2010 OTCA Christmas Appeal

[Gutsman Heavy]

Keep us informed, I'll be happy to handle the SA side

[Golden Phoenix]

I got something to get rid of.
Count me in

[UltraMarginal]

So my additional idea is this:

there are probably a lot of us who don't have a specific unopened transformer that we are keen to get rid of, I know I don't, mainly cause I'm a bit selfish I suppose. On top of that if we all go out and buy a legends or deluxe class figure off the shelf right now, these kids are all going to end up with the same dozen characters between them, which isn't a particularly bad thing, but I have another idea.

More to go on top of the individual donations idea, certainly not to replace it.

I'm assuming you have heard of the Big Bad Toy Store. if not look it up, bbts.com.

Anyway, they have a lot of stuff on a huge discount, and as it turns out when you buy a lot from them, international postage is pretty reasonable per figure. for example:
this is the sale list: sorry about the formatting, may look better if copied out into textpad or something.

Product # Description Sub Standard Collector Subtotal
HAS10349 Rattrap $13.99
HAS11013 Iguanus $13.99
HAS11015 Razorclaw $10.49
HAS11174 Brakedown $9.99
HAS11480 Insecticon $10.49
HAS14133 Camshaft $8.99
HAS14980 Hot Shot 100 Piece Puzzle $8.44
HAS15124 Transformers Animated Bumblebee $7.49
HAS16268 Transformers Animated Voyager Atomic Lugnut $16.79
HAS16960 Marvel Transformers Crossovers Series 04 - Spider-Man $9.49
HAS17216 Autobot Skids $6.99
HAS17230 Pulse Blast Bumblebee $8.99
HAS17234 Bumblebee $7.49
HAS17237 Sideswipe $9.49
HAS17238 Mudflap $7.19
HAS17278 Mudflap $4.99
HAS17280 Cannon Bumblebee (Transparent Windows) $7.99
HAS17323 Scout Series 03 - Set of 3 $13.99
HAS17325 Scout Series 02 - Ransack $4.49
HAS17326 Scout Series 02 - Depth Charge $5.39
HAS17343 Scout Series 02 - Dead End $5.99
HAS17344 Scout Series 02 - Knock Out $7.49
HAS17345 Scout Series 02 - Rollbar $6.49
HAS17481 Blazemaster $4.99
HAS17485 Scout Series 04 - Case of 12 $55.00
HAS17488 Scout Series 04 - Ejector $9.49
HAS17489 Scout Series 04 - Nightbeat $7.50
HAS17537 Movie Legends - Recon Bumblebee $2.80
HAS17624 Arcee $9.99
HAS17625 Stalker Scorponok $6.99
HAS17630 Autobot Gears $7.49
HAS17741 RPMs Wave 02 Revision 2 - Set of 8 $21.99
HAS17745 Battle Chargers - Optimus Prime $8.99
HAS18009 Tuner Mudflap $6.50
HAS18010 Alliance Bumblebee $6.00
HAS18099 Marvel Transformers Crossovers Series 05 - Case of 6 $76.99
HAS18102 Marvel Transformers Crossovers Series 05 - Hulk (Bulldozer) $14.99
HAS18154 Scout Series 03 - Scalpel $8.99
HAS18327 Movie Legends 2010 Series 01 - Bluesteel Sideswipe $4.59
HAS18489 Transformers Animated Freeway Jazz $12.59
HAS18508 Scout 2010 Series 01 - Wideload $9.99
HAS18573 Movie Legends 2010 Series 02 - Stealth Bumblebee $4.99
HAS18735 Generations 2010 Series 01 - Autobot Drift $9.00
HAS18753 Legends 2010 Series 01 - Cyberfire Bumblebee $4.00
HAS18851 Bumblebee $8.00
HAS18876 Deluxe 2010 Series 02 - Tuner Skids $9.00
HAS18892 Generations 2010 Series 03 - Red Alert $10.00
HAS18902 Scout 2010 Series 02 - Oil Pan $5.00
TAK10166 D-17 Autostinger (Korean Box) $9.79
TAK10167 D-18 Autocrasher (Korean Box) $8.39
TAK10367 D-20 Autolauncher (Korean Box) $9.49
TAK10744 MA-10 New Bumblebee (`08) (Import) $15.74
TAK10746 Micron Booster Case of 12 $51.49
TAK10933 EZ Collection Devastator Assortment - D2 Decepticon Mixmaster $3.30
TAK10934 EZ Collection Devastator Assortment - D4 Scavenger $4.00
TAK10935 EZ Collection Devastator Assortment - D6 Long Haul $3.30
TAK11060 MA-02 Autobot Ratchet (Import) $26.99
TAK11162 Marvel Transformers Crossovers Series 02 - Human Torch (Import) $16.79
TAK11166 Marvel Transformers Crossovers Series 04 - Black Spider-Man (Import) $16.79

