**FIRST EMAIL**/Third Annual FIRST Yard Sale!

[Karthik]

Greetings Teams:

Want a chance to get some extra parts for your robot you might not be able
to acquire otherwise? You can do so at the Third Annual FIRST Yard Sale!

FIRST is making past years kit parts available to all FIRST teams, but only
while supplies last!

Please print out the Yard Sale form located at
http://www2.usfirst.org/2004comp/MMH_Yard_Sale_Order_Form.pdf and fax it to
MMH with the quantity of parts you want to order. There are no other parts
available; you cannot combine anything with this deal, only the parts
listed on the Yard Sale form will be shipped. You will be responsible for
any and all shipping costs, taxes and/or fees.

The Yard Sale will start Monday, August 9th and run until the parts are
gone. Please note, once stock is empty neither FIRST nor MMH have the
capability of acquiring more.

We hope everyone is having a great summer and we'll see you in January for
the start of the 2005 FRC Season!

[Joe Ross]

What do they mean by the sale starts August 9th? Do we fax the order form now, and they start shiping then? Do you fax the order for on the 9th and it's first come first served with their busy fax machine?

Was it not clear to anyone else?

[Billfred]

Just a question here...

It says that items bought here can't be used on the 2005 robots. Some of that stuff I understand (revolving lamps, anyone?), but caster wheels?

(If someone with FIRST yard sale experience can help me understand this process, it'd be very much appreciated.)

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Just a question here...

It says that items bought here can't be used on the 2005 robots. Some of that stuff I understand (revolving lamps, anyone?), but caster wheels?

If the rules about additional parts don't change, you could use the casters, as long as you found their retail price. You won't be able to use any of the motors. You might be able to use the light as a non functional decoration, however chances are FIRST would say it's confusing and make you take it off. The other things are probably ok as well, as long as you can find them retail.

The most important part of course is that the parts rules can't change.

[Billfred]

In the event that that price couldn't be figured out, FIRST allows yard-sale value for the cost accounting, right?

(And as for the rotating light, I'm sure we could figure out something...(innocent grin))

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Billfred

In the event that that price couldn't be figured out, FIRST allows yard-sale value for the cost accounting, right?

No, if it's not availible retail, it's not allowed.

[Jessica Boucher]

I'm assuming this is an attempt to partly take place of the "auction" line item on the 2003 financials. Seeing as though in the last email blast they were asking to raise some crazy amount of funds within a month, as well as the timing of the releasing of the last financials, I'm assuming that this sale would be tacked on to the 05 fiscal year since the last one already ended.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

I'm assuming this is an attempt to partly take place of the "auction" line item on the 2003 financials. Seeing as though in the last email blast they were asking to raise some crazy amount of funds within a month, as well as the timing of the releasing of the last financials, I'm assuming that this sale would be tacked on to the 05 fiscal year since the last one already ended.

I doubt FIRST is making any money off of this. The cost is listed as a handling fee, and probably stays at MMH. If FIRST was trying to make money, they probably could have charged a lot more, or held it at headquarters like before, and not have to give any to MMH.

[Jessica Boucher]

...and that's what I get for not reading carefully.

[Tom Schindler]

I'm glad the "yard sale" is no longer a big free for all. Teams will actually put these parts to use instead of single people walking out with crates full of window motors.

just my $.02

Tom

[team222badbrad]

It's also good to see that teams all over the world can now get some of this stuff. It would be kind of hard for a team in Florida to travel to The FIRST Place and hope to get some junk before it was all gone...

I was wondering if the shipping was included in the handling charge?

No one from my team has ever gone to the sale. Too far away for us!

[FizMan]

Let me see if I understand this; all we have to pay for are the handling fees shown on the form? $4 a motor? If that's the case, I'll probably end up ordering maybe... three or four motors for prototyping.

[David Kelly]

Originally Posted by Tom Schindler

I'm glad the "yard sale" is no longer a big free for all. Teams will actually put these parts to use instead of single people walking out with crates full of window motors.

just my $.02

Tom

I am glad to see that as well Tom. All these people brag that they took back 2 or 3 crates of motors just because they could. Instead of sharing all those motors with everyone they would hoard them all and not even use them. (...talk about no gratious professionalism)


FIRST, thanks for making a good call on this one!

[dez250]

just one piece of advice to everyone who's going to be ordering the motors from this "yard sale". If you decide to do some prototyping with some of these motors (mainly i think the FP), just keep in mind the kit changes yearly and they might not make a return next year. But as always good luck and keep us informed on any prototypes and ideas that are brought to life...

Also i just wanted to say it seems many of the past motors i have received were not directly from the previous year, so check for any markings on them when you get them to know the proper specs for each item.

[Elgin Clock]

So, FIRST has a tax ID number that I can use to write off this order on my taxes right? (And no, I'm not kidding...)

<extremely dissapointed that I can't enjoy the frenzy at FIRST HQ this year>