Author Topic: Sparkfun Free Day  (Read 23250 times)

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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Sparkfun Free Day
« on: December 29, 2009, 06:56:19 AM »
Well, i thought i would let everyone here at SoR know about sparkfuns free day on the 7th of January.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/news.php?id=305 I know I'll be participating!
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Offline madsci1016

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2009, 10:06:47 AM »
BLAST!!!!

I thought about posting this a month ago when they told everyone about it. But then i got worried that if too many people tried to place an order, mine would never go through. (I have been a wooter (woot.com) for 4 years and never got a BOC because of this).

Call me paranoid, but I'm glad someone posted it, and now i can blame SmAsH when i can't get my order through.  >:(

Offline z.s.tar.gz

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2009, 10:08:42 AM »
This is a lie! Nobody do this or check that link! Especially don't try and redeem your free money!

Seriously I'm blaming you if I don't get anything! (Just kidding, I'll only hold a paranoid grudge)
Save yourself the typing. Just call me Zach.

Offline waltr

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2009, 10:33:33 AM »
I think its a great idea but I'm placing an order this week. I can afford it and I don't want the items I want going out of stock.

Good luck to all on the 7th.

Offline Razor Concepts

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2009, 10:49:26 AM »
Haha, fellow wooter! I bet you also think that it will be nearly impossible to get one seeing how far the free day has spread through the internets  :D

I've managed to get one BOC, they always have them right around the time I get home from school so its pretty easy to camp out for 2 hours try to get one.

Offline madsci1016

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2009, 04:45:58 PM »
Do you see what you have started?  http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=9935.0

@ Razor -- I will be at work when the sparkfun deal starts, meaning i will have to submit the order from work. Not sure if being on a US Govt network will give me better chances or not, but i'm gonna try.

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2009, 05:26:46 PM »
Yeah, i knew posting this would piss a few people off....
But if you didn't know about it, wouldn't you want it posted?
I'm just hoping i can get a few sharp ir's as they aren't sold ANYWHERE over here :)

Let us pray that the website doesn't go down. I have to get up at 2am on the 8th (grumble grumble)
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Offline Joker94

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2009, 07:25:44 PM »
well it thought it was 2:30 for me and 3am for you .

too late but it may be worth it.

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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2009, 07:31:10 PM »
Hmm, i'll double check that...
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Offline Hertz32

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2010, 08:49:14 AM »
AAhhh i live in the uk im going to have to pay a lot for p&p
*sobs*

Offline Joker94

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2010, 05:24:49 PM »
do a dummy run and your postage will be calculated.

Offline Hawaii00000

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2010, 02:27:05 AM »
So what if you place an order assuming you'll have the credit, but your like #1001. Then you gotta cough up $100
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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2010, 02:56:00 AM »
That would be uber gay but i think it tells you when you click buy if you are eligible for the credit...

Edit:
Quote
You will see whether or not your order qualifies for a credit in the checkout process.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2010, 02:58:38 AM by SmAsH »
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Offline Hawaii00000

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2010, 03:20:17 AM »
I think says you MAY qualify... hmmmm
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Offline arixrobotics

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2010, 09:33:06 AM »
Its not yet 9am MST but the website is down already  :(  I can't get in...

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2010, 09:39:25 AM »
Its not yet 9am MST but the website is down already  :(  I can't get in...
lol, just goes to show how many of us are desperate for free parts ;D
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Offline GearMotion

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2010, 09:58:45 AM »
Wow. Big failure. They didn't think through the fact that some people will be happy with their plan, but MANY will be disappointed.

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2010, 10:05:07 AM »
Yeap, so many peoples hopes will be crushed by this :-\
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Offline chelmi

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #18 on: January 07, 2010, 10:23:03 AM »
Disappointed? maybe... but certainly not by SparkFun!
If I don't get what I wanted, it's not sparkfun's fault, it's just bad luck. It's like the lottery: if you don't win, you don't hold anything against the system. It's just bad luck...

