Author Topic: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy  (Read 573631 times)

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Offline SpAmRaY

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Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:01:45 »

Perhaps we could all come up with a general list of questions for people to ask themselves to help people decide if group buys are something they should be involved with running.

I'll start.

  • Has my identity been recently stolen?
  • Do I like replying to pm's?
  • Do I have enough will power to handle the stress?
  • Do I have enough patience to cater questions?
  • Do I know some geekhacker irl in case something happens to me?
  • If I have to arm wrestle esoomenona will I break my arm?
  • Do I have a paypal account and know how to use it?
  • Will this ruin the hobby for me?
  • Am I willing to deal with the inevitable unseen health problems that will doubtless come up as soon as I've received money and paid for manufacturing?
  • Can I handle demik's truth talks?
  • Am I comfortable doing the boring stuff like invoicing and shipping dozens upon dozens of orders?
  • Do I live in Dallas?




Some good points from JaccoW  :thumb:

Perhaps a simplified project management template?

determining how to plan (e.g. by level of detail or rolling wave);
developing the scope statement; Limit yourself, keep things easy. So with high MOQ for example don't get into dozens of add-on packs
selecting the planning team; A.k.a. You, talked to experts like Bunny, Ivan, etc.
identifying deliverables and creating the work breakdown structure; What do I plan to deliver? Pics, manufacturer, etc.
identifying the activities needed to complete those deliverables and networking the activities in their logical sequence; Planning, GB, invoicing, production, sorting, shipping, problem solving.
estimating the resource requirements for the activities; Can I sort that many keysets on my own? Are nearby Geekhackers available and willing to help sort? Can I call in help or turn over to someone else if the project goes wrong?
estimating time and cost for activities; E.g. 10 mins sorting per keyset x 200 sets = 33 hours / 2 hrs per day = +/- two weeks before shipping starts
developing the schedule; A broader schedule to the one above
developing the budget; Shipping costs from your location. How about multiple sets? Insured/non-insured? Actual cost of making the set?
risk planning; Have you done this before? What are the general experiences of others regarding this manufacturer? will you still have this much time during the entire GB?
gaining formal approval to begin work; Interest > Check, Money > Check, Time > Check

Basically what I have seen during my studies is that whenever a company tries to do ANY project without laying down the exact rules by which it wants to do something, **** goes wrong.
People fight, plans change all the time and in the case of a GB; trust in the one that organizes the GB disappears.

Simple things like focusing on the annoying stuff gets pushed down the line because the fun stuff (designing your dream set) takes precedence.
Tell people that a GB takes time and that you are not responsible for $100 worth of plastic lost in the mail if they don't insure it.
Have a communication plan. Keep people informed on the progress and be ready to answer PM's within a day. Hand over responsibility if you go on vacation to someone you trust. What would happen if a GB organizer gets into an accident and dies? At the very least let mods know who they can contact if stuff like that happens. Either other GH members or members of your personal family.



OLD STUFF

More

So it seems there are now requirements to running a group buy?

Can the mods/admins elaborate for the uninformed?

Perhaps these are posted and I simply missed them.  ::)

EDIT w/ UPDATE

Seriously after thinking about this we need at least a basic intelligence test or something for people to run group buys.
« Last Edit: Fri, 24 October 2014, 14:44:14 by SpAmRaY »

Offline RabRhee

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:09:59 »
The first rule of Project Groupbuy is you don't realise what a pain in the arse a groupbuy is to run...

The second rule is .....
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:26:43 »
It's something that is currently under discussion.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:31:43 »
Thanks for the heads up ivan  :thumb:

But it seems to be already in action -> http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60866.msg1445113#msg1445113 :-\

I'm all about rules and even brought up the idea of having rules for group buys a long time ago BUT shouldn't rules be made public before they are enforced?  ???

I supposed the mods are just testing the waters.  :-X

Offline hashbaz

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:33:46 »
I supposed the mods are just testing the waters.  :-X


Offline demik

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:50:51 »
more rules?

you don't say!
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 15:57:31 »
TIL = tapatalk notifies you when your post is quoted even if you can't access the area it is quoted in

Offline Lpwl

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 16:15:26 »
When I was asking around about this, my first sentence was : " I in no way intend to cause controversy here [...]"

