View Full Version : Update on the Orbit Balls
John Keyzer
05-01-2009, 11:29
Here is a link to Bill's Blog for those who haven't read it yet.
http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/
Not very encouraging I must say!
Brandon Holley
05-01-2009, 11:40
i have to agree...not very encouraging words
with the amount of these that will be on the field during a game, its very disappointing to know we may only have 5 or less to practice with for the entire season.
rees2001
05-01-2009, 11:40
Not very encouraging I must say!
Nice catch & thanks for posting.
You would think that somebody would check with the company that makes these & the company that sells these to ensure that there will be enough to cover the teams.
Sounds like a pretty big ooops to me.
wilsonmw04
05-01-2009, 11:51
Just to piggy back on this post:
I had a parent do a little checking about the game pieces and here is what she has reported:
I just spoke with a Blip representative and she told me FIRST was going to have something on their website within the next 24 hours in regard to the balls. She also told me they are not discontinued and they are still manufacturing them. She also told me the only store carrying them right now is WalMart. Unfortunately they do not sell them directly to the public.
So I think Bill's Blog is the info on the web. Being an Ex Wal-Mart employee, their ordering system is very streamlined. An employee can order an item and have it in the store in two days if it is stored in the local warehouse. From what I've been told, this item has been removed from their current line of products and cannot be restocked at your local Wal-Mart. This is a big setback to the teams that haven't been lucky enough to grab the last few off the shelves. It's going to be extremely hard to prototype with only one ball. With a supply being 2 weeks out ,(1 week for the site to come up and the 2nd for shipping) I hope a little GP shines through and those lucky enough to have a supply will share with those who don't.
Nice catch & thanks for posting.
You would think that somebody would check with the company that makes these & the company that sells these to ensure that there will be enough to cover the teams.
Sounds like a pretty big ooops to me.
Sounds like an opportunity (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71244)for others for fundraising for enterprising teams.
JohnBoucher
05-01-2009, 11:59
87.77 balls per store. Hmmmmmmm
We only found 4 at 5 different stores. Is that 28,000 number after FIRST has secured enough for competitions?????
Dave Flowerday
05-01-2009, 12:09
87.77 balls per store. Hmmmmmmm
We only found 4 at 5 different stores. Is that 28,000 number after FIRST has secured enough for competitions?????
My guess is that Wal-Mart might have 28,000, but probably most of them are in warehouses. I can't imagine these things are normally popular enough to take up the necessary shelf space to have 100 per store.
Sounds like FIRST contacted Wal-Mart and verified the total # available but failed to ask how many are normally kept on-hand in a store.
Also, it's possible they may have a smaller quantity in-store now than they would have in the summertime.
Rich Kressly
05-01-2009, 12:15
87.77 balls per store. Hmmmmmmm
We only found 4 at 5 different stores. Is that 28,000 number after FIRST has secured enough for competitions?????
I'd doubt it John. Five Walmarts for our team - we found two balls, but one of them was so broken it wasn't even worth purchasing. I'm still waiting to hear back from a few other Philly area teams, but the report isn't great. We have two balls total and I don't anticipate finding any more before we might get our hands on a few from FIRST.
BandChick
05-01-2009, 12:38
The Cokeley family, on their drive home from Manchester, stopped at EVERY Walmart between Massachusetts and Connecticut - and found ZERO balls.
We, at our local Walmart, however, found 6. Being gracious, we bought 3, and saved 3 for our neighboring Allentown team. We also made sure to leave the chance of balls at the Hamilton Walmart for the teams out there in Hamilton.
I hope teams who come across this will remember to have the same principles!
JohnBoucher
05-01-2009, 12:39
I'd doubt it John. Five Walmarts for our team - we found two balls, but one of them was so broken it wasn't even worth purchasing. I'm still waiting to hear back from a few other Philly area teams, but the report isn't great. We have two balls total and I don't anticipate finding any more before we might gets our hands on a few from FIRST.
Exactly my point. There must be a few Walmarts with quite a few. Once we find them, teams can get them.
