[Tfug] Worldcare

[Malcolm's Honey Co.]

Bexley Hall wrote:
> Hi, Chris,
>
> --- Christopher Robbins <robbinsc at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> What would be handy (and I'd be willing to
>> volunteer/help out with)
>>     
>
> Excellent!
>
>   
>> would be a simple website that has some info on the
>> servers/computers they have.
>>     
>
> Joes and I have tried to do that just by listing
> items, here.  Based on what we've seen *sold*,
> this hasn't been very successful.  :<
>
> The difficulty you will encounter is keeping that
> list current.  Not only do you need to know when
> items can be *added* to the list but, also, when
> items need to be *removed* from the list (because
> they have been sold, used for some aid purpose
> or otherwise distributed).
>
> Currently, the only way to do this is to physically
> inspect what's there.  Thankfully, Dennis is very
> good at listing the contents (hardware and software)
> of each machine that he builds.
>
>   
>> Or some sort of database to catalog everything they
>> have and an associated
>>     
>
> Ha!  Dream on!  :<  You would have to do this
> manually and maintain it manually -- the store
> just treats all computer sales as "computer"
> without regard to *which* computer was sold, etc.
>
>   
>> price.  I went out there today, and while they have
>> some interesting things out front, I've heard they
>> have interesting stuff in the back.
>>     
>
> Technically, every other part of the building is
> off-limits to the public.  This is a logistical
> matter (we can't afford to keep track of random
> people walking around the building) as well as a
> liability issue (having to explain to the insurance
> company why Joe Random Citizen happened to cut
> himself on some surgical scissors that were in a
> box of items he happened to be digging through).
>
> Remember, this isn't a retail outlet -- it's a
> relief organization.  For the most part, people
> aren't sitting (i.e. stationed) in a particular
> room waiting for someone who might drop in.
> Joe, for example, could be in "his" room, or
> sorting donations, or unloading an 18-wheeler
> full of donated materials, or hauling scrap metal
> out to the metal recycling dumpster, or bringing
> items into the store, or...
>
> And, each of those things are tasks that he is
> performing *for* WC.  So, when someone shows up,
> whatever Joe *was* doing suddenly has to wait.
>
> It would be like someone showing up unannounced
> at your place of employment and saying "Hey,
> could you show me what you do here?"  After the
> second or third time, your boss is going to get
> a bit annoyed about the distraction and how much
> of your work hasn't been getting done...  Or, if
> you're salaried (and, thus, are paid for the task
> and not the time!), *you* will get annoyed at having
> to work later those evenings in order to finish
> what needs to get done!  :<
>
> The same is true of all volunteers.  While many of
> them are retired (or, independently weathly as is
> Joe's case), others of them are not.  So, the time
> they spend has self-imposed limits.
>
> And, of course, the facility closes each night so
> there is *that* limit on what you can get done on
> a given day.
>
>   
>> But Joe wasn't in and I couldn't check else out (I
>> guess the room in the back with all the
>> super-secret stock I've heard about).
>>     
>
> It's not "super secret".  Rather, they are items
> that don't appear to have a demand -- based on
> what we see selling in the store.  E.g., if the
> servers in the store aren't selling, then why
> put *more* servers out there??  If 8-track players
> (before most of your times, I suspect  :> ) aren't
> selling, why put more of *those* out there????
>
>   
>> If they have as much stuff as Bexley says they get
>> in, and the rest of us (who crave random/interesting
>> electronics) have access to knowing what their
>> inventory looks like,
>>     
>
> But that's the falacy!  You're still thinking like
> WC is a *store*.  WC has no real "inventory" in
> that sense.  THe only things that WC considers
> inventory are the (tested, reconditioned) computers,
> clothing, personal hygiene products, medical supplies,
> etc. that are being held for current/pending/future
> relief efforts.  The *store's* inventory is *in*
> the store.  It's not like a retail store where you
> can see an empty shelf and ask a clerk if they have
> any more Figgledorf Blue "in stock".  Instead, it's
> more like WalMart in the sense that what you see is
> what they have!
>
>   
>> it might make things move with a little more speed.
>> If they have a way (via said website) to get the
>> obscure stuff moving out the door, it might even
>> bring in a little extra cash....
>>     
>
> WC would love to find homes for things that it
> would otherwise route to "materials recycling".
> Even more if they can get a few bucks for it.
> But, things don't just "sit around" waiting to
> make their way into the store to be sold.  The
> facility is a fixed size.  Accumulating items
> at the rate they come in would have the place
> bursting at the seams in a matter of days.
>
> Recall, WC processes, on average, 3.5 tons of
> goods EVERY DAY.  Even if those goods had the
> density of *cement*, you're looking at ~40 cu ft
> daily (i.e., the volume of a typical household
> closet every day).  Of course, actual donations
> are much less dense (e.g., a computer is probably
> 20-30 lbs/cu ft) so the actual volume of daily
> donations is considerably more than 10 times that!
>
> I.e., WC staff have to move that much material *out*
> of the facility every day -- to "materials recyclers"
> or relief recipients.  It doesn't matter how "cool"
> something may be -- if it can't be reused or resold
> in short order, there's no place to horde it.
>
> I've been pushing the idea of a UofA style auction
> but WC just isn't set up for that sort of event.
> And, generating the traffic necessary to justify
> the success of that effort...
>
>   
>> I don't know who to talk to, but it is an idea to
>> ponder....
>>     
>
> Start with Joe.  You'll find there are other issues
> to be addressed (i.e., *which* web site!).  He and
> I have tried to "create" demand by listing items
> here but with little success.  It's a chicken-egg
> problem -- the items *you* want to see won't be
> made available unless there's a visible (to staff)
> demand for them (as evidenced by actual $ale$).
> But, the sales won't happen until the items are
> made available!  :<
>
> <shrug>  Welcome to our world!  :>
>
> Regardless, any effort you are willing to extend will
> be appreciated!
>
> --don
>
>
>
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>   
Does WC sell parts?