GH60 Group Buy (Salvage Mode: Enabled - Update in OP)

[sth]

jdcarpe - sorry, i hope i didn't sound too impatient; i know you've got real life to deal with too
i just wonder the same things as salmo. people are just impatient because things are not as transparent as we'd like. we're a community of DIYers and i think when it seems like there is unnecessary hold-ups in a process we all immediately start looking for ways to get around those problems.

[BlueBär]

Or maybe it's time to just refund plate money and make that a separate group buy so orders aren't completely held up by it.

Whoa whoa what? Are you crazy? Do you know how much refunding and other chaos that would provoke? No thanks. Why is it time to do that when we don't have the PCBs yet? There is absolutely no hurry to get the plates made. Please don't start rushing this now. Getting the plates made will not take as long as developing and debugging the PCBs. Please calm down.

[bueller]

Or maybe it's time to just refund plate money and make that a separate group buy so orders aren't completely held up by it.

Whoa whoa what? Are you crazy? Do you know how much refunding and other chaos that would provoke? No thanks. Why is it time to do that when we don't have the PCBs yet? There is absolutely no hurry to get the plates made. Please don't start rushing this now. Getting the plates made will not take as long as developing and debugging the PCBs. Please calm down.

I don't understand your reasoning, there is no reason to delay plate orders if the orders are locked in and people aren't allowed to change their selections. For all you know the PCB's could get finished and then we find out the laser cutting place have a month lead time on new orders. What then?

[BlueBär]

I don't understand your reasoning, there is no reason to delay plate orders if the orders are locked in and people aren't allowed to change their selections. For all you know the PCB's could get finished and then we find out the laser cutting place have a month lead time on new orders. What then?

I'm talking about making a seperate GB for the plates (the part of his message that I quoted), because that would mean you would have to refund ~300 people and collect payments for those who still want a plate AGAIN. I think that would not only cause chaos but would also delay the plates a lot more.

I agree with you that we could get the plates cut now, but personally I'm not in a hurry.

[komar007]

I don't understand your reasoning, there is no reason to delay plate orders if the orders are locked in and people aren't allowed to change their selections. For all you know the PCB's could get finished and then we find out the laser cutting place have a month lead time on new orders. What then?

I'm talking about making a seperate GB for the plates (the part of his message that I quoted), because that would mean you would have to refund ~300 people and collect payments for those who still want a plate AGAIN. I think that would not only cause chaos but would also delay the plates a lot more.

I agree with you that we could get the plates cut now, but personally I'm not in a hurry.

Not only chaos and delays, but also paypal is not free...

[Glod]

I mean the only reason im also in the group concerned about the plates is that i was part of the phantom group buy. during the phantom group buy the plates were delayed and PCBs sat at bavmans for literally months (this was before he went all MIA). I dont think we can even talk about refunds anymore.

Really sick this **** keeps happening, i don't care who's fault it is at this point. you have MK basically at the gates ready to make and sell GH60 PCBs, they even have TEX Cases. you have PCBs of rev2 on chinese sites. yeah JD, i think i have a right to be agitated in addition to losing so much money on geekhack failed group buys last year.

Completly ignoring the fact the GH60 group buy is much more massive in size, Lets look at the history of the phantom group buy to see why i am MAD bro, this really puts a clear picture on how ****ed up these group buys are and why some things are better suited handled by vendors or massdrop.

Phantom Orders Close - January 2, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg744422#msg744422

Bavman confirms he has all the through hole parts and feels there is much less than 3 months left in the group buy and jokes about it with confidence - January 31, 2013 - He actually would be right if the plates arrived at the same time of the pcbs
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg785294#msg785294

Bpiphany confirms that he submitted the order to pcbwing (his only part in that group buy) and that there was a delay due to Chinese festival (sound familar guys?) - February 1, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg785410#msg785410

WFD Closes Plate Orders well after the PCB Orders, however important to remember the plates arent being made in China like the PCBS- February 2, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg786766#msg786766

WFD Goes quiet for a week doesn't tell us when he submitted the orders for the plates since the orders closed, and then comes back to say there is a delay in the plate making - February 25, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg807648#msg807648

< insert 2 weeks of me bumping the plates thread literally begging for status, this is also where Profisist went from a respected member of this community to being well what he became>

WFD comes back 2 weeks later after "there was a big problem"? doesn't at all explain what he meant and says he will get the plates in 1 week - March 16, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg824194#msg824194

