Our screwdriver took three years [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#71

Post by kmeisthax » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:19 PM UTC

KptMarchewa wrote: post #30

dt3ft wrote: post #19

Looks rather bulky for a screwdriver. Kudos on launching, hope they can at least make the cost that was sunk on the injection molds.

They've now sold around 60k of them before even one reached customer. They'll be fine.

They had a pop-up shop in Vancouver about a week ago or so where people could try them out in person and buy them. This was right before online sales, and Linus did this specifically so that he could...

- Have independent opinions of the product on the website

- Avoid "kickstarter syndrome" (since they have to have mass-production ready before selling them this way)

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#72

Post by magicalhippo » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:22 PM UTC

mrweasel wrote: post #69

magicalhippo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I highly prefer a ratcheting screwdriver if I have to remove a stubborn philips or pozidriv screw, especially if the screw is not directly accessible or there's limited space for my hand. This allows me to keep a good grip and the pressure on the screw all the time, ensuring the screwdriver head doesn't slip out of position. I also find it faster to just twist the shaft of the screwdriver once the screw is loose, som…

The locking mechanism is really where many cheap screwdrivers fail. If it's to easy to hit, or doesn't lock cleanly in place, it can be pretty annoying.

Fair point, if the alternative is between a plain and a cheap ratcheting screwdriver, I'd probably go with the plain one. But I've bought a few "mid-range" ratcheting screwdrivers and I've found them very useful.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#73

Post by cjrp » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:24 PM UTC

master_crab wrote: post #55

zxcvgm wrote: post #8

Not an apples-to-apples comparison, but I just wanted to see the price positioning for this screwdriver. It goes for $69.99 [0] and Megapro ratcheting screwdrivers (which they mentioned in their video) goes from ~$50 to $59.99, depending on what bits it comes with. [0] https://www.lttstore.com/products/screwdriver [1] https://megaprotools.com/collections/ratcheting-drivers

Megapro is also made in “North America” (I assume Canada but would love to hear from someone in the know). So you’d be supporting the “local” American economy, if that matters to you.

Or Mexico?

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#74

Post by Curzel » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:27 PM UTC

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #66

Curzel wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did explain their reasoning behind this during WAN a few weeks ago. In short, they are trying to make shipping price more fair for the average customer (including those oversea, or in remote regions) by making shipping a bit more expensive where it is cheaper. Charging people nearby a bit extra allows them to offset some of those costs. They provided a few examples of backpacks shipping to remote regions in Cana…

I also live in Europe and I'd love to buy their merch but the shipping and customs costs add up immensely so there's no way I'm buying anything from them.

Yeah, but if backpacks ever become available without backorder I might make a single big order next year, who knows!

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#75

Post by 4ggr0 » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:33 PM UTC

Fnoord wrote: post #65

alias_neo wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary, I loved this video going into the details of the process. I'm an engineer, and a huge nerd though, and I've always hated ratcheting screwdrivers with a passion for the poor quality. I can't wait to try out one of these, if for nothing more than to pay for the LTT entertainment/content I enjoy.

All I did was ask for a summary. Then those who want can go into detail, and those who first want to read a summary (which used to be quite normal when you read e.g. a news article) only read that, or decide afterwards if they want to read further. Another commentator provided the summary [1], the feature set is available in text supported by pictures at the second half of this page (you can skip the first ~50% of th…

This exact URL is also in the description of the video.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#76

Post by V__ » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:33 PM UTC

brianwawok wrote: post #62

throw0101c wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> optimized for an extra $10.00 Megapro may have larger economies of scale and therefore lower costs, or Megapro may have already paid off / amortized the cost of development and so felt its margins were already without having that included in the price anymore.

That’s not how a business sets prices. It charges as much as consumers are willing to pay.

If more people are willing to buy the product for a lower price and due to better economies of scale / amortized cost of development the margins also improve then of course they may lower the price.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#77

Post by Maursault » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:38 PM UTC

PaulKeeble wrote: post #4

The vast majority of the 2 year delay seems to be fraud by their Chinese manufacturer. They were given exact specifications but they didn't build the parts to it to avoid competition with their own production. They had a bunch of design iterations issues along the way but the bulk of it was fraud.

No post body was provided.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#78

Post by jgoewert » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:39 PM UTC

jansan wrote: post #56

kalleboo wrote: post #7

It's pretty impressive how they've sold 60,000 $70 screwdrivers in under 48 hours

Especially since you can buy a comparable product from Amazon Basics for 14€ https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-12-in-1-Magnetic-Ratchet-...

I could grab a handful of leaves of a tree and shove it in my face hole for lunch. It would be cheaper, but I prefer a salad made of lettuce.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#79

Post by master_crab » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:42 PM UTC

cjrp wrote: post #73

master_crab wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Megapro is also made in “North America” (I assume Canada but would love to hear from someone in the know). So you’d be supporting the “local” American economy, if that matters to you.

Or Mexico?

Would be great if it’s Mexico too. A healthy economy in any of the three N.A. nations is good for all of them. Neighbors have an outsize influence on each other.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#80

Post by SulphurSmell » Thu, Sep 01, 2022, 1:49 PM UTC

causality0 wrote: post #9

As someone who spends a good portion of his workday using screwdrivers on industrial equipment and computers, I still don't understand why you'd want a ratcheting one.

I am with you. Been messing with tools my entire life...have tried ratcheting screwdrivers of several kinds...Hard no. If I do lots of screws, I use a drill or impact driver. Or, failing that a nice 1/4 or 3/8 ratchet wrench with the appropriate adaptor + bit.