Anyone in the UK like to join up for a new jambalaya box?

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

I love the idea of this. Would anyone in the UK be interested? Also, any advice, hints or tips on how to organise one would be appreciated.

Bob

indigobox

Why not Bob :) add me to the list

CapnRex101

Sounds good to me, you can add me to the list.

If you are after tips, I suggest @LostInTranslation who ran another box in the UK a year or so ago.

brickedin

I'd be up for it too.

SilentMode

I'm in.

collect_that

I'd be interested in signing up for another round of this. I took part in the last one and found it to be really good fun as well as quite interesting as to what members had put in the box.

Also if @BOBJACK_JACKBOB or anyone else has no objections I wouldn't mind starting it off as I have plenty of parts and bits and pieces spare?? :-)

carlq

Please pardon my ignorance, but can anyone explain the rules of the jambalaya box? What sort of things are included - sets, PAB parts, minifigs? From what little I know, it sounds like fun, but I'd like a little more information.

andhe

@carlq You take stuff out, then replace it with stuff generally of equal value. And stuff you'd be happy to receive i.e. not chewed/damaged/dirty, not mega bloks.

If the box size stays reasonable I'd be interested. Did an international one on another site and the postage was a bit of a killer!

collect_that

I think if kept sensible and packaged well, postage costs shouldn't be too much of an issue, although last time I was lucky and passed the box on in person.

When I received the box, everything was packaged well in to separate bags, New, Used, windows, minifig parts etc... Which is essential for smooth running and makes sorting through easier. Also the box at the time was a mixture of elements, polys and keychains which is nice mix.

kempo81

I'm in :o)

bricksan

Im in

Huw

Count me in, too...

CapnRex101

Perhaps we could work out the order vaguely geographically, that way at least some people can avoid postage and hand it over in person as @collect_that mentioned. Sounds like fun!

legomatt

I remember photos were a sore topic the first time around, and though well-meaning, committee style decision making process had a tendency to produce lots of misunderstanding and accidental argument, people eager to just get going got annoyed with rules chat, so my single piece of advice to whoever wants to organise a box, is:

Make it Your box, Your rules. Sink or swim on its own merits.

So just decide for yourself what you want to do, set out clearly your requisite ground rules (if any) for your participants to stick to, and then announce it.

People can then decide for themselves whether to join in or not, and if you get enough participants that you're happy with, close entry and go with it.

People who abandon your rules part way through can be noted and not invited back when/if you repeat.

I wouldn't recommend the open forum format for discussing your preparatory terms, except to perhaps canvas for initial ideas as you're doing, as in time you'll have a lot of eager-beavers keen to get going, but equally frustrated with the planning stages.

Best of luck.

sazzle15

Count me in

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

Excellent, I didn't expect such an enthusiastic response. @collect_that by all means you can start the box if no one else has any objections? TBH I was a little worried that if I did it I would struggle to fill a whole box with interesting stuff. So far we have -
@BOBJACK_JACKBOB
@indigobox
@CapnRex101
@Brickedin
@SilentMode
@collect_that
@carlq
@andhe
@kempo81
@bricksan
@Huw
@sazzle15 - 12 members.

I think we should close the list at 15 members, unless anyone has any other preferences.

THREE SPACES LEFT!

Rocao does a good job explaining the concept of a jambalaya box here - http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/4034/2012-jambalaya-exchange-us/p1

Once we reach the 15 we will sort out the details.

Thanks to @legomatt for the advice.

Bob

Matthew

I'm in please

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

Only 2 spaces left. Welcome @Matthew.

BOBJACK_JACKBOB
indigobox
CapnRex101
Brickedin
SilentMode
collect_that
carlq
andhe
kempo81
bricksan
Huw
sazzle15
Matthew - 13 members.

Bob

SilentMode

How about you @caperberry?

caperberry

I'll pass this time cheers

GothamConstructionCo

If there are any places left please count me in as I missed last time and would like to get involved this time round :)

leemcg

I'd like to join in.

