Actual dumpster divers caught in the act at our old office. We don't process returns at our new place, so we miss you, dumpster divers!
We have a problem. And it's growing at a rate proportional to our return pile.
We can't, in good conscience, resell damaged electronics. And we can't donate them to charity--the saddest kid in the world is one with a handheld video game that won't turn on. Garbage, then? Not good for the environment.
Luckily for us, there's an entire class of scavengers out there ready to pick the bones of our helicopters, keyboards, and interactive t-shirts: hackers, makers, and crafty techy types.
Whether it's in a school's technology lab, or a FIRST Robotics team, or your neighborhood hackerspace, we're betting somebody out there would enjoy getting a box of broken stuff from us every couple of months--and then use the parts and pieces for good, not evil.
While we can't promise anything right now, we're very seriously considering setting up such a subscription and we're ready to gather contact information from those who are interested. Sign up below and we'll see where this goes!
A few notes and caveats:
- By filling out the form, you vow to make something awesome and you won't be a jerk and sell our borked things on eBay. (We'll be watching.)
- We hope you'll send us photos and updates on projects--we want to see our liddle things all growed up!
- Our warehouse is in Columbus, Ohio, and groups in that area that can pick up boxes are ideal, but we'll work out some shipping options for others. (It would help enormously if you can pick up the tab.) International hackers, we'll see, but it could be very expensive to ship to you.
UPDATE 4/22 1:25pm ET
So. You guys are kinda into broken things, apparently. The little form below has logged 1,930 requests to date, so we know the interest is there and we're giving this program a shot. In fact, we've sent out some already but it will take time to work through the list. We're giving priority to groups--especially those that work with children or for educational, community reasons--so personal hobbyists, please be aware you may be in for a long wait. We are, however, doing our best to get to everyone, so we appreciate your patience!
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