FYI We bought the broken ones also. I predict that the majority of balls on the field will have one or more hoops broken.
Ryan Albright
05-01-2009, 12:44
You are also forgetting overhead. Have to account the ones that were stolen by customers/employees and the ones that are broken in store and thrown away without being accounted for.
Elgin Clock
05-01-2009, 12:47
Exactly my point. There must be a few Walmarts with quite a few. Once we find them, teams can get them.
A friend told me Wyoming Walmarts had more than a fair share of them in stock.
Road trip??? :rolleyes:
Btw, I hate that Bill used blogspot, since that site is blocked at work. :mad:
Can someone copy/paste the contents of the message here?
BandChick
05-01-2009, 12:51
Can someone copy/paste the contents of the message here?
Here you are Señor.
Direct from Bill's Blog:
http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-know-youre-busy.html
Monday, January 5, 2009
I know you're busy
Good Morning Teams,
We had a successful Kickoff and I know you’re busy with robot design, but there are two quick items I want to bring to your attention.
The game pieces were chosen this year with the expectation that they would be readily available to teams from WalMart. Unfortunately we recently learned that WalMart only has this item in limited quantities. We’ve been told there are 28,000 pieces available in 319 WalMart stores, but it would be a good idea to go check the shelves of your local store sooner rather than later as these will probably go quickly. WalMart calls the game pieces “Orbit Balls” and unfortunately, they’re not available on the WalMart website. FIRST headquarters plans to have some available for sale, hopefully by next week. I’ll share the details as soon as they are firm.
Also, I suggested in an earlier blog post that you apply hook tape to the bottom of your operator console. Now I can explain why. There’s a good chance this year that robots will slide into the driver station wall hard enough to knock your operator console to the floor. We’ve installed loop tape on the driver station shelf to help you keep your equipment secure.
52 days until the Regional Events begin
See you then!
JohnBoucher
05-01-2009, 13:03
A friend told me Wyoming Walmarts had more than a fair share of them in stock.
Road trip??? :rolleyes:
Btw, I hate that Bill used blogspot, since that site is blocked at work. :mad:
Can someone copy/paste the contents of the message here?
That's a start. If you cannot find any call Walmart in Wyoming.
Rich Kressly
05-01-2009, 13:06
My guess is that Wal-Mart might have 28,000, but probably most of them are in warehouses. I can't imagine these things are normally popular enough to take up the necessary shelf space to have 100 per store.
Sounds like FIRST contacted Wal-Mart and verified the total # available but failed to ask how many are normally kept on-hand in a store.
Also, it's possible they may have a smaller quantity in-store now than they would have in the summertime.
Interesting point. Here's some info on Walmart's distribution centers:
http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/7794.aspx?gclid=CKDsgpaB-JcCFQZqswodMDorDQ
I can't find a list of those centers, however. Can anyone find a link I can't find? Is there a nice/sane/proper way of finding out/shaking loose any product that might be in these places?
I hope that FIRST makes these available for sale as soon as possible.
I'm not particularly interested in buying anything from WalMart.
yea. our team isnt really hot on that idea either. i mean, if you want to buy 10 more game pieces, thats $100. and we're really hesitant dropping that kind of money on something that a.) is going to break fairly easily and b.) will probably only be needed for roughly 6 weeks. and i highly doubt that, even if u found 80 of those in your walmart, that you'd get a bulk price.
its just an all around case of bad planning...
Cow Bell Solo
05-01-2009, 13:18
I guess one of our mentors picked up like nine on his way home from our meeting after the kickoff. I don't know if there were anymore left. Also one of our teachers at the school(who is part of our team), picked one up like yesturday or today so he can have one, but it was a broken one. So there are or were some here in Minnesota.
Pool Noodles on the other hand is harder to find here in the middle of winter.
A friend told me Wyoming Walmarts had more than a fair share of them in stock.
Road trip??? You get the car, I'll get the sandwiches! :)
The only thing I can add to this -- Whyoming?
