[GB] GMK ThinkCaps (shipping)

[dvorcol]

[voodoo6k]

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Thank you, dvorcol! :)

[saltimate]

GB progress update:

1. I've taken the decision to cancel the Ortho & 40's standalone set.

More

It's something I insisted on and wanted to offer for a long time, but the current sales numbers (one week in) are too low. In fact, they include a (very kind) buyer who had committed to getting 30+ sets for their keyboard shop, so the actual number is even lower.

We had a long IC phase and many people signed our form. More than 1500 entries overall, with 365 for the Ortho set specifically. I tried something experimental despite my vendors' warnings, and it didn't work out. I'd rather have tried and failed than not give it a shot. I'm terribly sorry to the 20-some buyers who already bought the Ortho set, you will be refunded in full.

2. I remain very optimistic for the rest of the GB, with the TKL set already at more than half way to MOQ! The other kits are priced competitively. Thanks again to everyone who has joined this group buy.

thinkcaps in KAT profile for the ortho kit someday please?

[fatpolomanjr]

thinkcaps in KAT profile for the ortho kit someday please?

Going for niche of a niche now I see. Joking aside, I'm a little surprised the ortho/40's numbers didn't pan out.

[nick779]

So, I'm assuming that if MOQ doesn't get hit the GB is cancelled?

[voodoo6k]

So, I'm assuming that if MOQ doesn't get hit the GB is cancelled?

No, the GB won't be cancelled. Vendors will buy out the kits.

FYI, base set is passed MOQ.

[voodoo6k]

thinkcaps in KAT profile for the ortho kit someday please?

Going for niche of a niche now I see. Joking aside, I'm a little surprised the ortho/40's numbers didn't pan out.

The Ortho set being cancelled is purely a financial decision on my part. Usually, vendors will buy out kits. Look at Yuri R2, for example.

I had committed to buying the remainder of the Ortho sets. After week one, Ortho sold around half what was expected relative to TKL and other kits. The form data suggested that we needed around 1000 TKL base sets for Ortho to hit an MOQ of 250. A few days from the finish, we're still at around 500 TKL sets. While that's actually not bad, it's not enough for Ortho.

Consider that I'm not a full-fledged store with capital on hand. I was ready to buy a fair number of extras, with the help of a fellow keyboard store (not even part of this GB!). However, I'm simply not in a position to buy 100+ sets, ie. dropping [a large sum] one year in advance during a global pandemic. I took a chance and it didn't pan out.

[azzipa]

Totally understandable. I've never run a GB but I can see there's much more to it than coming up with a compelling and original colorway, and producing some renders. Thanks for being a creator.

Consider that I'm not a full-fledged store with capital on hand. I was ready to buy a fair number of extras, with the help of a fellow keyboard store (not even part of this GB!). However, I'm simply not in a position to buy 100+ sets, ie. dropping 10k one year in advance during a global pandemic. I took a chance and it didn't pan out.

[hottrout]

Is there not usually a huge surge in sales in the closing days of most group buys?  With 5 days still to go, these MOQ could be met?

[Jo_hannes]

Is there not usually a huge surge in sales in the closing days of most group buys?  With 5 days still to go, these MOQ could be met?

Well, Ortho40s has been cancelled for weeks now if that's what you are talking about, hottrout. I was planning on buying it, actually. I suppose it would have been smart to make very clear that the Ortho40s is a maybe and that it depends a lot on first week sales. I guess, then a lot of people (including me) would have prioritized this and bought right away, and I am guessing we may have ended up with around 120 kits sold? Add extras to that, and we might be looking at 200 kits (pure conjecture right here), so that voodoo would still have had to spring for 50 kits. I guess it was a question for voodoo to leave Ortho40s open longer and still have to cancel it at the end because of lackluster sales, which would probably not have turned into additional TKL sales. I, as a result of all this, bought two bases, but just because I want to be able to switch out the kit after it's all shiny (and I got a 12% discount for BF on CandyKeys). However, I'm quite sad the board I was looking to fill with this set is no longer supported (Adélie).
In conclusion, to me, the only way Ortho40s would have made it is a much lower MOQ, maybe 100? But that would have meant (i guess) 20-30$ higher price... Not sure how many people would have taken that, I feel that overall this is getting much too low sales (e.g. comparing to the 80082, which is pretty and memey, but this one here is a true classic), so that is just reflected by what we are looking at.
Best
Johannes

[voodoo6k]

Is there not usually a huge surge in sales in the closing days of most group buys?  With 5 days still to go, these MOQ could be met?

Well, Ortho40s has been cancelled for weeks now if that's what you are talking about, hottrout. I was planning on buying it, actually. I suppose it would have been smart to make very clear that the Ortho40s is a maybe and that it depends a lot on first week sales. I guess, then a lot of people (including me) would have prioritized this and bought right away, and I am guessing we may have ended up with around 120 kits sold? Add extras to that, and we might be looking at 200 kits (pure conjecture right here), so that voodoo would still have had to spring for 50 kits. I guess it was a question for voodoo to leave Ortho40s open longer and still have to cancel it at the end because of lackluster sales, which would probably not have turned into additional TKL sales. I, as a result of all this, bought two bases, but just because I want to be able to switch out the kit after it's all shiny (and I got a 12% discount for BF on CandyKeys). However, I'm quite sad the board I was looking to fill with this set is no longer supported (Adélie).
In conclusion, to me, the only way Ortho40s would have made it is a much lower MOQ, maybe 100? But that would have meant (i guess) 20-30$ higher price... Not sure how many people would have taken that, I feel that overall this is getting much too low sales (e.g. comparing to the 80082, which is pretty and memey, but this one here is a true classic), so that is just reflected by what we are looking at.
Best
Johannes

I feel like that's an accurate assessment...

