I built a widget for myself. It's a portable, remote controlled switchable power source for checking trailer wiring. Essentially, I hook my cigarette pack-sized jump pack to it for power and it has 4, 6 and 7 pin connectors on it. A key fob style remote triggers relays to put power to the leads for tail light, left turn/brake light, right turn/brake light and electric brakes. There are LED indicators on the box to confirm there's power to the connector(s). Works great, I can stand at the back of the trailer and watch while I push buttons to trigger the various functions. No need to hook the truck up, no running back and forth to switch functions.

I posted about it on another board and one guy really liked the idea and wanted me to shoot him a price to build him one. I did some math - all the components are available from Amazon - estimated how long it would take me to put it together, padded it a bit and told him I could build it for $115 plus actual shipping. I really thought he'd choke on that but he said "Great! Build it."

So I did, got a quote on flat rate USPS shipping and sent him an email with the total. That was Saturday morning.

Crickets...

Granted, he may just be busy or away on vacation or something else completely innocent and will eventually get in contact and pony up. But my spidey sense is tingling. The box will sit on my bench until I get a check in my wrinkled, arthritic old hands.

Or, maybe he changed his mind but is too much of a coward to communicate further. Even so, I wouldn’t call it a scam. A scam is someone getting something from you without reimbursing or without your approval/knowledge. Jmo.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Or, maybe he changed his mind but is too much of a coward to communicate further. Even so, I wouldn’t call it a scam. A scam is someone getting something from you without reimbursing or without your approval/knowledge. Jmo.

True. Being a nasty suspicious old man, I suspected he thought I'd build it and mail it without having a check in hand. As it happens, I was born at night, but it wasn't LAST night.

If he has had a case of pre-sale buyer's remorse, I'll gift it to my grandson who has a landscaping and general site work business and at least two trailers that I know of.

Is there a commercial version of your device? If not, there may be an opportunity. This suspicious old man wouldn't send anything that may have commercial value and can be reverse engineered then pirated.

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
Is there a commercial version of your device? If not, there may be an opportunity. This suspicious old man wouldn't send anything that may have commercial value and can be reverse engineered then pirated.

I believe there are. On the board I posted the initial build on, there were several references to them.

Since it is for a trailer, and the fact that it was an extremely busy camping weekend, he may have been camping and not replied yet. Wishful thinking possibly, but I hope they reply to your email.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
Since it is for a trailer, and the fact that it was an extremely busy camping weekend, he may have been camping and not replied yet. Wishful thinking possibly, but I hope they reply to your email.

Entirely possible. I'm not known for my patience...

Pretty stinkin' cool gadget, Mr PHPaul!

if the mystery person doesn't want it, I will take it. Sounds neat. and useful. jb

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
if the mystery person doesn't want it, I will take it. Sounds neat. and useful. jb

If I don't hear from him by the weekend, it's yours. $26 shipping via USPS flat rate box.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PHPaul,

^^^No joke, that's genius right there.

Another thought, if I’m reading your OP right. Your initial back-and-forth with him was on the board. The only email sent was when you tallied up the final price for him on Saturday. If true, then the possibility of it ending up in his Spam folder cannot be dismissed.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
Since it is for a trailer, and the fact that it was an extremely busy camping weekend, he may have been camping and not replied yet....

Keep yer peepers peeled for a small car with trailer full of pallets in yer neck of the woods...

You're braver than I am if you accept a check unless you hold shipping until it clears.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
You're braver than I am if you accept a check unless you hold shipping until it clears.

From any place but here, that's a given. Still no word BTW.

Heard from him today. "Check is in the mail"...

You don’t sound too thrilled. Lol.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
You don’t sound too thrilled. Lol.

I'll fake being thrilled when the check clears.

^^

I'll fake being happy when it clears. See my note to you responding about another one.