Sorry, one of the few times I can use that and it works.
The good news is that maybe in 4 or five months they'll be at Building 19 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68170)!
There are only 3 FRC teams in the entire state of Kentucky. If you know anyone there I would call them and have them look.
Ryan Dognaux
05-01-2009, 13:49
I hope that FIRST makes these available for sale as soon as possible.
I'm not particularly interested in buying anything from WalMart.
Seconded.
I know it's still only week one, but this is a little annoying to say the least. I wish FIRST would have had such a crucial part of the game lined up and ready to go. We have our kit ball and another mentor managed to find a super cell at the local Walmart.
AdamHeard
05-01-2009, 13:53
I hope the balls are available soon as well, with some robots probably able to hold 40+ balls, teams will need a good supply to test. I know our hopper in 06 worked great with only 5 or so balls, but after that, it's performance went downhill fast.
Sidenote, if anyone has read, "The World is Flat", Walmart is an extremely interesting company.
JohnBoucher
05-01-2009, 14:04
with some robots probably able to hold 40+ balls, .
Really?
Elgin Clock
05-01-2009, 14:10
I hope the balls are available soon as well, with some robots probably able to hold 40+ balls, teams will need a good supply to test.
Really?
Provided they sell at 10 bucks a pop, are you willing to spend 400 dollars on Blip balls to practice being a ball hog?? :rolleyes:
And yes, John, I really believe some teams will become ball hogs, & go for the most on the field.
It's legal, granted you only start with your 7 at the beginning.
Travis Hoffman
05-01-2009, 14:14
Provided they sell at 10 bucks a pop, are you willing to spend 400 dollars on Blip balls to practice being a ball hog?? :rolleyes:
And yes, John, I really believe some teams will become ball hogs, & go for the most on the field.
It's legal, granted you only start with your 7 at the beginning.
Speaking of ball hogs, might I suggest that teams in close proximity to each other organize "community play dates" so a good, fun orbit ball filled time can be had by all?
i.e......pool your orbit balls together and share them.
Gary Dillard
05-01-2009, 14:37
I got to one Wal-mart exactly 2 minutes before another local team did; there were 8 balls: 2 broken, 2 in original packaging (scanning at $9.97), and 4 out of the package with no SKU tag in the general ball bin marked $3.08. We split them and went to the customer counter to see if they would let us have any of them for $3.08 and the answer was no. We both decided that we would just pass and see what FIRST came up with for pricing (kinda like the bulk poof ball rate 3 years ago). Now I'm rethinking that decision - doesn't sound promising.
When you go to your local Wal-Mart take a good look around the department. One store I went to had 3 Orbit balls in a bin of loose toys because the packaging was off and the units were slightly damaged...but I also got a discount. Good luck.
FYI:
Called a local WalMart. They had some in the back, but the UPC number provided in the previous thread was no longer accurate. Keep that in mind!
Tetraman
05-01-2009, 14:44
Last year there was a terrible headache because of the game...this year, the headache is on obtaining the game element.
It's a good thing that they expect to have them for purchase soon.
Kims Robot
05-01-2009, 16:06
I'm just really hoping that Bill's "some available for sale" allows teams that are hosting scrimmages to get enough to play the game. We host Rally every year and this one looks to cost us quite a lot between the flooring and the game pieces (if we can get enough of them!).
Provided they sell at 10 bucks a pop, are you willing to spend 400 dollars on Blip balls to practice being a ball hog?? :rolleyes:
Yes. We want 150+ so we can outfit a fully legal competition field for all teams in the area to use.
Dave Flowerday
05-01-2009, 16:27
Knowing the way Wal-Mart squeezes the lowest possible prices out of its suppliers, I wonder how much cheaper FIRST will be able to offer them to teams for, and how many they will be able to get their hands on. I doubt Blip has 1000s of extra of these laying around in a warehouse already (beyond what Wal-Mart already has), but you never know. Since they say "MADE IN CHINA" all over them, if they have to make new ones, even if they ramped up production now to produce a few thousand extras for FIRST demand, it'll take them a while to get here from Asia...
