What office toys should I get for $100?
April 26, 2007 4:59 PM
Several co-workers and I have $100 each to spend on fun things for the office. What should I buy to get the most fun out of my $100?
Archie McPhee -- for all your office shopping needs.
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:20 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:20 PM on April 26, 2007
mrmojo beat me to it! Seconding Archie Mcphee.
posted by necessitas at 5:24 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by necessitas at 5:24 PM on April 26, 2007
I don't know what the geek quotient of your office is, but I've always wanted a Binary Clock (from ThinkGeek).
posted by Hadroed at 5:25 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by Hadroed at 5:25 PM on April 26, 2007
People are fascinated with my Rock Em Sock Em Robots, even though they're kinda broken.
posted by GaelFC at 5:43 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by GaelFC at 5:43 PM on April 26, 2007
USB Missile Launcher.
I've seen hacks with 5 set up as a missile defense array, but I only have one in my office. It's a big hit, along with my 'robot fighting a dragon' diorama.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:13 PM on April 26, 2007
I've seen hacks with 5 set up as a missile defense array, but I only have one in my office. It's a big hit, along with my 'robot fighting a dragon' diorama.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:13 PM on April 26, 2007
Edmund Scientific sells some kick ass toys, and they're relatively cheap. Get a set of Airzookas, and a couple of drinking birds, and still have money left over for carpet skates. Be sure to search for coupon codes if you buy from them. There's usually a 10% off code and a free shipping code that can be combined. (Do the free shipping one first, then the 10%)
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2007
Shared aquarium. You could pool the money, get a really great one, allow some leftover for maintenance, and also each choose a couple of fish. You would, however, need to make sure that a) all fish are compatible, and b) the aquarium wouldn't be neglected over Christmas, weekends power outages, etc.... but it could be really fun and interactive.
posted by amtho at 6:18 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by amtho at 6:18 PM on April 26, 2007
I recently visited a small company that had a table tennis table. It seemed to be heavily used and much loved. Amazon has several priced around $300. I say pool the money and have some fun, if you've got the space.
posted by librarianamy at 6:40 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by librarianamy at 6:40 PM on April 26, 2007
Please, please, please don't do the aquarium idea unless you actually know about aquariums. At the very least learn about the species you want and the nitrogen cycle before you do.
Throwing fish into a new tank is sentencing them to a slow death by ammonia/nitrite poisoning.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:48 PM on April 26, 2007
Throwing fish into a new tank is sentencing them to a slow death by ammonia/nitrite poisoning.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:48 PM on April 26, 2007
thanks for all the advice... currently I'm leaning towards 2 remote control cars so we can race them. This one looks cool. Not many low end remote control cars have reviews. I worry that the signals will cross and if I get 2 of the same kind (so the speed is the same) they will interfere with each other.
Another idea is board games that can be played slowly over a long period of time like chess, risk, or other strategy type games.
we actually all ready have gotten a Pockey table (with a table tennis top) and every buzzbe product made. SO we are at a good starting place where toys are concerned.
posted by STHayden at 7:36 PM on April 26, 2007
Another idea is board games that can be played slowly over a long period of time like chess, risk, or other strategy type games.
we actually all ready have gotten a Pockey table (with a table tennis top) and every buzzbe product made. SO we are at a good starting place where toys are concerned.
posted by STHayden at 7:36 PM on April 26, 2007
A blender for smoothies. An ice cream maker. An espresso machine. Putters, golf balls, and practice holes. A papasan chair. A comfy couch. A TV for the break room. Horseshoes for some grass area.
posted by popechunk at 8:07 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by popechunk at 8:07 PM on April 26, 2007
Couple of beanbags and a games console (and some headphones). There's nothing so therapeutic as beating the SNOT out of someone after a particularly horrible meeting. Or what about a Foosball table?
posted by ninazer0 at 8:21 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by ninazer0 at 8:21 PM on April 26, 2007
If you've already got a tv, get a videogame console. You ought to be able to pick up a secondhand Dreamcast/N64/PlayStation, a second controller and a couple good multiplayer games, and have money to spare.
posted by box at 8:29 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by box at 8:29 PM on April 26, 2007
As much silicon putty as a hundred bucks can buy. Hero of the office!
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:54 PM on April 26, 2007
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:54 PM on April 26, 2007
MARSHMALLOWS!
buy each person a bag of big marshmallows and have a marshmallow war. whip them at each other.
my office did it, holy crap that was fun.
costs like $20 for the whole office, and you can pick em up off the floor and re-use them later.
best of all, it's office-friendly- marshmallows are not sticky unless they get wet. also, they make a loud and VERY satisfying "PAF!" noise when they hit you, but they don't hurt and won't eff up your computers.
posted by twistofrhyme at 9:20 AM on April 27, 2007
buy each person a bag of big marshmallows and have a marshmallow war. whip them at each other.
my office did it, holy crap that was fun.
costs like $20 for the whole office, and you can pick em up off the floor and re-use them later.
best of all, it's office-friendly- marshmallows are not sticky unless they get wet. also, they make a loud and VERY satisfying "PAF!" noise when they hit you, but they don't hurt and won't eff up your computers.
posted by twistofrhyme at 9:20 AM on April 27, 2007
Can you pool your money? What's space like? A number of us once went in together on a Neo-geo arcade standup from a local flea market with a total price of under $300, as I recall. It was a great way to decompress for a few minutes during the day.
Where I work (for) now there's a homemade cabinet set in the kitchen with an emulator running on a pc. Notably more money, unless you have some geriatric system sitting around you can co-opt to shove in one, in which case it might also be doable in the 300-500 range.
posted by phearlez at 3:15 PM on April 27, 2007
Where I work (for) now there's a homemade cabinet set in the kitchen with an emulator running on a pc. Notably more money, unless you have some geriatric system sitting around you can co-opt to shove in one, in which case it might also be doable in the 300-500 range.
posted by phearlez at 3:15 PM on April 27, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
Or pretty much anything from Thinkgeek.
posted by autojack at 5:11 PM on April 26, 2007