Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Tazlikesrobots
I don't see them throwing away the investment they have in robotic controllers. Besides, they are the leading supplier of radio controllers for robotic competition. Granted that robotic controllers is not a huge market, but the other aspects of IFI's business helps fund their robot competition habit...
|
I hope IFI is making a profit from FIRST.
It's the opposite of RadioShack. To RadioShack, all of FIRST is small potatoes. Let's pretend that FIRST buys the parts kits from IFI, and that IFI gets $2,000 per kit. (I am TOTALLY making up these numbers. I have no idea how much FIRST pays for anything.) If they sell 1,100 kits, that would be gross revenues of $2.2 million. For RadioShack, that is probably a small fraction of their revenue from AA batteries. For IFI Robotics, it (probably) makes FIRST their largest customer. As long as IFI has priced stuff to make a profit, they will be highly motivated to keep the FIRST contract. If RadioShack is dropping VEX, it is because it is a slow-selling product that ties up a fair amount of inventory cash and represents a miniscule part of their revenue.
So, let's keep IFI, and let Vexlabs take over VEX (if RadioShack is getting out of the business). I REALLY appreciate RadioShack's sponsorship, and lets hope that FIRST gets to keep it regardless of what happens with VEX.