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Yes, may this be the year we cash in on sunk costs;)
Still waiting, happy new year all!
Do you have a link to this BAST Technologies company?
Interesting, can we not refer to him as "CR"? We already have one two letter nickname involved and that's enough.
I still don't believe LT's claim that he is not affiliated with CTDT in any way and doesn't own any shares. He made an outrageous hire request to them but as of now there is zero incentive behind his "affiliation", whatever it is, and no one operates that passionately without incentives.
LT's blog is as incoherent as ever, but there are a lot of promises beneath the poor writing ability. Anyone have any info from other sources that confirms something is being done in CTDT?
A year ago this week I visited the office and talked with Alvin Snaper for about 40 minutes. I haven't contacted them since and had given up, glad to see some more signs of life lately.
What did you see, can you send a link?
I'm glad you're there and hopefully will get much more information (and action) out of the next few days.
Along with funding, I'd be curious to know if there is any talk of future staffing discussion going on.
I haven't given up on it. And I was encouraged by my visit. What I mean to say is that until volume significantly increases, it's a loss in the sense that it's illiquid.
For example, I considered selling some or all of my 500,000+ shares back in June when it was .10+, but the volume was still so low that If I put that many shares on the ask it would have likely dumped the PPS down and take several days for my order to fill.
So even if we hit .10 again today, we need the support in order to sell at a profit.
While it's always exciting when something finally happens to the PPS (like a friend in a coma twitching a finger), not even $2,000 in volume was traded yesterday.
Until and unless the volume starts sustaining over $100,000/day I won't consider this anything other than a loss. For reference, back in the "haydays" of May-Jul when PPS was $.10+ the volume still was hardly over $50,000/day on a good day.
What? We've been in a channel from .19 to .29 for how many weeks now? No reason to get excited when it jumps to .29 and even less when it settles back down.
"Let's not fight about who killed who, this is supposed to be a happy occasion" (see Monty Python if you dont get it)
You all can argue about who's lying and who isn't. If you made decisions based off of just one poster here that's you own problem. The inherit qualities of this forum is you can't verify anything anyone else says, including my visit, deal with it.
I think it can still be considered a disruptive technology if they can produce an end product at substantially less costs.
Yeah, lots of great questions you raised there. I realized when I left I didn't even begin to uncover the actual operations of the company; but I don't think it was my place, nor would Snaper give me everything I wanted to know.
My primary concern was to determine if it was 'real' in the sense that they at least were trying to turn a profit. I accomplished that for myself.
Raising $3 million in today's economy is not a walk in the park, everything I've heard is that banks are extremely hesitant to loan. Whoever out there that is claiming to have raised 3 million before might be in a place to offer financing themselves?
Good points. I think they went public b/c they had no choice; maybe it's easier to do when you release shares to a private party, but I'm not completely cognizant of how that could have happened in a way that CTDT didn't go 'public' at first by selling to an investor who then went public?
The Blog is LT's own thing; Snaper doesn't like it but has nothing to do with computers (he doesn't use them ever) so maybe he doesn't realize their power.
Regardless, I'd say 999,999 out of million people don't know about CTDT, so they're no that big.
Yeah, not disruptive like we probably all were thinking. But when Ford implemented the assembly line he didn't create anything new (his cars were average or even inferior to most), but he did so many, so cheaply, that he made it affordable to the masses.
Best case, is that this is similar.
First Hand Field Report - I just returned from visiting with Mr. Snaper. He said I was the first investor to ever show up. I have nothing exclusive to report, but after reading blog posts for a year, this might be good summary and clarification. At the very least, it's good to know the office is real; even though I saw no product or inventory. Note: roughly half of my statements below are directly from Mr.Snaper, the rest are my personal conclusions from what he said and what I know of business.
Value Proposition – They do not have the disruptive technology I had thought. Their end product is no different than the rest of the market. CTDT's goal is to compete against other industrial diamond producers like GE and Genesis. Their advantage lies directly in their ability to produce diamonds faster and cheaper due to their technological advantages, but it’s not some sort of ‘super’ diamond.
