Yes, as sad as I am to make the announcement, after nearly 10 years of making sequencers for these cars (and others such as Mustangs) I have been forced to pull the plug on Thundercat Electronixx. For the past several years it has been a money losing preposition, and for the last two it's been buckets of money going out the window. The only reason I didn't pull the plug sooner is that I didn't do the math sooner. I just lumped all my money into one pile, not keeping track of which was coming from where and how much was going to where. When I did the math it scared me. Opened my eyes, actually: I was spending more on TC electronixx than I was bringing in. Raw materials have increased in price exponentially over the past few years (for example, my copper wire went from $10/roll to $35, the resin went from $20/gallon to $50, eBay fees went from $3 to $10 per sequencer, and postage went from $5 to $14). Meanwhile the Canadian dollar has soared in value (currently I get less than $1 CDN for a US dollar, it used to be I'd get $1.60 per USD) while I have not been able to raise prices accordingly. I've burned through most of my savings and cannot keep it going any more, so it's over. The fact that eBay had given a license for buyers to walk all over sellers helped make the decision easier. I'm simply tired of dealing with douchebags and losing money. Had I been making money I could handle the douchebags, but since I'm not, well, it's all over. The assets, including intellectual properties (and liabilities) of TC electronixx are officially handed over to the creditors (kinda like a Chapter 13 liquidation, but Canadian).
As of 1:00 PM Eastern time today the company has been dissolved. What this means to future customers is simple: There will be no future customers. All of my eBay listings have been canceled, and before handing over the assets I went in and removed any links to any "checkouts" (and changed the checkout pages themselves) on my website to prevent anyone from placing new orders.
Past customers will be affected by their warranties. Since TC Electronixx no longer exists I cannot honour the "lifetime" warranties that the sequencers were sold with.
I am NOT leaving anyone in the lurch, however. Any and all orders received so far have either already been mailed or are packaged and ready to go (I don't think anyone on the forum has any outstanding orders anyway). In addition, I have retained enough stock to cover any potential warranty issues for (hopefully) years to come, but since quantities are limited it's "First come first served". Once remaining stock is depleted it's game over, man. Game over.
http://www.tcelectronixx.com will stay online to offer tech support info until the domain expires, which I think is May 2010. Email addresses related to tcelectronixx.com (*@tcelectronixx.com) will expire the end of October 2009.
Foxtbirdcougarforums.com is not going anywhere. Don't worry. This forum is unrelated to tcelectronixx (except for contributing to a sale or two), so the loss of TC Electronixx does not mean the loss of this forum. Matter of fact, I recently renewed the domain for three more years.
Now the good news. I just today got a job! I'm returning to the auto mechanics field. I start next Monday. $20/hr to start, not too bad considering that I'd been out of the trade for over ten years, and when I last worked as a mechanic in 1998 I was only making $17 at the Saturn dealership. It'll make a big difference, actually making money instead of losing it...
Well kinda bittersweet news..
Congrats on the job though! $20 per hour to start is not bad at all!
did you read my private messages? Thunder
Tough times make for tough decisions...you gotta do what you gotta do to support yourself and your family. Sad that a dedicated enthusiast has exited the picture for our cars, though. Regardless, best of luck to you man, you deserve a winning streak for a change.
Congrats on the job! :D
Sucks about your sequencers..but, business is business.
I'd always wanted to get one, but never really made a plan to. :hick:
maybe if a couple of members here want sequencer we can make an effort and pay the money ThunderChicken deserves for his quality products the price can be in order to let him have in the neiboughoods of 30- 50% margin of benefits
of course thats a suggestion because im kicking myself in the balls right now for not having ordered one before
what do you think Thunder Chicken please find a place in your heart for this big family
god bless you all
I'm not getting out of the picture, Eric, I'm just getting out of sequencers. Even if I were to get rid of the '88, as you know I've alluded to, I'd replace it with a four-eye Bird or 87-88 Cat. Or maybe even a Mark VII.
I might, just might, make up a set of instructions on how to build your own and post it here. Advanced soldering skills would be required, and it'd be a while before I ever got around to making these instructions up, but it's a possibility. And buying the parts and doing the work would show people why I had to get out of it :hick:
Congrats on the new job!!!
You don't have to 'splain it to me, after working in the electronics field for almost 40 years, I know exactly what you were going through... These days I despise about anything with a circuit board...
Yep,congrats on the new job.I have a question,can I get a new relay for the fuse box from you for my sequencer?I want a back up as a "just in case".Let me know,.
