FRC Blogged - FIRST Choice 2014

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by Whippet

What if the landlines, the cell towers, AND the FIRST Choice Servers are down? What do we do then?

Break into AndyMark's warehouse and physically take your FIRST Choice items. It saves on shipping too.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

My only issue with this is that it opens on the same day as the Indiana State FLL tournament. I guess I won't be going to support any of our local teams that make it to state.

Otherwise, it looks like a well thought out list of improvements based on the feedback teams provided, including initial login testing.

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

I am actually a little annoyed by the move to a Saturday. That means I am going to have to figure out how to get internet access while refereeing a VEX event.

Everything else I'm very happy about, so overall good job.

Maybe I'm being a bit too positive today, but considering that we've been made aware of the ordering date a about a month and a half ahead of time, and will have a whole month to window shop, and be able to test our respective log-ins the week before FIRST Choice opens, it seems like any scheduling conflicts are pretty easy to work around.

I'm sure that there will be someone available for ~1hr on the 15th with internet access that can read through a pre-made list of parts and place the order. Yes, it could be a bit tricky if something sells out before you can order it, but I guess it's no different than a Pick-List, you plan for the worst and hope for the best?

[coalhot]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

Break into AndyMark's warehouse and physically take your FIRST Choice items. It saves on shipping too.

Or we order though an automated phone system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSQ6q_rGpI8

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by thefro526

I'm sure that there will be someone available for ~1hr on the 15th with internet access that can read through a pre-made list of parts and place the order. Yes, it could be a bit tricky if something sells out before you can order it, but I guess it's no different than a Pick-List, you plan for the worst and hope for the best?

Don't get me wrong all these changes seem like they should improve the system. I'm just saying it will be a bit tricky for me to do this on that Saturday and most Saturdays. I'll actually probably just have someone else ref a few matches while I do this, since I'm the only person on the team with a credit card for ordering parts.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I doubt you'd want to access it from a phone. Even with 4G, landline internet is probably faster.

I agree, but my Saturdays usually spent inside in front of a computer. I get enough of that M-F.

[cgmv123]

That day doesn't work for me, therefore it's a bad day to open FIRST Choice.

Great logic everyone!

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Whippet

What if the landlines, the cell towers, AND the FIRST Choice Servers are down? What do we do then?

Each registered team will be issued one 3 X 5 index card, one blue crayon, and one carrier pigeon...international teams are issued a very fast pigeon.

[DonRotolo]

Dangnabbit. If they keep fixing stuff and making it excellent, what am I going to have left to complain about?

All good. Looking forward to it all.

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

That day doesn't work for me, therefore it's a bad day to open FIRST Choice.

Great logic everyone!

That's the exact same message as the people who couldn't order in previous years due to work obligations M-F. There will never be a perfect time/day.

It is inconvenient for me, but I'll make it work. While I prefered the weekday opening, I understand it inconveniences LESS people to be on Saturday.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Dangnabbit. If they keep fixing stuff and making it excellent, what am I going to have left to complain about?

Complain about the fact you have nothing to complain about. I think you can manage that, Mr. Curmudgeon.


Like the changes--assuming they work (and the test opportunity says they'll have a pretty high chance or working).

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Dangnabbit. If they keep fixing stuff and making it excellent, what am I going to have left to complain about?

The gummint.

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

Each registered team will be issued one 3 X 5 index card, one blue crayon, and one carrier pigeon...international teams are issued a very fast pigeon.

Teams are issued a swallow and a coconut. They must then calculate the airspeed velocity of the swallow while carrying the coconut. Some teams will be issued African swallows, while others will be issued European swallows.

The teams who incorrectly calculate the airspeed velocity of the swallow will be sacked. The people that proposed using swallows to begin with will also be sacked.

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by Thunder910

Teams are issued a swallow and a coconut. They must then calculate the airspeed velocity of the swallow while carrying the coconut. Some teams will be issued African swallows, while others will be issued European swallows.

The teams who incorrectly calculate the airspeed velocity of the swallow will be sacked. The people that proposed using swallows to begin with will also be sacked.

A classic. Spotlit.

[BBray_T1296]

All teams will be issued a woman, a plank of wood, and a duck. If the woman and the duck weigh the same, the woman is obviously made of wood. That means she is a witch, and will conjure the items you want. If she weighs more/less than the wood, all you get this year is little small rocks.

[yarden.saa]

I am not sure if the changes are good, Saturday means more people trying to order at the same time, the website will be slower and it will take a lot of time to order something.
It took me 45 minutes to order from the FIRST Choice liquidation....
limiting the quantities may be a better solution