LostInTranslation

I was thinking of giving it another go - or would you rather I let people who've not done one have the chance?

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

Ok, we'll close the list now, with 16 names. Although I'm waiting on one more to confirm, so it might be 17.

Welcome to GothamConstructionCo, leemcg and LostInTranslation. LostInTranslation, Lucy is it? You're welcome to join in as we were going to limit it at 15 but since you're the 16th you're not taking a place from anyone else.

BOBJACK_JACKBOB
indigobox
CapnRex101
Brickedin
SilentMode
collect_that
carlq
andhe
kempo81
bricksan
Huw
sazzle15
Matthew
@GothamConstructionCo
@leemcg
@LostInTranslation

I'll pm you all now and we'll continue from there.

Thanks all, looking forward to this.

Bob

legomatt

PffffFFFFFfFFffFfFFfffFffFttTttsShhhhtttTTTTTT


^ the sound of my cup of tea spraying across the keyboard, when logging in less than 24 hours later to discover i'm already out. :oD

Bl**dy hell, you did that fast. What are you all, lemmings?!

:oP

carlq

No, we're early birds. No lousy lemming can keep up with us. ;-P

Gorelaxx

Aw, man! Was looking at the US Jambalaya thread the other day thinking it was an awesome idea.

Looks like I'm too late to join in, if a space opens up I'd like to get involved.

cheshirecat

Out of interest, what is the idea behind limiting the number? Having done a couple I just don't see why you'd want to stop at 16.

leemcg

^ I suppose a very long list of people means that it takes a long time for the person who seeds the box to get any benefit.

One way around that might be to have it go back to that person in the middle, and then the end too.

CCC

Busy for one day and it looks like I've missed it too.

andhe

cheshirecat said:

Out of interest, what is the idea behind limiting the number? Having done a couple I just don't see why you'd want to stop at 16.

Looking at some of the US one's they seem to have taken over a year so far, with parcels getting lost and held up along the way. To make it a more positive experience for everyone, I guess limiting numbers speeds up the process.

AFOLs aren't known for their patience :P (see it - buy it, shall I buy this now? it was on offer so I bought 8 incase it EOL'd :D etc...)

cheshirecat

^ Sure, but if its just done in order of who signs up (with the odd bit of tinkering if people can swap in person) then I doubt anyone would have a problem - if they have a long wait then its because they weren't quick enough. Tbh, I can't see it taking that long, theres only 16 + a few. Would just seem silly to stop some that want to take part just because of an arbitrary (and very quick) 24 hour deadline.

Having said that I don't want to be included this time, so will say no more.

luckyruss

Also missed the cutoff, but would be interested to join if it's extended beyond 16...

greekmick

Why not start another one and then when it reaches the end of each group swap the packages over and start again?

CCC

If there were rules the US one wouldn't have taken so long. If there was a seven day rule, you could get round probably 30 people in a year, even allowing for slow post. People holding the box for three months as there was no rule about that, seems to be the reason it was so slow. People may be against spoiling the fun by imposing rules, but without them the whole process can be ruined.

Jenni

^ no one thought that sitting on the box for 5 months would be OK because there was no rule against it. The lesson from that box is that if you're next in line you need to check that the box is on its way and that LEGO people can be incredibly forgetful. The first one made it through in about 4 months total I think but attention spans were faltering by the time the second one came round.

CCC

If you need to do something, then it is a rule. Putting blame on the next person for not checking up is worse than having a rule about sending it in a certain time. And how do they know when they should receive it so they check up on the guy before them?