Also, if Wal-Mart really does have almost 30,000, that's still only a dozen or so for each team (assuming that it would even be possible to buy out their whole inventory, which is difficult to imagine).
Team 135
05-01-2009, 16:30
Our team just aquired 20 additional ones from a few walmarts in our area. Search around for a few.
Texas is getting organized and posting a listing of all nearby walmarts. We are going to try and pool the balls together so rookies have a chance to buy them.
http://houston.txfirst.org/node/48
Thanks to 2158, 2587, 1745 for putting together this list.
mrmummert
05-01-2009, 18:23
Although we will not be able to compete this year, (due to problems beyond our control) I still got one at our local
Walmart as we might still build and compete off season based on this years game. We should be back for next year.
As of 6PM EST at the Franklin, Va. Walmart there were three...I bought one
leaving two.
Kims Robot
05-01-2009, 18:29
Blip does not have any in stock and cannot get any more made until March (after Chinese New Year). They had told us we could only buy from them in min quantity of 1200, which actually we figured was fine because we could just set up a webstore for teams to buy from us, but then they came back with the March date and that completely killed that idea. Im really hoping FIRST has something up their sleeve like that they are going to sell all their competition balls and work with Blip to get more for themselves by March. Oh and the price Blip initially gave us (without being able to work with a manager) was $8/ball. Not to say thats what Walmart or FIRST pays, just what they told us, so the Walmart price really isnt that much higher.
waialua359
05-01-2009, 18:40
We were pretty proactive in getting them early locally.
Even if many were broken when we bought them, they are much easier to fix rather than having to make them from scratch.
In fact, we were lucky to have a team beat us to a Walmart near my house, only to decide he didnt want them, because they were broken. I came about 5 minutes later and snatched them up!:D :D
nahstobor
05-01-2009, 18:46
From what Walmart declares is the total number of balls a store should have may be incorrect. If like at my local Walmart, the Orbit Balls were placed in the ball bin and taken out of the original packing. This means they have the incorrect price tag. Our mentor was able to contact someone at walmart to ask which stores have what quantities. One store in the computer at 30 Orbit balls, but at the store there was 0. Along with other stores which should have had other numbers like 5,7,4, there ended up being either none or a number less than that.
I do not believe there are 28,000 of these available across the 319 Walmarts.
Joe Ross
05-01-2009, 19:08
According to the wikipedia article on walmart, there were 3800 walmart stores in the US in 2005. That means that less then 1 out of 10 stores have the balls.
yea this definetlly is NOT good.
Blip does not have any in stock and cannot get any more made until March (after Chinese New Year). They had told us we could only buy from them in min quantity of 1200, which actually we figured was fine because we could just set up a webstore for teams to buy from us, but then they came back with the March date and that completely killed that idea. Im really hoping FIRST has something up their sleeve like that they are going to sell all their competition balls and work with Blip to get more for themselves by March. Oh and the price Blip initially gave us (without being able to work with a manager) was $8/ball. Not to say thats what Walmart or FIRST pays, just what they told us, so the Walmart price really isnt that much higher.
That's interesting. WalMart told me they'd be stocking more during the spring refresh in two weeks.
T3H_K3YM45T3R
05-01-2009, 19:29
I found 2 balls at a local walmart and they were in the general ball bin and got them for $4 a piece, they had a couple of breaks in the bands...
my sister found me three more, 2 in the packaging and one not. those were $9 a piece and that was at the walmart in the town she goes to college at, that puts team 1737 up to 5 balls from walmart and 1 KOP ball.
and as for FIRST selling all of the competition balls, the Kansas City regional is feb. 26-28 so that means that they couldn't sell all of the competition balls because at least one regional would short on game pieces
Imprudent
05-01-2009, 20:09
Is there any way that some American teams would be willing to sell a few of their orbit balls to Canadian teams? To the extent of my knowledge, NONE have been found in our WalMarts, Toys-R-Us, Zellers, local toy shops etc.
