UwU operational update
The Nuts and Bolts
UwU production timings and shipment expectations
The UwUs are moving forward from what was originally an idealistic fantasy into becoming a real product on your desk! We've experienced challenges along the way, but nothing that we can't overcome. To follow the story from the beginning, check out the Wooting Blog posts:
Mass production delayed, DVT & What to Expect
This batch update is to communicate the most current expectations and dates for when we expect to achieve the remaining milestones, up to and including the delivery to your front door. Please note that while these estimates are becoming more precise the closer we get to delivery, they are still estimates and they can change.
Mass Production
In the update video, Calder stated that we expect mass production to complete by the end of August. This expectation is accurate, but it is ambitious. Therefore, internally we want to add a little bit of wiggle room - just to be safe. Specifically, we've listed the manufacturer ready date as the 8th of September.
Freight Shipments
Once all the UwUs have been manufactured, they need to get trucked to a freight forwarder's warehouse. The freight forwarder then brings the UwUs to the airport and the seaport for the respective air freight and sea freight shipments. This takes a couple days to complete.
From there, the transit via airplane or cargo ships can be completed. The plane ride itself doesn't take long, the sea freight does take quite a while. In both cases, we are reliant on catching the next cargo shipment. Sometimes we can sneak into the queue right before the cargo gets loaded and it only takes a day or two, but sometimes we just barely miss the boat and have to wait until the next flight or ship. These freight schedules change very frequently, including as late as a couple days before departure.
Our experience has told us to err on the side of caution, and give a full two weeks timeframe for air freight and at least four weeks for sea freight. We've listed the delivery date to the warehouse as the 22nd of September for air freight, and the 9th of October for sea freight.
Historically, sea freight shipments to the EU have been more likely to get delayed because the cargo ships stop at many ports in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast before arriving in Rotterdam. In the US, the boat goes straight to the Port of Los Angeles.
After arriving at port, whether airport or seaport, the UwUs are then trucked to our two fulfillment centers.
Last-Mile shipments
We've communicated to both our US and EU fulfillment centers that as soon as these freight shipments arrive, to receive the inventory as quickly as possible, so that the UwUs can be ready for individual shipments ASAP.
Optimistically, we think that the warehouses can have the UwUs ready to start shipments on the 25th of September for air freight and the 10th of October for sea freight.
From that point, it'll take a day or two to get all the orders packed and shipped, with each last-mile shipping method has a different expected shipping time. For more information on the estimated timeframes for each shipping method, check out these two help articles:
My Pre-Order is Ready to Ship... Now What?
Wooting Hub Estimates
All of the above dates are reflected in the delivery estimate shown on your Wooting Hub, including accounting for your specific last-mile shipping method.