So I let this first sink in for a day or two
The way I interprete the letter from DP is easy enough. They had a contract with ARA to produce TBL for a certain amount of money within a certain period.
ARA failed to produce within the agreed timeframe and likely occurred more costs as they calculated. They are now trying apparently to do a breech of contract and ask for more money. However, 1) I don't think that the markup on the pre-order pricing allows this kind of extra costs suddenly and 2) this is just not how it works. Ara should eat the extra costs themselves. After all they calculated themselves and agreed to a certain price.
Yes, the PCB lie was, allthough I understand it, a bad move. But ARA is here suddenly asking more money. DP is not in the wrong in that point. DP wanted to avoid hysteria and did a white lie on the PCB. Yes, looking back wrong wrong idea. I suspect they thought ARA would come to their senses quickly as their is a solid contract in place and everything could go back to normal quickly.
So their is now the demand for extra money and DP is not willing to do this which I accept and understand. This is not only concerning the current 40 pins but also ofcourse the already delivered 50 pins. So we are talking of at least 90x1000 eur which is serious money. Pls do note the NSN states 1000+. I hear nobody on the +sign. For me this means it's more than eur 1000 and for those who think the markup on the preorder is more than eur 1000 keep on dreaming. Plus markup is something else as profit. Expenses like rent-flights etc are paid from this markup.
Than customer paying extra. Paying ARA is not the solution. They don't own the License and can't resell it. So if you pony up your 1000+ eur DP should still pay their part for ARA to release it. So it should go via DP. It is feasible? Don't know. Can only work if everybody agrees I guess.
For European residents, on top of your 1000 you have to add also 21% VAT I guess.
For what's it worth to you: I expect that DP is able to pay the original agreed pricing. So no financial issue if everything goes according to the original plan.
Is another CM feasible? Don't know. Perhaps for number 2 but who will step up and buy no 2 if TBL is not resolved? So it must be a deal in which in some way TBL buyers are helped to.
I know Jaap and Barry as passionate pinballers who started DP as a dream for them. If it would be only for the money they would have accepted much more preorders. Remember they stopped accepting preorders at a certain date. They wanted to ship first. Would moneyscammers do this? No.
We are in for some serious money but for them there is much more at stake. I think some or many of you don't care about this but their passion for the hobby will make sure that they will do everything to make this right. They love pinball after all !! Is this passion a Garantuee for succes ? Unfortunately not but you can bet they will really really try to make this right
My thoughts are with Barry and Jaap and Koen. I know them much better as many of you, consider them as friends, and for what's it worth to you : I know they really really care and are hurt to. They do their best and are human like you and me.
And yes, I have a horse in this race.