Phantom PCBS confirmed arrive at Bavman - March 27, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg835839#msg835839
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg837737#msg837737

WFD comes back ANOTHER 2 weeks of not giving us any informattin, saying the plates were cut all wrong and ****ed up and he needed to find another plate maker - March 29, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg837014#msg837014
blames late payments http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg837981#msg837981

Bavman sends out PCB-Only work orders - April 12, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg850869#msg850869

WFD receives the bulk of the plates and if i am reading correctly it is only then that he has Beast make the lower-quantity designs - April 26, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg869699#msg869699

Beast finishes and ships the low-quantity designs - May 13, 2013 the bulk of the plates were still with WFD for 3 weeks and the PCBs are still with bavman awaiting the plates.
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg890637#msg890637

WFD Ships the "plate-only" orders - May 22, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg900874#msg900874

WFD Ships plates to Bavman - June 01, 2013,
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39410.msg912873#msg912873

Bavman Finally Receives Plates from WFD - June 03, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg915450#msg915450

Bavman Sorts and ships one of the only 2 rounds of Plate/PCB Combo orders he ends up sending out before going MIA - June 10, 2013
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38441.msg924147#msg924147


In the case of the phantom group buy, i dont know if people realize this but it wasn't initially bavman that held up the plate/pcb combo orders, it was WFD's plate maker and in some part WFD himself, Issues with the plates caused Plate/Combo orders to not go out for 2-3 months as we learned only part of the orders went out in june but he did send out like half the orders in under 2 weeks after getting the plates. Afterwards bavman went MIA which was caused by some life event (bavman was seen as very trustworthy before this "event")

Point is if the plates came in March at the same time as the PCBs, would bavman been able to to get out all the orders before his "event" that caused him to go MIA? Wasn't it WFD's plate maker/himself that caused the phantom group buy to nose dive? please guys tell me i'm not the only one that noticed this.


Yes call me crazy for writing this up, but im not crazy when i say plates should be ordered as soon as possible, because problems may happen and you have a massive amount of orders. tell me why i am wrong after seeing the above. especially because WFD is "still" in charge of getting the plates.

[LechnerDE]

Oh boy, as much as I'd love to build a phantom I am glad that I wasn't part of the mess you listed...

Maybe I am naive but with JD involved I can't imagine the GH60 GB will become such a fiasco

[GeorgeK]

snip

6 months!!! I don't think I could cope with another 6 months...  It's already been over 8 months since invoices were sent out...

[ApocalypseMaow]

I agree with Glod. There is no reason to wait for WFD to find time to do this. Waiting now, could turn this into a huge cluster fuk..

Now at the same time, I think everyone one involved has done what they could to keep this rolling. I just see lots of other GBs going south and
people are starting to get gun shy about things going south... :/

[pasph]

I'm still waiting for WFD to ship my Phantom kits...and while i was waiting he has bought and sold items on Hardforum..
Thanks to TheProf and WFD until now i've lost more than $700

[jdcarpe]

yeah JD, i think i have a right to be agitated in addition to losing so much money on geekhack failed group buys last year.

Completly ignoring the fact the GH60 group buy is much more massive in size, Lets look at the history of the phantom group buy to see why i am MAD bro, this really puts a clear picture on how ****ed up these group buys are and why some things are better suited handled by vendors or massdrop.

Wow, cry much? None of that pertains to this group buy. If WFD doesn't come back and handle his part of this GB, I already said I would do it. But it will be on my own time. Period. komar, TJ, and I are the remaining organizers of this GB, and we will keep our own counsel as to when and how things should be done, thank you very much.

I agree with Glod. There is no reason to wait for WFD to find time to do this. Waiting now, could turn this into a huge cluster fuk..

Now at the same time, I think everyone one involved has done what they could to keep this rolling. I just see lots of other GBs going south and
people are starting to get gun shy about things going south... :/

Oh good, so will it be you or Glod who volunteers to take over the plate production??

Maybe I am naive but with JD involved I can't imagine the GH60 GB will become such a fiasco

Thanks for your support, LechnerDE. And thanks to all the other ~200 people who aren't in here whining about a group buy that is proceeding as best it can.

[Glod]

WTF dude, i'm sorry if i want to know how my $239.26 USD paid on 5/29/2013 (255 days ago) is doing. Everyone i talk to in the non-keyboard world says i got robbed and i have no argument to tell them otherwise.

