- Home
- Product Categories
- Development Tools
- Almost Free Development Board
Almost Free Development Board
This is it, this is your Almost Free Day Development Board! This product is only one cent and could be one out of 10 different development boards. That's the catch, you get one randomly chosen board for just a penny! When adding this product to your cart and completing check-out you run the chance of receiving one of these following products:
- SparkFun RedBoard
- SparkFun OpenLog
- Big Easy Driver
- SparkFun Weather Shield
- SparkFun MP3 Player Shield
- SparkFun Micro OLED Breakout
- SparkFun RedStick
- SparkFun LED Array - 8x7
- LilyPad Arduino USB - ATmega32U4 Board
- Mini LilyTwinkle Kit
This Almost Free Day we’re selling 3,000 of these 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 have 300 units each of the nine different board types and the one Mini LilyPad Bundle, as shown above. None of these boards have export restrictions, so customers around the world can participate!
Note: This product will only be available online while supplies last, as well as sales prices. Customer accounts only – no guests, educators or distributors. No backorders allowed. Only one “Almost Free” SKU, one IoT Bundle and one Wearables Bundle allowed per order, though multiple orders on a single account are allowed throughout the day. All sale prices expire at 11:59 p.m. MDT on 7/20/2016.
Comments
Looking for answers to technical questions?
We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.
Customer Reviews
5 out of 5
Based on 1 ratings:
Thanks Sparkfun!
I bought 3 of these, and got 3 different boards: 1 x Sparkfun RedBoard 1 x Sparkfun RedStick 1 x Big Easy Driver
As an Arduino fan, I'm very happy with my RedBoard and RedStick, but don't have any motors to test the Big Easy Driver with.
I spent 3 cents on, essentially, a gamble but I received 2 things I really wanted, and 1 thing I didn't, so I definitely have no grounds for complaint.
Thanks Sparkfun :)
Another failed freeday... i dont know why i even bother.
There's still stock. They just shut it off for the "first wave". Keep checking back...
I stand corrected! DenverRich is NOT A TROLL (anymore), and the Almost Free Day lives on!
DenverRich is actually correct. We are posting an update soon.
EDIT: 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)!!!
Kapow. Set clocks to 2pm for second wave.
For the record, I haven't trolled since I was 20! ^_^
I see "This is an archived post..." so it's over?
EDIT: Never mind, saw the note above. In for four. :)
Thanks Sparkfun, I love this kind of sales. Random!!!!!!!!
I never even saw an Add to Cart option on this page.
Well, finally made it through for a few orders, was very rocky at first, but then got easier as ppl got frustrated and quit trying. Hoping for some good picks for my orders, not even sure how many orders I placed...lol
\o/
two orders, so I got two "parts". woot!
Grats!
This one is lasting the longest! Got 4 more :D
Will there be another roll-out today, or was that the last of 'em?
We are currently assessing.
EDIT: Flipping it on one last time at 2:30pm MDT!
Looks like I hit the Jackpot at 2PM! Hoping for the SparkFun RedBoard and the SparkFun OpenLog.
I got a bunch of orders complete. I just hope they're not all the same thing. What would I do with 8 weather shields?
If it's that many twinkle kits, I'd be the twinkliest person in the office
I doubt they'd do that, but if you do get multiples of Weather Shields, I'll take one off your hands. :)
I placed four orders. It arrived today. All four were the LilyPad Arduino USB - ATmega32U4 Board
I was able to snag 4 orders. I didn't realize it until the first one with my ding and dent boards was shipping, but I asked to combine 3 of the kids. I got a weather shield, an open log (which will go well together), and the twinkle kit. It's funny, these 3 shipped UPS and got here faster and cheaper than the other order that shipped UPS.
I somehow managed to log on for free day without any idea it was occurring. Order accepted! Thanks SparkFun, your efforts to make the world fun and more interesting are paying off!
I'm embarrassed to say how many I got, but it sure makes up for the previous times, when I wasn't able to get anything :-D Combining the shipping made it even more affordable (I'm super broke right now), can't wait to see what I get!
Edit:
So, I got my stuff, and I gotta give kudos to the order pickers. I got a nice, non-random distribution of stuff, not, like, a bunch of duplicate weather shields or something. All said, very happy with the results :-)
Me to, I cant see how people who were patient didnt get anything, I wont say how many i got but common sense and a little foresight goes a long way. Multitask, 2 web browsers, multiple tabs on each, and two email addresses at minimum. And I just found out about this this morning and had everything set up in time.
I'm really glad you decided to have different time slots for this (almost) Free Day. I missed the first one, but was eagerly hitting refresh when the 2nd was due to start. The site was having issues until about 3 minutes later, so I thought I'd missed my chance, but by some miracle it loaded and let me place an order without issue.. Then another 2 orders ;)
Also threw in a Pi because I felt bad for spending more on shipping than actual products.
Hope I can get my postage costs partially refunded (I paused my orders to ask for combined postage).
Thanks, Sparkfun! :D
Edit: Woop! Combined postage done, so now the shipping is much cheaper. Thanks!
