what the heck is fob

It means " Factory on Board" you pay shipping costs.

Unless you mean a device hanging on your Keys as in a previous thread or a little tab on a pocket watch.
 
A fob, or more commonly called a key fob, is a small security hardware device with built-in authentication used to control and secure access to network services and data. The key fob displays a randomly generated access code, which changes periodically, usually every 30 to 60 seconds. A user first authenticates themselves on the key fob with a personal identification number (PIN), followed by the current code displayed on the device.
Key fob is also a word used to describe a key chain and several other similar items and devices. The word fob is believed to have originated from watch fobs, which existed as early as 1888. The fob refers to an ornament attached to a pocket-watch chain. Key chains, car starters, garage door openers, and keyless entry devices on hotel room doors are also called fobs.
fob
 
I'm guessing you're referring to the earlier rants about cars with "keyless" ignition locks. The remote you carry around in your pocket is called a "fob". Originally a "watch fob", which is what you hung your pocket watch from.
 
Where I work its FREE on Board, not Freight, or Factory. The prefix or suffix affixed determines who pays the shipping, when. Several meaning and definitions depending on the shipper and customer, and where they are located in the world.
 
I am assuming you are referring to the key fobs referred to in prior posts, but in point of clarification, let me give you the original definition. With respect to the others, FOB means "FREE ON BOARD" and is a term used to designate on an invoice who will pay the shipping costs. Used a lot in accounting but more in cost accounting than financial accounting. An invoice will generally indicate "FOB destination" (seller pays freight) or "FOB shipping point" (buyer pays freight). So if I was to buy a load of lumber from a supplier in Grand Rapids, MI and I was to pay shipping, the invoice would say FOB Grand Rapids, MI.
 
In my flying days it meant either "flight operations branch" or "foreign object" such as nuts, bolts, rocks,chocks etc. that could be picked up off the tarmac, taxiways or runway and that could be ingested into the engines or that could nick props.
 
When I was the Director of Purchasing at one of the BIG TEN schools, I dealt with the FOB business many times. FOB on a purchase order can be a minor item or a big expense. There is such a thing as FOB Dock. Ordered a heavy and expensive piece of equipment from Germany and It was dropped off the crane hook when they were unloading it. We didn't have to absorb the cost of replacement because the ownership of the product hadn't changed to us. It fell into the water and not on the dock. Of course it wouldn't have been ours until is was SAFELY on the dock.

Another time I ordered some TV camera lenses from NY and they were stolen off a loading dock. The order I had written stated the they were to be shipped FOB DESTINATION. The lenses cost over $6,ooo. Someones insurance ate the cost.
 
John M has it. There is a whole set of terms and rules used to determine who pays what and from what point when shipping goods. For all the definitions Google up "INCO terms". I move stuff all over the world and pay close attention to it. Can get expensive if you get it wrong.
 
I had forgotten about the ownership aspect of it. Been a long time since I dealt with those terms and when I did it was mostly from an academic point of view...I taught it at the college. I have been primarily a financial and tax accountant all these years. FOB had a lot more relevance to internal accounting.
 
You have FOB mixed up with FOD.

FOB: Free on Board (collect shipping costs from Receiver)

FOD: Foreign Object Damage (in aeronautical terminology)
 
Dave H,

I used to do purchasing as well and the other FOB term I remember was FOB Tailgate Delivery.

In that case we were responsible for taking the item off the truck.
 
I think I will have to object to FOB meaning "free on board"

FOB shipping point means Freight on Board.
It means the freight is yours when it is loaded on the trailer. If something happens to the freight (damage lost ect) it is your baby.

FOB Destination means the sale takes place and it becomes yours when you unload it at your dock.

Who pays the freight charges is decided by if you check prepaid; collect; or 3rd party in the box provided.

In other words you can have a FOB shipping point and prepaid bill of lading.
The freight is yours when I load it but I pay the shipping.
 
(quoted from post at 03:23:13 02/26/15) I guess i might be a little dense but i don't know what "fob" is. Lol

How about some context?

As you've seen it could mean many different things.
 
Why does the F stand for "FREE" when it relates to who *PAYS* for the shipping?

It would make slightly more sense if the F stood for FREIGHT, but the whole term is nonsensical to me.

Why don't they just say "buyer pays shipping?"
 
Never heard any of these terms. As I grew up FOB was a watch FOB for a pocket watch to keep it from getting lost as it was a small piece of leather that attached to your pants and to the watch so that you could pull the watch out of your pocket to read the time but when you went to put it back in your pocket and you missed the pocket you did not loose that watch and also when you pulled your hanky out of your pocket to blow your nose the watch if it acidently pulled out of the pocket with your hanky you did not loose that watch. Have friends that still use them. I grew up using a watch chain for that purpose. And I still also carry the hanky but use a wrist watch now.
 
Ron in NS:
Ron, FOB causes FOD. Probably would be more clear for me to just say "a rock got chucked through a propeller blade and took a small chunk out of it".

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Category filter:
Acronym Definition
FOB Free On Board (shipping industry)
FOB Forward Operating Base
FOB Fall Out Boy (band)
FOB Freight On Board
FOB Father Of the Bride
FOB Fecal Occult Blood
FOB Fans of Barbaro (thoroughbred race horse)
FOB Fresh Off the Boat
FOB Family Owned Business
FOB Forward Operation(s) Base
FOB Federal Office Building
FOB First Order of Business
FOB Foreign Object
FOB Follow-On Biologic (drug)
FOB Fiberoptic Bronchoscope
FOB Fuel on Board (aviation)
- plus dozens of more obscure meanings to make things clear as mud . . . .
 

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