deleted_user
Super User
I could not see where else to post this so I am posting it here.
I searched the form for the term "bank" and found out that far too many people use idioms with the word in it... one may think that metal working is an expensive hobby or something.
I have extremely limited space. I used to maintain workspace and storage in a local storage facility but that became too expensive after they kept raising their rates repeatedly. Once you pay to install a 200 amp electrical panel they know they have you by the short and curlys. Now I have to do hobby stuff out of Rubbermaid storage containers bringing out containers as needed packing up everything at the end of the day to restow before my wife freaks and tosses it somewhere never to be found again.
Okay, WTF is my point? I want to gauge people's interest in a "small parts bank"
It would be best to make it a member's only parts bank... and depending on the numbers and usage maybe a premium members only bank. it would certainly provide a value added service for forum members if it could be made to work well enough.
I'd certainly join, contribute, participate.
Over the past 6 months I have ordered so many items from Amazon that required me to buy multiples of things I only need one of. Despite hating Amazon, because I like free shipping, and I hate ordering a single part from Digikey Canada or similar only to have to pay $20 shipping out of the USA for a $2 part. God forbid I need a part from McMaster Carr and have to go with a trans-shipment company in Buffalo.
I don't have the space to store the surplus parts, but I hate to toss em in the garbage. A few weeks ago I decided to add two jog buttons to a project JUST to make use of momentary switches I ordered in error. I don't have enough parts inventory to become a retailer or anything, but I can save enough to submit parts to a library quarterly and only have a small shipping bill for canada post.
I am sure that there are many of you that also have small items you don't or wont ever need that you none the less retain until death.
What I would propose is identifying interested members who are strategically located across Canada that meet the following criteria to host regional parts banks:
They're trusted long term members
They're organized and not too busy (retired even?)
They live in town and have easy access to Canada Post office or depot.
They have space to host and maintain a small parts storage system.
There are many ways that such a system could be implemented. I'd survey members to ascertain what they'd prefer. The initial storage system could be crowdfunded by members, making it as complex or as simple as desired. The bins can be organized many ways.... whatever works for the person hosting.
You could perhaps implement a database as part of the forum, and members help maintain it online, add their parts to the database and label their parts as to where they get stored and then ship off the actual parts to the Librarian.
OR the storage bins could be simply labeled by member name, and the member just ships a bunch of parts to the librarian and then lists their parts in the classified ads section of the forum. This could be a reserved classified ads section in the premium members only forum.
I envision a system where parts are donated by members and distributed to other members at no cost other than S&H so they'd mostly be low value items. The "purchaser" would pay the librarian the cost of shipping and handling. The librarian would do one mail run a week to keep handling fees low.
BUT they parts could be sold as well, with two payments being made by the purchaser but that would be more complex, and create potential headaches.
This is different than the online classifieds ads, since it pools goods and provides a member with the opportunity to buy multiple small esoteric metal working related items and pay a single shipping fee to reciieve a single delivery rather than 10 amazon deliveries with too many parts.
How well is the member's only tool library working out? Or is that secret only for members?
I searched the form for the term "bank" and found out that far too many people use idioms with the word in it... one may think that metal working is an expensive hobby or something.
I have extremely limited space. I used to maintain workspace and storage in a local storage facility but that became too expensive after they kept raising their rates repeatedly. Once you pay to install a 200 amp electrical panel they know they have you by the short and curlys. Now I have to do hobby stuff out of Rubbermaid storage containers bringing out containers as needed packing up everything at the end of the day to restow before my wife freaks and tosses it somewhere never to be found again.
Okay, WTF is my point? I want to gauge people's interest in a "small parts bank"
It would be best to make it a member's only parts bank... and depending on the numbers and usage maybe a premium members only bank. it would certainly provide a value added service for forum members if it could be made to work well enough.
I'd certainly join, contribute, participate.
Over the past 6 months I have ordered so many items from Amazon that required me to buy multiples of things I only need one of. Despite hating Amazon, because I like free shipping, and I hate ordering a single part from Digikey Canada or similar only to have to pay $20 shipping out of the USA for a $2 part. God forbid I need a part from McMaster Carr and have to go with a trans-shipment company in Buffalo.
I don't have the space to store the surplus parts, but I hate to toss em in the garbage. A few weeks ago I decided to add two jog buttons to a project JUST to make use of momentary switches I ordered in error. I don't have enough parts inventory to become a retailer or anything, but I can save enough to submit parts to a library quarterly and only have a small shipping bill for canada post.
I am sure that there are many of you that also have small items you don't or wont ever need that you none the less retain until death.
What I would propose is identifying interested members who are strategically located across Canada that meet the following criteria to host regional parts banks:
They're trusted long term members
They're organized and not too busy (retired even?)
They live in town and have easy access to Canada Post office or depot.
They have space to host and maintain a small parts storage system.
There are many ways that such a system could be implemented. I'd survey members to ascertain what they'd prefer. The initial storage system could be crowdfunded by members, making it as complex or as simple as desired. The bins can be organized many ways.... whatever works for the person hosting.
You could perhaps implement a database as part of the forum, and members help maintain it online, add their parts to the database and label their parts as to where they get stored and then ship off the actual parts to the Librarian.
OR the storage bins could be simply labeled by member name, and the member just ships a bunch of parts to the librarian and then lists their parts in the classified ads section of the forum. This could be a reserved classified ads section in the premium members only forum.
I envision a system where parts are donated by members and distributed to other members at no cost other than S&H so they'd mostly be low value items. The "purchaser" would pay the librarian the cost of shipping and handling. The librarian would do one mail run a week to keep handling fees low.
BUT they parts could be sold as well, with two payments being made by the purchaser but that would be more complex, and create potential headaches.
This is different than the online classifieds ads, since it pools goods and provides a member with the opportunity to buy multiple small esoteric metal working related items and pay a single shipping fee to reciieve a single delivery rather than 10 amazon deliveries with too many parts.
How well is the member's only tool library working out? Or is that secret only for members?
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