If your going to tell me "cry much" that really just shows the kind of person you really are. I'm not telling you how to run your group buy; I'm simply pointing out that WFD and his plates delayed the Phantom, so im asking and your "team" a simple question, how the **** are you going to prevent that from happening again with the plates when you have twice the orders. how about some ****ing transparency instead making this one of the worst group buys in geekhack history.

[jdcarpe]

dude, i'm sorry

I accept your apology.

I'm not telling you how to run your group buy

ORLY?

i say plates should be ordered as soon as possible, because problems may happen and you have a massive amount of orders.

im asking and your "team" a simple question, how the **** are you going to prevent that from happening again with the plates when you have twice the orders?

I already addressed that:

If [WFD] doesn't come back with some info about the plates by the time the PCBs are complete, I will probably take over and just have them made somewhere else.

Reading is fun(damental)!

Any other questions that I've already answered, or are you really just trolling now?

[mashby]

I hate it when those I look up to fight because it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that popcorn simply can't mask.

If only there was something I could do to make it all better... I know!




Hope I don't come off too glib, just trying to lighten things up a little bit.

I really respect both you guys and I hate for things getting out of hand like this when I know that neither of you are intending to hurt one another's feelings, or rub each other the wrong way.

[salmo]

Wow, cry much?..

Seriously dude?  Really?  People make an argument and your response is just to make personal attacks instead of trying to address the point...  You can belittle folks all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that "proceeding as best as it can" is a bit of an overstatement here.  You have your boards already, our money, and are dragging your feet on actually delivering anything to anyone's door.  My money was paid on Jun 2, and the only thing in someone's hand now is switches.  Ever minor speedbump so far has turned into a multi-month ordeal, so you have to forgive folks when they want you to start talking about how you're planning for the looming problem, and don't exactly take "I got this" as a good enough answer. 

You'll note that I also suggested opening up the plate-making to volunteers, since we have more than a few people who have ordered one of these and that also make plates.  But I see that this is apparently more of a Geekhack clique teenage drama thing.

I'll just point out that my patience and ability to just trust folks is diminishing here, especially when you're just calling people who bring up issues names.  To put it simply, I paid money for something, and it's well past the time I was supposed to receive it.  Is it going to be at my door in the next couple months or do I need to be talking to someone about a refund?

[jdcarpe]

I hate it when those I look up to fight because it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that popcorn simply can't mask.

If only there was something I could do to make it all better... I know!

Show Image

Hope I don't come off too glib, just trying to lighten things up a little bit.

I really respect both you guys and I hate for things getting out of hand like this when I know that neither of you are intending to hurt one another's feelings, or rub each other the wrong way.

I know, mashby. The only reason I responded to Glod's post at all is because I like the guy. I hate that he has lost confidence in this buy, for whatever reason.

Other people posting about issues I've already addressed in this thread don't even merit a response, and won't be getting one.

[Glod]

I hate it when those I look up to fight because it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that popcorn simply can't mask.

If only there was something I could do to make it all better... I know!

Hope I don't come off too glib, just trying to lighten things up a little bit.

I really respect both you guys and I hate for things getting out of hand like this when I know that neither of you are intending to hurt one another's feelings, or rub each other the wrong way.

I know, mashby. The only reason I responded to Glod's post at all is because I like the guy. I hate that he has lost confidence in this buy, for whatever reason.

Other people posting about issues I've already addressed in this thread don't even merit a response, and won't be getting one.

:/ Glod damn it...**** I don't want to make enemies here. Lost my cool for sure.

Just angry lately, really angry, about group buys on geekhack and my own personal finances. so yeah, ill try to stop before i hurt things. I don't regret everything i said though so just please do your best JD, That's all that i can ask really at this point.

[bueller]

I hate it when those I look up to fight because it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that popcorn simply can't mask.

If only there was something I could do to make it all better... I know!

Hope I don't come off too glib, just trying to lighten things up a little bit.

I really respect both you guys and I hate for things getting out of hand like this when I know that neither of you are intending to hurt one another's feelings, or rub each other the wrong way.

I know, mashby. The only reason I responded to Glod's post at all is because I like the guy. I hate that he has lost confidence in this buy, for whatever reason.

Other people posting about issues I've already addressed in this thread don't even merit a response, and won't be getting one.

:/ Glod damn it...**** I don't want to make enemies here. Lost my cool for sure.

Just angry lately, really angry, about group buys on geekhack and my own personal finances. so yeah, ill try to stop before i hurt things. I don't regret everything i said though so just please do your best JD, That's all that i can ask really at this point.

