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Unread 04-01-2009, 17:44
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Now the question comes up: How many did FIRST buy to cover the number that will be broken during competitions?

And $2 says Blip Toys removed the balls from their listings until the end of the competitions, when we'll see them put back up on them...

edit: the Wal-Mart in Lafeyette/Erie (in Colorado) had six as of yesterday, so if you're near that area looking in stores around it might be a good bet...
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Unread 04-01-2009, 18:02
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

i doubt Blip will be bringing them back after the competition, the fact that the Walmarts are calling them a discontinued item makes it sound like its not just them putting a hold on the product. And im kinda iffy about if they'll make more of them. i mean, between acquisition time for materials, processing, and then shipment, it'd take (my guess) no less than 3 or 4 weeks to get shipments to teams. but i dont foresee them putting them back on the shelves.

one thought is that when FIRST had decided on their idea, the balls were still in production, but since then, Blip has since discontinued them. i really hope thats the case, cuz then, at least, it wouldnt be FIRST's fault for using a discontinued item...

on a side note, the Toys-R-Us by us said that they'd had them over the summer. (and that it was more of a summer-time item) we found two non-broken ones at the walmart in town.
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Unread 05-01-2009, 10:39
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

I've got to say, this is a pretty big faux pas on behalf of FIRST.
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Unread 05-01-2009, 14:08
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

umm err hem ahh ehh
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Unread 03-01-2009, 20:29
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Has anyone found them anywhere other then Walmart?
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Unread 04-01-2009, 03:35
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lodyev View Post
Has anyone found them anywhere other then Walmart?
I found one at KB Toys on sale for $6 at our local mall.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 20:54
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cory View Post
The Orbit ball is not sourced in the KOP.
I have not personally seen the KoP yet, but I was reading through the manual and it does say:

Taken from 2009 FRC Competition Manual: PG 2 of SEC 10
10.1
Quote:
KIT OF PARTS- GENERAL
Some of the exciting and important additions found in the 2009 KOP include the following items:

Complete control system (including Axis 206 camera, WiFi hardware, cRIO controller, two kinds of motor controllers, power distribution board, and more)

AndyMark, Inc. C-base chassis kit

AutomationDirect push button

BaneBots RS-545 motors

Orbit ball

2009 Rover Wheels (aka FIRST Slick wheels)

Sprocket spacers

Camera pan/tilt kit

Trailer hitch spacer

Gloves

Lazy Susan

Optical encoder
Are we talking about the same "Orbit Ball"??
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Unread 03-01-2009, 21:03
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Quote:
Originally Posted by matt91 View Post
I have not personally seen the KoP yet, but I was reading through the manual and it does say:

Taken from 2009 FRC Competition Manual: PG 2 of SEC 10
10.1


Are we talking about the same "Orbit Ball"??
Yes Orbit ball is what they are called in the non FIRST world.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 21:33
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

We had a similar issue at our Walmart, they had 3 in stock and said it was a discontinued item so they couldnt order more. But I think we can all just be patient, as I remember the same issue with the Poof balls, everyone was panicking over them, but we were all finally able to order them online (I dont remember if it was direct from the manufacturer or through a FIRST source). I would hope its going to be the same here. Give them a couple of days, they will have something I bet.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 21:33
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

We just purchased 4 each at two different Walmarts. One Walmart did not have any. An assistant manager told us they are a deleted (discontinued item), but the store can still order them. Once they are ordered, if the warehouse has them they will be shipped, if not we are out of luck. She indicated there is no way to check what the warehouse or other stores have due to the deleted status. It appears the only way to hunt them down at Walmart is to check individual stores. If they have the cardboard base (packaging) on them yet they may be on a shelf. If not, they are in the loose ball bin.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 21:56
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cory View Post
The Orbit ball is not sourced in the KOP. Can anyone find it? 3 people googling has yielded no results.

It would be nice if FIRST listed a manufacturer.



There really kind of hard to find on the internet. I think first purposely did this. But Target, Walmart, Toys-R-Us, and many other toy stores sell them.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 21:59
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

one of our Mentors at 1189 found some at a wal-mart I believe, although they are supposed to be of inferior quality to the ones we received in our kits.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 22:16
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

I think you guys got ripped off that got them for $8 or $9, I found two at my walmart, I live near Kansas City Mo, and they were out of the packaging in the like "ball bin" where they have random loose balls and they were $4 a piece, they were however the only 2 they had and the walmart in the next town over had none...
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Unread 03-01-2009, 22:22
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

We got 2 for $3 a piece, but they didn't have price tags on them. If you encounter this just keep bugging people about them.

Also maybe its time we started looking for some materials to construct them. Its basically just a bunch of intertwined 1 inch wide flexible plastic strips. That has to be much easier to find than the orbit balls themselves and cheaper too.
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Unread 03-01-2009, 22:30
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Just bought seven at a local Walmart. I refuse to shop at that store chain but did it for the daughters; $9.97 in the Harrisonville store. Our Team PR person has already notified two other local teams to see if they need them. Our local city teams got some to use so they are sitting well.
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