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-   -   Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46638)

Rick TYler 19-04-2006 13:21

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by petek
Maybe it was different in other areas, but while Radio Shack was "selling" Vex, and I use the term very loosely, I never saw them prominently displayed any store - mostly they were deep in the back corners. I would've been surprised if they had sold many!

At the Redmond Radio Shack, the staff had built a VEX robot and had the products displayed right inside the door with the robot sitting on top. They said they still had trouble selling the kits: "Why would I pay $300 for a radio-controlled Erector Set?" Probably the biggest problem is that sales reps make a $40-60 spiff for selling each cell phone contract, but only get a commission of a few bucks for each VEX sale. If I were working at Radio Shack, I know which product I'd be excited about.

Ryan Dognaux 19-04-2006 13:28

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by petek
Maybe it was different in other areas, but while Radio Shack was "selling" Vex, and I use the term very loosely, I never saw them prominently displayed any store - mostly they were deep in the back corners. I would've been surprised if they had sold many!

As would I. At every single Radioshack I've been to, the VEX kits appears to be nonexistant. And the employees didn't have answers to my questions about the kits. Nothing against Radioshack for trying, but I could have predicted that the kits would not sell very well there.

Tyler M. 19-04-2006 16:05

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
This is very good news!

Donut 19-04-2006 20:35

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by petek
Maybe it was different in other areas, but while Radio Shack was "selling" Vex, and I use the term very loosely, I never saw them prominently displayed any store - mostly they were deep in the back corners. I would've been surprised if they had sold many!

We went to 4 different RadioShacks looking for Vex pieces; of those only one had the Vex kit displayed somewhere other than on a few shelfs in the back of the store, and the only reason that happened even was because it was a smaller store in a mall that had no back area to put things.

Unfortunately after RadioShack has dropped it, I don't see many other retailers selling the Vex kit nationally either. It's all fine for us since IFI will sell it, but I wouldn't count on seeing Vex anwhere on shelves again for along time.

firstrocks06 20-04-2006 00:54

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
yay for IFI!! honestly, i will never buy another thing from radio shack but after i said that, i still bought a vex kit from there, i guess they arent that bad

petek 20-04-2006 08:46

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick TYler
At the Redmond Radio Shack, the staff had built a VEX robot and had the products displayed right inside the door with the robot sitting on top. They said they still had trouble selling the kits: "Why would I pay $300 for a radio-controlled Erector Set?"

Apparently enough people are willing to spend $100 to $300 for several companies to make a business out of it. I think the Vex started kit is priced right for the value you get, but to sell it you have to market it to the people who can and will spend that money.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick TYler
Probably the biggest problem is that sales reps make a $40-60 spiff for selling each cell phone contract, but only get a commission of a few bucks for each VEX sale. If I were working at Radio Shack, I know which product I'd be excited about.

I think you hit the nail on the head!

GeorgeTheEng 20-04-2006 08:56

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by petek
Apparently enough people are willing to spend $100 to $300 for several companies to make a business out of it. I think the Vex started kit is priced right for the value you get, but to sell it you have to market it to the people who can and will spend that money.

Compared to all those on that Link, I think VEX provide much more versatility. I still think the programming kit needs to be included but it's still a good value for what you can do with it.

Qbranch 20-04-2006 10:27

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
are any of the prices for vex stuff going to change now that Dean's empire includes VEX? :confused:

Joe Matt 20-04-2006 10:30

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Qbranch
are any of the prices for vex stuff going to change now that Dean's empire includes VEX? :confused:

IFI is an independent company of FIRST, DEKA, Segway, etc. Dean does not own or control it anyway. IFI is a supplier and a sponsor of FIRST, not in anyway connected beyond that.

Barry Bonzack 20-04-2006 11:10

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
I would not mind seeing figures of profit made when the price dropped. I went out and spent some scholarship money on a kit and many other of the accessories (275 dollars worth) but I can not afford on my budget anything at the set price. I can see how competition teams, both FRC and FVC, can afford this with sponsorships, and also schools for curriculum. I wonder, however, if this is targeted to high school students as a shelf product if it sold better at a lower price. Which would the majority of high school students buy if given the choice for a $300 Christmas present, an Xbox360 or a Vex kit?

That being said, I am very happy with my kit, and am looking forward to projects in the future. I shall be putting my ps2 controller down for a while during the summer. Go IFI, turn this thing into something BIG!

jeffmorris 20-04-2006 15:45

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
People would rather spend money on TV sets, music players, cell phones, game consoles, etc, than on building sets. They would rather watch TV, listen to music, play games, waste time talking to other people, etc, than to try to invent anything.

skimoose 20-04-2006 17:00

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
I only hope that IFI will find a way to keep Vex in the non-FIRST retail arena. Best Buy or Circuit City, or some other retailer(s). Vex is still the best tool for recruiting new schools and students into FIRST. I don't want to see Vex revert to another niche market.

JVN 20-04-2006 17:23

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by skimoose
I only hope that IFI will find a way to keep Vex in the non-FIRST retail arena. Best Buy or Circuit City, or some other retailer(s). Vex is still the best tool for recruiting new schools and students into FIRST. I don't want to see Vex revert to another niche market.

There are lots of options on the table for other distribution partners. I believe we are also going to be pushing the potential of this program in the educational marketplace.

-JV

DonRotolo 20-04-2006 17:32

Re: Innovation First acquires Vex from Radio Shack
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by JVN
There are lots of options on the table for other distribution partners.

I see many stores that cater to the educational 'toys', like Learning Express or the late Noodle Kidoodle stores. IFI Marketing would be well advised to find the entry points for those kind of stores for the retail end.

I am also advising all FIRST teams to get a kit plus a programming kit. If you can program the Vex kit, the FIRST RC will be very familiar, just more capable. An excellent tool to educate your new team members...

Oh, yes: Am having loads of fun with my Vex kit.

Don


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