Almost Free Day has arrived

Let the clicking commence!

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UPDATE: The $0.01 boards are gone, but there are still special bundles available. Get them while they last!

UPDATE: We are taking a quick breather to get the website and stock in order. Another set of $0.01 set skus will drop at 2pm MDT (8pm GMT)!!!

UPDATE: Last run is at 2:30pm MDT (8:30pm GMT)!

Welcome! I'll keep the text to a minimum up here so you can add to your cart faster, but please check out rules and restrictions below, and thank you for sharing in this day of days with us ...

** Almost Free Day Specials!!! **

SparkFun Inventor's Kit - V3.2

KIT-12060
76 Retired

Almost Free Day IoT Bundle

WRL-13980
Retired

Almost Free Day Wearables Bundle

DEV-13986
Retired

What is Almost Free Day?

This year we're selling 3,000 items for $0.01 each, thus the "almost" part of Almost Free Day. We've done this for various reasons, but mostly to keep it legal. We'll have 300 each of nine different board types and one mini LilyPad bundle (SKUs 10867, 11364, 10730, 10044). None of these boards have export restrictions, so customers around the world can participate. Here are the products:

SparkFun OpenLog

SparkFun OpenLog

DEV-13712
$16.95
22
SparkFun MP3 Player Shield

SparkFun MP3 Player Shield

DEV-12660
$28.95
15
Big Easy Driver

Big Easy Driver

ROB-12859
$21.50
41
LilyTwinkle

LilyTwinkle

DEV-11364
$5.95
9
SparkFun Micro OLED Breakout

SparkFun Micro OLED Breakout

LCD-13003
$17.50
27
LilyPad Arduino USB - ATmega32U4 Board

LilyPad Arduino USB - ATmega32U4 Board

DEV-12049
$27.95
7
Conductive Thread Bobbin - 30ft (Stainless Steel)

Conductive Thread Bobbin - 30ft (Stainless Steel)

DEV-10867
$3.95
3

SparkFun LED Array - 8x7

COM-13795
3 Retired

LilyPad Coin Cell Battery Holder - 20mm

DEV-10730
Retired

SparkFun Weather Shield

DEV-12081
18 Retired

SparkFun RedBoard - Programmed with Arduino

DEV-12757
127 Retired

SparkFun RedStick

DEV-13741
9 Retired

LilyPad LED Red (5pcs)

DEV-10044
2 Retired

What's the catch?

These 10 different products will all be represented as one SKU. That means you won't know which product you get until it arrives. On Almost Free Day, you'll just add the "Almost Free" SKU to your cart, and if you make it through checkout before the boards run out, you'll get one of the 3,000 boards.

Is there anything else?

Yes! We'll be offering some special bundles for this day only, as well as having a big sale on the SIK. If you want to get involved in Internet of Things (IoT) or wearables/e-sewing, this is a perfect opportunity with a big discount. The following three bundle options will be $74.99 on Almost Free Day and available on the front page with the one-cent SKU:

IoT Bundle -- Our Most Popular IoT boards at their lowest prices:

Almost Free Day IoT Bundle

WRL-13980
Retired
Includes these items:

SparkFun Photon RedBoard

DEV-13321
12 Retired

SparkFun Simblee BLE Breakout - RFD77101

WRL-13632
4 Retired

SparkFun Blynk Board - ESP8266

WRL-13794
16 Retired
Wearables Bundle -- A great place to start with e-sewing:

Almost Free Day Wearables Bundle

DEV-13986
Retired
Includes these items*:
LilyTiny

LilyTiny

DEV-10899
$5.95
12
LilyTwinkle

LilyTwinkle

DEV-11364
$5.95
9
Conductive Thread Bobbin - 30ft (Stainless Steel)

Conductive Thread Bobbin - 30ft (Stainless Steel)

DEV-10867
$3.95
3

LilyPad FTDI Basic Breakout - 5V

DEV-10275
10 Retired

LilyPad Arduino Simple Board

DEV-10274
Retired

LilyPad Coin Cell Battery Holder - Switched - 20mm

DEV-11285
19 Retired

LilyPad Simblee BLE Board - RFD77101

DEV-13633
2 Retired
*(Bundle includes two each of 11285, 10899, and 11364)

Classic SIK -- You know it, you love it, at its lowest price yet:

SparkFun Inventor's Kit - V3.2

KIT-12060
76 Retired

When is Almost Free Day?

