Simon Horrocks

ND filter update:

The filters finally arrived in Felixstowe port last week. A day later they had cleared customs. I got a text saying the filters would be delivered by DPD on Wednesday morning. The package didn't arrive and I got a new text say by 6pm that day.

The package didn't arrive. I put the tracking number into the DPD website tracking and it said the package would be delivered sometime the next day.

The package didn't arrive. Tracking then said the package was delayed but gave no new delivery date. This morning I called them and they said the package was considered lost and the sender needs to contact them to "start an investigation" and hopefully find the package... 🙈

The Chinese manufacturer are trying to contact UK DPD to find out what's going on. It feels doomed right now, but I still live in hope that somehow they will find them... 😐

🥳

hi everyone

The ND filter project has not been forgotten. However, I started to get nervous about the idea of running a kickstarter and then crossing my fingers that the manufacturers can deliver the product I asked for. I decided I didn't want to take your money until I was sure I had the product.

I set up the kickstarter because the manufacturer needed a minimum order of 2000 (packets of 3 filters). However, I suggested to them if they could do a test run of 300, I would pay up front - no need for the kickstarter.

They agreed. This was back in January, which is bad timing as Chinese manufacturing closes down for about 10 days for their New Year celebrations. But eventually the 300 packets were done and ready to ship. I was then told that using Alibaba’s official system for shipments "the order defaulted to sea freight, which is not expected to arrive at the destination port until May 10."

Not only this but the situation in the Middle East kicked off and the Strait of Hormuz was closed, as you probably all know, which affected all shipping, even if it wasn't going that route. The ship with our ND filters on it was then stuck in a port in China.

Today, our ship left port. 🥳

My plan now is that when I receive the first batch I will check they're good and then they will be up for sale via Fourthwall. I don't have a team or anything, so I'll be packing them and then going to post office with a sack of ND filters, like Santa. 🎅

Thank you for your patience!

best wishes
Simon