Re: AUDI keychains--FINAL OPEN POSTING

[Achille Riviello <acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu>]

At 02:51 PM 11/13/96 -0500, David Robbins wrote:
>
>At 08:57 PM 11/5/96 -0500, Achille Riviello wrote:
>>
>>So as not to waste bandwidth, I'll be brief.  This is the final open posting
>>concerning the Audi 4-rings keychains.  They are ready.  If anyone who is
>>not on the list would like information about them, please e-mail me.  Thanks.
>
>Please e-mail me any relevant info.
>
>TIA,
>
>-DMR.


David,

I know this is long, but here are all the previous updates.  They should
answer all your questions.

*****************
A while back, a lot of people were clamouring about not being able to find
the Audi symbol key ring like is pictured on page 34 of the "Audi for 1996"
brochure.  Briefly, the key chain is just 4 interlocking rings on a chain.
Really cool looking.  

I have a friend who is a custom jeweller and asked him if he could make the
key chain out of sterling silver and what the price would be.  He said he
could probably make and sell them for about $30 each (give or take a couple
of $$), if he produced them in some sort of quantity.  A single one would
run about $150 because he has to cut the dies for the casting, etc., etc.
He does it all by hand and does nice work.  He did my custom engagement ring
for my fiancee.  The symbols and chain would be sterling while the actual
key holder would probably be nickel plated because of the softness of silver.

Anyone interested in getting one of these sterling silver key chains at the
mentioned price?  If I get enough responses, I will tell him to go ahead and
make up a batch.  I'll post this a couple of times over the next couple of
days to make sure everyone gets a shot at it.

Thanks in advance, and let me know what you think.
****************
Updating the Audi 4 rings keychain story:

Seems a whole lot of interest has been generated here!  Thus far, I have
responses asking to reserve over 30 of these.  That is really good, because
it seems I misunderstood my friend (the jeweler) when I thought he said he
needed to make at least 15 to make it economical.  He actually said 50.
OOPS!  That's OK, because interest is so strong I think I'll give him the
go-ahead to start making a batch of 50.  I expect he can turn them out in
the next couple of weeks.

He will be using metal mold die-casing, which is much better than rubber
mold casting.  The 4 ring design will be cut using a pentagraph.  The rings
will be nice and heavy, and the ring structure will be approximately 2
inches long and 5/8 to 3/4 inches in width.  If you have the 1996 Audi
brochure, look on page 34 (at the very top), and you will see our model for
the keychain.  The proportions with respect to the key will be the same.
The rings and the small chain will be of sterling silver, while the actual
key holder will be nickel plated steel for strength.  Overall, I think it
will be really nice!

Time to discuss the pricing, shipping and payment.  The price will be, as we
estimated, $30 each plus shipping.  Shipping within the continental US will
be by UPS insured ground service and will run a flat $6.50, no matter how
many of the keychains you want.  This just makes things easier for all of
us.  Some of you may lose $0.50 in the shipping, some of you may gain $0.50.
The shipping price includes the approximated standard UPS 1.0 pound (and
under) shipping cost  with insurance ($5.00), the box I have to buy to put
the key chain(s) in ($0.50), and the $1.00 fee that my UPS Authorized
Shipping Outlet charges me above the UPS fee for shipping.  UPS was so kind
as to close their office here in my town about 1.5 years ago and now I am
stuck with having to use Authorized Shipping Outlets (sarcasm....).

Though I know it may inconvenience many of you, we do not have the ability
to accept credit cards.  Thus, payment must be made by check, cashier's
check or money order.  As I have assumed responsibility for distribution and
shipping, the checks would be made out and sent to me.  The keychain(s) will
be sent out the day the check is received.  If any of you would like, I will
be more than happy to supply numerous (satisfied) references from another
news-group where I routinely conduct a lot of business.  (Anyone who can
guess the name of the newsgroup from my signature gets a cookie!).  Those of
you wishing to do COD orders, add $4.75 to the total (the standard UPS COD
charge).  In this case, I will e-mail you with the final total and tracking
number when I send the package out.
 
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to voice them.
I will be sending this message to the mailing list as well to all those who
have given me responses, so please pardon the repeats.  Thanks again.  Below
is the original posting (snipped...).
*********************
Here is the latest short update on the Audi 4-rings keychain project.  I
visited with my jeweler friend yesterday, and we worked up the design and
construction of the keychain.  The 4-ring design will be tapered in
cross-section, like the the rings on the grill of the Audis, rather than
being round in cross-section. (If this confuses you, look at your emblem and
you will see that the circles are round, but the x-section of the circle is
not.)  I have addressed the problem one person brought up about the
possibility of the keychain hitting on the steering column.  At least for my
A4Q and my 83 4Ks, there is no problem.  I will not vouch for any other
models, but I think it will be OK.  The dies should be cut by Friday or, at
the latest, Monday.  Then we move to the casting phase, the cleaning phase,
and finally the assembly phase.  3 weeks from now is the estimate on the
finish time.

Orders are nearing 50 now, and the price is set at the $30.00 each plus the
shipping and packing costs.

Please e-mail me with any questions/comments.  Thanks.
********************
Time for the periodic update on the Audi 4-rings keychain saga.  The dies
for the ring pattern have been cut and the injection molding begins
tomorrow.  In this process, polyethylene (PE) is injection-molded into the
die design.  The PE form is then removed from the die.  Several PE forms are
affixed to a base, and a sort of casting plaster is pasted around the forms
and base--sort of like a big cement cylinder.  After this plaster-stuff
dries (forgot the name of the stuff), the cylinder is baked in an oven for a
long while to melt/burn out the PE.  Finally, when all that is completed,
molten silver is vacuum-introduced into the void left by the burned-away PE.
Inspection and cleaning follow--then assembly.

Just thought some of you might like to know something about how your
keychains (and most custom jewelry pieces) are made.  I anticipate about
another 2 weeks to the finished product.  There has been a great deal of
interest and we have right at 50 orders.  Again, the price is $30 plus $6.50
shipping/handling, as previously explained in detail.  Do not get out your
checkbook yet.  I want to have the keychains in hand before payments begin
to arrive because I want to be able to send out your keychains immediately
when I get the payments rather than having to sit on your $$$.

Again, if you have any questions, please don't hesistate to e-mail me.  I'll
be happy to try to help.

Thanks in advance.
************************
The long-awaited AUDI keychains are finished and ready to go out.  After a
small survey of those who have expressed interest in them, we have opted to
go with the traditional spring-type key holder.  Just for grins, we will be
sending a large one and a small one with each keychain so you can use
whichever one you want, depending on how many keys you like to carry.

As detailed earlier, the keychains are $30 each, plus $6.50 shipping, no
matter how many you order.  For the several people outside the US who have
expressed interest in the keychains, the shipping charges will probably be
slightly higher.  E-mail me and I'll find out what the cost will be.  Those
of you who want to pay by COD, add $4.75 and I'll send the keychain(s) right
out.  For those of you who wish to prepay, the address to send the
check/money order to is:

Achille Riviello
1129 Woods Avenue
Norman, OK  73069

Please e-mail me to confirm your order and the number of keychains you want.
If any of you would like references of those with whom I have done such "net
business" in the past, I will be happy to supply as many as you like (up to
about 150).  If you have any further questions, please contact me via e-mail
or telephone.  Thanks again.
******************
******************

Let me know if you would like to order one or more.  Thanks for your inquiry.

cheers,

Achille Riviello
acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
tel: US(405) 329-1935