Don't second guess yourself mate, totally agree with your points.

[salmo]

Other people posting about issues I've already addressed in this thread don't even merit a response, and won't be getting one.

Real classy.  Will you be giving me my refund or do I need to file a dispute?

[ApocalypseMaow]

If there is anything I can do, I'll be glad to help! Got a couple of laser cutters in town... Just no bending plates... I failed Beast on getting a place to bend plates :/ (sorry ben!!!)
Who is taking up assembly on this again?

[pix3l_fodder]

Jesus christ people, just be patient. You knew what you were signing up for when entering a group buy and one of the requirements is PATIENCE!

[GeorgeK]

Jesus christ people, just be patient. You knew what you were signing up for when entering a group buy and one of the requirements is PATIENCE!

Whilst I think people are being patient, I also think it's fair to be asking some serious questions - in the first post it still says:

ETA for all parts will be around September if there are no major delays

and at this stage we're 5 months past that and things haven't been ordered yet...

[bueller]

Reading the end of this thread has me wondering why you would still have WFD in charge of plates  when he's clearly so busy he can't reply to PM's for months on end. Oh, because some people on the internet said so. Riiiiight.

[JonasDK]

Other people posting about issues I've already addressed in this thread don't even merit a response, and won't be getting one.

Real classy.  Will you be giving me my refund or do I need to file a dispute?

Or you could just sell your order like everyone else that can't wait.

[komar007]

Jesus christ people, just be patient. You knew what you were signing up for when entering a group buy and one of the requirements is PATIENCE!

Whilst I think people are being patient, I also think it's fair to be asking some serious questions - in the first post it still says:

ETA for all parts will be around September if there are no major delays

and at this stage we're 5 months past that and things haven't been ordered yet...

Well, it also says "if there are no major delays", and there were major delays. Like 3 at least. One was WFD being busy, the other one was longer time to produce the prototypes than we had expected, then after the prototypes were sent there was very little feedback about them, and all in all that was the point of prototypes. And then I couldn't finish bugfixing as fast as I had wished to, because of studies and exams, so I'm sorry, not everything can go as planned.
We're currently about 6 months past deadline and I actually think it's not that bad. Producing a real device takes time and a number of revisions and huge money. I just regret having said the boards could be finished in September. It was just a rough best-case calculation, and I believe I did say it too. Then this information was just copied all over the place and everybody assumed this was our "release" date. And it wasn't.
We've done just one round of prototypes (as rev. A was basically a completely different device...) and we can't rush just because something before slowed the process down, we don't want to end up having faulty boards.
As for plates, just let JD do what he does. I won't take over the plates and the responsibility for them, because I don't know places where they can be cut or even the designs for all our options. It's not such an easy thing to just pass this on to somebody and assume they'll be done correctly.

[GeorgeK]

Jesus christ people, just be patient. You knew what you were signing up for when entering a group buy and one of the requirements is PATIENCE!

Whilst I think people are being patient, I also think it's fair to be asking some serious questions - in the first post it still says:

ETA for all parts will be around September if there are no major delays

and at this stage we're 5 months past that and things haven't been ordered yet...

Well, it also says "if there are no major delays", and there were major delays. Like 3 at least. One was WFD being busy, the other one was longer time to produce the prototypes than we had expected, then after the prototypes were sent there was very little feedback about them, and all in all that was the point of prototypes. And then I couldn't finish bugfixing as fast as I had wished to, because of studies and exams, so I'm sorry, not everything can go as planned.
We're currently about 6 months past deadline and I actually think it's not that bad. Producing a real device takes time and a number of revisions and huge money. I just regret having said the boards could be finished in September. It was just a rough best-case calculation, and I believe I did say it too. Then this information was just copied all over the place and everybody assumed this was our "release" date. And it wasn't.
We've done just one round of prototypes (as rev. A was basically a completely different device...) and we can't rush just because something before slowed the process down, we don't want to end up having faulty boards.
As for plates, just let JD do what he does. I won't take over the plates and the responsibility for them, because I don't know places where they can be cut or even the designs for all our options. It's not such an easy thing to just pass this on to somebody and assume they'll be done correctly.

Fair point - thanks for the information and reply.  I think the main thing which is getting to people is the lack of information - delays can obviously happen and there's nothing that anyone can do to avoid them but at least having a grasp on what's going on is what I'm after certainly.  What'd be really nice is a timeframe e.g. when things are going to be ordered, the lead times from the factories etc.  At the minute, for all we know, we could be waiting another 6 months for these...

