I keep going back and forth on this myself.

...Enter my inner dialog...

With the help of others I can make one but if one of our common goal is education and teaching practical jobs skills -- we may want to just write a grant and buy a system that people would use in the real world.  Am I just being frugal and taking the "I'll just make and maintain it myself for that price" mentality or on the other hand we could just buy a more expensive system that comes with support but most importantly gives people employable skills.  What to do?  Maybe I need to research what other open source solutions are out there and see if one could be easily modified and more importantly maintained by the most people possible (non-obscure language / technology)

...and where are my underpants?

...Exit inner dialog...

http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike_Collective_Software

On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 11:14 AM, Jessica McPherson <jessica_mcp@yahoo.com> wrote:
Did you ever get in touch with that guy Josh Moody from the L.A. bicycle kitchen who presented at bike bike?  It sounded like he had written a POS system, don't remember if it was open-source or web-based.
Jessica
(Free Ride, Pittsburgh)

----- Original Message ----
From: Stuart O Anderson <soa@ri.cmu.edu>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@bikecollectives.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:04:14 PM
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking

I've been thinking a lot about building a secure web based open source
POS system.  If anyone else is interested in this sort of project, or
is already working on something like it, please get in touch with me.

Stuart

On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 1:13 AM, Brent Bohs <bbohs@purdue.edu> wrote:
> Thank you very much man, we're setting up a co-op around here and are
> working on a good inventory system for all our parts and frames and such,
> thanks for your input in all this!!  It helps us all!  Keep in touch.
> Brent Bohs
>
>
> On May 8, 2008, at 1:10 AM, Gern Blanston wrote:
>
> Hi,
> Yes, Jim Bledsoe is from the Los Angeles' "Bicycle Kitchen".
> Here in LA we have three individual community bike shops:
> the Bicycle Kitchen near Hollywood, the Bike Oven in Highland Park, and I'm
> with the BikeRoWave in Santa Monica.
> The BikeRoWave choose to get a POS software called Retail ICE that is going
> to be installed this week.  We pieced together the rest from ebay, and some
> donations.  We bought a touch screen and a bar code scanner, to make things
> easy for the staff.  We looked at Intuits 'QuickBook POS' that retails for
> over $1500, but the Inventory Committee decided to go with the Retail ICE
> system that comes with tutorials and learning dvd's which was $75.  It is
> cheaper if you don't buy the added dvd's.  Total for the whole package was
> under $700.
> That includes:  The POS software(looks very powerful, with bookkeeping and
> tax functions), a touch screen moniter, a hand wand scanner, a full sized
> Scanner/printer.  We had a cash drawer and a receipt printer donated to
> use.  We are not accepting credit card payments so no need for the card
> scanner.  I'm really excited for the system to get going, as I envision it
> helping in soo many ways.  Sales, inventory, taxes, contacts, all will be
> streamlined.  As the Inventory Manager/C.F.O. I am looking forward to
> getting my work load down.
> I'll provide a more detailed description of Items in the system and a report
> on its operation soon.  I am extreamly busy but will try to answer any
> questions as soon as I can.  I can be reached at  getgern(at)gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org
>
>
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>
>
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--
Sincerely,

Jonathan Morrison
Executive Director
Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
2312 S. West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
w: 801-328-2453
c: 801-688-0183
f: 801-466-3856
www.slcbikecollective.org

Get Addicted to Crank!
http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/

The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.