Congrats, good to see someone getting a job instead of losing one!
Sorry to see the sequencers go, but it's hard to produce anything anymore and actually make a buck.
i hate this good news bad news deal.. ive wanted sequencers myself. I am glad you found a job and would love instructions how to make them. or pay you an arm and a leg to do it for me :-D gotta love lazy lol. best wishes to you on your new job. i couldnt do auto mechanics day in and day out.
Congrats on the job.
that $20/hour isnt going to feel like the $17/hour you made back in '98 though:toilet:
Sorry to hear about the closing of TC. I know how you feel. I had a computer store that went the same way. I was relieved and sad all at the same time.
Good luck on the new career. $20/hr is a lot more then losing every month as with TCats
this really sucks. I too have been wanting to get a sequencer but have been putting it off and now its too late. those sequencers are one of the coolest mods that can be done to our car and yet be so subtle that most people wouldnt know that it was added on. say it isnt so :(
There are other sellers of sequencers out there, some about the same price mine were (which was one of my disadvantages - I was shipping to USA, which was slower and more expensive). I can't personally vouch for the quality of them, but their customers seem happy.
As for selling some more, sorry, it can't be done. Any sequencer I sell now is a potential problem down the road when I have to deny somebody warranty because there are no sequencers left. I've just got to sit on these until they're gone.
Ductape: Daminc is right, that $20/hr is going to be much better than losing every month. Even still, it will feel like more money than 12 years ago because I don't have rent or a car payment to come up with every month. My house is paid for, my cars are paid for, and the only bills I have are one credit card (that got charged up thanks to TC Electronixx) and my utilities (telephone, power, internet, satellite TV). The heat is already paid for for the season (I have 7 cords of firewood piled up and ready to go) so almost all of my paycheque will be mine. I am quite certain I'm going to notice a big difference in liquidity. I may even be able to spend $30 or so on an HO cam, for example, without feeling guilty...
To celebrate the new job I'm buying myself a new tool chest tomorrow. I'd be embarrassed to show up at the job with my current one, so I'm buying a nice stainless steel one from Costco. It'll dent the already wounded savings, but I'm thinking I'll be able to build them up again quickly enough...
So,is there a way to get a spare relay?
Oh shiznit, I knew I forgot to answer somebody. You shouldn't need a spare relay, Vin. I can always get them, and they're fairly cheap to buy (something like $8), so I'll always be able to supply you with one if you need it...
That's the one that goes to the fuse box with the added little....."thing"....on it?If so,I'd rather just buy one like I have (that you sent me in the kit) from you.How much for that and paypal info ?I thought you special made them with that little added on thing on top of it.
LET ME KNOW..................
So then you dont have any left to sell off? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Congrats on the job.
Oh man that ruins my day...
I wish I had bought some sequencers before this happened. :( I had wanted to buy some when my car was a little farther on.
LOL, I have been putting it off for 5 years now...
Although it sucks things had to end, glad you got a job, and we still have the forum. That I thank you for.
It's a sad day in a way, but it's a happy day in so many other ways.
No more dealing with eBay douchebags who buy a sequencer on Monday, then write me Wednesday bitching because they don't have it yet, and finally dinging my eBay star rating because they were unhappy with the shipping time (which is entirely out of my hands, I can't call the mailman on his cell phone and tell him to hurry up).
No more panicking because sales are in the shiznitter, then wondering why I don't have any money even when sales are good (as it turned out, I was actually better off when sales were in the shiznitter).
No more being tethered to a computer, having to answer questions (mainly "Where's my shipment?" related questions) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
No more having most of my income depending directly on the whims of eBay, a company that has waged war on its customers (sellers) and a company that has forced many sellers out of business by maniulating their listings.
It is the end of one chapter of my life, but the beginning of another. And things are definitely looking up. I can't tell you how happy I will be when I never have to answer a sales or shipping related question again...
Out with the old and in with the new. eBay sucks root anyway.
I was working a job where I was being stiffed on my commissions due to the disorganization and insufficient funds of the very small company. I never heard a 'sorry' or 'we're working on it.' Rather, I would hear 'go ahead and carry those 80 lb. boxes out to the shed and stack them.'
The truly depressing thing was that I needed the job, even though it barely got me by. Rent alone took more than an entire paycheck. I've been in Ramen Noodle territory for the past 12 months or so.
In any event, I had a falling out with the owner and I'm working somewhere else now. The pay is about the same, but there is zero bullshiznit at this place - which makes me actually feel healthier. I can go to work with a smile, which I haven't done in years.
