Do we need a freebie forum?

[Megowcoupe]

OK, I know the vendors aren't going to like this idea, and it hasn't been in the head long enough to even count as half baked but here goes...

I've been in this game a while and every so often I get given stuff- somebody's leaving the hobby, somebody kicked the bucket etc. People often ask me do you want such and such... Most of the time I politely decline- I don't have the room and I generally would rather fool with my own stuff anyhow- or it takes me over a decade to finally find it a home. I'll bet a bunch of you out there are nodding yes at this point. OK, so let's assume that we have some gear gathering dust and we're too lazy to bother with Ebay, plus we figure it's not worth very much anyhow.

The other side of the coin is that occasionally we have kids or people of modest means chiming in that would really like to try flying R/C. (No cheapskates allowed!) It seems like we have a supply and a demand. Some of the stuff we've got really will work to teach people to fly R/C without an instructor, i.e. Firebirds or suchlike.

I guess what I'm thinking of is some type of freebie board, similar to the for sale/trade board. (And no, I'm not volunteering to moderate- I'm too jammed as it is.)

I foresee three major problems-
1) Making sure that stuff is actually useable.
2) Making sure that some unethical person doesn't walk off with free stuff to resell it later. I'll trust at least 99% of modelers- as groups go they really are pretty good.
2) Shipping costs. We are talking about donations here- there is a stuff for sale bulletin board already and this isn't intended to compete with that- just trying to stop people from throwing stuff away. I think one problem to recognize is that if people don't have to pay anything to get rid of a plane, all sorts of junk will be sent everywhere benefiting only the shipping companies. And if we make the recipients pay for shipping, then what happens when they get stuff that's only fit for the garbage can and they're out the shipping costs? I suspect that we'd have to make both parties split shipping costs to make sure that there is some value attached to the stuff being shipped on both sides. We might also want a donation cash fund to help resolve difficulties. Furthermore, mailboxes etc. is too damn expensive.

OK, it's a wacky idea, but is there any interest?

Sam Brauer
Norwalk, CT

[dave_lilley]

OK, it's a wacky idea...

You can say that again... http://www.ezonemag.com/disc/wink.gif

[johnpmartins]

i am first inline to donate, got a 2 meter glider, and a 2 meter ep that needs a half hour to get it ready!

[dave_lilley]

Wow, JM... I retract my statement.

[BillM]

Dave
Don't be hasty. If such a forum were to be created you can be sure the lions share of the goodies would wind up on e-bay or some such place. The one item lacking on the internet is integrety.

I certainly agree with Sam that our useable excess items should be given to those who need them most but how can you be sure that is where they are going? The sad truth is you can not be sure.

Sam you have a good idea. But use your local club or other local group to be sure your material is going where it will do the most good.

My two pennies worth.

[pfg]

i think you just hit on it. give it first to your local club, then second to any r/c club. you keep it honest by the way you find out if the club is legit. the person that wants the stuff cantacts his club secratary. who sends and e-mail or letter to the person with the stuff. now its possible for the secratary to "abuse" the system but lets face it - its very unlikley. on the letter is the club number and its a matter of record who is who with what club. there you go http://www.ezonemag.com/disc/smile.gif works for 99% of all cases. who actually pays the shipping can be resolved by the parties involved. for cases were the people are not club members use a LHS owner. they have something to gain with spare parts so i would hope that they would go along. just my 0.02 worth on a subject that is worth persuing in my humble opinion.

[BillM]

I make it a habit to do exactly that with my rejects. I rarely fly a plane more than 3 or 4 years and for the most part they are still very serviceable. I have given many planes to those who needed them for a variety of reasons.

If you do it personally you know where the stuff went. Do it via the internet and you can only guess.

[GregG]

It might be a good idea to donate such things to the local boy scout troop or school. Our hobby is expensive enough to get into and there aren't enough kids getting in as it is. We need to bring more youngsters into this so we don't appear as just a bunch of older guys playing with our toys. These kids are the key to our future, and it looks better in the public eye when we do something to help them!

