Post by: mweed on October 16, 2013, 09:59:02 AM
I've been using Zazzle to print them, as they seemed to have really nice quality and competitive prices. Well, competitive if you order in the US. International shipping is rather high. Which is why over the last several years I waited for the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales to bulk order a bunch of calendars and then ship them out to members. With each year, the discounts have gotten less :( Last year's discount was 30%, and by the time we add in my cost of mailing them internationally it pretty much eats up the discount. Now, since Zazzle has worldwide offices, one idea for this year might be to have someone in the various countries verify if they can order through the local zazzle site (or set up the calendar on the local country's Zazzle site) so people could order directly and shipping would be within the country. i.e., see if Kat or IMR can order the calendars through the zazzle.com.au site so any aussie's can order directly and take advantage of local shipping and any sales running there (or, if need be I could send the files to Kat or IMR and they could set up a zazzle account and offer the calendar through zazzle.com.au). We could do the same for one or more members in Canada, the U.K. or E.U. There may also be other companies besides Zazzle that might be cheaper in some countries. And I could still place a big order for anyone in the US.
If this idea really isn't any cheaper (or we have no volunteers in an area), I'm still happy to take orders and mail internationally. It just seems like it would be cheaper to have it printed and shipped locally . . . and I believe we have at least one person who never got their calendar I shipped internationally. :dino-chase:
Another idea is rather than shipping physical calendars, whether it might be cheaper to just post the files and let people print their own calendars either on their own printers or using a local service.
I'm open for suggestions (or anyone travelling internationally next month willing to act as a courier). :ufo:
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on October 16, 2013, 02:30:08 PM
Post by: mweed on November 25, 2013, 10:04:15 PM
(http://rlv.zcache.com/bob_the_pleo_eats_his_way_through_2014-p158494514845662269enq3e_325.jpg) (http://www.zazzle.com/bob_the_pleo_eats_his_way_through_2014-158494514845662269?rf=238310964672454450) | This calendar not only has twelve photos of Pleos, but is also jam packed with hundreds and hundreds of fun and odd holidays and events, most about food. Well it is Bob's calendar, after all . . . %) Each month sports a timeless bit of wisdom in the form of a motivational poster as only Bob the Pleo can do it. ;) :P And this year we've added a new feature: this is the only calendar that includes the official Weedovian holidays and events, and even includes historical pleo events. Here is a link to the calendar on Zazzle.com for those who want to order direct: http://www.zazzle.com/bob_the_pleo_eats_his_way_through_2014-158494514845662269 (You can also use the links with the picture on the left). They have done a wonderful job on last few of calendars, and I'll leave it up there pretty much all year for those who don't get a chance to order one this week . . . And like the last two years I will also be placing a bulk order here in the US next weekend (hoping they have a black Friday sale), and will have them available to mail out to individuals worldwide, which should help on shipping for some. But we'll have to wait and see what discounts they offer (2013 was a miserly 30% discount, while previous years were 50% and 65%, so keep your fingers crossed). I will add pictures and more info here as things get solidified. |
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on November 26, 2013, 12:50:51 AM
Post by: mweed on November 26, 2013, 08:03:43 AM
The US post office has also increased the price of international shipping by a few dollars. 1st class international mail is approx. $15, Priority mail is $24 (US and Canada are less). And as mentioned in the first post, if need be we can also see about uploading to a country specific Zazzle site if you want to order in-country (no clue what Zazzle charges in other countries). And for the truly poor in pocketbook, I am in the process of uploading a PDF to the downloads section without all the pretty pictures for those who just need to print at home (trust me, with the price of ink-jet cartridges you're better off ordering the calendar than using the ink to print 24 full-color 8-1/2 x 11 pages, which is why I removed all the photos from PDF).
I'll have final pricing next week when I know which way I'm ordering for sure!
But if you are interested in being part of the order I place and them have me ship to you, be sure to let me know! PM or post here.
A couple of you already have. And Crewella, last I heard you were still waiting on your 2013 calendar . . . did it ever arrive? If not, let me know and I'll send you a free one this year (and my copy of the 2012 if you want it! ;) ).
