NZ Reprap Parts Sourcing guide

I have told all of my customers that they could do it themselves for half the amount and they still bought. I give them the option if they ask me and all of the kits I sold preferred for me to do the hard yakka for them, so I don't see what your problem is and just like any business I have a income to earn or are you one of these people that go to the shops and expect them to sell to you at cost

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

I expect a 10-20% markup. Not 300%

dkedr Wrote:
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> I expect a 10-20% markup. Not 300%

Would you be happy to sell with a markup that low?

Agent24 Wrote:
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> dkedr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I expect a 10-20% markup. Not 300%
>
> Would you be happy to sell with a markup that low?


Considering that all that needs to be done is buying parts, and shipping them, I don't see how 10-20% is bad.

dkedr Wrote:
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> Agent24 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dkedr Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I expect a 10-20% markup. Not 300%
> >
> > Would you be happy to sell with a markup that
> low?
>
>
> Considering that all that needs to be done is
> buying parts, and shipping them, I don't see how
> 10-20% is bad.

It's not just buying and shipping, though, is it?

You have to take time to order the parts, receive the parcels, sort them out, take time to chase them up if they don't arrive etc.

Then you have to take orders from customers, and cut rods to length (accurately, otherwise the customers won't be impressed), print 3d parts (which adds wear to your own machine over time) sort out bolts\nuts\screws etc. package each order all up, and send it off.

Probably more stuff there I've missed too, like time taken to find\compare\buy packaging materials too.


I don't have a RepRap (yet), and I don't sell anything, but if I did sell parts in quantities more than just here and there I'm pretty sure I'd want to charge more than a 10-20% markup for all my work.


That said, if you're happy selling at 20% then I say go for it.

I make up the sanguino boards from scratch AND test them,

I lengthen the wires on the motors,

I make up the end stops,

I make the heated beds from scratch,

I clean up my printed parts and make sure the bolts go through the holes,

I make sure the nuts go onto the threaded rod where I cut it,

I wrote assembly instructions with pictures and videos (instructions are a PDF and have been handed out to anyone who asks whether they have bought anything or not)

I make up a CD with installers for software (repsnapper, arduino, pronterface, slic3r, skeinforge) the CD also includes, instruction PDF, pictures of a similar build, videos of a machine running, firmware pre configured and installed on the sanguino.

My kits require assembly only and are plug and play from there on. All this takes between 15-20 hours for me to do so tell me where I'm ripping people off, oh and I redrew some of the parts because they didn't work as well as they could.

Sure you can do it all yourself and it will cost less but don't knock those who provide a service AND offer free help. If people don't like my prices they don't buy simple, know one is making you so I don't see what your beef is.

Do you go to work for free? Thought not

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

If all that work takes you 20 hours, and you are able to source the parts at a decent price (~$600). That would mean you charge at least $30/hour for your time. I'm not saying you shouldn't be paid for your time, but be reasonable.

Agent24:
I'd gladly help you or any one else acquire the vitamins for free. If you want me to get them all and ship em to you then I would happily do that at a 10% markup. Since I don't have a my reprap running yet(waiting for bearing/electronics) I can't provide the printed parts.

That is reasonable in my trade I don't work for less than $60

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

I don't see how selling reprap kits uses any of skills of your trade that actually cost $60/hour.

dkedr Wrote:
> If I look overseas I can get the pursa kit shipped
> for about 800nzd. Considering that includes 100USD
> of postage ....

Did you include the $200 that customs are going to sting you for?

I doubt it I don't think they really thought through their comments. I gave up trying to get through wasn't worth the effort

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

I was wondering.

I shopped around every website I could find before I decided to get my Huxley from RepRapPro. I knew that I could get it slightly cheaper from China or India, but figured that it was well worth the extra to get a quality kit. I was printing within a week of getting the kit. My only problem is the thermistor had fallen off the heatbed, and RepRapPro are sending a replacement.

... actually they are sending a second replacement The idiots at NZ Post managed to lose the first.

That happens, also stamps don't stick to sellotape either, they use a new supplier and the stamps are not as sticky and even if you take in proof of postage they don't refund if the stamp has fallen off

Inquisitor Wrote:
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> I was wondering.
>
> I shopped around every website I could find before
> I decided to get my Huxley from RepRapPro. I knew
> that I could get it slightly cheaper from China or
> India, but figured that it was well worth the
> extra to get a quality kit. I was printing within
> a week of getting the kit. My only problem is the
> thermistor had fallen off the heatbed, and
> RepRapPro are sending a replacement.
>
> ... actually they are sending a second replacement
> The idiots at NZ Post managed to lose the
> first.

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

dkedr Wrote:
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> Agent24:
> I'd gladly help you or any one else acquire the
> vitamins for free. If you want me to get them all
> and ship em to you then I would happily do that at
> a 10% markup. Since I don't have a my reprap
> running yet(waiting for bearing/electronics) I
> can't provide the printed parts.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm just looking around at the moment, still haven't even completely decided which machine I'd want to build!

Anyone got a source for the Molex KK type connectors for the stepper motors to the electronics board? The connectors go from the motor cables to the .1" pitch headers on the pcb.

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Richmond, New Zealand
Thingiverse ~ YouTube

Have you tried Jaycar?

regards
Andrew

Element 14 very quick delivery just look them up

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

NelsonRap Wrote:
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> Element 14 very quick delivery just look them up

But delivery is $15 unless you buy over about $45 worth of stuff

Agent24 Wrote:
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> still haven't even completely decided which machine I'd want to build!

As a vote for the Huxley. It's very portable, and the build quality is excellent. Also the kits are a little cheaper than a Mendel.
However, the 1.75mm thread is 3 times the price (by weight) in NZ.

Ah forgot that as we have an account with them so still get free delivery

Agent24 Wrote:
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> NelsonRap Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Element 14 very quick delivery just look them
> up
>
> But delivery is $15 unless you buy over about $45
> worth of stuff

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

What size and thickness of glass should I get for a v2 Mendel Prusa? I have read both 225mm x 200mm and 225mm x 225mm.

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Richmond, New Zealand
Thingiverse ~ YouTube

I make my alu beds 225 square but the nozzle can't get right to the edges so you would be ok with 200x200 and just hold it on with buldog clips. I use 3mm picture frame glass only because I had some hanging around

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Experimenting in 3D in New Zealand

Hi there,

Where would be the best place to buy a Ramps 1.4 shield from?

Any local shops?

Thanks,
Bert

I got my RAMPS 1.4 with arduino from ebay for a really good price. Came with everything including arduino, stepper drivers, a bunch of wires. But you can also just buy the shield from him too. This is his ebay store

If you want to see what it looks like when it arrives I've got pictures on my blog here. Board was really well soldered and shipping was very quick, only took 4-5 days to arrive.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2012 07:01PM by joshendy.