[NewbieX]

I've got a fully built aileron T-52 and accessories that need a good home and a few old futaba servos. I thinks it's a good idea.

[roland]

I'll bet there are plenty of Girl Scouts that would be interested too.

[Crete1]

Heck if any of you want to get rid of some rc stuff for FREE. I'll TAKE it! I would use it too. Like you wouldn't believe.. It doesn't have to be in the best condition either. Just servicable!

Please let me know if you're really serious about getting rid of something. I'll pay shipping ect. Heck I'd get such a kick outta getting a sail plane in good condition, or some nice equipment. And I'd promise to use it, not sell it.

http://www.ezonemag.com/disc/smile.gif
You can contact me by e-mail at: tardis1976@hotmail.com

-- Sean

[This message has been edited by Crete1 (edited 06-15-2001).]

[dave_lilley]

The part is I retract is the wacky idea comment about giving away planes. That is generous and not a bad idea. However, personally if I were to do something like that, I would donate it to a local club where club members could mentor new flyers and maintain the plane.

That said, I think the idea of a new forum is a bad one. I think that we have enough forums. If you feel the need for generosity out here, you could always post a message in the training forum.

[SassyCat]

There are people out there that don't have the money to get their own though.

Sass

(grrr my 8 year old cousin just got one from his dad [my uncle has lots of money to kill] so I've been begging my 8 year old cousin to let me help him build it. He's actually been on this site with me a couple times looking at the pictures and stuff.)

[This message has been edited by SassyCat (edited 06-15-2001).]

[Mark Wood]

I was going to say someone could send some unneeded gear to SassyCat as she's young, just beginning her working career but hasn't yet built the capital to be able to spend on life's "non-essentials". She's been here contributing to Ezone for some time learning the hobby and has been hanging out with local flyers logging flight time however and whenever she can. If you have a radio, plane or whatever that you don't need I'll be willing to help reimburse anyone for shipping costs.
Charity begins at home and in this case, Ezone is home to many of us.

mw

[rcdude]

Mark, thanks for your recommendation.

SassyCat,
Here's an offer you can't resist. Pick anything on my website with a total value of $50 or less and they are yours. Email me once you have decided what you wanna get.

rcdude@ureach.com eflightpacks.com (http://www.eflightpacks.com)

As Mark said "Charity begins at home and in this case, Ezone is home to many of us." Let's the charity begins.

[Megowcoupe]

Let me tell you about some of my experiences trying to give stuff away. First off, I don't belong to a club- have in the past, but the local club is a bit far away and with lots of traffic. I've been happy hanging out in a public park doing my own thing- and I get lots of positive responses. Apparently flying model airplanes beats hanging out with drug dealers- no I'm not joking it's that kind of park. Kids and adults enjoy watching me fly- electric or glow for that matter.

Last experience getting handed stuff- a Kadet Senior kit, a Hitec radio (Tx charger didn't work)and a built, crashed and repaired Das Bipe Stik with glow motor. This was from a buddy of mine who said free to a good home- translation: kid with interest in it.

I fly rubber stuff indoors- asked the guys up there if anybody wanted the R/C stuff. Lots of head shaking no... Local scouts have shown no interest in the past. Asked the local hobby dealer who shows up- no soap. These are people I trust who are in the hobby and believe in encourageing those who might need a leg up.

I eventually got rid of the Bipe Stik at a hobby shop I've gone to for years- it was a giveaway since selling airplanes like that in the shop is a bad business- you don't know how well anything works. If its free, you get what you pay for. The radio I've begun using, and I sold the Kadet kit to a shop for a few bucks in store credit. Lots of aggravation all the way around.

Giving stuff away at a club- if you have a good club and lots of interest from young people- sure. Some of us don't have access to such a club.

The internet isn't perfect, but I'll bet we'll have some success stories reading from the above posts. Plus, what about the folks that don't have a club nearby, or a hobby shop? Yes, we may have our generosity abused in a few cases, but I'll bet that overall we have a pretty good track record. Modelers are not the average person in the street. We have to be a dedicated resourceful bunch,used to overcoming adversity or we find something less challenging to do. I'll bank on what I know of human nature that people that hang around this forum and manage to convince folks of their good intentions will probably not abuse our generosity.

