Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Ninjak]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

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[Pseudoko]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

yeah I hate fedex. They’re so unreliable. The fact that they cannot track their own packages is horrible. Hope it arrives soon bud.

 

[EasternSierra]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

I've had a few times where Fedex shipments headed off in the wrong direction after getting fairly close to their destination. The situation should resolve in a couple of days but it sure is frustrating in the meantime.

 

[Splint3r]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell.

That is the worst. Your patience has been tested for so long, that it might be wearing thin now is completely understandable. A few more days and things should become clearer.

 

[Splint3r]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

 

[Fordified1]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

FEDEX is horrible. I always ask for UPS when possible. I’ve had deliveries from FedEx that were multiple boxes for the same order part to my house and part to same address but different street. And a couple where they couldn’t find my address and shipment was delayed for days…. what? There’s a huge rock with my address carved into it and lit. Not to mention the clear address on my mailbox. Then there’s the lazy drivers who instead of coming in my obviously circular big wide driveway leave stuff out by the road. Luckily we don’t have many package thieves out here.
Good luck and happy new year!

 

[mangelo]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

Thank you @Splint3r for diving in and wrangling data! I shared my initial findings w Fabian and then afterwards unfilled orders on this thread were filled, so felt like that was progress. With my work schedule and family responsibilities right now, following along when I can but currently have limited bandwidth. It'll be 2025 before I can be more active. Gratitude to @Splint3r and EVERYONE contributing to this thread, hoping @Ninjak FEDEX drama resolves and everyone gets their tops soon Wishing you all a happy new year!

 

[Ninjak]

Thanks all. Well on the other side of things, it looks like it want to rain, also this gives me some time to get a few things before the install, as I thought I had 247 loctite and such, but I do not. Also I can grab some horses.

It also gives me some time to wrangle the help together. So, a few more days, (hopefully). I waited this long. What's a couple more days?

 

[Pseudoko]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

sure I got the powder coat email on 12/23 in case you wanted that info for tracking. Again two holidays in back to back weeks so I’d guess that would impact that process by a week. I’ll let you know when I get the next production update but here’s a screenshot of the email I received:

 

[Slei]

Not sure if this helps but those keeping track, I have been in contact with Fabian about new orders. I decided to risk it and pulled the trigger. They intend to start the next batch between Christmas and New years (so around now) and the last order to make it in the batch was #515. He is estimating 14-16 weeks for the next batch to be completed so some time in April if things go to plan.
What was ordered:
Four Door Bronco Square Back Hardtop
4DR-Square-ST-BL
Hope this helps.

 

[Splint3r]

...last order to make it in the batch was #515. He is estimating 14-16 weeks for the next batch to be completed so some time in April if things go to plan.
What was ordered:
Four Door Bronco Square Back Hardtop
4DR-Square-ST-BL
Hope this helps.

Great information @Slei, especially for those under #515. Here is an interesting question: does that mean the next "batch" is on hold until April or are they producing continuously? In other words. If you ordered inside #515 you might get a top by April or thereabouts. If you order today in the next "batch", would you not get a top until August to September? Or, is there an in between "batch" break point for their production phases to overlap?

Side note: in manufacturing things rarely "go to plan" unless you are a very detail oriented, sophisticated, energetic, and lucky planner. (weighted in reverse order of listing)

 

[Pseudoko]

Great information @Slei, especially for those under #515. Here is an interesting question: does that mean the next "batch" is on hold until April or are they producing continuously? In other words. If you ordered inside #515 you might get a top by April or thereabouts. If you order today in the next "batch", would you not get a top until August to September? Or, is there an in between "batch" break point for their production phases to overlap?

Side note: in manufacturing things rarely "go to plan" unless you are a very detail oriented, sophisticated, energetic, and lucky planner. (weighted in reverse order of listing)

I think they’re always cutting the parts but it’s a matter of fabricating them. I wouldn’t say they’re on hold until April. I think more so the next batch may be shipping as early as April but I’d probably pad that by a month or two. We won’t know for sure until this current batch is ready to ship which is hopefully in the next 4-6 weeks.

the time between this batch of squarebacks and the slant backs that shipped recently hasn’t been too bad at all. Not sure what the order mix looks like currently and if they’re going to produce the slant and square simultaneously.

 

[zombie]

I would love to have one of these (primarily for use in the winter), but I shudder to think what shipping to Canada would be.

 

[Slei]

Great information @Slei, especially for those under #515. Here is an interesting question: does that mean the next "batch" is on hold until April or are they producing continuously? In other words. If you ordered inside #515 you might get a top by April or thereabouts. If you order today in the next "batch", would you not get a top until August to September? Or, is there an in between "batch" break point for their production phases to overlap?

Side note: in manufacturing things rarely "go to plan" unless you are a very detail oriented, sophisticated, energetic, and lucky planner. (weighted in reverse order of listing)

Great questions. Sadly mostly I can only speculate from what little I know.

For those In this batch they start roughly now and will be finished assuming no delays and based on options, in 12-16 weeks. (14-16 assuming a minimum two weeks in powder coating) I get the feeling that they are still refining the process and that could mean things get done sooner or that they find limits or quality issues and they end up delaying it as well till this set is nearly all out the doors.

I work in production environments, growing from small shops with hand full of people to becoming an employer with hundreds of employees, and it strikes me as they are still early in the development of the production process. As they grow how they manage quality, supply lines, training, storage, production space, etc. etc. etc. will ultimately decide if they can scale the business and the long term feasibility of what they are doing.

Again all this is just my opinion and I would have to talk to him way more, and maybe even go down and see the operation to have an informed opinion. For now I do think they want this to succeed and are excited about what they are doing. After all I believed in them enough to place an order.

 

[El Diablo]

Here’s another data point for @Splint3r : order #413 black slantback got a status update on Nov 18 that it is in laser/bending. Waiting for the next update of welding/blending then powder coating. I am thinking that will happen in mid to late January. Hoping to receive this top in March or April which sounds consistent with what Fabian told @Slei. Good luck to @Ninjak on his ardous journey to get his top.

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