New LQ Merchandise Store
 

I'm happy to announce that LQ is rolling out a new merchandise store. This allows you to purchase some great LQ and Linux related gear while helping LQ at the same time. Visit the new LQ Merchandise store now and let us know what you think.

--jeremy

Mostly awesome.

But seriously, a dog t-shirt!?

Have you lost your collective minds?

Or is it that you submitted the logo to zazzle and they just print it on everything?

That was actually one of the best selling items in the old LQ Merchandise Store.

--jeremy

Seriously?

ROFLMAO

I guess it's a culture thing.
Dressing one's dog up is seen as deeply creepy where I come from.

Four bucks for a bumper sticker? $17 for a baseball cap?!....and how much is the shipping? [Hint- make shipping charges visible near the merchandise price]

I'd rather just donate a few bucks......

Don't mean to be rude- just giving my honest opinion, but this stuff looks mediocre at best.....the prices are high and without knowing how much the shipping is, I just hit the back button...... (Although my dogs would look awfully cute in matching doggie shirts! -Getting them to wear them might be another story though!- My dogs tend not to wear clothes :D)

Unfortunately, that is an effect of the one-off manufacturing process with services like Zazzle. If you are making 100K+ keychains, the price comes down to a dollar or two each. But if you are making them one at a time, the manufacturing costs are monstrous. Personally, I would agree with you. I would much rather donate some money, get a domain through LQ Consulting, or anything else that would put more cashflow into LQ.

If we still want to be selling merchandise, I would suggest deciding on a t-shirt design everyone likes and putting a thousand or so into production to bring the cost down and just sell that. People are more likely to buy one reasonably priced item than sift through a bunch of expensive ones, and the profit margins should be better, which is what this is really all about to begin with.

Well-said!

In addition to that, I'd say maybe offer (directly- not through a third party) an item or two that is not emblazened with logos/slogans- except perhaps in a very discreet way (Like maybe a polo shirt with Tux or the LQ logo where the fox or alligator might be), because, personally, I don't wear clothing of any kind with screened logos/graphics/slogans(etc.) on them, as I think they are in poor taste and trashy-looking. (Whereas something discreet, like a small Tux on the pocket of a polo shirt would be a different story)- and considering that most of the people here are geeks (or so they tell me) I'd imagine that the appeal of the current stuff would be very limited- likely only being of interest to teenagers (of which I'm sure there are a few here).

Just put up a PayEnemy...err...I mean PayPal logo (or Google Checkout...or both) on the main page with a "donate to LQ", and I'll bet you'd take in a lot more money than trying to sell this stuff. I could see even the most frugal of us kicking in $5 from time to time...and I'm sure some would gladly give $10 or $50..... I'd rather just do that, than buy some overpriced merchandise of which you probably only end up getting $1 out of.

And the trouble with all this third-party merchandise is: It all looks the same- The same hats and keychains and mugs....only the logo/name is changed for the particular client who is offering it. If you want to sell something, find something unique and tasteful (or two or three things) and offer them directly.

Not trying to be overly critical- just trying to give an honest and constructive critique- which I hope is what they want.

Hey! How about an LQ pocket protector?! Now there's something that would sell to computer geeks!!!!!

Actually, it's really about offering LQ gear to people who want it at a reasonable price in a reasonable timeframe. Making money for LQ is a very distant second (and we make very little to keep costs to buyers as low as possible). As we're not in the business of selling goods, what you propose makes little sense when you think about it. Who is going to put the money up front? Where is the inventory going to be stored? Who's going to do the shipping and billing? What about unsold inventory, returns and the other myriad issues involved with doing retail?

--jeremy

FWIW, there is a donate link on every page of the site. Not that we mind, but we get very few donations. The idea here is that some people *want* LQ gear (you may actually be surprised about how many inquiries we get about it).

As always, feedback is welcome.

--jeremy

It is indeed difficult to believe anyone would actually want to spend so much money on these trinkets if it wasn't just to support LQ. But I suppose wonders never cease.

I wonder if a disclaimer at checkout explaining that a direct donation is a vastly more efficient way to support LQ wouldn't dramatically change the ratio of Zazzle purchases to donations?

