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Bad News Followed by More Bad News…

As you may be painfully aware, w-a-y back in early 2008 we unveiled a “Low-profile” lid for the AUTOLINX. We did this in response to customer calls for a less vertical cargo carrier. Some typical feedback: “Why does it have to be so tall?” The answer being: It was originally designed for golfclubs.

As it turns out, very few of our customers use AUTOLINX for golf…and instead, use it as a touring alternative to pulling a trailer. So we decided to address the “tall” issue by designing a shorter lid that would knock about 6″ off the overall height of the case. We contracted with a West Coast company to manufacture the new lid…we received assurances of a May 08 delivery date and we advertised accordingly. (Big Mistake On My Part) I then pleaded, demanded, begged and screamed for delivery by July (Wing-Ding)…Nothing. So we sold some units based on the impending release with the promise of lid delivery upon receipt. When September came and went without the promised product, it became obvious that the West Coast manufacturer lacked the bite to match its bark. So, after thousands of dollars in design, engineering, molds, prototypes and full-page advertising…I made the decision to pull the project and give it to a more reputable manufacturer…one closer to home so that I might monitor the production first-hand.

This was the correct move, but it was also a time-consuming one. The West Coast company had left the design in such disarray that the new company had to bring in their own engineers to rectify issues beyond their control. This took months….and soon 2009 was here. And still no lid.

In late January the “Low-profile” lid was ready for production…except for its color. We spent weeks trying to match it with the existing AUTOLINX case, to no avail. Finally, we resigned to the fact that we would not be able to adequately match the case because the two parts were made via separate processes (Blow-mold vs. Roto-mold). A week ago I made the executive decision that if we can’t get a decent match…we’ll make it black. So that’s it…done deal, right?

Well…Not exactly

There’s been another project running parallel to this entire manufacturing debacle. It’s called TUFFLINX. This too, was promised back in early 08…and this too was subject to the same setbacks as the “Low-profile” lid. The TUFFLINX project wasn’t held up by color restrictions, but it did have a few molding issues that had to be rectified before a satisfactory part was produced. Today those issues are 95% satisfied…to the point that the remaining requirements are probably too insignificant for you (the customer) to notice. Nonetheless, as I write this, those final refinements are being made.

So what’s this have to do with production of the “Low-profile” lid? To offset costs…the molder requires both the lid and the TUFFLINX be run at the same time.

So where’s the good news? After more than a year of manufacturing trials and tribulations…both the lid and the TUFFLINX will be available for shipment by the end of March.

P.S. West Coast Manufacturer —> Mainland Products of California