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What a Deal!!! Parallax Sale — Parallax Forums

What a Deal!!! Parallax Sale

NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
in General Discussion
Parallax has a number of items on sale here https://www.parallax.com/catalog/featured-items?sort_by=totalcount&sort_order=DESC&items_per_page=All . In all I saved a total of $184.00. Not bad. I wish I could have spent more but my budget is limited. I had not planned on buying anything but when I saw the great deals available I could not pass them up. Especially since I will eventually be putting together an Elev-8 V1 and can now use the V2 Hoverfly board because of the HUGE price drop.

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    Agreed, some smokin' deals there, like the Sharp IR sensor & cable for $8 and tons of ELEV-8 parts. Many items over 50% off, you can't afford NOT to buy!

    I'm surprised to see the Boe-Boost module on closeout. Is it actually going away? We were just talking about that in the Li-Ion thread last week.
  • Courtney JacobsCourtney Jacobs Posts: 903
    Yes, the Boe-Boost Module has been discontinued.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    Apparently 1st Class shipping is no longer an option?

    I wanted to pick up one relay control board, but $7.30 shipping on a $12.99 item is a deal killer.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    Apparently 1st Class shipping is no longer an option?

    I wanted to pick up one relay control board, but $7.30 shipping on a $12.99 item is a deal killer.

    Likewise. Courtney, please offer cheaper (or free) shipping.

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    Dorothy, you're not in China anymore! :)
  • George SuttonGeorge Sutton Posts: 180
    The deal on the HB-25 motor controller just can't be beat. Got two of these for my custom rover. Wish I could buy many more at $20 off regular price.
  • Keith YoungKeith Young Posts: 569
    So I assume they are making the PPDB obsolete?

    What is replacing it?
  • banjobanjo Posts: 447
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    Apparently 1st Class shipping is no longer an option?

    I wanted to pick up one relay control board, but $7.30 shipping on a $12.99 item is a deal killer.

    Lucky you :smile: For me shipping is $50 and I have unfortunately not been able to buy anything from Parallax since the overseas shipping was changed. On the positive side I've probably saved a huge bunch of money :smile:
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    I imagine that 5 AA cell packs have made the BOE boost less attractive.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2016-03-30 13:44
    These prices are all great but it's sad to see all of these products disappear permanently from the Parallax catalog. I'm particularly sorry to see the C3 go. It's really the only Parallax board that can make use of the XMM memory model in PropGCC.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    Andre(the designer), still sells them on his site:

    http://www.ic0nstrux.com/parallax/propc3#.Vvu-j-IrLcs
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Publison wrote: »
    Andre(the designer), still sells them on his site:

    http://www.ic0nstrux.com/parallax/propc3#.Vvu-j-IrLcs
    Yes, I know. I worked with Andre' on software for the C3. It's just too bad that Parallax no longer has a board that can support XMM. I guess that's evidence that not many people were interested in it.

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    mindrobots wrote: »
    Dorothy, you're not in China anymore! :)

    :):):)

  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    I am almost tempted by the Spinneret, but it uses a cable and WiFi is much more useful for what I have in mind.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    Apparently 1st Class shipping is no longer an option?
    I wanted to pick up one relay control board, but $7.30 shipping on a $12.99 item is a deal killer.
    When I whined about this a few months ago I was told that something like 50% of their 1st Class shipments had problems. Don't know whether I believe that or not. What I do know is that of the dozens of orders I have had shipped via 1st Class since 2007, not one of them has had a problem.

    Seems like they could continue 1st Class shipments to customer addresses that have been free of problems. In the meantime, I'm with you. I haven't placed an order since the last free shipping offer. But I would be happy to place an order tomorrow if I could get straight USPS 1st Class.

  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2016-04-01 04:54
    Same here.. exactly the same experience. Been using 1st Class international for many years, not only with Parallax, never lost anything. Very reliable. The higher-priced shipping methods don't provide anything extra, basically tracking disappears the moment the shipment leaves US shores. In other words, exactly as with the cheapest option.
    And, like banjo and User Name, I haven't placed any orders since this changed either, and I'm not likely to. I just can't justify buying small parts when shipping is often more than the parts.
    As a result, I've had to turn to other projects, and I buy from ebay when in Norway and aliexpress when in Japan (except when I can buy locally.. they still have component stores here). So I haven't been on the forum for months either. It's a bit unfortunate, but that's how it must be. I stopped buying from Jameco too when they increased shipping to nearly $50.

    Hm.. I see the QuickStart Pin Finders are also on sale.. are they closeout items too? They're nice, something that's good to add to some other order.
  • tomcrawfordtomcrawford Posts: 1,126
    Keith Young wrote: »
    So I assume they are making the PPDB obsolete?

    What is replacing it?

    I would be happy to provide a no-cost review of the PPDB replacement. Just send the details and I'll get right on it.

  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    I think it might have to do with claims for lost packages. For domestic mail, you can get tracking for First Class, but there are issues when going through the Post Office interface (at least this is the way it used to be). Stamps .com and other third-party mailing services provide better features here. I recall the thickness of the package needs to be 3/4" or more, and I've gotten around this by putting in some foam peanuts to bulk it up.

