A few comments on Fabric color:
WARNIG _ LONG BORING POST:
OEM's view color as very subjective. For this reason, Shade Ranges are almost always established. Shifts in production are recognized, understood and accepted. However, the shift must gradual. Because of this, the matching/evaluation process is always done with a McBeth light and the naked eye. However, most Suppliers and OEM's will utilize a Color PhotoSpectrometer to understand which direction a color may be off. There are two primary measurements used, Delta E and Delta E cmc. A Delta E of less than 1.0 is usually acceptable to most OEM's for further evaluation. Anything outside that range is unacceptable.
I take exception to Falcons comment that Blue is the hardest color to replicate. Reds are by far the most difficult, followed by tan/beige/sand colors. It would be intersesting to know what fibers (yarn) are used. Nylon will have very robust colorfastness - it is typically piece dyed in pre-metalized acid dyes. As SVT's are at the most 5 years old, only a convertible SVT parked in Arizona should have significant fade issues. If the yarn is Polyester, then the dispersed dystuffs are more challenging to attain colorfastness. Either way, I assume the carpet is piece dyed in a beam or a jet. If it was the same roll, and more importantly, the same Dye Lot, the the carpet you recently recieved should be VERY close to the original Bill Jenkins group buy. Perhaps two CEGer's who live near each other could compare the 2 different group buys. This would tell a lot.
I don't believe for one minute that the mats would be anywhere close to the official Ford Master. Even through my uncalibrated monitor, the pictures above would suggest a Delta E from the Master greater than 2.0. The Quote from Falcon, "we would be unable to guarantee an exact floor mat color match to any particular vehicles carpet.
", is misleading. Falcon should not match a vehicle, they should match the Ford master. That would put their color in the middle of any production shade range variance.
Hypothetical scenario:
If the CEG buyers were a tier 1 company supplying Ford Motor Company, I would expect a rejection at the plant level, or better yet internal quality to reject back to the tier 2 (Falcon). If Tier 1 and Tier 2 can't agree, the a trip to Dearborn would be arranged for Ford Design Craftsmanship or Color Mastering to decide. My experience tells me that Falcon would be rejected.
I'm not posting to rain on anyones parade - awesome job on pulling a GB together. But I don't think you got what you paid for.
Mark