[damorgue]

I think this was all sparked by several recent GB failures and events which have people on edge. It was mentioned that the work on plates won't begin until the PCBs are done and this seems like a delay without any reason. There hasn't been many explanations posted which adds to the already quite strained trust to GBs around here.


I think the majority of this is probably the tense view people have gotten to GB based on recent events in other GBs.

[salmo]

Being patient means waiting 6 months when the guess was three.  I'm not being unreasonable here.  I'm fine with 10 months.  But this won't be completed in 10, and it's not because of "major delays."  We've accounted for 1 delay so far (the bug in rev b.).  When I brought up the issue of trying to minimize the WFD delay, that's when found out that no one is in a hurry to get this to anyone. 

Maybe you already have yours so you're in no rush.  Maybe a year isn't a long time to you all and your lives are relatively static. 

But in three months, I'm not going to have time to work on this anymore.  As the plan stands it's looking like we'll be lucky if this stuff is shipped to people in 4 months.  (manufacturing and delivering of the PCB, sourcing plates, ordering them, getting those shipped and sorted, etc.)  We're still doing things that should have been done before money was collected (sourcing plates, etc.).

This is not what I signed up for.  I want out.  If someone has anything that is mine (switches, etc), I'll be happy to pay for that and shipping to send it to me.  If someone want to work something out where someone buys my order, that's fine.   I'm not trying to screw anyone over, I'm flexible, but at some point I have to get my money back one way or another.

[iAmAhab]

Here is a suggestion, stop being a little *****.

[riotonthebay]

Here is a suggestion, stop being a little *****.

Go away please. Adults are talking.

[BlueBär]

We're still doing things that should have been done before money was collected (sourcing plates, etc.).

Have you read the OP?

I designed and will have the plates made.

The CAD files were made and WFD had a source for them. So are you saying the plates should have been produced before the GB started? See the error in your logic there?

We've accounted for 1 delay so far (the bug in rev b.).

Three posts above yours:

Well, it also says "if there are no major delays", and there were major delays. Like 3 at least. One was WFD being busy, the other one was longer time to produce the prototypes than we had expected, then after the prototypes were sent there was very little feedback about them, and all in all that was the point of prototypes. And then I couldn't finish bugfixing as fast as I had wished to, because of studies and exams, so I'm sorry, not everything can go as planned.

This is not what I signed up for.  I want out.

As somebody else already suggested, just sell your order.

[battletux]

I was wondering when people would start to lose patience with this group buy.

I'm really thankful for Komar, JDCarpe and WFD (and anyone else I've missed who has helped in this) for their time and energy in putting this together. Now I was expecting a delay so the time this has taken is not too surprising, however I'll admit to not being too happy with this, my first, GB.

The main things that I have issues with are First and Foremost the fact that If I wanted I could go and purchase a Rev B PCB right now if I wanted to. The wait would not be anywhere near as long as this GB. This does make me feel a little cheated having helped fund the KB with my GB knowing people are getting the fruits of investment before myself and the other backers receive their KBs. In hindsight, releasing the PCB schematics before the GB was completed and KBs shipped was maybe the wrong move. I know the rev B has a bug but I don't think it is a deal breaker bug. If I ever do another KB GB then it will be one where any PCB schematics are only released after the KBs are shipped.


The 2nd issue for me is the fact that a lot of us have handed over a large sum of money that is just sitting in someones account accruing them interest. Yes some would have been spent on prototypes, but the bulk of the money is just sitting there earning someone a little profit. I know this can't be helped due to the length of this GB but for the time this has been going on for and agin going forwards if I do join another group buy it will be one where only a deposit is paid initially until the actual hardware needs ordering. It would also help with budgeting for the GB too.



Sorry to be negative, but I'm starting to become disillusioned with this GB. It also don't help that the only other one I've signed up for was the toxic GB....

I'm grateful for everyones work on this but the time it is taking is starting to take it's toll. Anything that can be done to speed up getting orders out is a good thing in my book.

[jdcarpe]

The 2nd issue for me is the fact that a lot of us have handed over a large sum of money that is just sitting in someones account accruing them interest. Yes some would have been spent on prototypes, but the bulk of the money is just sitting there earning someone a little profit. I know this can't be helped due to the length of this GB but for the time this has been going on for and agin going forwards if I do join another group buy it will be one where only a deposit is paid initially until the actual hardware needs ordering. It would also help with budgeting for the GB too.

