Being Out There was released just over a year ago.  By any stretch of the imagination, it is not a Hollywood-budget production – no cruising video will ever have a budget like that since the market is relatively small.  In my case, I spent just over a year’s worth of cruising kitty (and a year of time) to produce the video.  I haven’t quite reached the point of making it back yet.

But I didn’t make the video to get rich – in fact, my hope was simply to break even.  When we first began living aboard, I would sit on the dock and wonder what it was like out there.  I heard other people talking about visiting George Town or the Dominican Republic but I just couldn’t imagine it for myself.  I heard people talking about being at sea but I just couldn’t imagine it for myself.  I created Being Out There to help with that curiosity – to show a little bit of what life is like aboard, at sea and at anchor and to provide some useful information from others who have been out there.

I’m happy with how things have gone.  I’ve heard from dozens of customers – many of whom I’ve stayed in touch with over the past year.  That’s what it’s all about.

But given that we didn’t have a Hollywood budget, we knew early on there would likely be a few people who may be disappointed with the video.  From day one we decided that we would offer a full money-back refund to anyone who asks – with no questions asked.  It doesn’t matter where you bought it – if you don’t like it, we’ll take it back.  Michelle and I are members of the SSCA and we truly believe in the “leave a clean wake” philosophy.  For us, that counts whether we are cruising or selling our video.

There are a number of vendors selling Being Out There – one in particular allows customers to leave feedback. In the beginning, a few people left feedback then things ultimately settled down.  Over the past year, that vendor has sold a few hundred copies of the video.

But then a few months ago, a similar video went up for sale on that site.  Suddenly, we began to receive lots of feedback – all of it horribly negative.  Oddly, the same people leaving us feedback were leaving the other video absolutely glowing feedback.

Upon reading some of the angry words, I was taken aback.  I immediately emailed the vendor to ask if they would contact the upset customers and offer them a full refund directly from me.  The cruising community is small and the last thing I would ever want is for someone to feel as though they had been taken when buying Being Out There.  Chances are good that one day, I would run into those fellow cruisers somewhere – and I would rather sit in the cockpit with them over a sundowner than have them think I was a crook.

But it turned out, however, the reviews weren’t really left by customers at all.  They included few, if any, details about the video – there was nothing to indicate they even saw it.  The vendor removed most of them but damage had been done.  There is no way I can fight that sort of thing.  My sense of ethics won’t allow me to participate in that game.  I guess, overall, that will make me a failure in this business.  But so be it – I’d rather be able to sleep at night.

What’s my point, you may ask.  Well, the point is that I am a cruiser who made a video in the hopes that it will help and/or entertain my fellow cruisers.  I’m not trying to get rich off it and I certainly don’t want to rip anyone off.  If anyone buys the video and doesn’t like it, please get in touch – I sincerely want to make sure you get your money back.

Because I do hope that one day we’ll be able to meet up in an anchorage somewhere – and I will look forward to the sundowners with you.

Click here to email me directly.  I respond to each and every email that doesn’t include a solicitation for a fake watch, a questionable investment scheme or male enhancement product.  In other words, I really do hope to hear from you.

DO YOU NEED ANYTHING OUT THERE?

Michelle and I are just now talking about making a brief trip to George Town to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in early April. If you plan to be there and would like to get in touch, please shoot me an email. Also, hang on to my address - if it turns out you need anything brought from the U.S. (assuming we can fit it into our luggage), just let us know and we'll do what we can to help out.

I wish you all a wonderful and prosperous New Year! Hopefully we'll see you out there.