Orbit Balls - For Sale

[Pelicano234]

Our Robotics Team 2077 is considering mass producing replica balls this weekend as a fundraiser and we would be willing to sell them for around $20 - $30 a piece plus shipping (Zip 53183). If your team has an interest please let me know how many you would like. We would ship the balls by the beginning of week five depending on demand. First come first serve.
This idea is still in the works, and depending on the amount of interest we may or may not do this.

[chris31]

Most teams I assume have worked out their orbit ball problems, whether the solution was to make their own or they were able to buy them from Walmart or FIRST. I cant imagine that many, if any, teams would want or be able to pay $20-$30 plus S&H for a ball.

[AdamHeard]

At this point in time, I only know 2077 as the team who tried to charge $20-30 for homemade orbit balls. That's a ridiculous price to ask teams in need who may have not found balls, nor have the time to make their own. I'd reconsider your price and what how it affects the image of your team.

[Pelicano234]

We apologize if this seems rude, but our team is just trying to come up with fundraising ideas. We were going to make acurate replicas and while we were at it, we would just sell some of our extras. The price has not been set yet (we have no idea what the materials at bulk cost will be). Our experimental balls, have cost us around 10 a piece to make. If anyone has sugestions on cheaper materials let us know. If there is intrest, the price will most likely be around $20.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Pelicano234

We apologize if this seems rude, but our team is just trying to come up with fundraising ideas. We were going to make acurate replicas and while we were at it, we would just sell some of our extras. The price has not been set yet (we have no idea what the materials at bulk cost will be). Our experimental balls, have cost us around 10 a piece to make. If anyone has sugestions on cheaper materials let us know. If there is intrest, the price will most likely be around $20.

Most teams won't go for that. Retail price and normal materials price is around $10. You'll want to shoot for $10-$15 apiece max, or teams will probably say, "we're not interested".

To put this in perspective, I got 2 real ones for my HS team and sent them both for under $30. That's under $15 apiece, including shipping.

[Pelicano234]

Lets put it this way, What would people be willing to pay for quality replica orbit balls?

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Pelicano234

Lets put it this way, What would people be willing to pay for quality replica orbit balls?

Can you add a poll to the thread, giving some reasonable options? That would give you some idea.

[xitaqua]

This is an awesome thread !.

I think this brings a good lesson in Economics, as I comment on this thread bear in mind that I do not have a degree in economics.

THE SITUATION
There is a demand and supply for Orbits balls. The demand exceeds the supply as distributed by normal distribution, and original manufacturer does not sell given product. Material cost is estimated to be $9 done in the U.S in low volume manufacturing. The retail price of such ball is around $10. Labor is $0 if done by volunteers as a way for fund-raising.

QUESTIONS
What price should someone manufacturing such a ball set to ?
How can we lower the cost of materials ?
Can we accuratlly estimate the labor involved to manufacture such a ball ?
Can the ball be customized so it adds value to sell higher than retail price ?


I personally would pay $20 plus shipping in handling if the ball comes with the team picture and it is autographed by all the team members including the coach and mentors. If this is a possibility, send me a private e-mail on Chief Delphi with the address.

[DonRotolo]

A fair price is one that a willing buyer will pay to a willing seller. Asking if other teams are willing to pay $xx is a good method for gauging demand. As I understand it, you're going to build some anyway, and want to know if other teams might have an interest.

The price reflects the fact that it is a fundraiser. I can get a candy bar for under $2 elsewhere, but I buy that one anyway....

We will make do with the ones we have, but I wish you success. Supply and demand will ultimately rule.

[jtdoug]

I am doing a poll on a fair price for replica orbit balls. People seem to agree that if the balls cost $10 to make, $15 would be a reasonable price. My team may be interested in around 10.

[smurfgirl]

I would say $15 max, especially if you're charging for shipping on top of that. As other people have said, the materials cost around $10 per ball, and if you're charging double or triple that, it might be worth it to people to just do it themselves.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

I would say $15 max, especially if you're charging for shipping on top of that. As other people have said, the materials cost around $10 per ball, and if you're charging double or triple that, it might be worth it to people to just do it themselves.

Exactly, 100-200% profit margins are just brutally unfair in my opinion.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Exactly, 100-200% profit margins are just brutally unfair in my opinion.

It is always good for the budding entrepreneur to learn. He or she can develop an idea and what he/she thinks is a competitive market price. By bouncing the idea around a bit and seeing the reaction via comments and a poll, it offers an opportunity for the entrepreneur to test the market and see what results.

It is also good to see what other teams are doing as well. I believe some teams are making them to distribute to other teams. Some people have purchased all the orbit balls from surrounding Wal-Marts and are distributing them privately. This game piece has certainly provided a different view into the area of the entrepreneurial spirit, that's for sure.

[MikeDubreuil]

In my estimation there is no unfair price. This is a simple supply and demand issue. The supply is virtually non-existent so the price is whatever the consumer is willing to pay. I don't want to make this a political discussion but this is the foundation of free market economics.

[Bob Steele]

As far as a 100% to 200% profit margin I would agree EXCEPT
One has to include the labor BEFORE one figures profit margin.

I think everyone on here who is complaining about price should consider that this team is using team resources and time to do this. If you purchase a ball from them you are saving that time...

Now if a team had balls purchased from WalMart that were just extras and they were asking $20 for them ... then we would have a 100% mark up. Which is quite normal by the way...

If we think about this from a resource allocation model... we are paying for a resource from this team....

The other approach is simply this...
This team is really selling these at cost if they have a man-hour labor and a materials cost of $10 per ball... with the going rate of $10 per hour for labor that adds up to $20 a ball....cost...

This team is volunteering to use its own precious time resource to do this and should be compensated for that...

As I mentioned in a post on the poll thread...
The balls our team purchased from LogoLoc ended up costing $14.00 per ball after the shipping and handling costs from logoloc (FIRST).

Those balls were gone in one day..... at that price