host with no airflow)
---- The Mosquitoes run off 7.2V (so two lithium ion cells).
- Glass 445nm Coated Aixiz Lens
-----------------------------------------------------------
Looking for a host?
The Mosquitoes work in hosts that use two (2) lithium ion cells. Jayrob has some great hosts that he's tested these Mosquitoes in:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-solarforce-l2p-kit-18650-host-massive-heatsink-53746.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-stainless-steel-18650-kit-polished-perfect-445-a-52159.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/f...exmodp3-side-button-forward-clicky-57278.html
Or, consider giving your output power even more of a boost, with the 405-G-1 lens!
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-405-g-1-glass-lens-mod-31-increase-vs-aixiz-22497.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
YOU NEED SAFETY GLASSES!
Don't forget, safety glasses are absolutely a must if you plan to install these into a host and power them up, even when merely testing them. Safety first - don't risk your eyesight.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Here's an example of building, and then de-building, a Coleman 445nm laser with the Mosquito. In 60 seconds
Building & Unbuilding a 445nm in 60 seconds. - YouTube
Enjoy!
Well, after perhaps half a dozen sales on LPF, to perhaps 3 dozen elsewhere, I'm sad to say that selling these at $75 to the LPF community is proving to be a huge loss-leader. The LPF sales have proven to be a money-loosing proposition. Some may find it interesting to read my reasons.
At $75, the Mosquitoes are not a sustainable item on LPF
At $75 to the community (less than I was selling them for elsewhere), I was making them with almost no profit margin on LPF (perhaps $12). When I produced a batch of 10, there were generally 1 to 2 diodes that couldn't handle the high 1,666mA currents that these are being run at, which meant that it effectively took 12 diodes to produce 10 modules. The LPF sales were a zero profit margin endeavor with that consideration in mind.
However, that wasn't the deal killer.
I wasn't trying to make any kind of substantial profit here. These were meant as really easy drop-in modules for people who were getting stared in the hobby. They were supposed to be a quick and easy way to get a good functioning high powered blue laser for inquisitive new entrants into the community who were not yet ready to jump into a complete DIY yet. I wanted to sell them at an awesome price, as a way to get new entrants into the hobby engaged in doing more than just posting a thread in the BST saying "WTB: 1W blue laser!!!!"
Of course, anyone is free to purchase anything from me, and it would be crazy (even borderline sleazy and unethical) to say "no vets allowed". My skin cringes. But, as a junior-mini-semi-vet (fair characterization I hope), I can certainly attest to the fact that we have high expectations in the laser hobby community. Heck, even five or six builds into the hobby, most hobbyests start to develop high expectations. Again, that's cool, and that's why we're on the cutting edge of a fringe hobby, those high expectations are a good thing.
Unfortunately, it also makes the idea of a really low-cost all-in-one laser module, unsustainable.
Of the half a dozen LPF sales, 3 of those have proven to take more time and overhead than the entirety of all 35-ish sales I've made elsewhere. In the end, those 3 LPF sales have done relatively little for my feeling of having contributed something positive to the community, that others were happy about. So, at almost zero profit, it just doesn't make sense to keep producing these.
Despite my own (perhaps naive) notion of who the target market for these modules would be, the sales on LPF have generally been to somewhat experienced users, who are drawn to the notion of saving some build time, with LPMs, and power expectations to go with them.
If I was selling these for $100
Then I'd cherry-pick high efficiency diodes, custom set the current on each driver, LPM each module, include chart printouts with the purchases, and warrant every sale with a power guarantee.
But I didn't want to sell these for $100 as a premium item, nor does it do any good to continue selling them for $75 to members who consistently expect high efficiency diodes. Not when 1/3rd of the buyers get low efficiency diodes and are unhappy, 1/3rd are lukewarm, and only the remaining 1/3rd (who get high efficiency diodes) are really happy (yet tend to remain silent anyway). It's loose/loose/win for me, and I'm just not cool putting my name behind a proposition with odds that are so poorly stacked against me. In the end, this was a cool idea, but I messed up in determining the target market.
Now what?
First and foremost, to the two purchasers with Mosquitoes in the mail right now - you'll of course get my full attention and support through your process of building your lasers. That doesn't change just because I'm not selling these going forward.
In figuring out what to do next with this thread, and with this concept, my first gut thought was "Post the Eagle PCB file on the forum, donate it to the public, and let everyone use it however they see fit!". I love this idea - it's totally in line with my approach to contributing to the community.
But then it occurred to me that while the V3 of this module was designed by me from the ground up, the V1 and V2 were designed for me by another forum member. While I gave him a 445 diode as a thank-you, the designs really should be seen as the result of his brain-power, not mine. So ethically speaking, the V1 and V2 schematics and PCB designs are not mine to give away. However, the V3 (which would have been very cool!) IS. So V3, once the boards arrive and I can test that the schematic + design works, will be donated to the forum. The V3 schematic / PCB is a quad AMC-7135 driver, that is smaller than V1/V2, and has a substantially lower voltage dropout.
I'm considering selling a "Mosquito Kit", consisting of a driver, diode (pressed), lens, wires, spring, and then a bunch of resistor combinations so that purchasers can set their own current, attach the diode in whatever configuration they want, add leads and a spring, etc. We'll see. I'd love feedback as to whether this would be a valuable contribution to the community, or whether I'd be likely to wind up saying the same thing as above, a month from now.
I also have a very cool "Mosquito Red" driver in the works for our 635 Mitsubishis, that I may sell on it's own. Stay tuned for that. And of course, the big whopper project (project "NovaLuxy") that I've been engaged in for 4 or 5 months now, is looking fairly close to some tangible success.
-------------
-------------
------------------------------------------------------
"Mosquito" Version 2
Complete 445nm Diode+Module+Driver+Lens
------------------------------------------------------
Intended as all-in-one, ready to use, 445nm modules. I think these will be useful DIY components for both beginners and pros alike.
HERE ARE THE SPECS:
- 445nm Diode Pressed into a Standard 12mm Aixiz Module
- 1084 Based Low-Dropout Custom Driver
---- @ 1,667 mA Output Current
---- Reverse polarity protection built-in
---- Driver runs fine unheatsinked for at least 4 minutes (potentially 3 inside a host with no airflow)
---- The Mosquitoes run off 7.2V (so two lithium ion cells).
- Glass 445nm Coated Aixiz Lens
-----------------------------------------------------------
Looking for a host?
The Mosquitoes work in hosts that use two (2) lithium ion cells. Jayrob has some great hosts that he's tested these Mosquitoes in:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-solarforce-l2p-kit-18650-host-massive-heatsink-53746.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-stainless-steel-18650-kit-polished-perfect-445-a-52159.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/f...exmodp3-side-button-forward-clicky-57278.html
Or, consider giving your output power even more of a boost, with the 405-G-1 lens!
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-405-g-1-glass-lens-mod-31-increase-vs-aixiz-22497.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
YOU NEED SAFETY GLASSES!
Don't forget, safety glasses are absolutely a must if you plan to install these into a host and power them up, even when merely testing them. Safety first - don't risk your eyesight.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Here's an example of building, and then de-building, a Coleman 445nm laser with the Mosquito. In 60 seconds
Building & Unbuilding a 445nm in 60 seconds. - YouTube
Enjoy!
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