Purchase/Prebuild - What's the difference?

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Just a thought. If we don't know what is in the KOP then how can gearboxes be built when the motors and their specs are not known? Also if Team 188 builds a gearbox before build season and sells it to themselves as well as others, does that break the rules?

Please do not refer to Andy on this thread. I / we don't want any finger pointing and the issues go far beyond Andy. No offence Andy.

Many questions so little time. Curious minds would like to know.

Steve,
You're blurring the lines here.

When I buy a gearbox from AndyMark the company, I'm not buying a gearbox from the Technokats we all know and love.

I am buying from a company, not from a team.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the important distinction to make.

Let's consider 3 scenarios:
Option A:
Gary Dillard offers to sell me two (really sweet) genuine SPAM-180 gearboxes. These gearboxes are built pre-season in the SPAM "summer-sweatshops", I mean... "summer learning camps". This offer is for me only.

Option B:
Gary Dillard teams up with JVN (during the 6 weeks) to design the new "Division by SPAM" gearbox. They also co-design something called the "uber-arm". During the 6 weeks -- SPAM builds the gearboxes, DBZ builds the uber-arms. They swap parts. (Think 60+254 with a twist).

Option C:
Gary Dillard forms a new company called "GaryDill", and premakes gearboxes. He then posts an advertisement and offers to sell these to any FIRST teams that want them for the small price of $299.99 each.

Which of these options is okay?

I say, options B & C are valid.

Here is why:
In option B, the parts being sold were made DURING the 6 weeks. This doesn't vary much from the collaboration we saw this season, which was ruled perfectly okay by FIRST.

In options C, the parts being sold are available to everyone. GaryDill is no different from McMaster-Carr. Buying parts like this is perfectly acceptable.


In option C, Gary takes a risk by premaking gearboxes that may or may not be allowed in the 2005 game. It's his risk to take.

I feel there are important distinctions to be made here.

$.02
John


PS - As far as I know: There is no 229-180 collaboration. GaryDill is not an actual company. I have recieved no illicit offers to purchase SPAMy gearboxes.

PPS - I chose Gary for my little examples because he's a cool guy, and SPAM builds wicked sweet gearboxes.
Seriously man, you wanna collaborate, give me a call .