sorting out mech kit shipping from UK, funding

[Arjen Lentz]

Talking with BitsFromBytes about the mechanical kit (that's all the
rods, nuts, bolts as well as the bits that can be reprapped including
the extruder, and the motors and belts).

There was an option to have Vik bring back the kit from the UK,
however he's going past OSCON and another conf in the US before he
returns to NZ, and then there's the issue of getting the stuff from NZ
to here again.

Although the online ordering system doesn't do it properly,
bitsfrombytes can sell without UK VAT for overseas purchases. So
that's fine.

What I've asked them now is if they can ship via regular post rather
than use UPS. The UPS cost GBP 106 which is about $200. Post from UK
travel to AU on a plane anyway, and usually takes about 10-14 days
tops. Also easier with customs. Either way the price is below the GST
threshold of $1k.

If the post shipment option works, the total cost for the mech kit
will be about $800. I'll order it, but if you haven't yet made your
financial contribution, please do. If you can't afford $100, do what
you can. If you have already made a contribution but can afford more,
please chuck in some also.
Currently (having paid for the electronics also), I'll end up owning
>50% of the machine ;-)

BSB 124-001 (Bank of Queensland)
Account number: 90626192
Account name: Arjen Lentz

Or Paypal: ar...@lentz.com.au

[pelrun]

> If the post shipment option works, the total cost for the mech kit
> will be about $800. I'll order it, but if you haven't yet made your
> financial contribution, please do. If you can't afford $100, do what
> you can. If you have already made a contribution but can afford more,
> please chuck in some also.

I'll put in some more in a week or so, but I'd really like to see some
donations from the other lurkers too. Come on guys, I know you're
still out there!

- James

[Dan]

Hi Arjen,

Ill put another $100 in on Monday, brings my total to $200 around 15%
would you say? (mmm i own 1 leg of a RepRap) :):)

I was holding out hopeing that more ppl would contribute,

I really apriciate how much you have put in Arjen and i hope i can
contribute more and more over the life of this groups goals of getting
RepRap's into ppls hands.

Dan

[Arjen Lentz]

Ok, so the regular post idea doesn't quite work out because of the
weight, and other non-courier options actually work out more expensive
- BitsFromBytes has been very kind in exploring options for us, but in
the end the GBP 106 for UPS is, funnily enough, the cheapest way to
get this particular gear to here.


So I reckon we'll just have to go with that... but I have put in a
grant request with OSDClub (the non-profit org behind the annual Open
Source Developers' Conference - last year in Bris) and operate as a
SIG of OSDClub (since we don't want to waste people/finance resources
incorporating anyway this seems like an excellent way to go). I am on
the OSDClub exec, but naturally I'm abstaining from voting on this
particular request. Apart from seed-funding each next year's
conference, it is specifically the objective of OSDClub to fund local
open source development activities. So I reckon our activities fit
nicely.

It does mean that we should specifically make it one of our goals to
help other groups in AU get going, providing info on where to find
parts, provide replicated or moulded parts, etc. We already wanted to
do this, so that's not a big diversion. We just need to keep a closer
eye on it and not stuff around.

[pelrun]

Ok, I've just put in another $100. I figure I can probably budget that
much each month for the project without any undue pain. Still
wondering where everyone else went, though...

- James