Possible new chip scanning service

[debs3759]

I'm thinking of setting up a chip scanning service, but want some feedback on the idea before I do anything about it.

My motivation is two-fold. On the one hand, I am one of several people who like to see what people have in their collections, and providing a low-cost scanning service will help some folk to put their collections online (I now have regular access to a decent scanner, so scans will be of the same quality as the most recent additions to my site). The other motivation is that I could use something to keep my head occupied (it's boring not being able to get out much...) and at the same time put a small amount of money (that other thing which we all like to collect...) into my paypal account (and hence keep building my own collection).

I would look at 2 levels of service. The first (and cheapest) being to just scan the chips. providing separate scans of the top and bottom of each chip but without clipping to the edges of the chip. The second (which would take longer to do for each chip and hence cost the customer more) would be to clip the individual images and then put them together in the same way as the images on my site (saving up to 50% disk and download space for each scan of the same resolution and size and allowing you to view the top and bottom side by side without flipping between windows...

I haven't considered prices yet, but it would not add excessive cost to chips which cost next to nothing (as an example I have thought about £0.10/$0.20 per chip for a basic scan, and double that if the scans want processing).

I would also consider this as a service to be offered through VICCA when (and if) it VICCA gets set up, although for the moment that is not an option...

I would be grateful for any comments about this (including if someone wants to be my first customer before I officially start the service, and let everyone know how it went...).

Please note that I can't reply instantly to comments as I am likely to only be online a couple of times a week until I finish paying for everything I overspent (again!!!) recently but will always be online Thursdays (payday) and one other day per week...

Note to administrators: If this would be better in a different area of the site, please move it...

[wepwawet]

Hehe, debs, as VICCA doesn't seem to become alive I thought about using the COA on myself and offering that service:-)))
The problem is that at some cents each scan you can work a day and get ten bucks what would frustrate me.
On the other hand noone will cover shipping and a reasonable price for a chip that is worth less than these cost.
We all try to save money and don't plan to spend much on "overhead" things...

That's my reason actually to not offer the COA on my own.
But maybe I will do it when I sell a valuable chip sometimes.