The one-cent SKU will go live at 10 a.m. MT on 7/20/2016. The above bundles will go live at the same time. The event will last as long as it takes to sell through the 3,000 boards.

What about shipping?

Unfortunately, yes, you will have to pay for shipping, but we've done a few things to help. All domestic orders over $75 will ship free, as usual. If you'd like free shipping, just add enough to your cart before Almost Free Day to hit that $75 threshold. Then, on Almost Free Day, just add the one-cent board and go! If you can't think of $75 worth of stuff you'd like, try one of the one-time-only bundles above.

What should I do before Almost Free Day?

  • If you don't have a customer account, create one before 7/20/2016
  • Have your payment information and shipping information ready to get through checkout fast
  • Be signed in to your account before 10 a.m. MT on 7/20/2016
  • Have your cart filled with everything you want (except the one-cent board or bundle) prior to 10 a.m. on 7/20/2016
  • Decide if you want to buy a bundle and be ready to add it to your cart when it goes live
  • Plan on potential server crashes
  • Almost Free Day may result in shipping times taking longer than usual

What are the rules and restrictions?

  • Customer accounts only -- no guests, educators or distributors
  • Only available for online orders
  • Sale prices applicable while supplies last
  • No backorders allowed
  • All sale prices expire at 11:59 p.m. MT on 7/20/2016
  • Only one "Almost Free" SKU, one IoT Bundle and one Wearables Bundle allowed per order
  • Multiple orders on a single account are allowed throughout the day


Comments 53 comments

  • CatzEyes93 / about 8 years ago / 7

    Mom here, purchasing for my 11 yr olds birthday. I guess I found this website at the right time, but this mad dash to get parts is rather... weird. This is probably going to be the equivalent of the 80 yr old grandma in the middle of a redneck country walmart on a black friday. Everything will be done and gone by the time I figure out where the register is. :(

    • M-Short / about 8 years ago / 2

      Exactly, I'd make sure your address and payment information are entered to your account and you are logged in. Then when 10am hits, add things to cart (which you can do from this page). Also make sure for the $0.01 item you select the Product that is a picture of Lincoln and not the board you want. Then go to your cart and checkout. The checkout process isn't much different than any other web site. Good luck, and hope you enjoy this little bit of insanity.

      • CatzEyes93 / about 8 years ago / 2

        Oh wait... I saw further down that the picture of lincoln IS the link to the 1cent sale. Didnt catch that before. Thanks!

      • CatzEyes93 / about 8 years ago / 1

        "On Almost Free Day, you’ll just add the “Almost Free” SKU to your cart" "Then, on Almost Free Day, just add the one-cent board and go! " "Only one “Almost Free” SKU, one IoT Bundle and one Wearables Bundle allowed per order"

        So I am clicking and adding all 10 of the above items to my cart individually then, or am I adding "Almost Free" sku to a field somewhere?

    • MTMentat / about 8 years ago / 1

      Did you end up getting some free day goodies?

    • CatzEyes93 / about 8 years ago / 1

      I have my shipping info in... but I cant find where to put in my credit card number. Halp?

      • CrowDojo / about 8 years ago / 1

        Not really sure where the section for modifying/managing billing info is or if one even exists. There is a paypal option at checkout if you have a paypal account. Which might be slightly faster than manually entering billing info at checkout.

    • CrowDojo / about 8 years ago / 1

      If you haven't already you might want to add in your shipping address to your account info. It'll shave a few seconds off placing your order. Which might help. (nearly) Free day tends to be rather hectic and I wouldn't stress it too much.

      I've been around since they first started and I kinda want to say I've only maybe managed to semi successfully participate in one?

  • M-Short / about 8 years ago / 6 /

    For those wanting an actual countdown, or unsure when MT is, here you go. Countdown to 10am MDT

  • ME heat o nator / about 8 years ago / 3

    AHHHH! TAKE MY MONEY!

  • MTMentat / about 8 years ago / 2

    Yikes, afternoon sale went [almost] too smoothly.