If anyone could possibly lend a few, please send me a private message and I can pass the information along to other local teams.
Thanks!
- Jenn
To all First competitors,
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify many of the rumors regarding the Blip Toys Orbit Ball. At this time Blip Toys does not have any stock of the Orbit Ball to sell to competitors directly. First has purchased extra units for the competition and has informed us additional balls we will be sold via their website in the next 24 hours. To date Walmart has been the only retailer to carry the Orbit Ball and has elected to not purchase the ball for the upcoming spring season. All remaining orbit balls through Walmart are available in their stores and are being sold on clearance. They were not offered by Walmart via their website or in any other countries. Our analysis shows around 14,000 pieces throughout their stores across the U.S.
Customer Service
Blip Toys
Can someone sticky that response from Peter?
Billfred
05-01-2009, 22:40
Can someone sticky that response from Peter?
No, but I can do this:
HEY YOU! Read peter's post two posts up!
That said, I checked a Target and two Wal-Marts around Columbia. Zero, zero, then five today on my lunch break (two with a band broken and let go for $2 after a chat with customer service--it may have helped that I was buying the other three at full price.) There was something on the terminal screen I saw there that I thought read a cost near $5.00; I don't know how relevant the figure is. The balls are currently residing in the back of my car, shuttling along with me between 1618 and 2815 meetings. (And, occasionally, back to work--nothing like a brightly-colored ball to drum up interest!)
+1 bump inb4lock spam spam spam
aka
i would like to move that we sticky peter's post. do i hear a 2nd? and consent?
No, but I can do this:
HEY YOU! Read peter's post two posts up!
That said, I checked a Target and two Wal-Marts around Columbia. Zero, zero, then five today on my lunch break (two with a band broken and let go for $2 after a chat with customer service--it may have helped that I was buying the other three at full price.) There was something on the terminal screen I saw there that I thought read a cost near $5.00; I don't know how relevant the figure is. The balls are currently residing in the back of my car, shuttling along with me between 1618 and 2815 meetings. (And, occasionally, back to work--nothing like a brightly-colored ball to drum up interest!)
I'd assume you'd let 1293 in on a slice of that ball heaven pie for a day or two eh?
Pwetty pweeze?
Gary Dillard
06-01-2009, 08:18
Is there any way that some American teams would be willing to sell a few of their orbit balls to Canadian teams? To the extent of my knowledge, NONE have been found in our WalMarts, Toys-R-Us, Zellers, local toy shops etc.
I'm afraid these "orbit" balls are export controlled; if the Canadians got them they might be able to reverse engineer them and find all the secrets to our space program. ;) (they were built in China?)
Travis Hoffman
06-01-2009, 11:26
Is there any way that some American teams would be willing to sell a few of their orbit balls to Canadian teams? To the extent of my knowledge, NONE have been found in our WalMarts, Toys-R-Us, Zellers, local toy shops etc.
If anyone could possibly lend a few, please send me a private message and I can pass the information along to other local teams.
Thanks!
- Jenn
Too bad this (http://rocwiki.org/Fast_Ferry) isn't still running. It would make a great centerpiece for a US-Canada orbit ball smuggling operation. Reverse Prohibition! :rolleyes:
We have a grand total of.....4.....and are trying to collect more to share among the 6 local teams. But we'd gladly sell one to you - $1,000 and it's all yours....:(
Imprudent
06-01-2009, 16:25
We have a grand total of.....4.....and are trying to collect more to share among the 6 local teams. But we'd gladly sell one to you - $1,000 and it's all yours....:(
How...generous (?) of you :) I think we'll wait for the FIRST Store to come up
cabbagekid2
06-01-2009, 17:08
Looks like there's a list of walmart stores with balls on Bill's Blog. What does the () in red mean? Broken balls? I wonder if these numbers were verified in any way or just pulled from a computer inventory. I can tell you...there are no balls here on this island in Hawaii.
Went to 2 stores, one of which stated having 9, the other having 16.