Yeah I know - in saying that, I'm betraying my country...

b-b-but it would be nice to share something with us !  :p

Offline Tym

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 28 August 2014, 16:36:28 »
TIL = tapatalk notifies you when your post is quoted even if you can't access the area it is quoted in
SpamHacker the next Aidan Pierce?
unless they have some unforeseeable downside (like they're actually made of cream cheese cunningly disguised as ABS)


Offline Oobly

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 29 August 2014, 03:15:26 »
I believe you need to have 60 posts to sell anything on GH.... Thread starter of that IC didn't have 60 at the time of trying to start the GB.

I also believe the moderators may well be discussing having rules for running GB's, but that may get all messed up with PMK allowing anyone you can throw a few colours at the screen to start one on their site. The PMK GB thing is a whole other kettle of fish.

<EDIT> What? The Classified thread rules now state 25 posts!? In the past hasn't it always been 60?
« Last Edit: Fri, 29 August 2014, 03:18:28 by Oobly »
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:11:23 »
Seriously after thinking about this we need at least a basic intelligence test or something for people to run group buys.

Offline baldgye

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:20:35 »
Ill wait for word from the Bards before I pass comment, as they are the only true members of staff here.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:21:57 »
Ill wait for word from the Bards before I pass comment, as they are the only true members of staff here.



I needed a good laugh after all the facepalming.

Offline billnye

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:22:18 »
Ill wait for word from the Bards before I pass comment, as they are the only true members of staff here.

No chill

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:35:19 »
Perhaps we could all come up with a general list of questions for people to ask themselves to help people decide if group buys are something they should be involved with running.

I'll start.

Has my identity been recently stolen?

Offline baldgye

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:37:14 »
Perhaps we could all come up with a general list of questions for people to ask themselves to help people decide if group buys are something they should be involved with running.

I'll start.

Has my identity been recently stolen?

Do I like replying to pm's?

Offline jorgenslee

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 07:52:19 »
Perhaps we could all come up with a general list of questions for people to ask themselves to help people decide if group buys are something they should be involved with running.

I'll start.

Has my identity been recently stolen?

Do I like replying to pm's?

- Do I have enough will power to handle the stress?
- Do I have enough patience to cater questions?
- Do I know some geekhacker irl in case something happens to me?

Offline esoomenona

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Re: Requirements to Run Group Buys??
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 08:02:55 »
Yes, all group buy operators must be run through a litany of examinations, including, but not limited to:

- Physical examination
- Mental health evaluation
- Stress test
- Morality/alignment test
- Intelligence quotient test

It is also preferred that they are working, but not too much. In this manner, it can be assured they have some amount of income so that they will not be tempted by running with the money, but that they're not too busy with said work to not be able to handle the duties at hand. Bank statements and tax returns for the previous 3 years must be provided.

A background check must also be performed to prove no previous legal issues. We wouldn't want any criminals taking our money.

They must also be subjected to an interview with the entire forum, so that each person can gauge their own feelings on said operator. During this time, any previous posts are subject to scrutiny, as well as their social media profiles, amount of friends, how many times they've taken their animals to the vet, etc.

Lastly, they must be able to arm wrestle me and win.

Offline heedpantsnow

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 10:23:38 »
Am I willing to deal with the inevitable unseen health problems that will doubtless come up as soon as I've received money and paid for manufacturing? 
I'm back.

Espresso machine overhaul: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78261.0

Carbon Fiber keyboard base: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54825

Offline JaccoW

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 10:48:09 »
Perhaps a simplified project management template?

determining how to plan (e.g. by level of detail or rolling wave);
developing the scope statement; Limit yourself, keep things easy. So with high MOQ for example don't get into dozens of add-on packs
selecting the planning team; A.k.a. You, talked to experts like Bunny, Ivan, etc.
identifying deliverables and creating the work breakdown structure; What do I plan to deliver? Pics, manufacturer, etc.
identifying the activities needed to complete those deliverables and networking the activities in their logical sequence; Planning, GB, invoicing, production, sorting, shipping, problem solving.
estimating the resource requirements for the activities; Can I sort that many keysets on my own? Are nearby Geekhackers available and willing to help sort? Can I call in help or turn over to someone else if the project goes wrong?
estimating time and cost for activities; E.g. 10 mins sorting per keyset x 200 sets = 33 hours / 2 hrs per day = +/- two weeks before shipping starts
developing the schedule; A broader schedule to the one above
developing the budget; Shipping costs from your location. How about multiple sets? Insured/non-insured? Actual cost of making the set?
risk planning; Have you done this before? What are the general experiences of others regarding this manufacturer? will you still have this much time during the entire GB?
gaining formal approval to begin work; Interest > Check, Money > Check, Time > Check

Basically what I have seen during my studies is that whenever a company tries to do ANY project without laying down the exact rules by which it wants to do something, **** goes wrong.
People fight, plans change all the time and in the case of a GB; trust in the one that organizes the GB disappears.

