Call to #hackerspaces & #makerspaces around the world, lets join forces!
Hi. 👋 I make #OpenSource smart #thermostats that don't spy on you. I don't ship internationally for two reasons: financial cost and environmental cost. I'd like to join a network of Makerspaces to have them be produced regionally so people outside of America can get a pre-made unit.
Does this network already exist? If so, how do I join? If it doesn't exist, would you like to help build it?
To give you an idea of how much international shipping costs, I paid $8.85 the other day to ship a #HestiaPi. Shipping that exact same package to the UK would be at least $30.45.
Speedier shipping would be $10.25 domestically, but $66.25 to the UK.
On top of that, the buyer would have to pay about $30 in taxes (VAT) to pick it up in the UK.
That's $51.60 that could be saved if the same thing were made by a local hackerspace. And if there's a problem, another $30-60 to ship a replacement part!
I shipped a unit to Canada and that was also over $30, so this isn't just a trans-Atlantic problem either.
I've paid and extra $60 to have a replacement screen sent directly to a customer in Europe. Even then it took over 4 weeks to get there.
This is why I don't ship internationally anymore. I've been burned too many times and the customers don't get the level of service they should expect.
So I'm trying to find a better way for people to be able to have nice things.
I envision Makerspaces around the world, independently making these devices.
Ideally, we'd get a bunch of things that could be produced locally and share it amongst the collective. Not every hackerspace would have make every product, but hopefully there would someone reasonably close who could hook customers up with the gear they want.
This could make #OpenSource #hardware more accessible. No longer would the skills, equipment and time be required to have an open source device.
@hub I'm not a UK tax expert, but https://www.gov.uk/how-vat-works says VAT only needs to be collected if the business (Makerspace) was selling "more than £90,000" worth of stuff.
Regardless of this specific example, there are still huge advantages including:
- Not needing to be an international tax expert
- Less money spent on shipping
- Less environmental cost from shipping
- Help support a local Makerspace
- Help support local jobs
*interested UK resider*
@MxVerda Awesome! What I am imagining is you build a unit for yourself to get the hang of it, verify it works as expected, and make sure you want to build these devices.
Then we coordinate with the original author to make sure they're cool with this plan (they'll want to verify anyone using their name is building reliable devices to protect the project's good reputation)
Code/design files: https://github.com/hestiapi
Forum: https://community.hestiapi.com/
And I'm happy to help at every step along the way
@MxVerda Do you have a local Hackerspace or Makerspace that might have someone interested in helping solve this?
I'd be happy to work with anyone who is willing to help.
@hestiahacker interested in Canada!! What's involved with parts/production? Do PCBs need to be ordered from like PCBWay or similar, and cases built using 3D printed parts? Seems simple enough :)
Is there a repo for this btw? I personally want to replace 5 non smart thermostats I have so that I can automate on/off for morning stuff, at least in my bedroom
@jessienab Yup, that's pretty much it, and I'd be glad to walk you through the process and field any questions.
Code: https://github.com/hestiapi
Forum: https://community.hestiapi.com/
Full disclosure: I am a code maintainer, hardware developer & builder of this project, but didn't invent it. Coordinating with the original author has been great, but I wanted to mention that we'll need to get their approval before using the name "HestiaPi". So maybe don't go nuts spending money on components yet. 🙂
@chrisn It's true. The current design has been tested across many European countries, America and Canada (and possibly more).
I'm in touch with someone in Australia about maybe making them available there. They are an electrician/HVAC installer, so if it needs any modifications, they'll probably know about 'em.
The more compatibility the better! 🎉
The Open Science Shop is a collective enabling the distributed marketing and manufacturing of open science hardware. The purpose of the Open Science Shop is to provide a collective space for those involved in the commercialization of open hardware science instruments. Open Science Shop will initially work towards shared marketing
@hestiahacker I would like to join such a network too.
I’ve often thought about how spaces like this could be used to reduce the need to burn fuel and time moving matter around the planet.
@requiem sweet. Are you interested in getting started with offering the HestiaPi and then expand to other products?
I don't really know what I'm doing here in terms of organizing all this. 🤷 Just trying to figure out how to break things into more manageable chunks.
Hestia Hacker
Hubert Figuière
Mx Verda
Jessie Nabein 
C.N.
Sir Farts Alot
frigginGlorious ✅
Kirk Smith, PhD
Mark Asbach
requiem 🦫