Rather than earning interest, sitting on this amount of money, which all came in at once, and didn't have an invoice receipt for the expenditure of it in the same calendar year, even though every bit of money that was collected will be spent on the GB, it actually creates a tax liability for the person who collected the money. PayPal is required to report to the IRS any collections of more than $20,000 in total and/or 200 transactions. I just hope TJ doesn't end up owing a bunch in taxes for collecting the money.

And to be clear, none of the organizers are making any profit from the GB orders. The only money we may get to keep is from the assembly service, which we will earn by providing that service for those who ordered it.

[komar007]

The good news is, TJ is now sitting on less amount of money, as the PCB production is starting right now. I'll pass the information about the estimated lead time as soon as I get it.

[Qipz]

Great! Thanks for the update komar, so what colour did we settle on? Oh. And what colour are the plates anyway?

[komar007]

I ordered white, because many people liked them after the prototypes were made. The silkscreen is black this time.
I know we can't please everyone, doing many colors is just too much hassle. I hope this is fine, at least for most people.

[Qipz]

White is nice, original at the least. And if they really don't like it they c an  cover it up with a plate, so people shouldn't complain about it. Great work!

[ferociousfingerings]

:gasp: i can't even believe what i just read. Is it still too soon to get slightly excited?

Also... just throwing this out there: how cool/interesting/offensive would it be to do a "toxic" green version? (or maybe just black, or super-dark-gray, w/ toxic green silkscreen...)

No, i don't expect this to happen, just a thought i wanted to share.

[GeorgeK]

The good news is, TJ is now sitting on less amount of money, as the PCB production is starting right now. I'll pass the information about the estimated lead time as soon as I get it.

Exciting!  A couple of questions if you don't mind:

1) Are the plates being ordered now too?

2) My order only contains 2 PCBs and a plate - once they're in will it be sent out?  Obviously I'd rather not wait for the stabs / switches etc to arrive if I'm not getting any of them.

Thanks again

George

[BlueBär]

Also... just throwing this out there: how cool/interesting/offensive would it be to do a "toxic" green version? (or maybe just black, or super-dark-gray, w/ toxic green silkscreen...)

You can do that if you find a manufacturer that offers these colors since the PCB files will be published once the GB ends

[ferociousfingerings]

Also... just throwing this out there: how cool/interesting/offensive would it be to do a "toxic" green version? (or maybe just black, or super-dark-gray, w/ toxic green silkscreen...)

You can do that if you find a manufacturer that offers these colors since the PCB files will be published once the GB ends

Welp, looks like i'm off to learn how to make color-matched silkscreen! (not really!)

[komar007]

The good news is, TJ is now sitting on less amount of money, as the PCB production is starting right now. I'll pass the information about the estimated lead time as soon as I get it.

Exciting!  A couple of questions if you don't mind:

1) Are the plates being ordered now too?

plates will be taken care of soon

2) My order only contains 2 PCBs and a plate - once they're in will it be sent out?  Obviously I'd rather not wait for the stabs / switches etc to arrive if I'm not getting any of them.

I'll try to make up some sensible packing algorithm in case the various parts don't come all together. So probably you can assume yes;)

[The_Beast]

I ordered white, because many people liked them after the prototypes were made. The silkscreen is black this time.
I know we can't please everyone, doing many colors is just too much hassle. I hope this is fine, at least for most people.

No purple

[komar007]

pcbcart has no purple option...

[tgujay]

pcbcart has no purple option...

Sounds like the wrong manufacturer then, purple or go home.

[SpAmRaY]

pcbcart has no purple option...

Sounds like the wrong manufacturer then, purple or go home.

If you guys want purple that bad just get the files and send them to oshpark.

[elton5354]

plates will be taken care of soon

Did the PCB manufacturer give you any ETA on their production time?

Also, when you say the plates are going to be taken care of soon, is WFD back handling it?

Thanks.

[Wildcard]

I just don't want white PCB's. Any dark color would be better IMO for not showing solder burn marks.

[Photekq]

I just don't want white PCB's. Any dark color would be better IMO for not showing solder burn marks.

If you clean the flux away after you really don't see any discolouring

[komar007]

I just don't want white PCB's. Any dark color would be better IMO for not showing solder burn marks.

This is not a good reason not go go white. I haven't seen any burn marks on the white PCB, and black matte is much harder to clean and also much more prone to scratches.