Channels - No concern with finding customers once operational. Ind. diamonds are in short supply and they will be able to undercut the competition with lower prices, if necessary
Stage of Development - They are still in the development stage. He hinted at something that may already be complete but couldn’t disclose it. He has been using leased equipment in Rhode Island to do his tests and research, flying back in forth quite often the past, but has not been back in three months. Again, he did allude that he may resume visits or some further development might come out in the next year but was not at all specific.
The number one thing keeping them from growing and taking off is
financing:
Financial situation – They still need to raise the $3 million. No deal has been made. It is very unlikely he will pursue further equity financing through dilution, but he was not happy about the idea of taking on more debt either. Obviously you have to do one or the other, but for now they are staying afloat through small bits of financing here and there, from small parties. (I assume this is himself and family/friends). I tried to find out what they were doing to actively seek financing but got no specifics. Wayne Prentice and LT are both still involved, but I couldn’t find out what they were doing.
Assets – I asked why they can’t start limited production with the equipment they have to at least get some revenue and grow slowly w/o the financing. His answer was they don’t own any equipment and couldn’t afford to use the leased equipment in that capacity. CTDT’s balance sheet is a patent and a warehouse in Vegas. Getting the equipment (including a sanitized, clean space to produce in) is a major barrier to entry that requires the serious financing.
Communication to share holders – the IPO was to a private, Canadian firm for 50 cents/share. All of the shares we currently own came off the secondary market from them. This company is trying to stay alive and grow, it’s no too their advantage (and therefore, ours), I would argue, to devote resources communicating with us or hyping their company. That will come at a later stage.
Snaper stressed the desire to remain under the radar for now; he even took off the sign at his office for “security” purposes. He said there are people who would like to have his technology. And he is competing against larger entities that would like to see him go away (e.g. natural diamond industry).
LT – LT was brought by the Canadian company that originally purchased the shares. He’s still involved as a consultant. He said he was a SEAL for 22 years. That struck me as odd and a bit of a red flag. I’m in the Navy and know SEALs and their general personality. His style of writing on his blogs (and artwork) does not seem to match up with that. Maybe I’m wrong, but I was surprised by that claim.
Conclusion – Mr. Snaper was very receptive to my request to visit, and welcomed me right in. I have absolute confidence this isn’t a scam. There is nothing to gain at this stage even if it were. This is a start up with great potential. I’m concerned the resources and manpower isn’t there at this point, and I’m no more aware of what’s being done behind the scenes than before I visited. At the current PPS, I see unlimited upside and little downside risk. I’m resolved to continue to hold my 650,000 shares.
I visited in person with Mr. Snaper today at his office in Las Vegas.
I spent 45 mins writing a report and my connection tripped and I lost it. I can't rewrite it as well right now and will provide a long report on my findings and thoughts later this weekend.
Nothing revolutionary to report, more solid consolidation of our 'rumors' online; but bottom line is I'm reserved but optimistic of the potential of this company.
Sorry for the spam posts. Meant to send just one.
I spoke to Tina at the front desk today. Al was gone for the day but when I asked if I could arrange an appointment next Friday she seemed receptive. She said there were visitors arriving on Wednesday and Thursday and that LT would be in next week as well.
I will arrive onsite in Vegas next Friday and tell you what I see in person.
I'm still holding on, and waiting.
I've about had it though and am seriously considering a trip to Vegas to see this office of theirs.
Easy now everyone! We've all been burned by goal dates in the past that were from LT or other sources. After which, everyone gets upset at everyone else and "some" people flip back and forth like it's a roulette table.
Now we're making out own target dates (30-40 days)? Just don't freak out and get upset if nothing happens according to your prospective timelines.
I'm a little concerned by two or three grammar errors in the report. Attention to detail matters.
Hotrod,
I too haven't ponied up for PM privileges. Please add me to the email list; vanomad@gmail.com
Maybe you're just joking? CTDT doesn't raise any capital from trades after intial offerings or by selling authorized shares, thus creating more outstanding shares.
I've revealed my ignorance...very useful.
It still seems to have too little return on risk, only ~$10,000 in volume today and that was bigger than average.
