[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

Question: A few years back (2008), when each team was getting FedEx donations and shipping their robots to/from competition, how many shipments was FedEx sponsoring? I could guesstimate around 3750 airbills used (1500 Teams x 2.5 Average Airbills per team). (We got up to three free shipments back then, right?)

Now, with the default being bag and tag, how many Airbills does FedEx sponsor? I'm guessing 1800 tops (800 to/from CMP + 500 overseas/traveling teams x 2 airbill exemptions)

It seems like FedEx has nearly halved their sponsorship, is this correct? From what I remember, we went to bag and tag because the increased shipping costs were unsustainable. However, it seems like FedEx sponsorship has taken a sharp turn in the opposite direction. Didn't they win the Championship sponsor/partner award a few years ago? Has their Sponsor level with FIRST gone down in recent years?

Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative of FedEx's long standing support of FRC. I just wish they would cut some slack to teams that can't compete locally.

-Mike

If I remember correctly, FEDEX sponsorship is $1M/yr. Back in 2008, that $1M covered a lot of "ships". Today, fuel costs increase, labor costs increase, everything goes up. If the donation was level funded, then the number of "ships" goes down.