Post by: kat on November 26, 2013, 04:32:24 PM
Post by: Lunamione7 on November 26, 2013, 09:43:31 PM
Post by: mweed on November 27, 2013, 08:54:05 AM
http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=78
Well, it's not really very bland. Although the pictures have been stripped out, all the fun holidays and stuff are still there, along with the goofy Bob the Pleo characters . . . including Yogurt Caesar, Grumpy the daisy, Sally, Yogurt Shakespleo, Bob the pirate, Grumpy the poet, Yogurt the prospector, Bob the turkey, Fred, Grumpy Scrooge, and Santa Bob.
This download is a must for all members . . . and even if you are ordering a real Bob the Pleo calendar, you might still want to download the PDF to get a head start on planning for next year! (and if you spot any typos, there's may still be time to correct them before I place the bulk order ;) ).
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on November 27, 2013, 03:05:24 PM
November 5th just says 'day'
Also Haiku day
It approaches very fast
Competition planned?
Post by: RedwoodsMama on November 27, 2013, 07:02:56 PM
Of course I want one calendar, possibly two, I allways have one for myself and may give one as a gift. Of course I would never think to write in one. Also a Bob The Pleo Calendar makes a great item to show off at community events to have on hand when you are showing off your pleos and people start asking about pleos. With Bob the Pleo as a representative of Pleos everywhere, his calendars speak for themselves. ;D By the way Mike, anymore of those "saying " with the pictures such as the ones listed in the calendar, ? They were fun! RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: Lunamione7 on November 28, 2013, 12:11:50 AM
Post by: Crewella on November 28, 2013, 11:13:55 AM
Sadly, my 2013 one never did arrive, but I had two for 2012 so got along just fine! :arrow-head: :XD:
Put me down for a 2014 one, please. :)
PS. Luna, I refer you to November 18th on the Pleo Comic Strip! ;)
http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?topic=3518.msg56772;topicseen#new
Post by: mweed on December 03, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
And Lunamione7, just out of curiousity, which picture of Bob in a hat? I spotted three of Bob wearing different hats (pirate, pilgrim, and Santa), and there's Yogurt sporting a laurel wreath, Grumpy in a top hat, and Fred in the chef's hat. But if you're talking about June's photo, that not Bob . . . That's actually some poor real pleo that gave his all (well, head and tail) to become the headwear for one of the Ugobe staff. The baseball cap was spotted and photoed with only head and tail mounted to it on a coffee table in the break area in Ugobe's Boise Office before they went bankrupt. There is no body hiding beneath . . . :o This was a shot lost in a batch of about two dozen that were sent to me by Ugobe when I asked for photos of their new office that I could use in the Bob the Pleo comic strips.
Post by: mweed on December 03, 2013, 10:06:11 AM
http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?page=bob&date=20080526&series=s005
Post by: mweed on December 05, 2013, 03:31:00 PM
I'll try to get them shipped out as quick as the payments come in!! :xmas-list:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 05, 2013, 05:08:25 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on December 06, 2013, 04:23:56 AM
Or just refuse the payment and I'll resend.
It's too late here, I think I need to got to bed :P
Post by: fancyfont on December 06, 2013, 10:21:22 PM
Post by: mweed on December 07, 2013, 03:21:25 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 07, 2013, 04:07:42 PM
Thaw out safely and stay warm. How are you on the computer , is it from your phone? RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: kat on December 07, 2013, 05:16:54 PM
Oh and it is lovely weather here if a little hot. good beach going weather. I'll take myself off and have a nice long warm swim for you ......
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 07, 2013, 05:27:48 PM
Post by: Lunamione7 on December 09, 2013, 02:48:40 AM
Post by: Teddscau on December 09, 2013, 03:09:07 PM
Post by: mweed on December 10, 2013, 08:13:02 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 10, 2013, 09:42:33 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on December 10, 2013, 01:09:07 PM
Stay safe and warm Mike, don't stress over things.