Neither had any. I had gone to one of them on Saturday.
Looks like the list is not all that reliable.
Joe Ross
06-01-2009, 17:34
Now you know why Walmart wants to RFID everything.
Several of the stores we've been to already were listed as having them, despite being out. We called one store that was listed as having a bunch as soon as we saw the list. They said they've received calls from all over the country today, and had already sold the ones they had.
I assume that the ones in (red) means that they've sold more then they thought they had. That is a common accounting notation.
wilsonmw04
06-01-2009, 19:39
Now you know why Walmart wants to RFID everything.
Several of the stores we've been to already were listed as having them, despite being out. We called one store that was listed as having a bunch as soon as we saw the list. They said they've received calls from all over the country today, and had already sold the ones they had.
I assume that the ones in (red) means that they've sold more then they thought they had. That is a common accounting notation.
Yep, red means a negative number. I will personally attest that Wal-Mart's Inventory Control is only as good as the folks they have working at that given store. When I working for Wal-Mart, I would spend 30 minutes looking for an item that was listed with large counts and never finding them, or seeing a negative 12 next to an item when I had 100 in the box next to me.
I just sent my parents in GA to their local stores when I saw two stores in their area on the list.
Update: just got a call from the parents: don't bother going to the store on Bobby Jones in Augusta, they were just bought out. :eek:
The other store on Augusta should still have some.
Just when you thought this whole orbit ball thing couldn't get any crazier. . .
Went tonight to our local Walmart to check yet again for the balls. I had checked Sunday, and found none, but Bill's list said they had 3, so I figured what the heck. Guess what . . . found a precious 1 ball, slightly damaged. So I asked at customer service what they would sell it to me for and was told . . . THEY WON'T SELL IT TO ME!!!!! :ahh: :ahh: The assistant manager on duty said it was a hazard because if it broke further a child could become injured and Walmart could be sued. Now I'm a lawyer, but even to me this seemed ridiculous. The plastic was snapped at only 1 point, and it was still covered by fabric. Any way, I had a fit, informed them that FIRST teams across the nation were buying these balls damaged, so she put it in the manager's office with my name on it and I have to go back to see him when he returns on Thursday. I'll be bringing with me all the emails from you good folk proving that these balls can, in fact be sold. Wish me luck!!!:D :D
Travis Hoffman
06-01-2009, 20:58
Just when you thought this whole orbit ball thing couldn't get any crazier. . .
Went tonight to our local Walmart to check yet again for the balls. I had checked Sunday, and found none, but Bill's list said they had 3, so I figured what the heck. Guess what . . . found a precious 1 ball, slightly damaged. So I asked at customer service what they would sell it to me for and was told . . . THEY WON'T SELL IT TO ME!!!!! :ahh: :ahh:
Yet I'm sure they've sold bucketloads of Chinese products.....you know - "NOW FORTIFIED WITH LEAD!" :rolleyes:
They say the Warren store near me has 7. However, a few days back, I only found one broke-down scrap heap reject. I doubt they materialized out of thin air - maybe when I go back for my next lead booster I'll check again.....
I just got off the phone with a technical sales support rep from Logoloc and he told me that they will be selling a grand total of 1800 balls. There will be a limit of one package (3 balls) per team first come first serve. I guess its time to send the scouting parties to check those far off walmarts for balls.
Here is an interesting little video: Walmart Store Spread (http://i.gizmodo.com/5125187/the-terrifying-spread-of-the-walmart-plague)
Good Luck Teams
neoshaakti
07-01-2009, 14:33
argh have been looking around NJ, no luck yet
none at the princeton, north brunswick, edison, piscataway or union :(
Akash Rastogi
07-01-2009, 15:02
argh have been looking around NJ, no luck yet
none at the princeton, north brunswick, edison, piscataway or union :(
The Northeast is wiped clean dude, no luck for us either...
We'll be lucky to have 2 by the end of week 3. :(
What were they thinking by using this ball and not knowing about Wal-Mart's intent to not purchase them beforehand...
