Tips on getting a GMK group buy going?

[tigersharkdude]

First, if I missed a thread like this please point me in the right direction.

I'm wanting to try to get a GMK Spacebar group buy going, could anybody give me any tips? Info I'm trying to find;

* Who would be the person to contact fir manufacturing?

* For a first time GB, should I limit it to CONUS?

* Where is a good place for cheap, bulk mailing envelopes?

Sorry about the noob questions.

[rowdy]

I cannot assist with most queries, but can offer a suggestion.

Do not limit to CONUS only.  Canadians tend to get a bit upset, and the rest of the world will be left wanting these desirable keycaps.

I'm not sure if it has been done before, but you could try arranging a proxy in each non-CONUS country and do a single bulk shipment of keycaps there, which would greatly limit the number of overseas packages you would need to send.  This approach has been suggested to save a couple of malingering group buys, and quite a few people have offered to act as proxies for their respective countries or regions.

[xondat]

Limit to CONUS and I'll fly over to you and slap you Don't limit your audience. No harm in them knowing shipping is slightly more.

[ghostjuggernaut]

You'll want to speak to Christoph at GMK. If you send them an email through their website, he will most likely be the one who replies. He handles all of the mockup and pricing questions.

USPS flat rate is IMO the best option for sending packaged. They have free boxes, and you can print labels through their site with ease. Stick on labels are really cheap through amazon as well.

And yeah, don't limit to conus. You will need all the help you can get to meet MOQ.

Additionally, don't forget all of the PayPal issues RGBYK and njbair had.

[heedpantsnow]

Are you only wanting to do space bars?

[tigersharkdude]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Are you only wanting to do space bars?

This would be my first ever attempt at a GB so I wouldn't want to do to much in case of ****ups.

If another person, with experience running a GB, wanted to help I would more than welcome the help.

[HannahPeach]

Provided that you are getting ab GB going, if you need somebody in the EU to distribute in EU I'd be down to help you out!

Would safe a lot of people quite a bit of custom fees I think.

[tigersharkdude]

Interest Check is up. If anyone thinks I should add/change anything LMK
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78780.0

[swimmingbird]

You'll want to speak to Christoph at GMK. If you send them an email through their website, he will most likely be the one who replies. He handles all of the mockup and pricing questions.

USPS flat rate is IMO the best option for sending packaged. They have free boxes, and you can print labels through their site with ease. Stick on labels are really cheap through amazon as well.

And yeah, don't limit to conus. You will need all the help you can get to meet MOQ.

Additionally, don't forget all of the PayPal issues RGBYK and njbair had.

jdcarpe had a really good tip for avoiding this problem by charging for the GB as a service on the invoice rather than goods

[Giorgio]

Condiering the very long time that is necessary to organize a group buy, you should absolutely contact them to ask about the uniqey thing.

I think that they plan to allow individuals to order keycaps sets in a very big number of combinations - colors. This could potentially make your gmk group buy completely unattractive... Unless the project has been shelved or delayed.

[tigersharkdude]

Condiering the very long time that is necessary to organize a group buy, you should absolutely contact them to ask about the uniqey thing.

I think that they plan to allow individuals to order keycaps sets in a very big number of combinations - colors. This could potentially make your gmk group buy completely unattractive... Unless the project has been shelved or delayed.

Ive heard back from GMK, the MOQ is 150.

The spacebar buy is currently on hold. Working with a few other members on different project that will also include spacebars

[Giorgio]

Condiering the very long time that is necessary to organize a group buy, you should absolutely contact them to ask about the uniqey thing.

I think that they plan to allow individuals to order keycaps sets in a very big number of combinations - colors. This could potentially make your gmk group buy completely unattractive... Unless the project has been shelved or delayed.

Ive heard back from GMK, the MOQ is 150.

The spacebar buy is currently on hold. Working with a few other members on different project that will also include spacebars

Is uniqey, with its custom keycaps shop gonna happen or not? This is question. I don't understand why you talk about moq.

[iamtootallforthis]

People will get pissed off regardless of how transparent you are with the buy.

Read the last couple of pages of the GMK Hyperfuse buy.

[tigersharkdude]

I don't understand why you talk about moq.

The current MOQ for our keycaps is 150pcs. per key. In your case this means 150pcs. of every different color.

That's why

[billnye]

I would recommend making a separate bank account for group buy money. Next I would research the rates your bank charges for USD to EUR conversion. Most banks don't give you the most favorable rate. Also look into the procedure for starting an international wire transfer.

