OK so not to get everyone's hope up, but I'm looking into a local place that opened up recently that is evidently cheap and does a really good job. I'll be back with details in few days
Now it's been a month since this post. It's also been over a month since the adjusted invoices went out. Getting a little worried now. Surely you've got to have some kind of update for us???
It's a group buy, it is likely going to be awhile before you get the case. Group buys have taken over a year long for the product to get into the buyers' hands. I'm not saying this GB is going to take over a year but anytime you enter a GB you should understand that the dates the GB Leader gives are usually estimations. Also should be taken into account is that this GB is the first of it's kind, involving a carbon fiber case, there is a lot of design, testing, and manufacturing to be done to ensure that that the product is of high quality to ship out.
Problem here is that the delay has nothing to do with the design, testing or manufacturing. The delay seems to be coming from shopping around and awaiting updated prices, however revised quotes were sent out a month ago, on what I assumed was a higher than expected pricing from the original vendor. I was under the impression upon payment of the extra invoice, that manufacturing can begin through the original vendor.
I am a mechanical engineer, and routinely send parts out for quote for the quantities that are described here. It can definitely take a week or so to get a quote, but for a business to take a month to provide a quote, that is a sign that they are not interested in making the part and it is very unlikely that they will provide a quote that is competitive.
@hwood34 I know of some shops in the greater Portland area that are likely capable of doing this sort of work. If you want me to submit a drawing for quote, feel free to PM me and I can get some quotes at this end.