Simple things like focusing on the annoying stuff gets pushed down the line because the fun stuff (designing your dream set) takes precedence.
Tell people that a GB takes time and that you are not responsible for $100 worth of plastic lost in the mail if they don't insure it.
Have a communication plan. Keep people informed on the progress and be ready to answer PM's within a day. Hand over responsibility if you go on vacation to someone you trust. What would happen if a GB organizer gets into an accident and dies? At the very least let mods know who they can contact if stuff like that happens. Either other GH members or members of your personal family.
« Last Edit: Fri, 24 October 2014, 10:51:23 by JaccoW »
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|||My other keyboards :
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|||The Original|Home|Work|Numpad|Play|Endgame|Keycaps
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|Déck Legend Frost|Keycool 87 LE|Leopold FC660M|FC 210TP|Raptor K1 Gaming|Duck Orion TKL|My keycaps & sets
|Pics|Pics|Pics|Pics|Pics|Pics

|||Want to know what Keycap stores there are? Check out my Keyboard Pearltree and my (FS/FT/WTB) thread

Offline ConscienceDrop

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 11:38:50 »
You must:
- have poor communication skills
- be quick to anger, and also interpret any criticism as a personal attack
- not be an adult
- have a very busy schedual that you previously did not make note of
- have health issues, that spring up randomly, that cause you to be unable to answers PMs
- take frequent vacations at random, to locations with no possible internet or phone access
- have been ' burnt out ' on the hobby in general recently

Think that's about it




Offline demik

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 13:00:38 »
ask yourself:

am i a fuccboi?

if the answer is no, run one.

if the answer is yes, run one anyway then regret it and pass it off to two of your friends to save your sorry ass.
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline Novus

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 14:11:22 »
Am I planning a sudden unexpected vacation midway through?

Is my cat going to die and send me spiraling through depression?

Am I going to contract Ebola?

Offline tjcaustin

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 14:36:54 »
Am I planning a sudden unexpected vacation midway through?

Is my cat going to die and send me spiraling through depression?

Am I going to contract Ebola?

That last one ****s me out of running a group buy.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #24 on: Fri, 24 October 2014, 14:43:56 »
Am I planning a sudden unexpected vacation midway through?

Is my cat going to die and send me spiraling through depression?

Am I going to contract Ebola?

That last one ****s me out of running a group buy.

#lifeinDallasafterebola

Offline hashbaz

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #25 on: Sun, 26 October 2014, 01:22:42 »
You must:
- have poor communication skills
- be quick to anger, and also interpret any criticism as a personal attack
- not be an adult
- have a very busy schedual that you previously did not make note of
- have health issues, that spring up randomly, that cause you to be unable to answers PMs
- take frequent vacations at random, to locations with no possible internet or phone access
- have been ' burnt out ' on the hobby in general recently

Think that's about it

This guy gets it.  We should implement these guidelines immediately.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #26 on: Sun, 26 October 2014, 08:27:56 »
You must:
- have poor communication skills
- be quick to anger, and also interpret any criticism as a personal attack
- not be an adult
- have a very busy schedual that you previously did not make note of
- have health issues, that spring up randomly, that cause you to be unable to answers PMs
- take frequent vacations at random, to locations with no possible internet or phone access
- have been ' burnt out ' on the hobby in general recently

Think that's about it

This guy gets it.  We should implement these guidelines immediately.
The hashbizle has spoken :eek:

Offline bueller

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #27 on: Sun, 26 October 2014, 08:32:41 »
Honestly I'm less than keen on joining GB's run by new users. There are rare exceptions to the rule (Bunny for example) but it's happened quite a few times where new users get all worked up in their first few months wanting to start GB's but only a short time later they are done with the hobby. It's not surprising really, I'm sure a lot of people probably stop coming here once they find the right keyboard.
It's a good width!  If it's half-width it's too narrow, and full-width is too wide. 

[WTT] bueller's trade thread - CLACKS WANTED

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 10 February 2015, 22:05:52 »
I think an important question for a group buy leader to consider is,"Do they have the ability to massively over engineer and over complicate a group buy to the point that it has no end? "

Offline rowdy

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Re: Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Group Buy
« Reply #29 on: Tue, 10 February 2015, 22:52:17 »
I think an important question for a group buy leader to consider is,"Do they have the ability to massively over engineer and over complicate a group buy to the point that it has no end? "

And should the answer be yes or no before they start the GB?
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