Subtotal $699.05
postage on top of this is $230
divided by 98 figures ranging from legends, to deluxe and a few voyager class, a few gravity bots and FAB's. works out to be $US9.50 per figure. This is fairly scale-able as well, so half as much stuff would still work out relatively cheap. and buy buying more cases of figures it gets even better.

We could set up a bank account and people could donate directly to it, and then we could use that money to purchase a truckload of toys from BBTS, and have them delivered directly to the charity. The postage would be UPS air service and is even trackable and literally takes about 5 business days to get delivered to Australia. Of course we would edit the list attached to suit, age groups and amount of money raised, take out bad figures like movie scorponok, and maybe skids and mudflap.

Anyway, just some thoughts, let me know what you think, maybe if not this year then next year.

Cheers
UltraMarginal


I have attached a collection of links to each item:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17485
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17291
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17357
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17237
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17488
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18508
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18327
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17624
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10367
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10166
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS11174
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS11174
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18099
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...il&picture=out
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS11015
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS11480
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS11013
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS10349
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS14980
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS16268
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18489
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18753
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18892
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18735
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18876
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18851
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK11060
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS14133
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17489
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18154
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17326
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17230
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10934
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17280
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17745
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10167
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK11166
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK11162
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10744
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18009
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17625
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17485
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17345
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17325
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17344
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17537
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10935
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=TAK10933
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17234
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17216
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17630
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18010
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18102
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS16960
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS15124
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18902
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17323
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17343
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17741
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17278
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17238
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18573
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17481
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17327
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17328
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17486
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17324
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17828
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS17966
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...oduct=HAS18326

[1AZRAEL1]

Not a bad idea, but I don't have the spare funds to buy any figures atm, I'm in a bit of debt that I am trying to crawl out of.

Anyhow, big thanks to everyone who gave me something at the Parra fair, it is very appreciated.

[G1Optimal]

Not a bad idea, but I don't have the spare funds to buy any figures atm, I'm in a bit of debt that I am trying to crawl out of.

Anyhow, big thanks to everyone who gave me something at the Parra fair, it is very appreciated.

So dose, that mean there is a sufficient amount to donate...??
Becuase, i could try and buy another new one "just" to donate it if there isn't.

[STL]

So my additional idea is this:

there are probably a lot of us who don't have a specific unopened transformer that we are keen to get rid of, I know I don't, mainly cause I'm a bit selfish I suppose. On top of that if we all go out and buy a legends or deluxe class figure off the shelf right now, these kids are all going to end up with the same dozen characters between them, which isn't a particularly bad thing, but I have another idea.

More to go on top of the individual donations idea, certainly not to replace it.

I'm assuming you have heard of the Big Bad Toy Store. if not look it up, bbts.com.

Anyway, they have a lot of stuff on a huge discount, and as it turns out when you buy a lot from them, international postage is pretty reasonable per figure. for example:
this is the sale list: sorry about the formatting, may look better if copied out into textpad or something.

[snip]

We could set up a bank account and people could donate directly to it, and then we could use that money to purchase a truckload of toys from BBTS, and have them delivered directly to the charity. The postage would be UPS air service and is even trackable and literally takes about 5 business days to get delivered to Australia. Of course we would edit the list attached to suit, age groups and amount of money raised, take out bad figures like movie scorponok, and maybe skids and mudflap.

