StyM
12-06-2016, 11:48 AM
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/virtuix-cancels-international-omni-orders,33146.html
Virtuix hit an unfortunate roadblock with international shipments of its highly-anticipated virtual reality treadmill, Omni, which forced the company to discontinue its plans to sell the Omni outside of the U.S.
Virtuix introduced the Omni virtual reality (read: omnidirectional) treadmill on Kickstarter in 2013. At the time, Virtuix?s founder, Jan Goetgeluk needed $150,000 to develop his wooden Omni into a viable consumer product. The Kickstarter campaign offered Omni treadmills for as little $299 for a DIY setup, which provided the base and shoes but no support system, and full kits for as little as $349. The idea of the Omni caught the attention of the tech world, and by the end of the campaign, 3,249 backers pledged $1.1 million dollars.
In the three years following the campaign, Virtuix refined the design of the Omni for safety and reliability, which added considerable complexity to the system. The Omni treadmill consists of more than 200 custom parts, which are costly to produce. Goetgeluk said that final production cost turned out to be more than three times his original estimate.
Geotgeluk?s shipping estimates were equally off base. The FAQ on the Kickstarter page indicated that domestic shipments within the United States would be in the range of $60-90. International shipments were to range between $100-$150 for Canada, anywhere from $100-350 for Europe, and up to $600 for South Africa and the Middle East. Those prices proved to be untenable and became the straw that broke the camel?s back.
Virtuix hit an unfortunate roadblock with international shipments of its highly-anticipated virtual reality treadmill, Omni, which forced the company to discontinue its plans to sell the Omni outside of the U.S.
Virtuix introduced the Omni virtual reality (read: omnidirectional) treadmill on Kickstarter in 2013. At the time, Virtuix?s founder, Jan Goetgeluk needed $150,000 to develop his wooden Omni into a viable consumer product. The Kickstarter campaign offered Omni treadmills for as little $299 for a DIY setup, which provided the base and shoes but no support system, and full kits for as little as $349. The idea of the Omni caught the attention of the tech world, and by the end of the campaign, 3,249 backers pledged $1.1 million dollars.
In the three years following the campaign, Virtuix refined the design of the Omni for safety and reliability, which added considerable complexity to the system. The Omni treadmill consists of more than 200 custom parts, which are costly to produce. Goetgeluk said that final production cost turned out to be more than three times his original estimate.
Geotgeluk?s shipping estimates were equally off base. The FAQ on the Kickstarter page indicated that domestic shipments within the United States would be in the range of $60-90. International shipments were to range between $100-$150 for Canada, anywhere from $100-350 for Europe, and up to $600 for South Africa and the Middle East. Those prices proved to be untenable and became the straw that broke the camel?s back.