Yeah we were REALLY happy how well the split order times worked out. Looks like we will be doing that in the future with a little more planning and set times.
I'm really impressed with how quickly support acted upon my combined postage request (took literally 16 minutes according to my email timestamps). I expected you to take a few hours because of the flood of $0.01 orders being placed.
Seems like I have Nick M to thank for that (he responded to my ticket anyway) :)
I was going to suggest that you intentionally release the goodies in tranches next time. Since that's covered, how about auto-combining shipping?
So it's way past 2PM MDT, and there is still no order option, is there a new release time or something?
The 2pm ordering period only lasted for about 10min and then there was one more at 2:30pm which also last that amount of time. Sorry you couldn't get in. :(
so, I didn't miss out? I went to check out seeing 22 left. gone.
I'm new to this freeday. I'm here on the "Almost Free Development Board" product page, but there is no "add to cart" button. Is that because they are out of stock until later today?
are they all gone?
In for four. I hope, hope, hope one is the weather shield. However, another Red Board wouldn't be so bad. That's what got me into Arduino.
Woot
Awesome! I missed the first but got 3 right now! :D Thanks guys!
Got 2!
WOOT! Got one. :)
please dont give me the lily pad stuff lol
I got 3 orders in, received 3 LilyPads. For me, better than 3 twinkle kits. One oughtn't complain about almost free stuff, but by my figuring 3-of-a-kind is a less than 0.1% chance, all 3 different is about a 72% chance. I'm skeptical about the randomness of the selection process. I did pause my orders to combine shipping, don't know if that had anything to do with it.
I got four and all four were the LilyPad.
Wow, you should have bought a lottery ticket too!
I lucked out. I didn't get a Big Easy Driver but got the parts I was hoping for fortunately. Red Board, Weather Shield, and Open Log were a plus and after ready up on the LilyPad, I think I might like that quite a bit too since I can power it via LiPo and charge it too.
Any chance multiple orders could be combined after they have been placed to save on shipping?
They sure can! Please pause your orders and let us know in the comment field that you'd like them combined. :)
Thanks for the tip! Waiting for the last one to process and I'll do that.
Does this mean we'll be charged less? That would be even better!
You could possibly save on shipping costs if you combine!
JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD BOUGHT ENOUGH!
Exactly my same thought! :(
I like this. Basically levels the playing field for local pickup vs not. :)
So happy I got one. In Canada so in 2 or so weeks I will se what I got.
Any way to see which one you got online? Or do we wait until we get it in the mail?
You have to wait. We literally have all 3k boards sitting on a table with the same SKU. When a shipper gets your packing list they will pick something up off the table and put it in a box.
Its, over?
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)!!!
total fail, WTF!
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). You can try again then! :)
grumbles MDT vs MST. Wish they would have listed the time as GMT.
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).
Is it over or will it be released intermittently as written? Just want to be sure before I start refreshing for the next 6 hours.
Thanks!
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).
I got two but the site took like 20 minutes to load
I got emails about backorders boards. will those just be refunded?
Hello! Even though it says it's backordered, we'll still be able to fulfill it. You'll be charged when your order is ready to process. :)
It looks like i missed it by one minute. Everything looked good and showed in-stock till I hit GO and it came back back-ordered. Oh well. Im gonna be a pissy-pants and not buy the other stuff I wanted, that I put in the cart. Humph.
Hi there! Did you receive an order number?
Hi. Nope. I hit GO and it came back to the cart where I needed to click a check box for the backorder. No big deal. Result as expected.
I made away with 5 orders.
"250+ in stock"
clicks refresh
"This product has been retired from our catalog and is no longer for sale"
Only on (almost) Free Day.
But seriously, this only lasted for 40 minutes and it took me like 5 to log in, presumably due to server overload.
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).
Unavailable in #Hellwaii
Managed to place a few orders, my bank balance couldn't keep up with my refreshes either... There's like 400 orders between my order numbers, wow!
I expected the bords to be sold out much quicker
What do you think this is? Dumpster Dive?!
In for three. Yay for Christmas in July surprises!
How did you get three?
Just gotta pay shipping for each order, or buy enough other stuff for Free shipping. (I ordered a passel of MPR121 breakout boards!)
5 now. Just keep making fresh orders.
Limit 1 per order, no limit on the number of orders per day.
Cain't add to cart.
Keep trying, there is still stock. The site slow down due to the rush is a little intense but there is still time.
EDIT #2: 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).
Add to cart just popped up but doesnt seem to work, says 250+ in stock
Keep trying, there is still stock. The site slow down due to the rush is a little intense but there is still time.
EDIT #2: 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).
So that's it? Its over? I just woke up :(
wowza
Is it already out of stock?
nope, should still be in stock.
Nope, there's still plenty, just that initial site slow down that is oh so common with a Free Day.
What! I clicked on the link at 10:00 and when the page opened, the product was only available for back order. I though I had missed it. Was it available?
It started that way, yes ... but then a minute later, the inventory count was updated and you could add it to your cart.