Where and how do I lock-in my purchase? It wasn't really explained in the email. At least I have never seen the option to opt-in for it.
Is this only for new pre-orders, legacy pre-orders, or is it all completed pre-orders?
While I understood that this tech would take a while to come into existence, I was in it for the long haul. Despite that, I still greatly appreciate the offer of the prescription sunglasses with the tech. It even solved an internal debate of mine; before I get into my car and start the engine, do I willingly choose to sacrifice my eyes to the ferocious sun gods... or do I give up the hands-free access to pertinent data during the drive ( for anyone asking why I don't pair my phone to my vehicle, my vehicle is pre-BT integration...it has a CD changer for gods sake..CD?!?!)?
To my knowledge, Laforge won't be able to or doesn't plan to integrate something like Drivewear lenses (which supposedly are capable of sensing and reacting to varying light conditions both outside and behind the windshield of a car and darken/lighten accordingly) But that then brings up the question about how easy the application will be able to switch and pair with multiple units. Was potentially having more than one pair of Shima Laforge eyewear considered in the socialflo experiment?
Lastly, it may have been mentioned before, but I couldn't find it in the search feature, will there be a way to update our prescription for the lenses on our Alpha?
I have not yet received them.
@ Earl Driscoll
Just a quick question, have you received your glasses yet? It has been a few months now and I believe whatever delay should be resolved by now. If not, it might seem that we might not get the glasses again this year especially the Rev 3.
Hey John, sorry for the delayed response. The WiFi signal isn’t that great down here in my parents basement. You should take a look at the “terms and conditions” section on laforge’s website.
maverick, on a scale from 1 to 10 on how gullible you are with 1 being gullible and 10 being extremely ignorant. GO... I bet you are all giddy just because you've received a survey form.
Listen here ok? Like I said previously, I've done my research thoroughly before commenting and I've even emphasized that it is solely "my opinion", If you've seen crowdfunding backers @ kickstarter, the backers would flip after more than 3 delays despite constant updates and photos on progress being made while this project has been delayed for 4 years with inconsistent updates, constant defaulting on any promise made and little information on the progress being made. That is good enough to doubt the project but you don't see me going around calling Laforge a scam, just voicing out my view as a backer on the company's weak PR and transparency. If you have basic knowledge on finance or even money management, you would know that you are already on a losing end even if they eventually deliver the product but I guess you are just a teen living off your parents money with zero knowledge on financial planing or investment.
Credit given where credit is due, sending out survey form does not prove anything. Shipping out dummy glasses aren't proving anything either. At least show us video on the construction of the glasses and give us a live demo on the product through video. If delay is unavoidable, at least progress can be seen.
John, on a scale from 1 to 10, how hard would you say you are trying not to be pessimistic? 1 being not trying at all and 10 being trying your hardest. Go...
Don't be overjoyed just because you receive a survey form. This was supposed to be done October last year. Even if you've received the dummy glasses, you are still having a long way more before getting the actual glasses. Not trying to be pessimistic but unless the public starts receiving the tech glasses then only I would decide to purchase the beta version, for now a refund is my best choice for this investment. You are actually losing more money as a pre-order backer especially those who backed for more than a year than just purchasing the beta version off the bat.
@cjquito
I think the main point of these extra glasses are 1) to test the prism embedded in the glass in regard to the visual effect for the viewer, and 2) to offer a respite for people with prescription, who might have been holding out getting a new pair. So obviously, simply giving you a free set of shades isn´t what they´re aiming at, even though it´s legitimate of you to go for it; you´re just limited in your choice of frames...
Personally, I was hoping for a pair with the actual frame of my Shima glasses of choice, even if they were just a dummy pair, so I could test THEIR fit...!
Well, they finally started the lock-in program. I already filled out my form, but there are 2 things I realized after submitting it and choosing the frames:
1) I wanted these to be shades, but the frame style I chose did not have shades as the lens type in the picture. Only two frames, with designs that was not my 1st or 2nd choice, had shades in the image. It was my understanding that these pre-order lock ins were to be shades and not glasses. If I was incorrect, how can I change my frame choices so that I can get shades?
2) It said to submit my prescription to alpha@laforgeoptical.com, but does it need to be a scan, or can I just type it out? I'm assuming it matches to my email account submitted in the survey as well.
I'm not sure if it's just me but I'm feeling something is not right with this project. I've backed on quite a few tech project including vue and they too have delayed but they don't give me the doubtfulness that I am beginning to have with Laforge. Maybe it is because they will always update their backers on time, every month and exactly every first day of the month on what they are doing. On top of that, they will show us the production process, photos of the raw materials ordered, production process and even testing them on camera. These gave me a sense of security while what we have with Laforge is based on pure faith and trust on the statement they put out and non of their statement was fulfilled so far. There are no reasons given to why the project was delayed and there aren't even photos of what they are doing or to show if the production started. The reason given for not closing the pre-order doesn't even sound right. "This is not a solicitation of “please come in and order now”, but it is more of an FYI.", felt like the company was force to come out with something just to keep the pre-order going.
