Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

I know this might seem weird, but we don't have a lot of space, and it seems we have a few KOP totes that are empty around the shop. Do you suppose FIRST would take these back and recycle them for next year? Wonder if other teams have as many empty totes as we do.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

I believe FIRST uses new totes each year. Put them up on CD-Swap or donate them to someone who needs totes.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

Wouldn't it be cool if you could sign it with your team name and number and date, then return it to FIRST to have it reused, and the next team does the same, and so on? I think it'd be neat to get a tote that had been used by a past world champ, or an overseas team from Israel or elsewhere.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

At least on 228, we love getting new totes every year. We probably have almost twenty (non-broken) KOP totes and a half dozen 2003 Stack Attack totes. The KOP totes are all used to store FRC robot supplies (it's starting to look like -and be as oddly specific as- the wall of totes from MythBusters) and the Stack Attack totes are given to each of our VRC/Savage Soccer teams. Our KOP totes are split between being stored in steel shelving and on rubber dollies (like this), with the heavier totes on the dollies.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

There is one big problem with this great green idea:
The Shipping costs!

for example:
My team(3339) is from Israel, every thing we order from ths US costs a lot
If we buy from andymark for example:
12% shipping
12% customs
16% VAT (value added tax)
we pay in total 40% more money, so we don't want to pay more on tote shipping.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

I think most teams would like to keep their totes.. they are so effective as storage!

perhaps a tote exchange? have all team members sign a tote and swap it with another team (who also sign theirs) at the regional/champs.

-Leav

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

Build a tote robot!

Totebot will store all your goods!

Heck, it sure would make finding things in our shop easier lol.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

I know in addition to storage around the shop, as were preparing for regionals, we often take some of the totes, and pack them up with the different items, (tools, programming equipment, pit decorations, etc). These totes are a great way to keep everything organised while in transit to the event. On Thursday as were setting up we empty most of the totes, and then the empty ones go on the pick-up truck they came in until Saturday night, when we pack them all up for the return trip.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

If you don't want/can't keep your totes, find a team in the area or a team that will be attending your regional if they want them. Dean's favorite word )Free) is also most team's favorite word.

422 uses them as the cornerstone of our admittedly odd organization, and it's great to take two to the regional stuffed with tools and emergency parts.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

We need a tote to store all of our old totes in.

Re: Return Empty KOP Totes to FIRST?
 

We have been strongly considering using some of our spare drivetrain parts to put wheels on some of out totes.