Offline Hawaii00000

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #19 on: January 07, 2010, 11:43:07 AM »
Trying for 1hr 45min... fail
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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #20 on: January 07, 2010, 11:58:22 AM »
Well, we tried... And failed... Damn my slow internet!
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Offline GearMotion

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #21 on: January 07, 2010, 12:37:55 PM »
Add me to the "tried" list.

I actually completed the order. Took a long time. I never got my confirmation email, so I just looked and the items that I ordered were unceremoniously returned to my cart.

Again - free stuff or not - this will reflect poorly on SparkFun's choice.

Offline madsci1016

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #22 on: January 07, 2010, 12:53:39 PM »
THIS WAS NOT A LOTTERY!!! Lotteries involve tickets and winning numbers.

Sparkfun billed this as a way to "repay their customers" since they had success during a depression; and therefore they should have only re payed those who actually placed order to help them through that depression. Instead, they burned a lot of loyal customers.

This was more like a parent having their kids fight it out to see who gets a Christmas present. Not Cool.

</vent>

Offline parallax

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2010, 12:54:50 PM »
Add me to the "failed" list too.  :-[  I started just when it opened and by the time I managed to fill my cart it was done, because I kept getting dropped from the site. I imagine their servers were in no way able to handle the load. They said they would post statistics about "Free Day" at some point... I am curious to see just how many people tried to get in on it
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Offline chelmi

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #24 on: January 07, 2010, 01:00:52 PM »
Guys! It's not SF's fault if you didn't get your free stuff... They made a very generous gesture today, be grateful.
Grow up and stop whining...

Offline GearMotion

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2010, 01:32:42 PM »
Grow up and stop whining...

That's rather offensive. Those that disagree with you are immature whiners?

Sparkfun billed this as a way to "repay their customers" since they had success during a depression;

That is a legitimate point, but probably would be lost on SparkFun. A rewards program for frequent orders would actually reward those that ARE their customers.


I have to wonder (and will never know for sure) if this has done more harm than good. My opinion is that it makes their business look pretty amateur.

Offline chelmi

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #26 on: January 07, 2010, 01:35:45 PM »
Grow up and stop whining...

That's rather offensive. Those that disagree with you are immature whiners?


No, but people who complain they didn't get a present are whiners.

I have to wonder (and will never know for sure) if this has done more harm than good. My opinion is that it makes their business look pretty amateur.
Look around! that's how it works everywhere. If you want to buy tickets online for a very popular sport event or a show, you will face the same issue (unavailable website, order hard to finalize,...). What do you suggest they do?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2010, 01:39:25 PM by chelmi »

Offline GearMotion

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #27 on: January 07, 2010, 01:52:51 PM »
Grow up and stop whining...

That's rather offensive. Those that disagree with you are immature whiners?


No, but people who complain they didn't get a present are whiners.

That is your opinion. Personally I'm not resorting to name calling. I feel everyone deserves their right to opine on the subject.

I have to wonder (and will never know for sure) if this has done more harm than good. My opinion is that it makes their business look pretty amateur.
Look around! that's how it works everywhere. If you want to buy tickets online for a very popular sport event or a show, you will face the same issue (unavailable website, order hard to finalize,...). What do you suggest they do?

Clearly I'm suggesting a way to reward their loyal customers. That was their stated intent. Their execution caused discourse. Most businesses look poorly on customers developing a negative opinion of them. It was mere speculation on my part that this may have generated negative relations with a set of their customers as a result.


Offline Hertz32

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #28 on: January 07, 2010, 02:36:27 PM »
me and mi dad tried to get a pololu 3pi but i didnt work out oh well looks like mi first robot will be bought bit by bit  :( oh well plz have a look at my post in electronics about a cerebellum alternative

Offline z.s.tar.gz

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Re: Sparkfun Free Day
« Reply #29 on: January 07, 2010, 03:23:33 PM »
I didn't get anything, but easy come easy go right?
Save yourself the typing. Just call me Zach.