@Earl
Great to hear from one of the first 30! Or not so great, it turns out... I guess this message is what all have been dreading, many, like John above, have been predicting, and many like myself have been hoping wouldn´t come about.
I believe this is the proper time for Corey to turn up and lay the cards on the table, because even by the most apologetic interpretation of the latest updates, any reasonable deadline has now been slipped...
I am one of the "30," number 10 in fact. I have been patiently waiting, waiting, and waiting. I did receive an email to confirm my shipping address several weeks ago and I am still waiting to get the alpha.
@Adam
Well if you want to put it that way, I'm fine with it. You may be right (even though it doesn't sound logical), maybe what you've said is what Laforge is planning to do but we shall see. 3 more months is not a long wait so we will know who is right by then. By February, if Rev 3 is completed, we all win and I am fine with you saying "I told you so" to my face. If Rev 3 is not release but still moving slow on Rev 1 and 2, it means I am right. If by February, non of us got the glasses including the legacy backers, I guess we are all the losers.
Hi, joining the discussion as I see the thread.
I know that waiting for a product, especially if it's innovative, can be painful and you can start doubting about whether or not you'll be able to get it in hand. But remember that Shima are new products and Laforge is a young company.
Having worked in a startup myself and having seen some new hardware products being released for the first time, I know it's definitely not immediate.
Launching a product takes time and worse than a product taking few more months to be polished is an unfinished product. I'm sure they could have rushed the production of lenses and frames and you could have received an 'alpha' prototype few months ago but you would have been disappointed.
If early adopters are disappointed or deceived, the company dies. End.
Laforge takes its job seriously and want to give to the customers the best experience. As Adam said, those glasses, especially the Alphas, are meant to be a test product. If you need glasses, don't wait from the innovative product to fulfill your need.
I remember people trying to quicken the sending process of the company I used to work in, in order to put the lock on their door because they didn't want to buy a 'standard' one... I mean, don't wait for a new tech product to be a full replacement for your necessary product. That's not how it's supposed to work.
Anyway, we'll get feedback from those glasses soon enough from the first pre-orders.
"Do you think it is reasonable for the company to give away prescription glasses just for a few months interval to delivering the Alpha?"
Those are not to meant to assuage the wait for the Alphas, but rather the Betas. The Alphas are experimental glasses, not meant for full time usage in any situation. The Betas should have been here this summer, so it's not unreasonable to imagine a temporary substitute to alleviate a 7-9 month wait. Not to mention that they'll serve to test the fit of the Shima form factor on a larger audience...
@Adam
You are indeed very optimistic with the estimated delivery date. I can guarantee that the rev 3 will not be out before June and with a high possibility that it may not even be out by 2018 based on how things are going. The lock-in glasses program has not even started and you expect to receive your alpha in a few months time, doesn't sound logical unless Laforge decides to scrape the lock-in program now and go straight to completing the Alpha program. Do you think it is reasonable for the company to give away prescription glasses just for a few months interval to delivering the Alpha? Considering that the lock-in program supposedly to start at October did not happen, by the time the company decides to begin the lock-in program, factoring in gathering the prescriptions, productions and delivery, it would take at least 1 month to complete (severely optimistic estimation) and the clock has not even start ticking. Now it is 1 more week to December (with Christmas and the holidays around the corner, I don't think much will be done during this month) and based on Laforge pace, my "most positive" estimates that the backers would get the lock-in glasses would be around March or April.
@John
If the first Alphas have been shipped by now, I still expect Rev 3 to show up in February, and the Betas to ship early summer. If the first Alphas have yet to ship, shift the other estimates to match... I'd say the Betas would have to ship by early autumn at the latest, in order for Laforge to maintain credibility.
I preordered last october, as far as I can remember...
@Adam
Well then, what is your expectation? Since you say you are not in a hurry, when do you see yourself getting them and at what point of time do you think it is too long of a wait. What if you could only receive them at the year 2019?
BTW, when did you first pre-order the glasses?
@John
Secretly pessimistic and wanting to explode? Not really, no...
Would I've liked to have received my Shimas this summer as initially predicted? Sure! But I'm not so much in a hurry that I'm winding myself up about it. Will I be reassured when the first Alpha testers report on their experiences? You bet! But I believe that they'll be shipped out shortly, if not already, and that we'll get to the Rev 3s in due time.
Like I said, if I didn't have faith in the product and the company, I'd be claiming a refund right this second.
@Adam
I did not even mention about them not "showing up", just that base on the circumstances given, I reasonably deduced that it would take longer than expected. Given that nothing is budging so far, including the first shipment and lock-in offer, do you honestly think somehow your Rev 3 would be delivered by early next year? I believe you are secretly pessimistic about this and wanting to explode real bad but still hoping towards the better. Just like me, am I right to say that?
@John No need to get your panties in a bunch... I'm reservedly optimistic, and just commenting on a reasonable query regarding the glasses. If I didn't have faith they'd show up, I'd be claiming my refund right away.
Regarding feedback, we can only hope that the first 30 are even members in this forum, let alone active members; out of maybe a thousand backers, we're 150 on this site, so there's no guarantee we'll see feedback here initially...