Here's a question a) for the lads in Cambridge b) for all the rest of us drooling over Karma(s).

Might it be possible to arrange a, how shall I say, a pre-buy for the folks of the lovely BBS? No earlier perhaps than the major distribution channels, except that our little cult (too strong?) ehem, community would split the airfreight from the factory to some more central distribution point?

Thoughts?

-Zeke

' Sounds like a plan. I'm interested.

(Like I need another mp3 player.)

Joe

I am trying to arrange to purchase some players direct from the company for people outside of the USA. I'll probably need to collect payment by PayPal a few days before the players ship. If you're interested please add your name here (no obligation at this stage, but I want to get a feel for numbers so please think about it before adding your name).

I don't know what the price will be, but I'd assume somewhere in the US$399 range for a 20GB player (which includes the dock). I'm not sure if 40GB players are shipping immediately or if they will follow soon.

Rob

Count me in.

(will we need 240v power supplies seperatlet?)

I'll try to lay hands on some of the international power supplies (switchable heads). Worst case, the US supply is auto ranging so all you need is a travel adapter.

Rob

Count me in.

/Michael

Yep. One for me

Consider me a (tentative) yes, please Rob.

Newbie says "count me in too"
I just have to convince the wife

Gordie

I am in. Looks like 8 so far.

Yup, I'm in too. (but I'm more interested in the 40gig model)

Rob,
So you wouldn't mind helping out a few impatient USAians at the same time? That's excellent indeed. Clearly, I'm in for one.

-Zeke

Yep

Paul

I would be in for one.

Me too, possibly

Rob
Add me to your list please
Feel free to pop over to Cambridge Car Audio on Saturday afternoon (around 2:00) to give me a demo of one

In reply to:

---

if 40GB players are shipping immediately or if they will follow soon

---

I am more interested in the 40GB version.
Would a similar group buy be possible for the 40GB model, when it becomes available?

count me in for a 40gb as well please

20 or 40. chicken or egg. im in either way

I thought you were in the US?

You can pre-order from J&R.

oh. well, that makes it all that much better.

I'm interested, too. But I'd probably need the 40 gig version...


Marc

Since I *AM* in the US, I probably don't need to do this, BUT, I'd like to show my support (since I *DO* need a portable..) so I'll say, "Sure, I'm in!"

Can we get them autographed?

Me.

Rob,
By asking about this for everyone regardless of location, I was hoping to shorten the Factory --> My Toybox time; as I assume that most of these are bulk shipped ocean freight, which usually takes 4-5 weeks from Asia to the US.

-Zeke

Me too - for a 40G one

OK lots of people are interested. Marketing are looking into whether they can get an allocation for me. Our retailers are keen to snap up everything we can make (which is good). Fingers crossed.

Rob

Our retailers are keen to snap up everything we can make (which is good)

And I hope that they continue to do so. I'd love to see Creative, Apple, iRiver etc given a good smackdown.

I'm confused... I know Rob is generously acquiring Karmas for european buyers, but is it believed that US supply will not be initially limited?

I'm spinning with excitement over the 40GB version.

I think that the US will have the initial release, and that the folks elsewhere will have to wait (officially). This way, with a group buy like this, everyone on the board will be able to get them at about the same time.

Hi Rob,
I'll take two - 40GB's preferred, but 20GB models will do as a starter.

There should be no problem with US supply - Karma will be available from a number of major high street retailers. I'm just trying to help out with overseas buyers, as the international version will launch later. No promises yet - but if the worst comes to the worst I'm sure we can send someone to Best Buy to pick up a bunch of them

Rob

That URL tells me no match for "rio"... What am I missing?

They pulled the link down after Rob got his.

Rob --

You're sure giving Best Buy the benefit of the doubt by calling them a high street retailer (even in lower case)! Even with 2 of them within 5 miles of my house, I'm better off with an Amazon or J&R pre-order.

its gonna be paying tax vs waiting on a shipment for me.

paying tax and probably also more for the item

I know that there are probably specific rules about having to go through a retailer, but would it be possible to arrange a bulk buy in the US as well? Not that I would want to cheat DNNA out of the cash, but that we could arrange for the quantity needed in one large order, likely without the retail markup or sales tax, and then be able to redistribute within the US?

Again, I do not know if this is possible, based on DNNA's distribution agreements, but possibly worth asking about.

Ahh... that's cool.
You mentioned probably $399US for the 20Gb... did I miss the guessed street price for the 40GB?

J and R was selling the 20GB for $399 and the 40GB for $499

Yep put me down for a 20Gb Model.

My Riot Harddrive has just gone. Bloody thing.

Cheers

Cris.

I am also interested in a 40GB version.

Dang, you had to plug Best Buys...

I have a buddy who bought a VCR from those cats a few years ago. He paid for a sealed box, took it home then opened it. When it was opened he discovered that the VCR was a used VCR that was 10 years older than the model that he purchased. When he took i back to Best Buys he told them his story then opened the box. Next thing he knows he is getting slammed on the counter and getting "arrested" by the wanna be security dudes. Well, after getting arrested and getting his finger prints taken at the local PD he took Best Buys to court for his money back. He finally got his VCR, from Circuit City...

I will go to Best Buys for a price comparison but F*CK a bunck of buying anything from those assh0les...

Sorry Rob...

BTW, I will be geting one in the US when they come out. Thenks for the hard work on this guys...

Sean

I feel your friend's pain. See this post.

Thanks for the price info, Robricc...

Rob,

You can put me down for two 40s when they come out

Yep, I'm in!

Guess we know from whom you're not buying a Karma!