The point is, slowly but surely, you have to fight the odds and build up some capital. It sounds like you're in a great position.
Congrats on the job that is great news! Hope everything works out for you. I'm hoping to get called back to work or get a new job all together, I've been laid off going six months now, thankfully I'll be able to continue to collect unemployment for a while since they've extended it.
I'm sorry to see you won't be making the sequencers any more. I bought a set from you in 05 and love them! The only trouble I had with them was when I first installed them they wouldn't all blink but one email to you and a little adjustment it has been all good. Thanks for a great product and for the help, it was defenately appreciated! Also thanks for keeping the forums going!
Remember, this isn't "my" forum. The domain is registered in my name, but there are two other admins, several moderators, and of course, hundreds of active members. This forum costs almost nothing to run (something like $100/yr), so it'll be around for a LOOOOOONG time...
Exactly, it's really no effort to keep it running. Even if for some weird reason you couldn't run it anymore I can easily run it with no effort. So yeah. The board is staying no matter what. ;)
I cant even imagine all the BS you regular Ebay sellers have to deal with. I hear all kinds of stories like yours and wonder ,,,,Where is the competition? Ebay has very little competition out there when it comes to various sites construction and interface.
Your showing up with an old tool chest would tell me your not a newbie, its kinda like your badge so to speak. I wouuldnt dump money into something that you dont need right now but it is tempting im sure.
Congrads on the job, you will probably end up being the guy everyone comes to for knowledge.
Actually, Scott, it's funny you should mention that. I was standing in the Costco last evening in front of that tool chest, moments from pulling the trigger, and I stopped and left empty handed. I really, really, want that tool box, and I WILL own one, but I think I'll wait until I am working for a while and build some cash up again before I drop $650 plus tax on something to keep my tools off the floor. There are other things I need more (four tires for the Jeep, a new laptop, etc). Maybe in February when I get my income tax cheque...
As for my home garage tools, I'm going to make up a pegboard tool holder for 'em and hang 'em on the wall for now...
+congrats on your new-old career and for making a great
product all these years. i really like mine--irv:bowdown:
Congrats on getting your new job. May things go well there with you.
I am one of those procrastinators who are kicking himself for not getting a sequencer before this, but I completely understand your reasons for closing.
Even if you had adjusted your prices in order for it to be profitable, it sounds like the headaches and hassles of it just weren’t worth it in the end.
Congratulations on landing the new job, it sounds like it will work out great for you.
Brent
I know this is a long shot but what the heck I am having a problem with my kit and I was wondering if you have any parts left tried to pm but you're full
I know this is far out there too. But since you are not making them any more would you share how to build them?
I wish you would come back and make a limited run. I want a set again.
I would be down for a 3 light sequencer. Save me from getting one of these 1966 sequencers goin!
Yeah.... what they said!
If any one is interested, here's where I got mine from.... http://www.webelectricproducts.com/
I hit the checkout button and "No International Sales or Service!" :bs:
I no longer have the materials or equipment to build them, sorry. I can certainly still provide troubleshooting/tech support, but cannot buld any more. Vinnroc, let me know the issues you're having and I'll see if I can help you get it working.
I had originally planned on posting the plans for the sequencer here but never got around to it, and now the images I've done up are lost (this was a few computers and two houses ago). They are probably on a CD somewhere but I have no idea where. If I can find them I'll post them up here. Advanced soldering skills would be required to make them...
This is where I got my kit many, many moons ago:
http://www.thuntek.net/cougars_unlimited/ts1promo.htm
It was before Carm was making his kit, or else I'd have bought his. This one is still holding up though.
First of all thanks for getting back to me.
Here is what I am expiriencing I have a trans am ""love cougars" and drivers's side going from inboard to out board center and outboard lights have issues
center has been intermittant
outboard is not working at all
center when working will sequence
outboard not showing power
hope that helps ask away if you have questions for me
What happens when you step on the brake? Engine running during testing? And how old is your sequencer? How many adjustment screws on it? Does it have relays on it?
What happens when you step on the brake?
today both outboard and center were outsame with foot off of brake
Engine running during testing? tried it both running and off
And how old is your sequencer? I think I got it in 08 or 09
How many adjustment screws on it? 1
Does it have relays on it? I don't think so
here is what I found on the module
model tcsf - 03
version H
serial 494abc1789
cr 2008
I kept telling my son Mason "there is only one man on planet earth who knows how these do hickys work back here son"
now i gotta update him and say "there is only one man on planet earth who knows how your sequencials work ,,,, and now even he forgot"
: P