Black Arrow 28nm 100Ghash Bitcoin ASIC from $0.49/GH/s

[Bluebark]

It looks incredibly suspicious that the delay happens to exactly land on the date originally announced for batch 2, as though even the revised date is just pulled out of thin air too. All the typed-out apologies in the world are not going to save BA if they find after this project that they're not able to operate in this space anymore.

Not necessarily...they already had two runs in the pipe line...but the first Fab run was a wash...so now they have to double the second production run to make up for Batch1. So it makes sense for them to ship at Batch2.

[1714716487]

1714716487

[1714716487]

1714716487

[tokona]

Nobody in their right mind cares about BA "succeeding" or whatever that even means.

Customers only care about receiving delivery within a reasonable amount of time to make some kind of return. Either BA performs at that level or they don't. If they don't, then they won't have customers again.

Prospero had two things going for it to make anybody choose BA over competitors for pre-order:

1. Early expected delivery date
2. Reasonable USD price

Now that #1 is completely out the window, in order for this project to be a "success", customers have to feel that it worth it to have ordered in the first place. That's going to require more than 25% purchased hash power hosted for 4 months starting two months later best case scenario.

If this project turns out to not have been remotely worth it for batch 1 customers, then customers have to conclude that BA most likely threw a bogus date out there just to collect orders. It looks incredibly suspicious that the delay happens to exactly land on the date originally announced for batch 2, as though even the revised date is just pulled out of thin air too. All the typed-out apologies in the world are not going to save BA if they find after this project that they're not able to operate in this space anymore.

what if there never was a feb batch 1, batch one is batch 2 and batch 2 is batch one....

[bobsag3]

Weren't we told that they didn't have the capacity to ship all of batch 1 at once? That's why they had a batch 1 round 1 and round 2. Now, all of a sudden, they can ship all of batch 1 together, PLUS all of batch 2?
I'd like an explanation for that one..

They have the production capacity to make both batches in 1 week, but shipping for them and us will take at least 2 weeks per batch.

[bobsag3]

So we'd receive them in the middle of May essentially?

No, with this delay at least minersource will be hiring additional people, we expect to get both batch 1 and 2 out the door within 2 weeks.

Also:

For further compensation from minersource, all 2nd day air packages will be upgraded to next day saver, all next day customers will get their shipping refunded. We may also be including a special gift

[bobsag3]

I appreciate it.

I have arrived back in denver, I will get some quick things out quick, then going to pass out.


Communication:
BA and the re sellers are putting together a new system of communication, to aid in the internal communication, and the communication with our customers and the community. We are looking at a bevy of options, including some sort of newsletter, to official twitter. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.

Customer Service:
I have completed highering of additional guys here at minersource, and they are working through training now. Expect better response times, and phone hours in the future. BA has also hired many additional staff and should see an improvement as well.

Tape out/Verisilicon/Chips
Besides what is covered under NDA (I know I know... but a NDA is a NDA), I can assure you I have seen the full contracts with BA and Verisilicon, and that BA has paid them in full. The other re sellers can confirm this. Based on all the info I have, the May 1 day is quite firm. No guarantees as you guys know by now, but thats the best I can do.

Status of other Parts:
The PCBs pretty much designed (waiting for those final pin specs as said before), the heatsinks are done, the custom 1400w psus are done, the controller and its software are in their final phases. I will get additional info and pictures on this as soon as I can.

We will also have a much greater presence at trade shows, we will publish a list as soon as we sign up for them. We will at least be at Quakecon 2014.


EDIT2:
I have some pics from the trip... nothing really important or relevant, but id be happy to post them if anyone wants.

Just quoting this cuz I missed it and I'm sure others may have as well.

Also stops me from editing it. Ill stand by these words to the best of my abilities.

[bobsag3]

So there has been no revision to the 25% for 4 months offer?

Not at this time. Our meetings were more preliminary than anything, we will have more in the next few days.

[d4rkbreaker]

So we'd receive them in the middle of May essentially?

No, with this delay at least minersource will be hiring additional people, we expect to get both batch 1 and 2 out the door within 2 weeks.

Also:

For further compensation from minersource, all 2nd day air packages will be upgraded to next day saver, all next day customers will get their shipping refunded. We may also be including a special gift

How exactly is this going to work, I haven't heard of BAS official confirmation that the assembly of the goods would be done and shipped within 2 weeks.

[Unacceptable]

So there has been no revision to the 25% for 4 months offer?

Not at this time. Our meetings were more preliminary than anything, we will have more in the next few days.

