Poll: What Products Do You Want To See Roadtested?

Perhaps I am an odd ball, or maybe just the tax factor for US participants is too gloomy/painful to me, but personally I prefer not to see large price items being offered as a road test if I am interested in trying them.  Kudos to all the great testers that can test out thousands of dollars of equipment and not get slapped by the Government, and I have enjoyed looking at some of their reviews, but I personally look for items that are lower cost and more likely to intrigue the beginner/middle level maker to try something.

I love posting something and seeing others trying it out and enjoying the thrill of working with something new.  I am making an assumption here, but the number of E14 and others that can easily afford to jump on a multi thousand dollar piece of equipment I am guessing is low.  And for some of them that I know they are already gaining access to some stuff due to their work using it already.  I know through my work I have had great opportunities to play with equipment I would never imagine having for personal use.

I believe the current limit is under $800 to avoid the tax punishment?  That is a LOT of fun equipment potential!  :-)

The tax problem is indeed gloomy.

The current rate is 600 dollars or below.

I find that it's either around the 1-200 range, with stuff like EV kits being in the 100 category, PLC's being in the 200, some other stuff.

Or, it's 2 super expensive but super awesome devices, in the 5-10K range.

Or, you'd find a kit, like the recent ISELED? kit. from.. NXP?

That was just over 600.

"I personally look for items that are lower cost and more likely to intrigue the beginner/middle level maker to try something."

I agree.

I'm not the best person in this, and thus I would not apply to advanced RoadTests. I'd say, however, I could do a... reasonably ok job at some devices around 100 or less.

I think I got a C+ to a B- on the quality of my first roadtest I finished just a few days ago.

From personal experience the tax hit can lead to family issues as well as financial if you are not aware.  I was hit with one that basically had my wife forbid any future action with E14 since we ended up owing hundreds of dollars and had no budget for that for my "hobby".  :-)  Took awhile with heavy emphasis on my better educating myself before even looking at some of the E14 offerings.  Tony Stark with financial freedom I am not! 

I'm sorry to hear that.

I hope you can apply to some that are less than 600 and continue your hobby.

Oh definitely, and for those larger items I still enjoy the heck out of the reviewers and their sharing of experience!  I just now keep myself to a smaller tax bracket.  :-)

Oh definitely, and for those larger items I still enjoy the heck out of the reviewers and their sharing of experience!  I just now keep myself to a smaller tax bracket.  :-)

What's funny, you don't pay taxes under 600, but once you get to 600.01...

You pay around a hundred dollars in tax.

Luckily, most items for RoadTest are under this bracket, most are interesting as well.

The ones above 600 are probably too advanced for me!