Here’s a nickel’s worth of free advice: tap the brakes, slow to a safe speed, and get off the road. You may have a lot of what you need to eventually source here, but not today. I’ll explain. (Disclaimer: I’m a nobody. But then so is everyone else here. We may have different backgrounds and life stories, but we all generally want the same thing, which means you have to listen to us if you want to succeed.)
Your situation is tough because nobody wants to buy untested gear. So you need to rope in a few guys early. These are the ones who buy for the good of the forum, not the noobs who simply don’t know any better. These guys buy and then at their own expense test your stuff. Store credit means nothing a buyer right now because it’s like getting store credit at JC Penny. What good will it be if you close down shop in a month? So in order for someone to take that noble first plunge they’ve got to at least trust you a little bit. That has to be earned. Maybe you’re telling the absolute truth about the so-called empty vials. Maybe not. But right now the mere fact that such a discussion is taking place means there isn’t a ton of trust. You can’t get those first few key orders until people have some degree of confidence that the testing they’re going to pay for is worth it to the forum and the members. And furthermore, you can’t send out free vials, so it’s not like you can get immediate test data back. Your only choice is that someone takes a chance on you. That means a few weeks of waiting for tests to come back from Jano or whomever they use. Once a good result comes in maybe a few more orders trickle in. Then more tests get sent out. Before you know it you’re a source who’s got some good data points and has some happy customers. That whole process could take you months. It’s a long journey. So what’s the harm in stepping back and getting more organized right now? Yes, I know you said you won’t take orders until you have more tests posted. That’s admirable and it’s the right thing to do. But it’s only step one. Be prepared for a long slog through the next two months. And best of luck with the newborn. I’ve been there and it can be absolutely impossible to function like a normal human being during those first four months or so.