The most obvious finding of the post crowdfunding survey was that:
The XOOT system is priced too high.
First a note about reducing the price.
The XOOT system is a niche product for a niche industry. It’s production levels will never be that large. Thus, it will never be able to compete on price with a mass produced monitor arms. We can’t get the cost benefits of high volume production.
In addition, a XOOT system weighs about three times as much as your average monitor arm and uses many more parts (over three times more parts if your count the electromagnetic braking system). All the extra material and parts comes with added cost.
Re-Engineer to Reduce Cost.
Analyze each part
Post crowdfunding the pressure was off. It gave us time to sit back and look at each part of the system. What does it cost now? Is there a better way of making it that decreases costs but does not reduce quality? Can groups of parts be simplified?
This is something that takes time and a lot of thought. In the end we’ve come up with a lot of great ideas. We’re now doing the mechanical engineering to implement those ideas.
Screen Rotation
We’ve simplified the screen rotation mechanism. It will still have the same basic features:
- 350 degrees rotation
- adjustable rotation friction
The new design should be more stable, less complex, and thinner.
It looks great on paper, can’t wait to build a prototype and test it.
Supply Chain
Squeeze the supply chain… again. I’ve put a lot of work into this. Caution is required. If suppliers are only driven by price, your likely to get poor quality product. It takes a lot of work find manufacturers with our standards but at reduced pricing.
For all the effort I put into this task, it did not reduce pricing by that much. However, we now have a more redundant supply chain with several companies qualified to supply parts.
Reduce the number of Kits
In the last crowdfunding attempt there were 6 XOOT system options. Our next funding attempt will offer only 3 options:
- Cintiq Pro 24″
Cintiq Pro 24″ with Cintiq Engine- Cintiq Pro 32″
Cintiq Pro 32″ with Cintiq Engine- Cintiq 27″ QHD
Dell Canvas 27″
*Dell no longer produces a bracket to mount on the back of the Dell Canvas
**Wacom no longer produces the Cintiq Engine
Less Kits reduces complexity in the manufacturing tooling, inventory management and distribution. The deleted Kits can be offered later when XOOT production is up and running smoothly.
Glad to hear you didn’t give up!
Still can’t wait to get a xoot for my cintiq 27qhd!
Thank you for all your awesome work!
This is just off the top of my head, but seems to me if you can separate out the price of the stand and the price of the adapter separate – for example stand costs $399,00 adapter cost $199.00 (these prices are just off the top of my head for example purposes, yours will probably be different 😉 ) and shipping is separate the sticker price wouldn’t be the traumatic event that perspective buyers are facing single total price such as for example $700.00 (say 600 plus 100 dollars shipping) which is a harder sell. Saying the stand only. costs 399, and the mount goes for 199.00 but I can rationalize that the stand is a one time purchase and if I ever change monitors its only $199.00 upgrade cost is much easier to justify.
Another suggestion is increase the size of the notch. The new $6000 Apple Pro Display XDR monitor is sold separately from the pro monitor stand which goes for $999.00. Your stand doesn’t have to be only for pen tablets, market it for high end video/audio suite monitors as well and you at least double the potential buyers. Just a thought.
Great product, and I am wishing you success.
Sorry for my late response (I’ve been busy)…
I like your thinking. It’s a better way of letting people know that a XOOT system is not a one time investment.
By labeling it as 2 pieces:
-The base XOOT system (anti-topple arms, Main XOOT arm, Electro-magnetic braking system)
– The Kit (adapter plate to screen, rotation mechanism, weightless tuning parts)
It lets people know the value of an upgradeable system. Any future investment is at the reduced cost of the Kit alone…
FYI, I’m not a fan of un-reparable/disposable products.
Thanks.
-Chris
Also… Yes, there’s other markets where a XOOT system could help… but one step at a time…