Jenni

I'm not blaming anyone, I'm saying that if I am part of another jambalaya box and the person before me has not sent me the box I will check in with them, I talked to the people before and after me both times anyhow. That's what I took away from it, and I'm assuming other people did to. I'm not even blaming the forgetful people, it's not like I've never forgotten something. I'm not against having rules either, make as many as you want. All I'm saying is that the delay was caused by forgetfulness and waning interest not by someone deciding that not having a set turnaround time made it perfectly OK to keep hold of the box for months.

indigobox

I think that is the key. Good communication and speedy shipment. Then it can bounce around the UK and arrive at the destination with everyone being happy :)

Jenni

^ my part went really well, the first time the person before me asked if I was looking for anything so I asked the person after me the same, and the same happened on the way back. I was sent pink and purple bricks for my daughter and we all chipped in to provide dark turquoise for a member who'd had a MOC that colour stolen. It was really lovely. The delays on the way back were disappointing but there were so many nice parts they don't overshadow it. Of course the delays happened after it got to me so some others may feel differently.

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

@Gorelaxx, @cheshirecat, @CCC, @luckyruss, @greekmick - I thought it would be a good idea to limit the number so that the box wouldn't take ages to get round everyone.

Realistically the box is probably going to take about a week with each person - 3-4 days in transit & 3-4 days until posted again. A longer list means longer for the starter, who has the most invested and has made the biggest contribution, receiving any benefit. 16 people means a target of 4 months from @collect_that sends it out till he receives it back. I feel this is fair.

Unless the other members of the group vote otherwise we will be sticking to the 16 named however, if a spot becomes available I will offer it to those who have expressed an interest.

Sorry about this guys, I know there's a few people missed out who have helped me out in the past and I do feel bad. I think Greekmick's suggestion of starting another box is a good idea. there's no reason we can't have 2 or 3 or even more jambalaya boxes going at once!

Bob

collect_that

Mr. Brickset

Those of us involved in this latest round of the UK jambalaya have thrown around an idea of including a Brickset branded minifigure dubbed 'Mr Brickset' in to the parcel for each member (although not mandatory) to take a picture of and post on the forum to see the destinations he's visited around the UK and if succesful and popular send him on his way to other members of the forum across the globe to give a little snapshot of where we all are in the world.

I was on the list first as I put together the package and although not a terribly high quality photo I wanted to show Mr. Brickset looking longingly at leaving the shelf he sits on day after day and the quiet confines of a cul-de-sac for adventures new.......

brickedin

He looks like he could do with a littlest hobo style napsack, slung over his shoulder full of lego.

CapnRex101

Mr Brickset left his first UK tour stop in sunny East Sussex a few days ago but not before I got a shot of him surveying the South Downs. Beachy Head is just to the right of shot for those that are interested.



I can assure you that this is him, albeit out of focus and rather shadowy.

TyoSolo

How did I miss this? Loved the first time around. Oh well until next time.

legomatt

Don't worry, the selection process went something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6g2kF3e6ng

It seems Bobjack was once CROW in another life...

"...I never even saw it!"


:oD

khmellymel

Works for me as I'm out of the country during this round, but if one get started up in late September/October I'd love to join!

CCC

^^

I thought that was going to be this video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6QtigLJD_4

BOBJACK_JACKBOB

@legomatt & @CCC ooooh... harsh....

but not as harsh as my wife who said both videos reminded her of me in a totally different context.....

collect_that

The decision was made by @BOB, who don't forget initiated this round, to limit the numbers for a quick turn around.

Since the box started with me and is due to finish with me, I got no problems sending it back out once I've had a peek (end of year..maybe??) to any disappointed members who pm me their address.

Unless of course another round is initiated in in the meantime by those who seem most disappointed?

legomatt

@BOBJACK_JACKBOB @collect_that

Just to clarify: I didn't intend my video post to be taken as a negative comment about the thread. It was meant purely (and in the spirit of) a fun observation at the sheer speed at which everything happened, to explain (in a fun way) why TyoSolo didn't see the announcement way back when...

...because it literally happened in a blur.

Actually, the video I really wanted was just the line that the archer gives to Crow, after being shot ("I never even saw it"), to act as a direct mirror response to the TyoSolo 'how did i miss this' post. I could also have simply responded "You probably blinked! lol").

So, just joking, in response to TyoSolo. Sorry for any misunderstanding. :o)