**FIRST EMAIL**/Java and Orbit Balls *****Orbit Ball Discussion****

[Pjohn1959]

Greetings Teams:

In the 2010 season, FRC teams will have the option of programming their robot in Java. The addition of Java as a programming language option is the culmination of work by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and researchers from the Sun SPOT project at Sun Microsystems Laboratories. To learn more as you wait for the 2010 season to begin visit [ http://www.sunspotworld.com/frc/Welcome.html ]http://www.sunspotworld.com/frc/Welcome.html and [ http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/frc-programming.html ]http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/frc-programming.html.$@# We’ll be updating both locations as details are finalized.

If you are planning to hold an off season event or host a demonstration of your robot over the summer, you might want some extra game pieces. Used orbit balls (the ones that survived championship) are available for purchase starting today here [ http://logoloc.com/first/ ]http://logoloc.com/first/ Quantities are limited. If you are borrowing a FIRST field for your off season event, please remember that game pieces are not included in the loan.

Go Teams!

[Alex Cormier]

The first store still says the balls are sold out. Wouldn't you think FIRST would figure it all out before sending out an email?
Also, had to use this route to even get there: Home > New Items > 08 Track Balls > 09 Orbit Balls.

[NickE]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

The first store still says the balls are sold out. Wouldn't you think FIRST would figure it all out before sending out an email?
Also, had to use this route to even get there: Home > New Items > 08 Track Balls > 09 Orbit Balls.

They're in stock now. Anyway, it's disappointing that the orbit balls are a $3 item with $6 in handling fees per ball...

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by NickE

They're in stock now. Anyway, it's disappointing that the orbit balls are a $3 item with $6 in handling fees per ball...

Here is the proper link for everyone.

http://www.logoloc.com/first/RNR/200...rbitBalls.html

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by NickE

....with $6 in handling fees per ball...

$6.31.

I say about dang time for those inflatable clown game pieces. At least they can be flattened for cheaper shipping.... But then, handling inflatable clowns is a very delicate situation, I'm sure. $13.95 in handling fees per clown!

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by NickE

They're in stock now. Anyway, it's disappointing that the orbit balls are a $3 item with $6 in handling fees per ball...

Warning, extreme sarcasm and cynicism ahead ...

I hear ya. This isn't even a bad joke. for weeks now, I've been saying we need about 10 more orbit balls for demos etc, since were down to four. I figured FIRST might have some left for us after the season and was excited to see this email. So I went to the LogoLoc link. Then I had to dig around a little to actually find the page. Then, I realized not to click on the wordy links which didn't work. (Disclaimer: I'm 100% sure this will all eventually work right today at some point as is always the case with this stuff. Quality control appears to always occur AFTER team email blasts go out and folks experience problems, but that is a rant for another day)

Clicking on the pretty pictures of the balls worked. Woohoo!!!! $3 per ball. Now that's GREAT for teams. Look here:
http://logoloc.com/first/RNR/2009Gam...ange-blue.html

Neat, i thought, we'll get 10! $30 in balls plus shipping and handling seems like a great deal. Then I clicked the dreaded "add to cart" button and found this:
Empty Cell Orbit Ball -
$3 + $6.31 Handling 9.31 each 93.10
All prices are in US Dollars Subtotal 93.10
Shipping 0.00
TOTAL 93.10

Well now, isn't that a kick in the pants. My $3 orbit balls incur a $6.31 handling charge, EACH!!!

Oh, and yeah, with my total now being $93.31 I came to realize that this didn't yet include shipping costs.

GAHHHHHHHH!
Thanks but no thanks. Unless someone infuses some sanity here, I'm going back to begging area teams for a few balls/ball remnants.

Travis is right, send in the clowns! Oh wait, maybe they're already here...

[/ extreme sarcasm and cynicism]

[Chris is me]

By the way, you have to click the picture of the orbit ball to order. You can't click the link. Guess this was really quickly put up.

I might buy one or two as memorabilia, and/or because they're fun to kick around. For $10.

Why does this product have to be discontinued If you wanted a full game field of plastic and fabric, you'd need more than $1300. I can see demos doing "volunteer make a GUS ball" drives. At least it's a fraction of the price.

Does anyone notice that the green ball is called a "fuel cell"? That actually makes more "logical sense" than Supercell. You return an Empty Cell to the fueling station and it becomes a... bad thunderstorm? That never made sense to me. I guess it was originally going to be called a fuel cell.

[Tom Bishop]

Wow $3 moon rocks

Then $6.31 shipping/nuisance fee

Are you kidding me?

I'm with Rich; back to beggin'

[Elgin Clock]

With game piece mark-ups like these, it's no wonder teams tried to steal some this year!!! Full bags of them no-less. I guess they were just trying to plan ahead, & with off-season prices like these who could blame them in all honesty??
Not that I condone such an action, especially when they are needed during the regular season, but what's worse? - The blatent theft of game pieces, or the extreme mark-up of USED game pieces at ridiculous rates??

$0.02

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

Neat, i thought, we'll get 10! $30 in balls plus shipping and handling seems like a great deal. Then I clicked the dreaded "add to cart" button and found this:
Empty Cell Orbit Ball -
$3 + $6.31 Handling 9.31 each 93.10
All prices are in US Dollars Subtotal 93.10
Shipping 0.00
TOTAL 93.10

I don't actually want any Orbit balls, but I wanted to see what happened when I added shipping. This is what I found:

Ball $3
Handling $6.31
Shipping to Seattle area $66.73

Total for one ball shipped to Seattle: $76.04

It's hard to avoid sarcasm and negative thoughts right now.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

I don't actually want any Orbit balls, but I wanted to see what happened when I added shipping. This is what I found:

Ball $3
Handling $6.31
Shipping to Seattle area $66.73

Total for one ball shipped to Seattle: $76.04

It's hard to avoid sarcasm and negative thoughts right now.

That is just embarrassing. FIRST store should be embarrassed.

[Pjohn1959]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Shipping to Seattle area $66.73

Total for one ball shipped to Seattle: $76.04

At least you got a shipping price. My screen says that there is no UPS shipping to my area. That's Houston...

I guess we aren't a large enough city.

[Michelle Celio]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Ball $3
Handling $6.31
Shipping to Seattle area $66.73

Total for one ball shipped to Seattle: $76.04

I bet that is better than the $244.74 they want to ship to Orlando!

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Michelle Celio

I bet that is better than the $244.74 they want to ship to Orlando!

I tried to ship it to Orlando, FL and it tells me Orlando is not a part of US...

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by Pjohn1959

At least you got a shipping price. My screen says that there is no UPS shipping to my area. That's Houston...

I guess we aren't a large enough city.

Right, the same was true for my school and home zip codes. So, even if I choose to get fleeced (oops, was that out loud?), I can't even complete the transaction online anyway. That's when I decided to quit, because it's really not a good idea for me to follow up on the phone with anyone over this. I'm wondering if our old poof balls will work in the robot for demo purposes.