I won’t point out which one… but maybe this is a good place to discuss the idea of “locally sourced” and how important we all feel it is or is not. I for one believe it is a core part of what makes 3DP tech disruptive and trans-formative. I also feel that with all this being so new, there is AMPLE business to be had in your local areas. Sometimes all it takes it getting out there and educating your muggle community in order to create your market.
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Same thing happens to here in Denmark… hubs located more than 2 hours in away in car shows up as “local”, and i’m sure no one jumps on the bike and peddle that distance… it would take them a whole day to get back and forth
I bet that 3D hubs sort them by straight distance measured in air…
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It’s definitely not a black and white issue and I think we all dwell in the gray area as we try to make it as a business.
I can say that same thing is in Zagreb, Croatia. While we do have very little hubs in whole country, and I have some inquiries form all over the country, when in search for “local” hubs there are hubs located even in Slovenia which is neighbour country, but mostly all are on 200+ km distance from me. The situation changed a month ago with few new hubs popping up really near me, but those “local” 200 km hubs are still there.
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I concur, with qualifications.
Be competitive, not just in price, but “quality”, efficiency delivery, materials, and ATTITUDE.
Don’t make your customer an experiment for tuning your business; do that at your expense of time and money not theirs.
Remember what you do “for” your customers, so that they do not remember what you did “to” your customers
Be grateful for the work. That will give you pride in output with an insistence of excellence, and even put a smile on your face during exasperated moments
Buy American, in materials, labor, fabrication! Even more so, look to your community where you reside; support them they’ll support you. Make that commitment and you’ll likely receive that commitment from your suppliers; if not source around they’re there.
Yes it starts with you and me
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I totally agree, Adam. As I understand it, the whole idea of 3DHubs is that potential clients seek out and employ the services of local printers. Seems some hubs are not above the idea of extending their reach, however. Indeed, only today, I saw a Canadian hub tendering for a job in the UK. I do believe that it’s our responsibility to go out and spread the word in our communities. Unfortunately, it would seem that it’s easier to simply sit behind one’s computer and snipe whatever business rears its head.
Cheers,
AndyL
Pot8oSh3D
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Hey there @WhoopsOhMy. Hope you didn’t intend that to sound like a sermon but I fear it does. As for buying American, I for one will buy from whichever country caters best to my needs. Can’t help but think that Globalisation is a direct result of all too many people buying American for far too long - Levi’s, GAP, Nike, Apple, Motorola, Starbucks, GM, Ford, Think I’ve made my point.
Cheers,
AndyL
Pot8oSh3d in the UK
You didn’t need to be snarky about it. If you’re across the pond apply the same principles and values in your area.
Business “is” about relationships!
And if you disagree, no problem, but disrespect, that’s a problem
As to the sermon sarcasm, no, it was a snippet of how one might conduct themselves in business. Your customers know you value them, and those in your locale develop a stronger trust relationship. That’s different than blind assumptions
Good luck with your approach, sterile as it is
Cheers? ok
As far as “buy American, buy local” - I will only if it makes sense. Living near the Canadian border gives me an interesting choice on whether to have parts printed here or in Canada. A lot has to do with the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar and a lot has to do with each company’s business practices. I’ve also used a service several hundred miles south from home because they provided the best value for me versus the local print shops. I will go with whoever can provide me with the best possible price, quality and customer service. Shipping is easy to set up, finding a local print shop that meets my requirements is not always so easy.
Chris
