How about a Magic Pi Ball?

I actually thought about Pi, but I cannot even get a lowercase font...

Bump - how are things coming with this, Paul?

Greetings!

Very well. In fact, there was a little bit of an update that turned up in a different, unrelated thread.

Basically, the final graphics and content are approved, production should be almost finished (probably next week), they have been paid for, they will ship most of them via slow boat (another 4 weeks) but will air express a small batch to me for my own amusement / dispersal. They did a slightly blurry mock-up photo for me of the outside graphics, and I have already approved the answers.

When I am ready to start selling them, or have some in hand for photos, I will post more information. Soon... Hopefully soon...

Excellent - I now have even more potential recipients of a (nearly) unique geek gift this year.

As far as I can tell, it is unique. At least, I have never seen one for sale before. So it is one in a thousand (decimal)... (Unless, of course, this becomes hugely profitable and I decide to get more made.)

I know I'm going to buy at least 0101.

I can't wait!

-Zeke

Paul, have your samples arrived yet? If so, any pictures? I'm dying to get some of these.

For us people across the pond, are you planning on bulk shipping and then doing local distribution or shipping individually?

Greetings!

Unfortunately, they forgot about my request to get a small batch early, so they were all shipped via the same slow boat. So I am waiting until they arrive. I estimate about two more weeks until they show up.

As for photos, I just have the photo of the mock-up. I have no photographs of the real answer icosahedron floating in inky blue fluid. I have a copy of the final approved answer sheet, but I do not want to show it in case anyone finds a typo that I (and my multiple proofers) missed and cannot be corrected anymore...

As for people across the pond, or anywhere else for that matter, there was someone (I have to look up who) who wanted to do a bulk shipment and resell. That is probably the way I would prefer to go rather than individual spheres. Less paperwork and hassle, I would think. It probably could be done either way, but I am not sure yet what that would do to the price (with shipping and packing).

I am waiting until they arrive before making any commitments for bulk deals.

Progress, though.

Edit: Ah, if there is a typo I will hear about it no matter what. Linking to the paper copy of the approved answer sheet...

I don't see any typoes either.

Greetings!

I do not have any more updates yet, but I wanted to ask this question to the board. There is a diverse population here.

How much would you be willing to pay for a Tech Support Sphere? Please assume that shipping and packing fees are not included, and that you would likely pay additional (actual amount) charges for packing and shipping.

I will be using your feedback for setting prices for both bulk and individual purchases, so be honest. Also, I have a price in mind, but I want to see if what I think it should be, what I have paid for them and what people are willing to pay are at least in the right, uh, ballpark...

So...

How much would you pay?l
I do not want one, or I am a starving student living on macaroni and cheese.
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$15
I am an insane eccentric. Here is my checking account routing number. Have fun.

Thanks!

It depends. Does it slice? Does it dice? Does it julienne?

Hahhahahah.

Unfortunately, no. It does not slice. It does not dice. It does not julienne. I can crush a clove of garlic, if you are so inclined - but that does void any form or warranty (of which there is none).

Paul, how about 'a fair price'. So cost+something for your time and effort on these. I want some and assuming there are priced reasonably the more I'll want. I'm assuming somewhere between $10-20. Having never checked the price of the original I've no idea.

Greetings!

Oh, it will be fair. I am not trying to really make a huge profit on this (although, it would not be a bad thing, I guess). At the moment, I am thinking it would be at the low end of your range ($10-12 + shipping & packing) with possible lower prices for quantity / bulk orders. I will not actually set a price until I have them ready to sell, though.

I am actually using a cost plus model for this: I know what they cost to make & ship to me, add a pseudo-random number and charge that. Slightly over 1/3rd of my capital layout was for building the tool / die to make the custom answer icosahedron, so if there is a huge enough demand that I need to order more of them, it will get cheaper because I would not need to make a custom tool the second time around. (Do not hold your breath on that one, though...)

Sounds good to me. Any idea when we'll be able to order them?

Any idea when we'll be able to order them?

Uh, when they arrive??? Seriously, I expect them to arrive within the next two weeks (end of April), and then I will check with the folks that were interested in bulk amounts or resale via ebay (an email to see if they are still interested). Then I will open it up to folks on the board for individual purchase.

Conveniently I should have money again by then. I just flushed a pile on taxes and a replacement charger and controller for my car.

Greetings!

After checking with the printing company today, I learned that the "tech support spheres" have arrived in the US, disembarked from their slow boat and are currently on their way to me. I have been told that if I do not see them by Friday to call the printer back and yell at them. More information, photos and other details when they actually arrive at my door.

Greetings!

Well, they are close by now. I received a UPS delivery notice on the door. I guess they did not want to drop off 27 boxes without me to sign for them... Well, at least that clears the mystery of how they will arrive!

Will there be a storefront web site where we can buy these soon?

I want to be able to link my friends to somewhere so they can buy it.

Will there be a storefront web site where we can buy these soon?

Hmmm... Good question. That would probably be a smart idea. Probably yes, but I have no details yet. ...

...

Update: while typing, UPS made a second attempt today. They are here. Details and photos to follow...

Greetings!

Yup. They are here. Lots of them...



Each box has 36 spheres, 28 boxes...



Here is one right out of the box...



And now, with the 1000 visible. It turned out well...



And people wondered if it could be done. My only response -





Ordering details will follow in the "For Sale" forum after I have a chance to think about things...

Paul in case you didn't know. You're a superstar :-)

Nah, just insane enough to do things like this.

Meanwhile, I am in negotiations with a few people who asked (in advance) for the ability to resell these via ebay, etc. I will sell directly to people on the board, but I am not sure if it would be better for folks across the pond (customs wise) for me to ship to one person and have them distribute (marking the box as merchandise for the total value of all the spheres) or individually (marking the box as gift for the value of one sphere). I actually think the latter option might be easier for people receiving them, but I am not sure yet.

I am putting the final pricing together now - I just need to figure out how much it will cost to pack and ship individual spheres. At the moment, without counting shipping, it would be $12 per sphere normally, $10 for people on the BBS and $300 for a bulk box of 36. Plus shipping and packing.

Soon!!!

Excellent

erm, any reason why I can't see the pictures? Or your site?

Paul,

Well I'll take 50 if I can please. I'm across the pond so how you ship them is up to you.

I'd like to get one, and am also across the pond (does that make me a trans-pond-er? )
I don't have a PayPal account, and to be honest, I quite like it that way, so if anyone in the UK is buying one (or more) and doesn't mind piggy-backing an extra one along with their order, I could pay them by cheque or whatever.

I only like the kind that work, not the kind that fail when we lose machine room power.

Oh, not that kind of UPS.

Sweet. I'm interested in about 10. That's a fairly safe number for gifting. I just hope I don't get overwhelmed with additional people wanting them. If I do I'll tell them they're $15 each and pass them a link to your order page once you have it up.

Bruno