    I haven't ordered anything from Pololu or Sparkfun in a long time, but with both they sent the order First Class. In the case of Sparkfun, they offered a gaggle of shipping methods, including first class. They still do (just checked), but it's not all that cheaper than Priority -- just a few bucks -- which for a parcel usually gets faster delivery.
  • Keith YoungKeith Young Posts: 569
    @ Gordon,

    Wait, so to get around the USPS monopoly you add packing peanuts to make the package thick enough that it wouldn't legally be considered as infringing on the USPS monopoly?

    Or is this just a stamps.com policy which has nothing to do with the laws?
  • Kyle M.Kyle M. Posts: 112
    Keith Young wrote: »
    Wait, so to get around the USPS monopoly you add packing peanuts to make the package thick enough that it wouldn't legally be considered as infringing on the USPS monopoly? Or is this just a stamps.com policy which has nothing to do with the laws?

    Parallax uses endicia.com (or we did last time I checked), a competitor to stamps.com.

    I can second that the packing peanuts is a thing. A relative used to work at Endicia, so I used to work there when I was younger, and I remember days of putting stamps into hundreds of cardboard envelops along with a single packing peanut.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    Keith Young wrote: »
    Wait, so to get around the USPS monopoly you add packing peanuts to make the package thick enough that it wouldn't legally be considered as infringing on the USPS monopoly?

    I have no idea what you're talking about. The thickness requirement is based on their automation.


  • ErNaErNa Posts: 1,752
    David Betz wrote: »
    Publison wrote: »
    Andre(the designer), still sells them on his site:

    http://www.ic0nstrux.com/parallax/propc3#.Vvu-j-IrLcs
    Yes, I know. I worked with Andre' on software for the C3. It's just too bad that Parallax no longer has a board that can support XMM. I guess that's evidence that not many people were interested in it.
    We didn't hear about our QS-compatible dual prop board for some time. Different reasons: rev A fits my current needs, but we are working on a stepper supplement and have to find a ethernet solution. RevB of the board could contain a xmm solution, there is plenty of board space available. What has to be provided?

  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    ErNa wrote: »
    David Betz wrote: »
    Publison wrote: »
    Andre(the designer), still sells them on his site:

    http://www.ic0nstrux.com/parallax/propc3#.Vvu-j-IrLcs
    Yes, I know. I worked with Andre' on software for the C3. It's just too bad that Parallax no longer has a board that can support XMM. I guess that's evidence that not many people were interested in it.
    We didn't hear about our QS-compatible dual prop board for some time. Different reasons: rev A fits my current needs, but we are working on a stepper supplement and have to find a ethernet solution. RevB of the board could contain a xmm solution, there is plenty of board space available. What has to be provided?
    A SPI flash chip is all that is needed. There is an XMM mode that can use external RAM as well but just a flash chip will provide the ability to use lots of code.

  • banjobanjo Posts: 447
    User Name wrote: »
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    Apparently 1st Class shipping is no longer an option?
    I wanted to pick up one relay control board, but $7.30 shipping on a $12.99 item is a deal killer.
    When I whined about this a few months ago I was told that something like 50% of their 1st Class shipments had problems. Don't know whether I believe that or not. What I do know is that of the dozens of orders I have had shipped via 1st Class since 2007, not one of them has had a problem.

    Seems like they could continue 1st Class shipments to customer addresses that have been free of problems. In the meantime, I'm with you. I haven't placed an order since the last free shipping offer. But I would be happy to place an order tomorrow if I could get straight USPS 1st Class.

    I've also places around a dozen orders the recent 6-7 years until a year ago going with the cheapest international shipping possible, never had any issue. I also hope that 'problem free' addresses or loyal customers would be able to use cheaper shipping options if they want.
  • George SuttonGeorge Sutton Posts: 180
    I just received my on-sale pair of HB-25 motor controllers and I am so glad I purchased these instead of other available controllers elsewhere. These units are very well-constructed and look just beautiful... crafted nicely. With their reputation and the blower fan, I am sure they will take care of my rover motor needs.
  • JasonDorieJasonDorie Posts: 1,930
    They're smaller than I expected for some reason. (I bought 4 of them myself)
  • George SuttonGeorge Sutton Posts: 180
    JasonDorie wrote: »
    They're smaller than I expected for some reason. (I bought 4 of them myself)

    Yep, they are quite small, and should fit most anywhere you want them. I like the replaceable fuse and the fact that they have a cooling fan. I wish I could afford two more of them while they are on sale.
  • Buck RogersBuck Rogers Posts: 2,185
    And for reasons unknown the blank daughterboards are all finally sold out. I guess I missed out on buying the two more I (probably don't) need.
  • George SuttonGeorge Sutton Posts: 180
    JasonDorie wrote: »
    They're smaller than I expected for some reason. (I bought 4 of them myself)

    You may want to consider buying some of the Mounting Brackets (https://www.parallax.com/product/725-29144) if you have not done so already.
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