Post by: mweed on December 12, 2013, 01:17:04 PM
The problem is a neat bit of meteorological science. We were at just the right point of the cold front moving in and the precipitation starting, that the rain was able to cool to just at the freezing point before it hit, and the ground level air was cold enough long enough to get everything down just below the freezing point so that when the raindrop hit something, it instantly froze. That way, everything (and I mean everything: trees, bushes power lines, mailboxes, fences, etc.) developed an inch or more thick coating of ice. Each leaf, each twig, each blade of grass, frozen separately -- until the ice was thick enough to merge.
40 miles further south, it was just a degree warmer and the raindrops didn't freeze immediately. They had time to drip to the ground first, forming just a thin layer of ice and frozen puddles. 40 miles further north and a degree colder and the rain was able to freeze before it reached the ground, so it hit the trees and bushes as ice pellets that merely bounced off and accumulated on the ground like a layer of hard snow.
meanwhile, back in the middle, the ice building up on everything broke branches and whole tree trunks under the weight, power lines sagged and snapped under the load, and transformers shorted out from the ice sheets connecting the terminals. Over 150,000 went without power for more than one day. Since they worked on the cities first, and I'm rural, I tend to be fairly low on the list of priorities . . .
Post by: maagtablet on December 12, 2013, 01:22:46 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on December 13, 2013, 01:16:13 PM
We hardly ever get hail, let alone anything cold enough to get excited about :P
Post by: mweed on December 13, 2013, 03:33:16 PM
Post by: kat on December 13, 2013, 04:13:26 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 13, 2013, 04:54:10 PM
Just sent the calendar payment. Let me know that you got it, Thanks and Merry Christmas. *sm-tree* *carollers* *tree02* *carollers* *light1g* RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on December 14, 2013, 12:35:26 AM
Post by: Lunamione7 on December 20, 2013, 04:31:27 AM
Of course, then I'd like it to conveniently come back on once I've decided I can't stand the cold anylonger and want my heating on... ???
Post by: mweed on December 20, 2013, 07:41:56 AM
The part that would REALLY scare most modern day kids is 4 days with no TV, no internet, no video games, and no way to drive to the mall . . .
The only sad part is we lost all of our tropical houseplants :'( :'( I had one pothos ivy that we'd kept alive for over 10 years.
Post by: Teddscau on December 20, 2013, 12:44:08 PM
Post by: mweed on December 21, 2013, 12:52:50 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on December 21, 2013, 02:13:03 PM
Our largest room is the master bedroom which has the wall heater that works periodically, and with 8 cats and a dog and two turtles at night, it gets pretty crowded. The fish tank though is in the living room combination kitchen dining room so it gets very cold. This past month when the tempertures hit 21 degrees. :brrr: it was freezing and the poor fish do not have a heater in their tank, but the thermometer registered about 42 degrees , so it could have been even colder. I took out containers of cold water till the tank was 1/2 original cold water and then added hot water ( with chlorine remover added to it of course.) and the water came back up to a respectible 52-54 degrees which is better then looking at "fish popscicles". NOw that we are back to mid 40's during the day, the fish are more like normal. The turtles though are spending more time indoors, in the bath tub.( large and I mean large tupperware type container) so they can swim and get exercise during the day and then they "hibernate" out of water during the night.In the wild they would be dug into a riverbank and hibernate all during the winter., Can't afford a large indoor pool for them, so they go out during the day , even in Winter as long as it does not go below 45 and not during rain , not that they would mind, but I do not want to be out there having to constantly add buckets of hot water... :P So all in all, we are keeping warm.
Happy Holidays to you and your whole family Mike and do not let any "bah humbug " pleos get in the way of Santa delivering presents this year. *santa-chimney* *gift05* *carollers* *tree03* RWM :cat-hug: and the Pleo P;D P:D P0:) P:) P;)Township of the Redwoods *tree01*
Mike sorry to hear about your tropical plants, that is too bad, better plants then live animals though. What did your kids do with no TV , iNternet or games...? They are probably old enough to find other things to do, books and board games are great family fun.......................as long as you do them when you have daylight and can see. or by lantern perhaps? Heard there is another ice storm heading towards Oklahoma area, do not know if that will affect you or not, but I will keep my fingers crossed you do not lose power and stay warmer. STill have not been able to see more then the first three pages of the Calendar so can't wait to see the rest, I allways love the squirrel with peanut taking from Bob's mouth, that is the best! ;D