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2023 Pass Around Box Mega Thread
- Thread starter vtcnc
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2021
- Messages
- 235
Despite some frustration with junk and poor packing, I enjoyed the two times I’ve participated.
Have to say I lucked out with timing though. I’m a relative newcomer to the hobby and don’t have a lifetime hoard to choose from. But for some perfectly timed auction lots, I would have been scrambling for quality donations. I’m sure others have been in the same boat.
If we’re going to make changes, maybe some kind of “pass” rule would help. We sign up so far in advance that it’s hard to predict when health, travel or a hugely successful garage sale might affect someone’s ability to participate 100%. I like the standard filler idea too, but other than 10mm sockets, I’m at a loss to think of something small we all go thru regularly. Common expendables tend to be bulkier.
With or without changes, it’s a fun and philanthropic way to promote the hobby. It’s just as gratifying to see my donations appreciated by someone else as it is to score something I could really use.
Thanks to all for doing this.
Have to say I lucked out with timing though. I’m a relative newcomer to the hobby and don’t have a lifetime hoard to choose from. But for some perfectly timed auction lots, I would have been scrambling for quality donations. I’m sure others have been in the same boat.
If we’re going to make changes, maybe some kind of “pass” rule would help. We sign up so far in advance that it’s hard to predict when health, travel or a hugely successful garage sale might affect someone’s ability to participate 100%. I like the standard filler idea too, but other than 10mm sockets, I’m at a loss to think of something small we all go thru regularly. Common expendables tend to be bulkier.
With or without changes, it’s a fun and philanthropic way to promote the hobby. It’s just as gratifying to see my donations appreciated by someone else as it is to score something I could really use.
Thanks to all for doing this.
Have not participated, but enjoy watching!
Here is a suggestion.
Wish list and reject list...
Start a new thread for the next round for preparation.
Start with a wish and reject thread where folks can post what they would like to see added as well as what they do not want to see added.
Simple rules are wishes must fit in the box...
This gives a common place for folks to look for ideas of what they can donate and hope for when the box comes.
If a lot of folks state they do not want to see anymore Saber saw blades, then someone packing the box may pack something else instead, something from the wish list.
This thread also can have general comments regarding packing or the items that nobody would take out of the box.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
Here is a suggestion.
Wish list and reject list...
Start a new thread for the next round for preparation.
Start with a wish and reject thread where folks can post what they would like to see added as well as what they do not want to see added.
Simple rules are wishes must fit in the box...
This gives a common place for folks to look for ideas of what they can donate and hope for when the box comes.
If a lot of folks state they do not want to see anymore Saber saw blades, then someone packing the box may pack something else instead, something from the wish list.
This thread also can have general comments regarding packing or the items that nobody would take out of the box.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2014
- Messages
- 3,609
Food for thought:
One issue with removing "undesirable items" from the PAB is what shall one do with those items? Trash them? Obviously, no participant want's to store (keep) them. One H-Mer's trash is another's treasure.
The items were probably offered, in the PAB, in the good faith hope that someone could put them to use.
My idea is to take any "undesirable item" out of the PAB and offer it in a "Trading Post" thread, free for the price of shipping.
I think that would be the best distribution of the "undesirable items" and support a basic tenet of the PAB.
Adopting that idea would accomplish many objectives. It would clean-up the contents, and reduce weight, of the PAB. It would offer the item(s) to the widest audience of members, which is the best chance of finding the item a new home. It would potentially solve any regret about trashing the item(s) if offered for maybe 6 months or a year. After the time period is elapsed, if not claimed, mark the thread "GONE" and dispose of the item as you wish. Any PAB participant could take the action, as long as they are willing to be responsible for listing the item in the "Trading Post" and follow through.
The Achilles heal may be that the process would have to be documented in the Rules and it's clear that following the Rules is inconsistent, at best.
One issue with removing "undesirable items" from the PAB is what shall one do with those items? Trash them? Obviously, no participant want's to store (keep) them. One H-Mer's trash is another's treasure.
The items were probably offered, in the PAB, in the good faith hope that someone could put them to use.
My idea is to take any "undesirable item" out of the PAB and offer it in a "Trading Post" thread, free for the price of shipping.
I think that would be the best distribution of the "undesirable items" and support a basic tenet of the PAB.
Adopting that idea would accomplish many objectives. It would clean-up the contents, and reduce weight, of the PAB. It would offer the item(s) to the widest audience of members, which is the best chance of finding the item a new home. It would potentially solve any regret about trashing the item(s) if offered for maybe 6 months or a year. After the time period is elapsed, if not claimed, mark the thread "GONE" and dispose of the item as you wish. Any PAB participant could take the action, as long as they are willing to be responsible for listing the item in the "Trading Post" and follow through.
The Achilles heal may be that the process would have to be documented in the Rules and it's clear that following the Rules is inconsistent, at best.
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2014
- Messages
- 2,163
I enjoy it and some times I have stuff that people like, and it only makes it a couple of trips before it is gone. Most of the time it is also full of stuff that I have fun trying to figure out what it is for. But people putting glass, and stuff that is easy to damage is not good, Maybe just put in a note that it is available if you pay shipping or something. A few times over the years that I have been involved in this, I have not found anything to pull, and often would just add or if I saw something that I had seen before would pull it and put something in. I agree that maybe we need to have someone pull some of the stuff out that has been in there for a while. Even if it does not leave the box full, Packing material can be used to take up space. This last year I only saw the box once so did not really repeats of stuff.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
- Messages
- 6,893
Maybe put all the white elephants in a "machinist lot" on eBay, then use the proceeds for site fees? Then we could start fresh for the year.
If this ever does start up again, I'm in. Super new here, but I'm still collecting mill parts and clearing room in the garage for the lathe. A lathe that's hiding at a friend's house...
What if everyone dated their additions? Once something hits X months in the box, it gets pulled and pics put up on the free for shipping cost section?
What if everyone dated their additions? Once something hits X months in the box, it gets pulled and pics put up on the free for shipping cost section?
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2014
- Messages
- 3,609
I like your suggestion . . . except, I wonder how the date could be durably, and easily applied to the items. I can't think of a method that takes very little (essentially zero) time or maintenance, but is available to every/any participant. If one wraps each piece in layers of paper (time consuming) the item would be easy to date mark and protection might be enhanced, but I'm certain that the item would be separated from its dated wrapping after one or two subsequent participants unwrapped it to view the item. I think it would boil down to too much trouble (not following the process).
I just thought of a possible solution. Every participant takes a picture of his contributions, prints an 8.5" x 11" of the image and writes the date on it. The sheet is placed into a sheet protector and put in the box. Can everybody take a photo? Can/will everybody print it 8.5" x 11" (B&W would be OK)? Who's got a sheet protector to contribute? It's the easiest way I can think of but I don't expect it would be universally adhered to.