And what about refunds

[d4rkbreaker]

So we'd receive them in the middle of May essentially?

No, with this delay at least minersource will be hiring additional people, we expect to get both batch 1 and 2 out the door within 2 weeks.

Also:

For further compensation from minersource, all 2nd day air packages will be upgraded to next day saver, all next day customers will get their shipping refunded. We may also be including a special gift

Within 2 weeks from today (2/6/2014)?

[ChuckBuck]

Think it's Batch 1 and 2 shipped first 2 weeks of May.

[bobsag3]

So we'd receive them in the middle of May essentially?

No, with this delay at least minersource will be hiring additional people, we expect to get both batch 1 and 2 out the door within 2 weeks.

Also:

For further compensation from minersource, all 2nd day air packages will be upgraded to next day saver, all next day customers will get their shipping refunded. We may also be including a special gift

Within 2 weeks from today (2/6/2014)?

No, hopefully 2 weeks from May 1.

[bobsag3]

So there has been no revision to the 25% for 4 months offer?

Not at this time. Our meetings were more preliminary than anything, we will have more in the next few days.

And what about refunds

No official statement from me about this

[Jcga]

Thank you Bobsag3 for your travel to GB and all those fresh informations.

What bout people who ordered at the end of November and paid +1050 USD at the beginning of december, 5.990 USD... Bach 1 full price...

[bobsag3]

Hey, Matt. Does BA give BA re-sellers a discount and an extra 25% frequent flyer miles?  

We get a discount on the equipment yes (lol duh), but all the airfare is 100% out of my pocket. I paid to see them in person because I wanted answers. Harder to dodge when you show up to their office


But in all fairness, it was a fairly pleasant set of meetings, lots of things that need to be fixed are hopefully going to start, especially communication. The biggest thing I got off the meeting was they are in this for the long run, not just the minion.

EDIT: I WISH I GOT EXTRA MILES.

[bobsag3]

Thank you Bobsag3 for your travel to GB and all those fresh informations.

What bout people who ordered at the end of November and paid +1050 USD at the beginning of december, 5.990 USD... Bach 1 full price...

That will remain the price being for now as far as I know.

[bobsag3]

Can you tell us what is under the NDA? Not what you know that you can't divulge, but what the topic is. Does that make sense?

Um.
Tapeout and anything about it, specifics on certain things... really tight line to walk so I would prefer to say less.

[bobsag3]

When will you be at liberty to say? Or will you ever be at liberty to say?

As soon as I can, you will know, as I will post it all in nice big bold letters. Who knows- I may be able/Matt be able to say more next week, up to the bosses.

[Flying Hellfish]

So there has been no revision to the 25% for 4 months offer?

Not at this time. Our meetings were more preliminary than anything, we will have more in the next few days.

And what about refunds

No official statement from me about this

Do you have any idea when you might be able to say something officially about refund options?  I mean at this point a customer has to assume that a refund is not possible.  So your OK with holding peoples monies indefinitely?  Why should anyone believe they will make the new deadline, the old one was rock solid, lots of room built in for error, then they held the info of the delay to themselves longer than they should have.  What exactly has this company done that is public facing to provide any confidence that something like this won't happen again.

Do you care to comment on the fact that according to the FTC as an American based company Miner Source is required to refund a customer if they wish to cancel their order before you ship no matter what your ToS says.

[bobsag3]

So there has been no revision to the 25% for 4 months offer?

Not at this time. Our meetings were more preliminary than anything, we will have more in the next few days.

And what about refunds

No official statement from me about this

Do you have any idea when you might be able to say something officially about refund options?  I mean at this point a customer has to assume that a refund is not possible.  So your OK with holding peoples monies indefinitely?  Why should anyone believe they will make the new deadline, the old one was rock solid, lots of room built in for error, then they held the info of the delay to themselves longer than they should have.  What exactly has this company done that is public facing to provide any confidence that something like this won't happen again.

Do you care to comment on the fact that according to the FTC as an American based company Miner Source is required to refund a customer if they wish to cancel their order before you ship no matter what your ToS says.

No, I wont comment on such matters in public, if you would like to bring up a specific problem or request with an order, please email either Black Arrow support, or Miner source support.

[Lloydie]

BA has not levelled with us.  They have put an NDA against their own customers.  Whether they paid verisilicon is pointless.  The chips will be late and non-competitive.  I have lost trust in BA.  They knew batch 1 would be late and continued to sell batch 2.  Very poor conduct.