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
Hestia Hacker
Hubert Figuière