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View Full Version : VEX again

irishninja
19-03-2006, 18:45
Now I know youre thinking, oh no, not another VEX thread, WHY WHY????
However, I'm not here to complain, whine, or extoll my anger towards RadioShack. I just want to ask a simple question. Is there any possible way we can petition first to make VEX kits and parts available on usfirst.org? I know most businesses won't want to take the job of supplying these parts as a small percentage of people actually buy them. Think about the number of people who batteries, phones, and computers. However, it is obvious that discontinuing the line of VEX, and making it obsolete, would affect a huge percentage of those involved in FIRST. I'm suggesting, that we ask FIRST if theres anyway these parts can be sold on usfirst.org or some such website. That way, a big business does not have to carry them, but they are still avaiable to the public.
sanddrag
19-03-2006, 18:47
You've got my signature.

Also, check out my realted thread http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45631
devicenull
19-03-2006, 18:51
I wouldn't be surprised if IFI kept selling them.. at least I hope they do.

But year, I'd be happy with that.
irishninja
19-03-2006, 18:52
Yeah i just skimmed it. I totally agree. I don't think FIRST went about it all wrong. However, how much are registration prices for Vex competitions? I've heard that next year the NY regional will be at the Javits center, at the same time as Lego League. If they spaced it differantly, I'd love to start a small vex team with my friends if it wasn't too expensive. I think that FIRST, which I love, and RS just expected it to be BOOM. I'm sure if given more time, it would get off its feet, the expectations were just too high too quickly. I know for a fact that the sale has made sales skyrocket. I think just by waiting, and RS not ordering more parts just yet, and not offering it in stores, just online, it would grow into a big as thing as the FRC teams.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 18:54
You've got my signature.

Also, check out my realted thread http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45631

It is a good idea but I don't think a non-profit like FIRST would want to bear the burden of selling VEX if Radio shack didn't FIRSt is a reletivly small non-profit RS is a national (maybe international) chain.

Also as I said in the other thread The regional manager who is based out of the store next door to my worksaid the kits would remain available online atleast tempoarily.

James
irishninja
19-03-2006, 18:57
True, but I'm trying to ensure VEX for a while, at least untli the technology runs out. I wish I had heard about this when I was 12, (16 now), and I definatley want this, or something like this, to be avaible for my kids. This is definatley something I'd want to do as a hobby in college, and having it close down would be a hUGE HUGE dissapointment.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 19:03
Vex wasn't around when you were 12 it was introduced last year at nationals. Every year products flop like this and small communities (The FIRST community in this case )are very dissapointed while the rest of the world doesn't notice. There is another kit simmilar to this that will be widly available soon, The mindstorms NXT has eliminated many of the complaints about the old system and has also made the integration of non lego parts much easier.
Nuttyman54
19-03-2006, 19:05
Doesn't IFI already sell them at VEXLABS?
Hexagram
19-03-2006, 19:05
VEX actually made slashdot.

and it got torn apart as it was a "radio shack product"

What horrible rep. It would be better if first sold it.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 19:06
Doesn't IFI already sell them at VEXLABS?


No they just make accessories for the kit.
irishninja
19-03-2006, 19:08
Vex wasn't around when you were 12 it was introduced last year at nationals. Every year products flop like this and small communities (The FIRST community in this case )are very dissapointed while the rest of the world doesn't notice. There is another kit simmilar to this that will be widly available soon, The mindstorms NXT has eliminated many of the complaints about the old system and has also made the integration of non lego parts much easier.

I was trying to say that I wish that something like this was around when I was 12. And was it really last year at nationals? BEcause there were teams competing, so they must have known about it.
Nuttyman54
19-03-2006, 19:09
No they just make accessories for the kit.

Their website lists the starter kit as available for purchase, as well as a ton of accessories...is this correct? or does it just redirect you to radioshack?
Kevin Sevcik
19-03-2006, 19:10
For a point of reference, the registration for the Dallas Vex event was $500. That bought entry to the event. You had you buy a kit and a goodly amount of extras to be competitive as well. To top it off, they scheduled the competition February 18th, the weekend before shipping. Make of this what you will.
irishninja
19-03-2006, 19:13
Their website lists the starter kit as available for purchase, as well as a ton of accessories...is this correct? or does it just redirect you to radioshack?

Whenever I get to the VEX Robotics website it redirects me to RS.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 19:14
I was trying to say that I wish that something like this was around when I was 12. And was it really last year at nationals? BEcause there were teams competing, so they must have known about it.

They released it early to 50 teams so they could compete at the nationals however no details were given and it was not sold until after that weekend, you can search for old threads on here for more details.
gondorf
19-03-2006, 19:27
i have read this thread and I must say that for the petition you have my signature.

i bought a vex kit for the nasa summer course and i loved it. even months later i still use it. i even used it to make a bot for the big poof balls.

i think that for radioshack to discontinue was a bad idea.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 19:34
i have read this thread and I must say that for the petition you have my signature.

i bought a vex kit for the nasa summer course and i loved it. even months later i still use it. i even used it to make a bot for the big poof balls.

i think that for radioshack to discontinue was a bad idea.

You are failing to realize why they are discontinuing this line it does not make a profit. It was a good Idea, it will save them money and may help to prevent them from going under. I also have a VEX kit that I love and think is incredibly useful but at the same time I realize it isnt practical for most people to buy it is very expensive for what it is.
devicenull
19-03-2006, 19:35
Okay, does someone want to contact IFI and ask them if they plan on selling Vex stuff?

I seem to think that if it was going to be sold anywhere, IFI is as good a place as any... They already have a couple other control systems
Nuttyman54
19-03-2006, 19:37
Whenever I get to the VEX Robotics website it redirects me to RS.

AHH because you're going to Vex Robotics. (http://www.vexrobotics.com) I'm talking about VEXLABS (http://www.vexlabs.com) (part of IFI)
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 19:54
I just checked VEX labs it seems like you are right this is the first time I've seen any of that stuff on there It must be a reletivly new addition.
Nuttyman54
19-03-2006, 19:55
I know VEXLABS has been up since before build season (the link was scrolling across the top when i went to check out the traction wheels)
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 21:07
some of it has been up but I had never seen the official vex kit stuff before just the IFI stuff, the stuff that was first available for the edu bot
irishninja
19-03-2006, 21:42
Well, at least we can still buy extra parts. That is a relief. Hopefully they will keep this up.
JamesBrown
19-03-2006, 22:42
Well, at least we can still buy extra parts. That is a relief. Hopefully they will keep this up.

Before you buy too many sensors I would recommend you look at some hobby robotics sights many of the same sensors are available cheaper than they are at Radio shack, these sensors seldom require modification and are usually of higher quality. If you have any questions about specific sensors just post on here and there is a good chance someone has used something similar and can answer your question. Good luck.

James
Tazlikesrobots
20-03-2006, 11:34
No they just make accessories for the kit.

You can buy a kit from vexlabs http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-design-system-2.shtml

Also keep in mind that Innovation FIRST developed VEX. If Radio shack does drop selling the product, I am sure that vexlabs.com will continue to sell the product. One way or another FCV will survive.

On the other hand I was a Hobby town USA last week and the store manager told me that they will be selling robotic kits soon. The more I think about it, VEX would be more at home in a hobby shop than radio shack. Think about it.... RC Cars, RC planes, RC robots. In theory they all work the same. The application is what is different...

My 2 cents.