Good idea except prices a little too high while still in recession.

Lower prices + increased volume = more revenue.

Also, perhaps some other products could be sold as well. PC parts? Buy in volume, sell cheap, make revenue.

This is a great org. Some of my questions cannot be answered at openSUSE.

No baby stuff?

It would be nice to see the cost in Euro as well.

There are indeed baby items in the store. Click on the design you'd like, and then "Baby" on the right hand side.

--jeremy

Ah... Thanks.
Ordering right now :)

PS: The whole price seems reasonable to me.

@ Suggestion
 

Hi Jeremy,

It will be great to see if we have some pens & watches in the collection. I mean it will really look good to have a pen & watch with Linux Questions written on it with small penguins :-). No need to mention that I am crazy about collecting pens and watches.

Also in watch if we can have Linux question written on the dial and penguin rotating around showing seconds will look awesome.

Good stuff. I'll check it out when I'm home. Hopefully you have some geek T's :D

Pocket Tees
 

I would love to see some pocket tee shirts added to the list.

If I still had a puppy dawg I'd have bought one! :D.
Only problem for me is that there are so few options for online payments from South Africa! (We don't all have credit cards! There are South African systems similar to Paypal, but they generally only work on a few South African sites.)

mouse pads
 

Where are the mouse pads?

http://www.zazzle.com/lq_mousepad-144071751139310868

--jeremy

LQ Merchandise Store
 

Hi Jeremy

The products in the store look great. I thought the doggy shirts looked really funny and great. They look sort of like an oversize sock. Should keep woofy warm in winter, and woofy won't mind. Makes a funny fashion statement. The stamps look rather nice. I collect stamps so I would not mind adding them to my collection.

My one criticism I have is some of the items like the mugs and mouse pad are a bit expensive, especially for folks in other countries. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to also sell little statutes of Tux the Penguin that you could put on your desk. Or maybe a small fluffy toy of Tux.

Regards
Philip

Thanks for the feedback. No plans to offer mini statues at this time, but we'll keep it in mind.

--jeremy

I like the products and went to buy something, but I could not without creating an account.

I hate to sound like an grumpy old man, but I am a grumpy old man.

There should be a "Proceed to checkout without creating an account" option. If I can do it at L. L. Bean, I should be able to do it here.

I have enough accounts and passwords. I don't want another one.

The LQ Merchandise Shop
 

Hi frankbell, I agree with you I do not see the necessity of having to create an account. They should offer these form of
payments without having to create an account:
1) By credit card
2) By EFT

Regards
Philip

Also, I would love to see polo shirts with pockets. I wouldn't buy a tee shirt, but I would buy two polo shirts.

. . . As long as I didn't have to create a login.

iphone iphone iphone??? ... and other thoughts.
 

Why so much iphone merchandise, when ANDROID is the linux-based OS?

Also, I agree with T3RM1NVT0R in the wish for pens (I'd give 'em away at every chance ... sadly, whether I meant to or not) ... and with frankbell when he wished for polo shirts. I give lots of public speeches, but I don't wear T-shirts very often while I do - they're a little TOO casual.

Didn't even get as far as looking at prices, the clothing colours are definately not for me!

There are also cases available for some popular Android phones (such as the Galaxy S3). Polo shirt are available here: http://www.zazzle.com/linux_question...00253756881010

--jeremy

Not sure what color you're looking for, but many of the items (taking http://www.zazzle.com/linux_question...00253756881010 as a somewhat random example) are available in over 10 colors.

--jeremy

Can't find them?
 

Thanks Jeremy, but those are T shirts! I even clicked the "see all styles" button. Am I somehow missing them? I did find LINUX polo shirts there, but not LinuxQuestions polo shirts, using this URL: http://www.zazzle.com/linux+polos For the phone cases, searching zazzle for android and linux gives: "Your search 'android linux' did not match any products in Cases." Looking for the Galaxy S3 did provide some nice cases featuring Tux, though. (I also tried searching for both the shirts and cases using "linuxquestions" or "linux questions" instead of just "linux." No hits.)