Honestly, I haven't heard one single Best Buy success story. I stopped buying stuff there just based on how frequently advertised things weren't in stock. So my fear is that either:
A. they'll aggressively promote Karma with only 1 unit/store to sell, which will be interpreted as wasting the ad space
2. they'll overstock them at first, fail to adequately advertise them, and decide on the basis of that they aren't successful

Crazy.

I am also interested in a 40GB version. I there the Ethernet Dockingstation included?

bye

Whoops, got here a bit late but.....

ME TOO!!

Cheers, Sim

The 40's will be launching later - possibly a month or two after the 20's.

Rob

<groan>

And I thought squeezing down to 40GB would be bad...

yep count me in for a 20gb unit, Im in NZ

count me in for a 20gig

Yeah, I'm in for a 40gb unit too!!!

I'm selling my 20gb iPod if anyone's interested PM or email me.

Looking forward to a 40GB, but as I'm in the US I guess the right thing to do is to wait and get it retail.

--Nathan

Hi

I am interested in 20gig or 40 gig .Keep me posted as to what is available .I am in Scotland.

I live in the US and plan to buy me a 40 here, but I have noticed the number of new posters wanting one through this thread. I can't wait to have a Karma myself, but Rob, if you do arrange this special purchase, you may really want to limit who you invite to take part. Here we see our beloved BBS getting swarmed!

Luckily it seems the new posters have been around for a while and they're not people coming in from the linked post. But I do agree with you, if this pre-buy does happen then it'll have to be limited on who can take advantage of it.

Australia = 1 Please :-) count me in - How about supply a valid Empeg Serial Number to be in ? just a suggestion.

Hahah... I like it. Not sure how you'd know who hadn't just made one up though.

Or if it was really thiers. A lot of us have posted ours... I guess as a kind of security so nobody can say they are selling a unit with our SN.

I'm In for 40gigger

Or email a scanned pic of your empeg purchase invoice, which shows your outside US address and empeg serial no??

cheers,
Jai

Sorta screws the used empeg people, doesn't it?

And those of us that have a less-than-perfect paper archive

I guess that it's totally Rob's decision as to who he allows to participate. On the one hand, he will want to bring as many over as possible - every sale is a good thing. On the other hand, since it will involve hassle he may want to restrict it somehow.

I don't think it's fair to speculate too much on what any criteria may be. Maybe some proof of empeg ownership, maybe first come first serve, or maybe restricted to known BBS members. Whatever - we should remember that Rob is pulling the necessary strings to make this happen, not us.

I'm hoping that he can avoid all the hassle and find some way of persuading the new Masters to make it available in the UK simultaneously with the US, or at least very soon after.

You can count me in for 40 gig

How about photos of us holding our Empegs with big cheesy grins?

. On the other hand, since it will involve hassle he may want to restrict it somehow.

Ahhh....no good deed goes unpunished!

How about photos of us holding our Empegs with big cheesy grins?

Careful now, we're trying to encourage Rob not scare him silly

Rob,

I'm interested in a 40Gb as well, once available.


Jelle

Defenitely interested.
If I have money or not would depend on when they ship though.

// Jonathan

Rob would we be get a one year warranty? Or only 90 days?

Interested -- 20 or 40.

I don't know, probably 90 days since they would be a US purchase. But warranty is one of the major hassles with a group purchase like this

Late post I know, but I'd be interested... 20 or 40Gb
In New Zealand so expecting it'll be pretty hard to get my mitts on one if the group buy doesn't go ahead...

cheers for the effort Rob...

Ok, I'm interested too.

- Jon

how come this thread reminds me of my game hacking days (diabloii to be exact), where someone says that they have a hack for game XYZ and showing it off.... then the next 100 posts are of ppl saying "please send.. email is [email protected]" or "PM sent, please send" or "Me too".

If there's any chance that we can get them b4 septempber 3rd (off on holiday for 2 weeks after that!) then i'm very interested. Anyone know when we are likely to get hold of them?

Not by September 3rd.

Rob

I'm still tentatively interested - one question though - Will this be the only way of getting hold of one in the UK anytime soon?
Does anyone know when it will be available in the UK officially?

Don't know.. Japan is schedule for a month after the US, Europe will be sometime after that. I believe D&M intend to move us to completely different channels which take some time to set up.

Rob

I may have missed this elsewhere but whats the tentative launch date for the US?

1: <Bart> Are we there yet? </Bart>
2: <Homer> Just a little further. </Homer>
3: goto 1

Thats real informative. Thanks a lot.

not to be anal about simpsons references, but isn't homer suppsed to be answering "NO!".

"Just a little further" seems so out of character.

not the real script, but look at the 3rd post in this thread. thats what i also remember him saying.

edit: found quotes and soundbyte here. its granpa simpson tho. and i also stand corrected. This is the correct soundbyte from season2.

how come i can't do a ftp url? darn. ok, here's the page that it originates from.

Um, you are likely correct about the quote. It is out of character to be that, uh, correct.

As for it being unhelpful, yes, it was. Unfortunately, I do not have a correct answer. The only thing that I know is that it is still in beta testing, and I do not know the release timeline. Hopefully someone who does can post. No offense intended.

Thanks

I assumed that things were a little farther along and store units were immenent. Just trying to figure out how long I have to squirell away the cash.

It depends what you mean by "imminent". I'd definte the time period as "soon", but not "imminent".

Then again, my Noble looks like it's going to be delivered 6 months after I was advised delivery would happen, so maybe my definitions aren't to be relied upon

Hugo

I did notice last night in Best Buy that they already have a place on the shelf for the 20GB Karma