Anyway, just some thoughts, let me know what you think, maybe if not this year then next year.

Cheers
UltraMarginal


I have attached a collection of links to each item:

[snip]

Ultra Marginal, I think this is a great idea. However, given our timeframe, setting up bank accounts and coordinating this by collecting payments is a lot of work on top of just trying to coordinate the logistics of things at the moment. As fruitful as my discussions have been so far with the organisations, they're slower to mobilise on their side to help nut out the details b/c this is only one part of their organisations activities. It's great for them but on a daily basis, they're involved in coordinating and dealing any number of tasks, issues and activities to keep the residential care or foster care programs running smoothly. So I think the first step is building a relationship, getting locations coordinated, and a process in place..

I was at one point going to aim for an organisation in 4 states this year but when I started discussions back in late October, I quickly knew it was going to be a tough ask in the time frame.

So my point is, I would love to explore the option of a joint bank account but I think at the moment, with the time we've got left up our sleeve, it's something we'll have to look at next year given their priorities and ours.

As for the idea of a utilising BBTS, let me first say off that's a brilliant idea there. Hell, I'd do it myself but I've already committed $$ to gifts already for the year. But looking at the list you suggested, I can't say that I got as good value for my $$$. And you're right on the range of toys as well. This opens it up a lot.

Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to come up with this idea. It will definitely should be something we look at next year. That's like 100 gifts which would've easily exceeded my expectations for this year! The lady I talked to this morning was saying that TFs are very pricey and it'd be amazing if we could offer that many at about $10 a pop. Once again, thank you so much for the effort and the brilliant idea.

Not a bad idea, but I don't have the spare funds to buy any figures atm, I'm in a bit of debt that I am trying to crawl out of.

Anyhow, big thanks to everyone who gave me something at the Parra fair, it is very appreciated.

Thanks to everyone from NSW who helped out! And a big thanks to you as well, buddy, for volunteering.

[1AZRAEL1]

Not a problem at all, I'm glad to be of assistance.

As you mentioned with the timeframe we have now, it did limit our options, but now that we know about it, we can plan for next year as well. I think an organisation for each state is a great idea as well, maybe something we should look at for next year. Something we can look at getting organised early in the new year.

Also, I know it was mantioned before, but would we wrap them up or will they have the manpower to do so? And how soon do you think I should send them off? I'd hate for them to turn up late. I don't mind paying to post them either, rather than have the AusPost thing set up, that may take too long this time.

[STL]

Also, I know it was mantioned before, but would we wrap them up or will they have the manpower to do so? And how soon do you think I should send them off? I'd hate for them to turn up late. I don't mind paying to post them either, rather than have the AusPost thing set up, that may take too long this time.

Hold off on wrapping them for the time being. I've had a brief chat about it and what I'm trying to organise from their point of view is a list of ages and which is the best kid for what. With that, it's easier to wrap. Otherwise, we may just send it to them, they'll wrap and label it according to who they wish to give ti too.

Agreed on AusPost too, definitely something for next year. But I'd like to chip in half though as well.

[1AZRAEL1]

Hold off on wrapping them for the time being. I've had a brief chat about it and what I'm trying to organise from their point of view is a list of ages and which is the best kid for what. With that, it's easier to wrap. Otherwise, we may just send it to them, they'll wrap and label it according to who they wish to give ti too.

Good point. May be better to send them unwrapped, so they can give them out to more appropriate ages. Like Legends for the younger ones, and deluxes and such for the older kids. Hadn't thought of that.

Agreed on AusPost too, definitely something for next year. But I'd like to chip in half though as well.

No problem man, will you be delivering them yourself or is that not geographically viable? Is it best for me to send them directly to them? Probably best that way. I might send them off in the first week of December so it gives it longer to arrive.

[STL]

No problem man, will you be delivering them yourself or is that not geographically viable? Is it best for me to send them directly to them? Probably best that way. I might send them off in the first week of December so it gives it longer to arrive.

While I could do it, I think having interstaters sending straight to the charities will work best as it saves me having to haul too much in one go. On top of that, each time, they get a package, it'd just reaffirm to them how we're contributing from all over.