  • ME heat o nator / about 8 years ago * / 2

    It's done!!...no, whait,..Not done yet:) 2 pm will be more fun!!!

  • Cyberben / about 8 years ago / 1

    I got the Big easy driver & Lilytrinket + leds + coin cell + conduct thread !!

  • ME heat o nator / about 8 years ago / 1

    I just got my four boxes! 2 weather shields, a Lily Pad and a Big Easy. Let the intention wheels begin.

  • MTMentat / about 8 years ago / 1

    Haha, looking at the numbers between my first board (woohoo!) and my second board order ~300,000 difference. Did Sparkfun ban a few scripts on the day? :)

  • Member #652331 / about 8 years ago / 1

    Comment was deleted. It wasn't available in #hellwaii

  • Member #657506 / about 8 years ago / 1

    I missed out :/

  • chriscrowder / about 8 years ago / 1

    Just got mine (1:38pst). So they released more.

  • Will you be doing any other drops today or was this the last one?

  • DenverRich / about 8 years ago / 1

    Refreshing page... until it hurtz... :P

  • This is a Joke? I cant bought to 0.01 $. All boards have the same price that yesterday..

    • M-Short / about 8 years ago * / 2

      Each board is still available for regular price. The promotion was a new product that was $0.01, when it came time to ship your order our shippers grabbed a random item out of a bin (300 each of those 10 products). <strike>This sale was for a limited time and all 3000 boards are now sold out.</strike> So, no, not a joke, just a very quick sale.

      Edit: Sorry, I was a bit slow on getting updates on this. We held back a bit of stock to account for our system always ending up with backorders. We ended up holding back more than we needed so there should be a few more coming out at 2pm MDT.

    • Seag / about 8 years ago * / 1

      You missed it, though the note at the top of the blog says that stock will be flowing in intermittently, so maybe you will get lucky and be able to order some later today. :-)

      Edit: Seems they are sold out now.

  • Colecago / about 8 years ago / 1

    Received emails about backordered boards. I imagine I ordered when it was on the edge of running out. Backorders are not allowed, will these orders just be cancelled?

    • Black Angus Rocket Storm / about 8 years ago / 2

      If your order was placed it will be fulfilled!

  • Cuales son las tarjetas a centavo?

  • MTMentat / about 8 years ago * / 1

    "Processing...dotdotdot" in Orders page = nogo? Edit: seems it went through!! Many thanks Sparkfun for another great DNS bot experience and awesome products at a [almost] reasonable price!! :)

  • saccade / about 8 years ago / 1

    Weird. I tried at 10:00:01, and was told "out of stock". But then I tried about 10 minutes later and completed the purchase.

    • saccade / about 8 years ago / 2

      Memo to shipping dept: I'm really hoping for a Micro OLED breakout...

      • MTMentat / about 8 years ago / 1

        Haha, I managed to get a few too many boards, probably. But no Micro OLED's for me (here's hoping you had better luck!). :)

      • MTMentat / about 8 years ago / 1

        Ha, me, too. Or a Big Easy Driver. Or an Open Log. Or maybe a Redboard. Perhaps a weather station! Of course, being local pickup placed before 11AM I expect it TODAY! (joking!)

    • M-Short / about 8 years ago / 1

      Someone had to manually flip the switch, my guess it at 10:00:01 you might have beaten them to it.

  • So if there are 9 possible boards, and 300 of each, and then 1 of the lilypad bundle, wouldn't that mean there are 2,701 items for $0.01?

  • Member #433942 / about 8 years ago / 1

    Where will the link to the one-cent SKU appear?

    • M-Short / about 8 years ago / 1

      The big picture of Lincoln on this page is actually a link to the page, you should also be able to add it to your cart directly from this page.

  • Member #386229 / about 8 years ago / 1

    Clicking on "Almost Free Development Board DEV-13979" results in 404 error. Am I the only one?

  • Member #335202 / about 8 years ago / 1

    Could they be out already!?!

    • Member #335202 / about 8 years ago / 1

      just noticed the MT myself HA! Well the early bird...

  • Member #827323 / about 8 years ago / 1

    Ugh. Getting a 404 on the free day page. I am just getting into this hobby and was hoping to stock up.

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