We order multiple kits a year (6-9 V5 kits, 5 IQ kits, sometimes tiles or fields). We usually contact VEX and ask them to put together a pallet to send via LTL freight. We have saved close to 50% at times on shipping with that method.
Individual teams might consider partnering with other local teams and placing a larger order together to save on shipping costs by doing LTL freight.
Sounds like an amazing business opportunity to warehouse these products in bulk within regions where shipping is expensive.
Maybe VEX can be on board to allow someone to spearhead such an idea or company?
Great time to be one of 2 teams locally 
Amazon would charge fees that would put Vex out of business.
This was a business model for MANY years! There were some absolutely amazing vendors. VEX decided a few years ago that they couldnât do that anymore.
I strongly disagree. In fact, I believe if VEX were to talk to Amazon, VEX would get assistance for free because it benefits Amazon as well.
Given RECF has many sponsors: https://recf.org/vex-robotics-world-championship/sponsors-exhibitors-college-row/
And given that Chevron gives away money for educational programs such as Texas A&M Academies, I believe that there are many benefits for Amazon partnering with VEX, if VEX were to reach out:
Why canât VEX be sponsored by Amazon to help streamline the process for robotics to be more available and affordable?
Yeah, this pains me that VEX did that.
Vex (the company that makes these things) is not a nonprofit, so there would be 0 tax advantages to sponsoring Vex Robotics. Vex Robotics is not the RECF.
As for your other points:
If Vex and Amazon did come to a deal, it would likely be a reduced fee deal given the high price and volume or Vex Robotics parts, however Amazon holds pretty much all of the leverage there so I donât see why theyâd ever make concessions, and almost certainly lose money on the deal, to get Vex to sell on their platform.
I just did a google search, and apparently Amazon is already a sponsor of the RECF: https://recf.org/about-us/our-partners/
They can likely talk to Amazon and with VEX to figure something out. This seems like something highly possible and likely already done with other companies.
I believe this is known as âMultichannel Fulfillmentâ on Amazons website where a 3rd party websiteâs orders would request Amazon to send out the package that pre-exists in their warehouse network. And youâre right that it likely has a fee per order, but it might either can be waived via some sponsorship agreement with RECF or perhaps Amazon might lower the fee to be less expensive than shipping cost on VEXâs website.
Regardless, the action of trying to push for an agreement is mutually beneficial to both VEX and Amazon, while being negligible in cost given the scale of Amazon itself.
Remember RECF is the non-profit that manages the game and events, Vexrobotics is the for profit company that sells the parts.
Ok, time to open the can of wormsâŚ
This is incorrect. If a for profit company like Amazon sponsors another company, such as VEX, Amazon would receive tax benefits if it is percieved as a business expense, such as for advertising/marketing. For this situation, it would be considered service for a service. The service VEX recieves is dyanmically supported shipping arrangements, while Amazon gets advertising and also the ability to create more future engineer pipelines.
Looking upon my posts here, I did not make any mistakes when I meant VEX or RECF. Perhaps the only stretch is âfor freeâ because nothing is free, but if I get technical about everything, the general idea might be thrown into a bin.
That is a very good reminder, however I tried my best being clear about RECF vs VEX.
For example:
I am referring âTheyâ to RECF, and âVEXâ as VEX Robotics. I am being consistent in my two recent posts.
Regardless, if everything is fixated on technicalities, nothing will be done. A too-technical focus without just focusing on the general idea might as well be thrown into a bin due to the excessive focus on being being 100% right instead of pushing forward.
Ideas arenât perfect, they are refined over time through testing and iteration. This concept is the whole ethos of VEX Robotics Competition. So I hope we can guide ourselves on the opportunity and plaisibility thereof instead of focusing on being right 100%.
Instead of âthis wonât workâ how about âwhat can be done to make it work?â
I think itâs cool to talk about something like why business expenses are tax-deductibe.
A farmer typically might spend $1 million on crops and maintenance, and then sell the crops for $1.08 million, meaning farmer would have a profit of $80,000 to pocket. If the farmer were taxed on all of the payments for crops and maintenance (the $1 million), they would be out of business. That is why the government only taxes the farmer on the $80,000 profit. And the $1 million spent on crops and maintenance would be a business expense, and the government wonât tax the farmer on it. This sort of scenario applies for companies too.
That is why it is possible for VEX and Amazon for make a sponsorship that lets Amazon have tax deductions as a result of sponsoring VEX, a for-profit company. Amazon just has to show that they get something out of it.
Doing some research:
Amazon sponsors RECF for scholarships: https://recf.org/scholarship/amazon-future-engineer-scholarship/
Amazon already seems very motivated to help future engineers: https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/
Amazon has sponsored robotics sponsorships for indigenous tribes in 2022: https://recf.org/about-us/our-partners/
And with regard to this link: About Amazon Future Engineer - Amazon Future Engineer
If someone from VEX reaches out to Amazonâs PR email ( [email protected]) for this and ask to escalate it, you betcha that itâs definitely possible for Amazon to make shipping more affordable for VEX Robotics competitors around the globe.
All it takes is initiative. And for members of the VEX Robotics company to ask.
Letâs leave it there Connor, we are way off topic, no need to keep pushing this idea.
Hello
Just wondering when will preorder be an option for European teams if youâre allowed to say 