Are we all disappointed that SPI has not been able to keep up with the demands of this year’s competition (for whatever reason the may be)? Yes. Are we all ticked off when this affects our ability to construct our robots? Yes. Are we the only ones that this ever happens to? Obviously, not. Should we get so paralyzed with indignation that we forget to deal with the fundamental problem of getting the robot built? Duh, let me think about that for a while…
My point is very simple: we can waste a lot of time complaining about how we are being treated by suppliers, or we can get around the problem. FIRST has given us a perfect way to do just that - they clearly said that it we can't get a part in a timely fashion from SPI, we are free to go elsewhere to get an indentical part. Just like the real world, if the supplier can't deliver on time, we are able to take our business (and money) elsewhere.
Make no mistake: it is completely appropriate to provide feedback to FIRST about how SPI, or any other supplier, treated teams - they need to know. But I would suggest that the most appropriate time and place to do that is the team forums later this summer, in a concise and professional manner. But right now, it is time to concentrate on getting robots built. And if in the process of solving our supplier problems we are able to help other teams running up against the same shortages, I think it would be great.
Me, I am very interested in finding out where I can get 1/2" flanged ball bearings by tomorrow afternoon...
-dave
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Somewhere, a villiage is missing their idiot. You see, I recently moved...