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.

[jamie_1930]

Not to shoot down your idea, but for most teams they can buy the real game pieces at Walmart for 10 bucks instead of 30.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by jamie_1930

Not to shoot down your idea, but for most teams they can buy the real game pieces at Walmart for 10 bucks instead of 30.

Not true.

There is no walmart within a reasonable driving distance (2-3 hours) of our team that we could buy orbit balls from. New england more or less has been cleaned out of them.

I'm sure this is true in other parts of the country as well, where teams are very densely packed.

[jamie_1930]

Exactly why I said most teams, I've already had people say things like this to me, about how there's no walmart by them or that their already cleaned out, when I try to give some good information to fellow FIRSTers. Next time you need to realize that this is what happens with game pieces commercially available, and you need to get them right after kickoff, we had purchased about 10 by the day after kick off.