Can you really get FREE stuff from Bambu Lab's Maker World?
TLDRIn this video, Mike discusses his experiences with the reward systems of 3D printing platforms, specifically Printables and Maker World. He shares his journey of earning points and redeeming them for free filament and other items, highlighting the advantages and challenges of each platform. Mike also addresses an issue of plagiarism he faced on Maker World and praises their swift response in resolving it. He concludes by comparing the quality of free bamboo filament with other brands and shares his thoughts on the sustainability and effectiveness of such reward systems in promoting 3D printing and design sharing.
Takeaways
- 🌟 The user shares their experience with a reward system on a platform called Printables, which allows designers to earn free items for popular models posted.
- 📦 The user encountered high shipping and tax costs when redeeming free filament, totaling over $67 Canadian.
- 🌍 Shipping costs and experiences vary by location, with some users reporting cheaper rates within the EU.
- 🔍 The user explores Maker World, a platform similar to Printables, to compare its advantages and redemption process.
- 🚫 The user addresses a concern about a model being copied and posted without consent, with the original logo removed.
- 🛠️ Maker World responded quickly to the user's claim, taking down the copycat model within hours.
- 🎁 The user redeems points for gift cards on Maker World, which can be used for a wider range of purchases compared to Printables.
- 📈 Maker World's review process for redemption takes up to seven business days, similar to Printables.
- 🛍️ The user successfully orders six spools of filament and spare parts, with free shipping and no additional fees.
- 🏆 Maker World's reward system is praised for its flexibility and the quality of the free filament provided.
- 💡 The user speculates on the sustainability of the reward system and its potential to encourage additional purchases through the 'lost leaders' strategy.
Q & A
What is the reward system of Printables?
-The reward system of Printables allows users to earn points for their good designs, which can be exchanged for free filament, shirts, hats, or even printers.
What challenges did Mike face with shipping his free filament from Printables?
-Mike faced high shipping costs and taxes, which made the free filament from Printables end up costing him over $67 Canadian.
How was Mike's experience with Maker World initially?
-Mike had a positive initial experience with Maker World, especially after they quickly addressed his complaint about someone posting his model without consent.
What was the issue with the model posted on Maker World without Mike's consent?
-The issue was that someone took Mike's model, removed his logo and name, and posted it as an original design without any mention of it being a remix.
How does Maker World handle copyright infringement?
-Maker World took down the copycat model within a few hours after Mike made a claim, showing that they are responsive to copyright infringement issues.
What is unique about the reward system of Maker World compared to Printables?
-Maker World allows users to exchange points for gift cards, which can be used for a wider range of purchases, including paying for shipping and handling fees.
What was Mike's strategy for redeeming his points on Maker World?
-Mike decided to be a bit greedy and used his points to get as many gift cards as possible, allowing him to order more filament and parts without additional costs.
How did Mike's experience with the Maker World reward system compare to Printables?
-Mike found Maker World's system to be more rewarding and flexible, as it didn't limit the types of materials he could redeem and didn't reset the points monthly like Printables did.
What were Mike's thoughts on the quality of the free bamboo PETG filament?
-Mike believed it was possible to get really good results with the free bamboo filament, although he noted a cooling issue with one of his prints.
How does Mike think the reward systems of Printables and Maker World benefit the companies?
-Mike suggests that these systems promote more people to print models, which in turn requires more filament. This creates a self-feeding system where people are more likely to buy filament from the site, benefiting the company.
Outlines
🌟 Introduction to Reward Systems and Shipping Challenges
The paragraph introduces Mike, the host, and his experience with a reward system for designers on a platform called Printables. He discusses the benefits of earning rewards such as free filament, shirts, hats, or printers for popular designs. However, he highlights the challenges of high shipping and tax costs, especially from his location in Ontario, Canada. Mike shares his decision to explore an alternative with Maker World, a platform similar to Printables but with potentially better shipping and tax advantages.
📣 Addressing Intellectual Property Concerns on Maker World
Mike discusses an issue he faced with Maker World where one of his 3D models was posted without consent, with the logo and name removed, and claimed as an original design. He was alerted by a user named Martin and took immediate action by making a claim. Maker World promptly took down the copycat model within hours. This experience led Mike to post his own design on Maker World to prevent similar incidents. He also mentions the potential risks of model popularity leading to account restrictions, which he is yet to experience.
🛍️ Redeeming Points for Gift Cards and Ordering Experience
Mike shares his experience redeeming points on Maker World for gift cards, which he finds more appealing than Printables' system as they can be used for a variety of purchases, including paying for shipping and handling. He successfully redeemed his points for gift cards, which are exclusively valid for Bamboo Lab's Canadian store. Despite a brief account review delay, Mike was able to proceed with his redemption and order six spools of filament and some spare parts for his printers. He was pleasantly surprised to find no additional fees and free shipping, making the entire process cost-effective.
🎁 Unboxing and Evaluating Free Filament and Parts
After receiving his order, Mike unboxes and reviews the items, including two sets of anti-vibration feet, a replacement filament cutter, and spools of PETG filament. He notes the sleek system of the filament packaging, which is designed to be easily identified by the printer's system. Mike then compares the free bamboo filament with a previously ordered print, evaluating the quality and appearance of the prints in different colors. He finds the gray and black bamboo filament to produce high-quality prints, with the Galaxy black yielding a slightly better result due to its flexibility and fewer visible defects.
🤔 Reflecting on the Sustainability and Benefits of the Reward System
Mike ponders the sustainability and effectiveness of Maker World's reward system, which encourages designers to post models that other users print, thereby promoting the purchase of filament from the site. He also considers the impact of color printing on the consumption of filament and the potential benefits of a more flexible printing system. Mike speculates on the marketing strategy of 'lost leaders', where companies offer free items to attract customers who may then make additional purchases. He concludes that while he initially had reservations about the reward system, his experiences with Maker World have been positive, and he invites viewers to share their own experiences with the platform.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Reward System
💡Shipping and Taxes
💡Maker World
💡Intellectual Property
💡Gift Cards
💡Account Review
💡3D Printing
💡Filament
💡Community
💡Sustainability
Highlights
Printables has a reward system for designers based on the popularity of their models.
Designers can earn free filament, shirts, hats, or even printers through the reward system.
Shipping and taxes can make receiving free rewards from Printables expensive for some users, like those living in Ontario, Canada.
Maker World is a platform similar to Printables, but it's a version of Bamboo Labs.
The user had a positive experience with Maker World when they reported a case of plagiarism of their model.
Maker World took down the plagiarized model within a few hours of the user's claim.
The user decided to order three spools of filament from Maker World to test the advantages of the platform.
The user has 2715 points on Maker World and is interested in exchanging them for gift cards, which is an option not available on Printables.
There are stories about users being flagged and unable to redeem points or get gift cards, possibly due to popularity of their models.
The user successfully redeemed their points for gift cards and ordered six spools of filament and some spare parts without any unexpected fees.
The user received their order quickly and without additional fees, making the entire process free for them.
The user compares the quality of the free Bamboo PETG filament with a previous purchase and finds them comparable.
The user suggests a better system for color printing by mixing paint with a base and adding color as needed, instead of using multiple spools of filament.
The user speculates that the reward system might be a strategy akin to 'lost leaders', where free or discounted items attract customers to potentially buy more.
The user has had a positive experience with Maker World and finds their reward system beneficial for designers.
The user encourages others to share their experiences with Maker World, questioning if the platform is as beneficial for others as it has been for them.
