Big VEX sale at RadioShack

[Rick TYler]

I'm sort of embarassed. This is what I bought for myself^H^H my sons:

2 Starter kits
Programming kit
2 sets omniwheels
1 chain and sprocket set
4 sets of optical encoders
6 extra motors
2 sets limit switches
1 ultrasonic sensor
5 4" Poof balls (not from RadioShack)
12 2-1/2" foam balls (not from RadioShack)
2 gear sets
1 metal set
1 set of tracks
Power pack set
Extra set of crystals

Do I need to buy the line following kit? I'd like another sprocket-and-chain set, but the local stores are sold out.

Even with sale prices, I don't like to think about what I spent. My MasterCard is weeping.

Hi. My name is Rick and I am a Roboholic.

[team222badbrad]

So far I got in order for highest $ to lowest $:

1 starter kit
1 programming kit
1 metal kit
1 battery kit
1 line follower kit
1 sprocket & chain kit
1 wheel kit*
1 tank tread kit
3 motor kits*
1 servo kit
2 omni kits*
1 light sensor kit
1 encoder kit
2 gear kits*

*These items are on the way from radioshack.com, good thing I ordered before they stopped selling them half price!

After tax $448.2

Items I could not get out of stock:

1 more sprocket & chain kit, 1 more tank tread kit, and the ultrasonic range finder kit another $45.

Accesories I don't have/don't need:

crystals upgrade kits A & B, safety glasses, limit switch kit, transmitter & receiver kit, and bumper switch kit.

I think I am set to build something cool and work my butt off to pay for it.

Yes I got the battery kit for half price as well, this was not on sale when I visited the store on thursday 3/17/06, good thing I waited.

[Stuey83]

I've wanted to pick up a Vex kit for a while but it was just too cost prohibitive. I saw the sale on RadioShack.com and then was devestated when I looked the next day and saw that all the parts were back to full price and nearly all the parts were out of stock.

So I went to my local vex carrying radio shack and spoke with their manager. Vex and RS aren't breaking their exclusive to RS deal. Vex (probably) isn't releasing a complete upheaval of their product line. At most, they might introduce new products, but that's it.

So why are the products on sale now seemingly out of the blue? The daytime manager said that the sale was aimed at providing those who want to get into the Vex system to do so at a price they can and will afford to pay.

I then went back to the RS a few hours later to pick up another gear set once I saw how few there were in the starter kit, and I spoke to another knowledgeable associate. He said that in fact the Vex components are on sale every now and then and that they were on sale last month and during the winter holiday season. He also said that they were trying to get the products out to a wider audience, and that a lot of people were actually picking up Vex starter kits and accessories as they're good for demonstrations (I imagine in introductory physics courses or engineering courses).

So... even if you missed out on the online sale, the stores which normally carry Vex products should still have them on sale (ALL Vex were reduced 50%). If you don't have it in your budget to pick up a kit or accessories for yourself now, keep checking the online circular for your local RS store. I didn't try this yet, but that's what the guy said.

Anyways, this is what I bought:

Stater kit
Tread set
2 Sprocket sets
Hardware set
2 motors (I wanted 3 but took all they had)
1 servo
Wheel set
Power pack
Gear set

And I went to Sam's club and picked up some extra AA batteries just in case.

Why didn't I pick up the programming kit? B/C they didn't have the ultrasonic sensor I wanted, and since I have a Basic Stamp waiting to take control of the servos.

I wanted a second starter kit but all they had was one. When you think about it, these are really good prototyping kits and can be used in many more applications such as case modding.

[Faith]

I went to Radioshack once and bought the starter kit, the programming kit, and opticals sensors. Then I went a second time and bought a chain and sprocket kit, an extra motor, a battery pack, and two sets of omniwheels. I was going to go a third time, to a different store with everything in it, but I didn't have time, so I sent my dad with a list to buy an ultrasonic sensor, tank tread, a wheel kit, and a gear kit. When I got home I discovered he had also bought me a hardware pack, and my parents decided (without telling me until now!) that they will pay for it all!!! My life is awesome right now, especially because I'm about to go to Boston Regional tomorrow .

[Madison]

I stopped by Radio Shack on my way back from work today.

$310 later, I have a starter kit and bag full of other stuff. I'm not really sure what I got -- I took practically everything that was left on the shelves.

I may not keep it all; or any of it. I honestly don't expect that I'll use it as, similarly to Lego, I find it too limiting.

If I decide not to keep it, I'll perhaps make a list of what I have here. Better to sell it to someone who'll make good use of it than return it to the store, I guess.

Edit:
I bought... (this is the quantity of packages, not items within packages)

1 Starter Kit
1 Wheel Kit
1 Hardware Kit
2 Omni Directional Wheels
2 Limit Switches
1 Motor
1 Servo
1 Gear Set

[Dillon Compton]

If I had _any_ spare funds right now, I'd be all over this.

Time to get someone to front me $500 by april 1st!

[ForgottenSalad]

Well, for $450... ( Had initally told myself to stop at $350 but I didnt stop till I cleared the shelf...)

Starter Kit
Gear Kit
Limit Switch Kit
Bumper Switch kit
Power Pack
Programming Kit
Servo Kit
Optical Shaft Encoder Kit
Motor Kit (2)
Omni Wheel Kit (2)
Tank Tread Kit
Wheel Kit
Hardware and Metal Kit (2)

Also, I had a chat with store manager, said he hasn't heard anything about them getting discontinued, though he hasn't received restock on out-of-stock products. He also mentioned that items that are/are going to be discontinued are priced with a $xx.97 price point... None of which VEX is. He also said he hasn't heard anything from radio shack corporate about them being discontinued. He said he beleives they're just trying to move stock. Either way this was an amazing deal.

[jeffmorris]

Last night, I checked Radio Shack's website to see which stores have Light Sensor Kit, Optical Shaft Encoder Kit, and Ultrasonic Range Finder Kit, and found out that a store in Staten Island Mall has them. I told my mother to call them before going there. She got all three sensor kits at half-price and two movies on DVDs at another store today.

[Barry Bonzack]

I told a parent of one of the students on 1604 about Vex and the sale. The student received a Vex kit that night. I plan to go splurge a bit later on.

I posted some official word about RS getting out of the Vex business here