I am curious and have a question about swap meets.
I did a cursory search and found very little on the subject and I wonder if it is due to the "no selling in the pits" rules. As a rookie team I was surprised to find no support parts sales at any event. I did see teams helping each other with extra parts BUT I am sure that with tight budgets it is hard to get someone to hand over an $80 motor controller, or even a CIM to help another team. Since we had never been to a competition before we did not buy any extra parts for emergencies and kind of assumed there would be a way to purchase basic KOP pieces at the competition. I have previously been involved with racing activities and there is usually a trailer with common parts for sale.
That being said, has there ever been swap meets held for teams to try and sell old parts or pickup used parts for either side projects or as backup parts for failures at competitions? Is there a reason for or against said swap meets or is it just lack of someone stepping up and holding one? I know as a ham radio operator, I attend ham radio swap meets all through the summer and have very little equipment I purchased new, it seems like it would work here also. Especially if you consider the whole Maker movement and it could be a way for teams to regain some spent funds even to the non FRC/FTC/FLL market.
I am sure I am missing something basic here so I look forward to the very first response answering all of my questions
