Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

I hope that FIRST makes these available for sale as soon as possible.

I'm not particularly interested in buying anything from WalMart.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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...

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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!

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

Really?

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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!

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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.

Re: Update on the Orbit Balls
 

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!).