Sam Brauer
Norwalk, CT

[rcdude]

Sam brought up an interesting point about people not belonging in a club. Let's face it, some clubs do not like guys with e-planes at all. Plus, there's the club fee on top of the AMA fee. Well. . .you know the rest. In addition, how many of us have time to actually go to a club. If we can fly it in the back yard or under the street lights, why bother?

I personally think that vendors should have this sort of charity (with no strings attached) once in a while (once a year or on some big holiday like Thanksgiving, etc) to promote this hobby and to give back to the community. I hear this phrase "giving back to the community that you live in" many times and I think the Ezone IS a community.

[Mark Wood]

I'm in for a couple RS1420 packs w/Sermos connectors.
Dug up a 15 amp ESC too.

mw http://www.ezonemag.com/disc/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Mark Wood [groundloop] (edited 06-29-2001).]

[Smitty]

I am an AMA club member, The Mid Hudson RC Society in Poughkeepsie NY, Sponsors of the Rhinebeck Jamboree. We had a club trainer that was a couple of years old and still in pretty good shape that we decided to get rid of. It was becoming a crutch for some guys who didn't want to build their own planes. We were going to auction it off at one of our club meetings when one of our members who is a Ham Radio operator told us of a small club in Russia that had very little $ and fewer rescoursces ( no hobby shops or anything) so we shipped it to them, lock, stock, and barrel. The club is made up of 2 adults and about 12 young men who love airplanes but are without many of the things that you and I are accustomed to. It was quite an ordeal with customs and all but after a couple of months we got a reply back with some photos and they were as happy as you could ever immagine. We sent the plane, radio and everythings else needed, except fuel. It was a great experience for all of us and I highly recommend it if you have
the ability to do so. Tom Smith, Contest Director, Rhinebeck Jamboree

[jsc]

Tell you what Sass, you need something within reason, you call or email me and I will send it to you, If you want to come to Waco, I will give you some lessons and set you up, you want some servos?? I have a few standard size one that arent getting any use, all you have to do is ask.
Jeff

Originally posted by SassyCat:
There are people out there that don't have the money to get their own though.

Sass

(grrr my 8 year old cousin just got one from his dad [my uncle has lots of money to kill] so I've been begging my 8 year old cousin to let me help him build it. He's actually been on this site with me a couple times looking at the pictures and stuff.)

[This message has been edited by SassyCat (edited 06-15-2001).]

[afterburn27]

Wow! You guys are unbelievably nice. I love this hobby for the fun and the people. People like you guys will keep this hobby going. I too have relatives that give their kids anything they want in the form of money, but i like the feeling of earning my money by working and i'm sure my parents appreciate that. rcdude - i love your website and your prices are great (you're practically already giving stuff away). Now that i have more time since school ended, I will probably be ordering from you more often.

Keep it up,
-Matt

[Mike C]

I think the genral idea is great, but it would be hard to police in real life. It is much easier to do the way we are doing it right now, we are helping a member that we know from months of talking and exchanging ideas. We know her interest in the hobby and her dedication. There are many kids in our own neighborhoods that would love to have some one teach them and help them get started. One son of a divorced lady springs into my mind that I would love to help once I teach myself! I am impressed by the big hearts here.

[Jamie-]

I have to say that I am also very impressed by all of you interested in this idea. I have been there and there is nothing worse than having a model ready to fly except for the fact that you need one "minor" accessory, like a transmitter.... http://www.ezonemag.com/disc/smile.gif

Now I am fortunate to have a set to fly but am still limited, and I can only imagine how happy a new modeller will be to have the cost of the hobby dramatically cut.

I don't think anyone out there will be that low to ask for free stuff if they are not seriously in need of help from us. If they are, then they can have it. What goes around comes around!

It will be interesting to see if this idea takes off, no pun intended.