I wonder why OpenBuild parts are so often out of stock. For example, every tutorial uses dual T-nuts, which look rather convenient, but I've never found any for sale--always out of stock, every time I've looked over the last 2 months.These are very simple parts, so there shouldn't be a big delay for tooling or whatever--why are there never any to be had? And they're priced extremely high for such simple things, so they must be very profitable--why doesn't someone just order more?? Even the extrusions haven't been reliably available. Sometimes you can get them only in a few lengths or not in the color you want. Is it that the system is so successful that it can't be produced fast enough to meet demand? These seem like mass-producible things--if there's a lot of demand, and it's profitable, then you just order more from suppliers, right? Or is the system a flop, and people don't want to invest in it? The erratic supply is a big impediment to designing these parts into anything important--you can put a lot of time into a design and then discover you can't get all the parts required, and have to postpone and/or redesign. To work around this, and because even if they're in stock it still takes a long time to get a part (compared to Amazon Prime), each user has to stock up on the things they might need, so they can depend on being able to build what they've designed. That makes the supply problem worse for everyone else. One of the big advantages of standardized parts is that one can rely on them, but that doesn't seem to be happening in this case. I'm wondering if I've just been unlucky, or are others having similar impressions/problems? Dave
Dave - This is very common with startups that everyone wants what they sell. If you dump every dollar of profit back in the business it will be several years before you can become Amazon. And even Amazon does not meet that standard. There have been times when I have gone on Amazon is out of stock and they will let you know when they have more. Just because you want it does not mean that a Billion other don't also want it to. Bob
Hi Dave, Pretty much like Bob has already said. The V-Slot and associated parts have proved to be extremely successful and are currently in great demand. One day this demand will level-out then parts will always be in stock but an oracle would be needed to forecast exactly when this will happen. Tweakie.
Hate to knock the dust off this old thread but I have been experiencing the same problem lately. Currently the Part Store is out of the following parts needed for my Ox build: http://openbuildspartstore.com/5-hole-90-degree-joining-plate/ http://openbuildspartstore.com/8mm-acme-nut-block/ http://openbuildspartstore.com/nema-23-stepper-motor/ http://openbuildspartstore.com/gt3-aluminum-timing-pulley-20/ http://openbuildspartstore.com/tee-nuts-25-pack/ Every time I try to load my shopping cart SOMETHING is out of stock. It's quite frustrating to say the least! I guess I'll just have to order what I can a little at a time, find other sources for some things, and hope for the best in the end. But I'd much rather not have to pay the extra shipping charges involved with that "solution". -Nugz
@Nugz , there is a definite ebb and flow to the parts store. Several weeks ago I checked and found nearly everything in stock and now the opposite is true. The best suggestion is to get in contact with them directly with your parts list see what they can do for you.
