1 Topic by iowajames

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Topic: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

Some sort of section where users without 3D printers can post an STL, or link and have offers submitted to them from various users to print for X amount of money.

Example:
Post 1:
I need this Swiss Army key chain printed:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:92847
I just need two sets, the ones with the logo.
I live in Iowa, and would prefer USPS shipping with signature confirmation.
I'd like to have them next week, any takers?
PM me please.
-------------------------
PM:
User: Hey, I can print it today & have it in the mail tomorrow. Should take me x amount of filament & about 2 hours print time at 25% infill & 2 shells, how does $20 + $5 shipping sound?
Buyer: Sounds great, send me your Paypal info with pictures of the completed print!
User: Here's the pics & my paypal email is: ....@.....
Buyer: Payment sent, thanks!
-------------------------

Upon completing the transaction, the user posts that the deal is done & when it is received the buyer can leave a post titled with the user's  name: Feedback [outcome], example:

User: Feedback positive/negative
jaythedogg: Feedback positive
-------------------------
Then inside the topic, a brief summary of the dealings, shipping, print quality, etc.

It would be an easy way to increase the ROI (return on investment) for users that wish to do so and help others get their hands on printed items.

Just make sure there is a sticky disclaimer so the site is kept out of the mix, just a place for transactions, not a middle man.

Thoughts?

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2 Reply by iowajames (edited by iowajames 2013-05-27 19:59:37)

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

I chose yes and here's my reasons why:

I think that the other sites that offer networked printing are nice, but there's no competition for work. It auto estimates the price and there's no human interaction to fix outrageous price quotes, high or low. Then the person commits & pays and the user that gets the job either gets screwed or makes way too much off of an ignorant buyer.

This way, fair pricing can be used & the user has a choice as to who they go with, based on numerous options, cost, feedback, reliability, quality of prints (looking at posted work), etc.

Just my thoughts anyway.

I got rid of my SD2 and am saving for a Gigabot and would love to help out my fellow enthusiasts with some cash for printing objects for me, and this site would get that much more traffic. (Like traffic is an issue)

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3 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

So the "Buy/Sell/Trade" section then, eh?

Buy/Sell/Trade parts, prints, printers, plastic, and more.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

4 Reply by nlancaster

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

I am doing this now on a different forum. I am really only charging for time, about $10 an hour of print time.  Made almost $200 so far.

5 Reply by iowajames (edited by iowajames 2013-05-28 01:36:58)

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

elmoret wrote:

So the "Buy/Sell/Trade" section then, eh?

Buy/Sell/Trade parts, prints, printers, plastic, and more.

No, I mean a freelance printing section. Just having a section specifically for that would encourage it's use.

nlancaster wrote:

I am doing this now on a different forum. I am really only charging for time, about $10 an hour of print time.  Made almost $200 so far.

Like I said, why not use traffic of the 100's of people here per hour to our advantage?

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6 Reply by ysb

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

elmoret wrote:

So the "Buy/Sell/Trade" section then, eh?

Buy/Sell/Trade parts, prints, printers, plastic, and more.

+1  ..perhaps a subforum of this section.. but not more...

Find all my 3D printable models here
Game of ropes 2 online..Adult only

ysb's Website

7 Reply by frozensoda

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

I selected no for the simple reason that there's no incentive for brad to do this. After seeing how some people can be (BBB complaints) I wouldn't want to get involved with the transfer of money. However it is a good idea to keep 4th party payment services out of it.

I edit my posts a lot.

8 Reply by Brad

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

I have no problem with people trading goods and services on this forum, but it will be an independent deal done, and this forum in no way guarantees your safety and all such transactions are done at your own risk. SoliForum doesn't touch money.

I think for now we can use the buy sell trade section, and if it really gets popular we can make a new section for it. I love the idea of people getting small prototypes made from others who really know their printers and can provide such a service. I also like the fact its more personal because the buyer and seller can communicate freely with each other, unlike other sites where they dumb down the communication because they need to take their commission cut and don't want people completing deals outside of the site.

Brad's Website

9 Reply by iowajames

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

Brad wrote:

I have no problem with people trading goods and services on this forum, but it will be an independent deal done, and this forum in no way guarantees your safety and all such transactions are done at your own risk. SoliForum doesn't touch money.

I think for now we can use the buy sell trade section, and if it really gets popular we can make a new section for it. I love the idea of people getting small prototypes made from others who really know their printers and can provide such a service. I also like the fact its more personal because the buyer and seller can communicate freely with each other, unlike other sites where they dumb down the communication because they need to take their commission cut and don't want people completing deals outside of the site.

Totally agree, hopefully people start using this.

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10 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

I said no because I don't do anything for $10 an hour.  I have paid for my printer already with parts I have sold to a business client, in that marketplace you can charge WAY more than what people who have the home printers seem to think their time is worth.  For me it starts around $50 an hour to take time away from my kids.  More power to you all though, I'm just not at that place right now.

11 Reply by nlancaster

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Re: Site suggestion: Freelance printing (or, contract work)

cmetzal, totally understandable.  I only charge the $10 an hour for print time. If I have to spend more then a few minutes setting up the print and taking it off, ie design work or anything like that, I charge alot more for my time.