If you click "See all styles (51)", the option on the very bottom left should be "Polo Shirt".

--jeremy

The Zazzle site doesn't work on a Mac...
 

I'm using a MacBook Pro, running Lion and Firefox, and the Zazzle site doesn't show me any of the individual items, or prices, etc., and there's no option to purchase anything. :(

I know it's a Zazzle issue, but thought you might want to be aware of it...

Thanks for the bug report. Would it be possible for you to send me a screenshot?

--jeremy

Actually, after posting the comment, I went back and tried again, and it works now. Sorry for the possible false alarm... It didn't work before... Really it didn't...

I looked at the iPad cover, but it's for the iPad 1... We're several versions past that now. Who has an iPad 1 to put that cover on?!?

I've updated the store to contain quite a few more products (including covers for a large number of new devices). It may take a little while for them to show up.

--jeremy

Tee Shirts
 

I'd like to see Linux tied in with firearms, and the 2nd admendment. Linux holding a AK-47 or AR-15 on a Tee shirt.

Where's the "Bitcoin Accepted Here" button? Come on guys, support Bitcoin!

Dear Jeremy,
Iam deeply appalled with selections of items you presented here.
But,thats only my opinion.

Linux Store
 

Dear Jeremy,
Is there a Linux Store in India ?
I sincerely wish to contribute a small amount to Linux.(Either by buying from Linux Store or donating)
I do not have a credit card.
Please let me know how can donate from my bank in India by paying amount in Indian rupees.
Regards.

We use a 3rd party for the LQ Merchandise Store and Bitcoin currently isn't a supported option. When it is, we'll certainly consider it.

--jeremy

Some items are automatically added to the store. I don't see any that I'd consider offensive in any way, but if you contact me with which item(s) appall you, I'll take a closer look.

--jeremy

There is no dedicated India store at this time.

--jeremy

nope, sorry, my english is not so good

Well Jeremy .
I do approve of merchandising ,in writing that I must repeat what some others on this thread have mentioned. TACKY.
I feel that the object of this exercise is to help spread the Linux mantra. more so than raising funds.
So with that in mind why not run a competition for the most innovative ideas for "splash" gear.
First up to my mind would be a downloadable window sticker that one might print off and stick up in the car/shop/house window. Then follow on with mugs t-shirts etc.
Believe it or not there is a silk screen factory here near me that will do limited runs of t-shirts 300 or so at really competitive prices .
You are so obviously not a marketer .
Maybe I should apply for the job .

As I see it, the purpose of the LQ store is to give persons who wish to an opportunity to support LQ in a tangible fashion, not to build a marketing empire.

I have two LQ mousepads, an LQ baseball cap, and an LQ tee shirt. I'll let that stand for my opinion of the LQ store.

Just my two cents.

To confirm what frankbell said, this isn't about traditional "marketing" or "spreading the Linux mantra". Members explicitly asked for items with the LQ logo on them and the LQ Merchandise Shop allows them to purchase those while also helping to support the site in the process.

--jeremy

Re:-Making is easier to support LQ.
This idea may or may not gain favour.
A while ago a well known 'orphans charity' Was raising funds. It was so easy to donate.
How :- Very simply by text. A dedicated number was texted and the amount of the donation specified .
That figure was deducted from the senders credit and redirected to the end recipient.

Example :- No.xxx xxx xxxx.xxxx. 2$ . .The txt was charged and the 2$ sent on to recipients account .

Just give us a cell or hardline number and things will happen




Please do not make derogatory or snide replies to this posting . We are all friends with similar
aspirations here:hattip:

LQ Nerchandise
 

Zazzle's prices have always been too high. Compare them to other sites that sell Linux merchandise. There has to be a less expensive way to buy Linux stuff.

Due to the on demand one-off nature of the products, they will never be the least expensive option available. That said, they are high quality products and are less expensive than the previous option we used.

--jeremy

It looks like we would be able to offer high quality t-shirts directly through Amazon for roughly $16.99 each. If this is an option people would be interested in, let me know and I'll look into getting the process started.

--jeremy