I'm extremely skeptical of any shorting at this level. It bounced from .02 to .06, so who would short at .04?
Shorting pennies is an even smaller niche than penny trading. I've been in this for two years but have no clue what brokers or servers people have to use to short these. I know my Scottrade sure won't let me.
In the absence of reliable shorting data I think discussion of shorts is like talking about the boogey man, it's unproven and unlikely.
600,000. Finally hit Long Term capital gains status in this July, now I just need to realize them...
Thanks Switch and Jay.
I spoke with Mr. Snaper. I guess I didn't learn anything new, but it's good to actually hear it from the source.
He did say the office in Las Vegas was open for visitors. It's a 30K sq foot R&D lab. But the RI lab was not open.
He also said that LT is still the PR guy, 778.292.1219. Has anyone talked to him, is he as difficult to talk to as his blogs would lead me to believe?
As the 10K states, only two official employees, everyone else are consultants.
Being on the west coast I seriously think a Vegas trip would be worthwhile. Has anyone visited the office?
Does anyone have a number I could call to contact someone at the company? It looks like the website is down right now and after watching this for a year I'm ready to hear from someone myself.
Q, if you'd be so kind, can you answer the question? Why are you a dreamer now when yesterday it was all over?
I guess it's too much to hope anyone can provide anything proven or useful on this forum.
Now you're long again Q? This is absurd. You were doom and gloom yesterday and now for no reason you're confident in $1? I just don't understand.
It's amazing to look back over the last two months and see how this rose from .03 to .12 with now news, just IHUB traffic. And then with nothing more than more of the same it fell back to its old support. I thought I knew a bit about penny's but there's also something new...
I own 600K that I haven't reported yet (I did two weeks ago if you counting back that far).
Somethings not right if we own all the supposed float. If that's true this will be very hard to get the volume going on this; especially if we're all holding out for .40 to $1.
If this company can make "REAL" diamonds and is so valuable then why care about potentially losing some "momo" from one seller?
We need some liquidity in here to gain new interest.
And why worry what everyone says about their buys and sells anyways?
Nothing's happening and now this board is reminding me of a 4th grade playground, "You're dumb, no you're dumb, no you're dumb!"
I don't think it is a PD as well. That doesn't explain the hype that took this from sub .10 to .30+ last July (after debuting at 1.90).
But I won't believe a 10-Q or that a company exist until I see it in an open source.
I'm torn how to view and play this. From my perspective there are two stories being told:
-Technicals: All those tech indicators you shared are what I consider indicative of a short term play on market fundamentals. It's how people play P&D's that aren't real companies.
-Fundamentals: Some people would have us believe this to diamonds what the mythical alchemy is to gold. The psuedo-alchemy of diamond creation was first created 50 years ago, so at worst, this is a re-packaging of that fact. At best, this brand offers "diamonds indistinguishable from the real things".
Does anyone understand how the measurable differences b/t diamonds and cubic zirconia (e.g. diamonds are the world's most efficient conductors while CZ is an insulator) could be overcome outside of "it's patented"?
If this company ever does a PR, real or false, it could tip the balance. I just wonder if anyone has any nuggets of wisdom out there in addition to their cheer leading?
(From my experience when I talk frankly about the sham that is pennies most ignore it, so GOOOOOOO CTDT!!!)
That's no way to mark the 10,000th post. I remember the the 10's way back in July.
Is anybody getting any intel or feedback outside this forum and the CTDT website (which is zero)?
Don't tell the newcomer's about LT, we want them to think this is a respectable company! ;)
Kudos to the moderators, especially Q, for rallying this up. I've been skeptical and am shocked to see so much attention over the last few days.
But (of course), we still haven't heard a thing from the company going on eight months. Is there any evidence besides LT to indicate a release next week?
I can't find anything else on the web about CTDT (recently) outside this forum, anyone got anything they want to share?
It's only moving up b/c you're posting 15+ times a day. This is still nothing until we actually hear from the company, not an amateur blogger with pictures of lions.
I'm long CTDT since AUG12.
My thoughts? That I've lost my gamble and should take out what I have left, but am too proud and hold the same fool's hope that a campaign will actually materialize.