Oh well...
neoshaakti
07-01-2009, 15:31
who knows? But seriously, there have to be orbit balls somewhere...maybe in other countries who knows
I tried ebay and amazon
no luck
I learned something today!
This "issue" falls into an area called "Industrial Engineering."
thanks to those who continue to mentor me ;)
nikkiole10192
07-01-2009, 16:30
can anyone find the place to order them on the first website since its been over 24 hrs and i still cant fins it anywhere????
Elgin Clock
07-01-2009, 16:38
can anyone find the place to order them on the first website since its been over 24 hrs and i still cant fins it anywhere????
Coming soon (Right side of main page)
Keep checking this website.
http://logoloc.com/first/
millerm277
08-01-2009, 09:47
The Northeast is wiped clean dude, no luck for us either...
We managed to come up with a store that had 9....after a team member spent 5 hours driving to 10 other walmarts, he finally found them on the 11th try. Keep looking!
Everyone,
Just spoke with a representative at Logo Loc Ltd. The Orbit Ball should be available by the end of this week. I am assuming this means by the end of Friday. He told me that they are still ironing out the logistics with FIRST and creating the website page. He also apologized for any delay this may cause. He was not able to give me any pricing information at this time.
Hope this helps....
Everyone,
Just spoke with a representative at Logo Loc Ltd. The Orbit Ball should be available by the end of this week. I am assuming this means by the end of Friday. He told me that they are still ironing out the logistics with FIRST and creating the website page. He also apologized for any delay this may cause. He was not able to give me any pricing information at this time.
Hope this helps....
As I posted here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=795676&postcount=24):
Teams will be hearing officially from FIRST today or tomorrow. Don't expect to be able to buy many balls, though. Don't even plan to count them with a full hand.
It's going to be slightly cheaper than on Walmart. :)
artdutra04
08-01-2009, 11:37
I just got off the phone with a technical sales support rep from Logoloc and he told me that they will be selling a grand total of 1800 balls. There will be a limit of one package (3 balls) per team first come first serve. I guess its time to send the scouting parties to check those far off walmarts for balls.
Here is an interesting little video: Walmart Store Spread (http://i.gizmodo.com/5125187/the-terrifying-spread-of-the-walmart-plague)
Good Luck TeamsWow, I didn't originally think the FIRST Logoloc store was going to be so tight on the number of available balls per team.
With this update, it looks like making your own balls (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2187) may be very beneficial. :)
Thanks to the proof supplied by your many emails on this forum discussing how you all purchased damaged balls at numerous Walmarts, I was able to convince the manager of our local store to sell me the slightly damaged ball I argued with his assistant so vociforously about on Tuesday. Now, with the 3 balls I'll be able to order from FIRST tomorrow, at least we'll have the 7 we'd be allowed to start off with in our bot.:D
Justin Montois
08-01-2009, 15:50
This is very surprising to me. I really thought that FIRST would have the toys manufactured again. Only 3 per team? that's going to put a lot of teams in a disadvantage. I hope you guys can find some more like we did. Here's some hints...
- Go to your local WalMart with this UPC Numer.. 065838282040K, ask them to type that in to there inventory scanner to give you and up to date on-hand list of all walmarts within 150 Miles.
-Call those Walmarts and have them set aside for you(Note:It is Walmart's policy to not hold items but when Colin and I did this we spoke to some managers and they were very accommodating.)
-If there On hands say they have some but the employee you talk too says they don't if it's on your way it's worth stopping by because we were able to find several in the ball rack out of there packages with all the other plastic balls.
-Get a GPS, and hit every Walmart that supposedly have some on hand. Colin, John and I headed out to Syracuse to 4 stores to pick up 11 Balls and one of the employees helped us with his inventory scanner and we ended up going to seven Walmarts and got 27 Orbit Balls. Several of the stores we stopped at had originally told us they didn't have any when we called them but they were just in the ball rack and the employees didn't think to look there.
Good Luck in your search, also look into making your own, it might be worth it.
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