Also, make sure you're very specific on how people fill out the order form. This will save you lots of time when you get to shipping.

Charge a little extra on everything. There are going to be costs that are not apparent at first (customs charge, USPS price increase, etc.)

You can order flat rate boxes on the USPS website. They will be delivered to your door for free. For international, you can order bubble mailers on Amazon Prime.

I would be happy to help you out in any way I could, just let me know

[tigersharkdude]

I would recommend making a separate bank account for group buy money. Next I would research the rates your bank charges for USD to EUR conversion. Most banks don't give you the most favorable rate. Also look into the procedure for starting an international wire transfer.

Also, make sure you're very specific on how people fill out the order form. This will save you lots of time when you get to shipping.

Charge a little extra on everything. There are going to be costs that are not apparent at first (customs charge, USPS price increase, etc.)

You can order flat rate boxes on the USPS website. They will be delivered to your door for free. For international, you can order bubble mailers on Amazon Prime.

I would be happy to help you out in any way I could, just let me know

Gracias senor. Exactly the type of response I was looking for.

There are so many things to a gb, and with some people being "unfriendly", I'm unsure if it's even worth the headache.

Ih, and with you talking of shipping international, I've already had 2 well known euro members contact me in regards to being proxies

[billnye]

I would recommend making a separate bank account for group buy money. Next I would research the rates your bank charges for USD to EUR conversion. Most banks don't give you the most favorable rate. Also look into the procedure for starting an international wire transfer.

Also, make sure you're very specific on how people fill out the order form. This will save you lots of time when you get to shipping.

Charge a little extra on everything. There are going to be costs that are not apparent at first (customs charge, USPS price increase, etc.)

You can order flat rate boxes on the USPS website. They will be delivered to your door for free. For international, you can order bubble mailers on Amazon Prime.

I would be happy to help you out in any way I could, just let me know

Gracias senor. Exactly the type of response I was looking for.

There are so many things to a gb, and with some people being "unfriendly", I'm unsure if it's even worth the headache.

Ih, and with you talking of shipping international, I've already had 2 well known euro members contact me in regards to being proxies

Don't worry about the unfriendly people. The vast majority of people you deal with are very friendly and helpful.

With regards to international, unless it's a huge group buy, I don't think proxies would be worth it. Once you get a rhythm for making the labels it goes by pretty fast. You can streamline the process further by knowing the weight of each object you're sending so you don't have to weigh every single package.

[SpAmRaY]

I would recommend making a separate bank account for group buy money. Next I would research the rates your bank charges for USD to EUR conversion. Most banks don't give you the most favorable rate. Also look into the procedure for starting an international wire transfer.

Also, make sure you're very specific on how people fill out the order form. This will save you lots of time when you get to shipping.

Charge a little extra on everything. There are going to be costs that are not apparent at first (customs charge, USPS price increase, etc.)

You can order flat rate boxes on the USPS website. They will be delivered to your door for free. For international, you can order bubble mailers on Amazon Prime.

I would be happy to help you out in any way I could, just let me know

Gracias senor. Exactly the type of response I was looking for.

There are so many things to a gb, and with some people being "unfriendly", I'm unsure if it's even worth the headache.

Ih, and with you talking of shipping international, I've already had 2 well known euro members contact me in regards to being proxies

Don't worry about the unfriendly people. The vast majority of people you deal with are very friendly and helpful.

With regards to international, unless it's a huge group buy, I don't think proxies would be worth it. Once you get a rhythm for making the labels it goes by pretty fast. You can streamline the process further by knowing the weight of each object you're sending so you don't have to weigh every single package.

What sucks is USPS just doubled the cheapest USPS First Class International rate.

[Giorgio]

I don't understand why you talk about moq.

The current MOQ for our keycaps is 150pcs. per key. In your case this means 150pcs. of every different color.

That's why

What I was trying to say is that if and when gmk uniqey will set up an online shop, it will make no sense to start a group buy, that's what I meant, and you keep saying the moq is 150    )

[SpAmRaY]

I don't understand why you talk about moq.

The current MOQ for our keycaps is 150pcs. per key. In your case this means 150pcs. of every different color.

That's why

What I was trying to say is that if and when gmk uniqey will set up an online shop, it will make no sense to start a group buy, that's what I meant, and you keep saying the moq is 150    )

Nobody but GMK knows what uniqey will be about if and when it ever happens. For all we know they might charge $300 for a keyboard with a "custom" keyset.

Regardless of what uniqey is and or does group buys will always fill a gap.