06/21/2024
**Open Letter: Commitment to Transparency and Integrity** 🇺🇸 ⚖️
Over the past four years, we've been blessed with a customer base that has guided us with feedback, ideas and genuine conversations that make our passion project most enjoyable.
Folks have sent us CGMs and Pump samples, which enabled us to develop new device protection. Naturally, we took great care of them, as one should when facilitating advancements for others. But, where there is goodness, there are challenges. Over the past 4 years, we have silently observed another vendor consistently casting doubt on the legitimacy of our business and goodwill to gain attention and insert themselves into discussions about our business statistics. Hyperfocused, their goal of bolstering their own sales through fabricated skepticism in other retailers. Despite our primary focus of growing forward, a recent post by them compels us to address this directly.
We recently posted about a shipment tally and were eager to share details of how we process volume, added steps we take during shipping while including some helpful tips. The goal of this post was to show our attention to detail on a customers behalf as we are often asked this question and shipping is mostly an afterthought not discussed often. To safeguard buyer information, I used an approved company static image which contained intentionally blurred (by me) names on labels for several reasons. Additionally, we included this "company stock" image for added protection with illustration, a common practice for various reasons. This was inflated by said vendor and a narrative was created by them about us in thier post to garner skepticism. By putting a visible tracking number in USPS (which is why old images were used) It was said by them this image was old and from 2023 and were being disingenuous without actually thinking anything through. This is incorrect as well. The images have been used as illustration since 2022, actually, but displayed the process of our package handling and transport. Intended as a raw insight into our effort from behind the scenes.
In our post, we initially stated that 400 units were shipped that day, but upon review, I must correct this. The tally for the first shipment thay day was 479 orders, and the second shipment was 151 orders. These values do not include FBA.
If any vendor questions our public statements, please DM us with your concerns, and we will promptly provide supporting data publicly from our storefront analytics in exchange, we require a pledge: if mistaken, we will donate $10,000 in inventory to any diabetic charity of their choice within 24 hours. Conversely, if their claims are inaccurate, they shall commit to donating $10,000 in inventory to the same charity within 7 business days to allow them time to 3D print the inventory. The information we share is factual and we invite them to inquire under this arrangement.
Our focus remains unwaveringly on our customers, swift delivery, product development, and the diabetic community, guided by absolute integrity and transparency ingrained from my 28-year background in military and civil service in Air Traffic Control. Since our inception in online sales in 2000, this ethos has been our guiding principle.
The Freedom Band designs were born from personal hardship and have evolved over four years based on invaluable "FB Plankowner" and ongoing user feedback, resulting in two significant patents recognized for their innovation and novel use by the USPTO—one Utility 11,779,276 B2 and one Design D974,550 S. Our Utility Patent covers "protective shield devices for all CGM & Insulin Delivery devices" as stated in the United States Utility Patent on page 37 and 38 #1-23. This automatically protects new creations (Tandem Mobi Protection) under the same "Novel Use", ensuring us protection for the next 15 years.
Recently, we have refrained from participating in patent disputes due to their adverse effects on the community and the necessity for diverse options offered by other small businesses online. We recognize that not every product is universally suitable. However, in response to repeated legal threats from holders of "pending & defunct" patent applications, we pursued and were granted the patent first to safeguard our own intellectual property from theft.
We eschew aggressive marketing tactics, instead empowering customers with accurate information to make informed decisions. They may love our products or someone elses and that's okay. It's healthy. Our online engagement is sincere, aimed at supporting those in need of CGM or Pump protection within the community we share.
Our pledge includes to never:
- Spam social media posts in groups I moderate with anonymous product promotions. ( ).
- Falsifying posts, data or information.
- Engaging in defamatory remarks towards other T1D & T2D companies for personal gain.
- Moderating diabetic groups while being a manufacturer to avoid clear conflict of interest.
- Discussing personal purchases or acquisitions insensitively online.
- Sell other creators' 3D printed designs from third-party websites without permission and claiming patent pending ownership on " prior works" (e.g. free share file sites like, https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3501775 - uploaded 3/20/2019). Comments on item dates 3/1/2021 outline this as well by other users.
- Engaging further with companies that lack goodwill towards others.
- Inflating our importance or value without factual data to support such claims.
While we are not infallible, we are committed to authenticity. Our focus remains on development, improvement, production, shipping, distribution, and comprehensive customer support, with no room for distraction or negativity. Our goal is to offer affordable, reliable, and beautifully crafted products to serve diabetics in times of need. While often quiet, we continually strive for self-improvement and maintain a steadfast belief in ethical competition without disparagement. Despite the challenges of maintaining peace with certain vendors despite our numerous attempts, we remain humble and open to connecting with smart, dedicated and respectful companies, vendors and creators always.
Sincerely,
Jesse Gonzales
Founder, Freedom Band
