Just got email last night that our orders have been boxed and loaded onto shipping containers to Los Angeles. Eta 3 weeks plus 1-3 days...
HI all, its me again, the mad man behind production and design at Tesla Shields!
Since Jason's been busy with finishing college and stuff, I've been dealing with our factory and shipping agents to get these mats to you. It's been quite a headache, I think I aged 4 years making sure things were done properly, but we are getting the hang of this process, so it should get smoother as we grow.
I also want to make sure everyone is clear on the process and work that goes into getting these mats made and shipped to manage expectations and minimize misunderstandings as to why delays have happened, and if future ones may happen. Oh, I have also told the website people (Jason et all) to put a countdown timer on the website, and I'll try to make sure it stays as accurate as possible. Anyways....
I just got off the phone/email with everyone (hence why I am still awake at 2:30am) and can confirm the following:
(Please forgive any humor in the following information)
1. Production ends (a little later than expected due to holidays)
FYI: We have started pre-production on our next batch of products, in case anyone missed out on the stupendous, amazing, best value "wait like idk 3+ months" deal, we've already started that process again. Yes, we are shameless.
2. Everything has to be checked, boxed and then shipped to a warehouse near the port, which takes a couple days.
3. This week: The inventory arrives at our shipping company's facility.
4.
(Couple of days): Our shipping company does the very annoying task of containerizing everything and dealing with customs and booking transport
to minimize the likelihood of them noticing our undercover narcotics ring.
We found a sneaky way to cut down the time and cost of this part by separating our order into smaller shipments and booking space from containers that have unused room, ideally on the same ship.
5.
(Couple of days): The containers get taken to port and hastily thrown onto the ship a la mode of Benny Hill but far less wacky. Hopefully the ship they throw our containers on uses a working engine and isn't heading toward the suez canal (too soon?). ***
6.
(15-20 days): The ship decides it wants to become a movie star and heads to
HOLLYWOOD. There, it waits a few days in Santa Monica bay to hear back from it's agent after having a "very promising" casting audition. After some bad news and a few days of bartending, it will decide to stop pursuing it's dreams and focus on reality, dropping off the cargo in the Port of LA and never being heard from again.
7. (
Couple of days): The cargo is taken to a warehouse and is released once it passes customs clearance. We partnered with
REDSTAG Fulfillment for this and future website orders, so I think we are in good hands with them! It is then re-containered(?), attached to a truck or maybe a train and sent to our fulfillment center in Salt Lake city (or possibly their Los Angeles facility, which is opening in June!).
8.
(Couple of days): Our crack team of high-quality mormon fulfilment people unload each container, packs your order faster than you can say "Joseph Smith" and ships it to you with 2-day shipping (west coast and central US) or slightly longer shipping (east coast).
***P.S: Everyone and their mother is currently booking ships so it's a free for all. I kid you not. Trans-Pacific shipping rates just popped to new all-time high - FreightWaves
Don't worry, I already planned for this problem in our financial projections, so no costs are being passed to you, deal customers, but it did slow down our ability to ship a little, so please be patient!
*** P.PS: If anyone is located in the Los Angeles area and has space or wants to arrange a meet and greet/pickup event with me when our shipment arrives at our warehouse, let me know. It would allow us to get mats to people sooner, possibly meet me and/or Jason, and cut down on shipping stuff to salt lake just to send it back to Cali, Maybe we'll rent a U HAUL and come deliver mats to people or something in a relative proximity!
