Strange Prices

I expect BBB pricing to remain "strange" and disparate across the world, because Premier Farnell isn't a BBB manufacturer as it is for Raspberry Pi, and so different forces are in play.  There is also an inevitable conflict of interest to some degree, since every BBB sold probably means one less sale of Pi Model B.  We'll never know how that's being played, as it's an internal business matter.  They've already raised the price once, as BBB was initially listed at £27.<something> in the UK and now it's listed at £30.99.

As you point out though, their price leeway is limited.  If BBB is priced too high, people will just go elsewhere.

The same applies to stock issues as it does to price issues.  At least in the UK, Farnell is ordering relatively few BBBs each week and there are never any in stock, so customers may be going elsewhere.  Currently their stock info says:

Availability:  Awaiting Delivery

 

1000 will be available for delivery on 27 May, 2013

5000 will be available for delivery on 2 Jun, 2013

1500 will be available for delivery on 3 Jun, 2013

I suspect that CircuitCo doesn't allow them any greater numbers so it's not Farnell's fault, but that's no comfort to eager customers.  Those who have succumbed to the BBB feeding frenzy will go elsewhere.

Morgaine Dinova wrote:

 

I suspect that CircuitCo doesn't allow them any greater numbers so it's not Farnell's fault, but that's no comfort to eager customers.  Those who have succumbed to the BBB feeding frenzy will go elsewhere.

I watched a video clip recently - I think it was the e14 google hangout - where Jason Kridner answered a question about why someone had found two different types of BBB on one of the distributors sites linked to from the main beagleboard.org page.

Seemingly there's the official CircuitCo supported version, which appears to be what I got from farnell, and then there are 'bulk' versions being manufactured by at least one of the distributors.

Given that and the fact that all of the designs are open and available, it would certainly be possible for e14 to start manufacturing their own versions if they wanted, we know they're capable of producing a small low cost board like this in large volumes.

There's obviously some expectation that the Black will be sucessful - go to uk.farnell.com and search for it and you get redirected to a very RPi alike landing page where you're asked to select your country etc.  As you rightly point out they're always out of stock, but the a/w delivery numbers are much higher and more frequent than any other board of this type bar one..

Anyone who really needs the CircuitCo/beagleboard.org support will simply buy an official one anyway, and those of us who will buy several could buy easier to get clones after getting at least one official one too..

Sure, you don't want to piss off your supplier, but given the expectations you'd have to hope that e14 have offered their assistance getting the manufacturing side up to speed.

selsinork wrote:

 

Seemingly there's the official CircuitCo supported version, which appears to be what I got from farnell, and then there are 'bulk' versions being manufactured by at least one of the distributors.

 

Given that and the fact that all of the designs are open and available, it would certainly be possible for e14 to start manufacturing their own versions if they wanted, we know they're capable of producing a small low cost board like this in large volumes.

It would be great if that were to happen, and as you point out, there are hints that it might be starting already.  Prices would possibly drop even further, production would be distributed widely and hence rise in capacity, and open hardware would get a boost in the arm if the endeavour is successful (and deserved brickbats if it is not).

And some outfits would inevitably design improved versions .... wheeee!

I'm looking forward to it!

selsinork wrote:

 

Seemingly there's the official CircuitCo supported version, which appears to be what I got from farnell, and then there are 'bulk' versions being manufactured by at least one of the distributors.

 

Given that and the fact that all of the designs are open and available, it would certainly be possible for e14 to start manufacturing their own versions if they wanted, we know they're capable of producing a small low cost board like this in large volumes.

It would be great if that were to happen, and as you point out, there are hints that it might be starting already.  Prices would possibly drop even further, production would be distributed widely and hence rise in capacity, and open hardware would get a boost in the arm if the endeavour is successful (and deserved brickbats if it is not).

And some outfits would inevitably design improved versions .... wheeee!

I'm looking forward to it!