[BB] Bills Blog 07/08/11

[waialua359]

The trophies should instead be restored back to their original sizes.

When we ordered our extra CMP CA trophy, it was $700.
When it arrived, it was broken and I had to take it to a local plastic shop to get it fixed. When I mentioned the price, they were shocked! They could make the equivalent for less than half the price.
Somebody is making money........that's for sure.

Trophy size DOES matter. When you attend outreach events, try to gain sponsorships, or display them at school functions, it emphasizes just how hard it was to earn any trophy at all.

Sure, its not all about winning..............but when you accomplish something and get recognized for it, you want it to represent all the hard work that the students and team put into it.
Personally, I always order extras to give to team member(s) who were directly responsible for the achievement, such as the website award.

I dont work for FIRST, so I cant comment on just how difficult it is to overcome trophy expenses......however, for the price tag of each event teams (sponsors) pay for, its the one thing that shouldn't be cut first.

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by waialua359

The trophies should instead be restored back to their original sizes.

Exactly. Whats the point of competing if you get nothing to bring home lauding your success? I thought the kids came first? Just being there isnt enough. Schools recognize coming home with a trophy.
When they shrunk the trophies a few years ago it was a mistake. I cant believe that for all the registration money collected this is the best way they can find to cut costs.

Maybe FIRST should look into better trophy suppliers than taking this direction.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by waialua359

When we ordered our extra CMP CA trophy, it was $700.

Holy Expensive Batman!

Raw Materials, Fabrication machines/tools, Shipping, Labor & Profit = $700 per trophy!???

If I could sell a few hundred at that price (>50 Regionals + Champs), I could invest in the tools and raw materials, work for 2-3 months (or weeks?) per year, and make more money than I am now.

Separate Topic:
First - No one needs to consider this statement to be a reason to try to re-emphasize to me how important some folks believe trophy size is; that has already been pointed out. However ...

There are at least two kinds of people in the world, and I am the kind that thinks large gaudy trophies are absurd.

I would rather have a small, tasteful Nobel Prize medal hanging in my trophy case than any of the cheesy, over-the-top, towers of inexpensive plastic, sawdust, pot metal, and glue that crowd most school trophy cases.

Display a modest-size, well-made, and elegant trophy in a large, well-lit, and otherwise empty space that matches its importance; and I predict it will get noticed and appreciated.

Blake