[hottrout]

Well for my part I bought all the sets, I love this entire package and can't wait to recreate my original IBM Boards again.

[Shihatsu]

This is the first GMK Groupbuy I participate in. Thing is: These thingys are tooo expensive (speaking of GMK GBs as a whole). Why? Well, because I am from Germany, and stubborn as ****, with the following reasoning: I can buy a whole ISO-DE Kit with all I need for ~100 Euros. Without all that ANSI-overhead. Without all these MOQ-Hasseling and such. If done right. And it was done right in the past (German Dolch GB, WoB@Candykeys, ...). So, wait and be patient. Be strong against every SUPERCOOL set (and heck are there LOT of cool ones). And I did this very well. Ignoring these subforum for most of the time, cause reasons. And then there was the newsletter from Candykeys. Thinkcaps? Good sets? No sending to the states and back to Heimat? And, fffs, no Drop (Drop is cancer for private GBs)? Well, you got me. Finally, my third GMK-Set. Well done, Sir, well done - it takes much to get me. I bow my stubborn head!

[dvorcol]

So, I'm assuming that if MOQ doesn't get hit the GB is cancelled?

No, the GB won't be cancelled. Vendors will buy out the kits.

FYI, base set is passed MOQ.

[voodoo6k]

Final day to join!


https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/kcc743/final_day_to_join_gmk_thinkcaps_supports_exotic/

[nick779]

Final day to join!

Show Image

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/kcc743/final_day_to_join_gmk_thinkcaps_supports_exotic/

Woo! Lets see those final numbers!

Also, what layout is that? Looks super weird, but I kind of want to try it. I really dig the spacebar/layer controls.

[konstantin]

Also, what layout is that? Looks super weird, but I kind of want to try it. I really dig the spacebar/layer controls.

That's a Filco Minila. It's one of the first OEM compact keyboards that were available on the market. It's still fairly popular in East Asia.

[IBMweMissU]

Final numbers?

[hatomugi]

I hope good quality keycaps will come!

[Fisher]

Looks nice

[nick779]

Is Candykeys the best place to keep tabs on production status?

[GarrettSucks]

Sorry for the delay in posting these numbers. You can keep up with production status updates on our weekly project updates at https://news.dixiemech.com.

FINAL NUMBERS W/O EXTRAS

937   TKL
277   Numpad
155   Extension
204   Icon Mods
351   RGB Mods
367   Novelties
312   Spacebars
138   Accent
105   NordeUK
   
225   RAMA R1
119   RAMA R4
   
152   Deskpad

[dvorcol]

More

Sorry for the delay in posting these numbers. You can keep up with production status updates on our weekly project updates at https://news.dixiemech.com.

FINAL NUMBERS W/O EXTRAS

937   TKL
277   Numpad
155   Extension
204   Icon Mods
351   RGB Mods
367   Novelties
312   Spacebars
138   Accent
105   NordeUK
   
225   RAMA R1
119   RAMA R4
   
152   Deskpad

[voodoo6k]

Is Candykeys the best place to keep tabs on production status?

Sorry for the delay... Dixie Mech will be communicating with GMK so it's best to follow their social pages.

[of_sam]

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

[voodoo6k]

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

Sorry, what are you referring to?

[hottrout]

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

Sorry, what are you referring to?

277/937 * 100 = 29.56 or 30% actually.

Referring to the fact that only 277 people ordered the numpad kit compared to 937 for the TKL kit.  This is a pointless observation to make on the basis that almost no keyboards designed and made by the community have a numpad.  In fact in the last year I don't remember anyone designing and running a GB for any full size keyboards.  Personally I would love to see some full size designs coming to the community and I also ave to say, that I almost always order the numpad kit when ordering, just in case.

Also interesting to note that NordeUK kits, although understandably lower,  were still significant and important for many people, myself included.

[directheatedtriode]

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

Sorry, what are you referring to?

277/937 * 100 = 29.56 or 30% actually.

Referring to the fact that only 277 people ordered the numpad kit compared to 937 for the TKL kit.  This is a pointless observation to make on the basis that almost no keyboards designed and made by the community have a numpad.  In fact in the last year I don't remember anyone designing and running a GB for any full size keyboards.  Personally I would love to see some full size designs coming to the community and I also ave to say, that I almost always order the numpad kit when ordering, just in case.

Also interesting to note that NordeUK kits, although understandably lower,  were still significant and important for many people, myself included.

It feels like there has been at least one 1800 that ran in 2020? I don't like this layout so I don't follow it closely. And this one currently in IC: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=109390.0

Like you say virtually no customs include a numpad and I strongly prefer the cheaper base kit that will cover the really popular layouts 60, 65, TKL. Because then we might as well devolve into making these massive base kits to appease everyone.

I skipped on my fair share of 130/140/150 base kits even though I liked the design. At some point with so many sets running every month there is just no need to pay that much on already extremely expensive pieces of plastic.

[voodoo6k]

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

277/937 != 10%. Just saying.

Sorry, what are you referring to?

277/937 * 100 = 29.56 or 30% actually.

Referring to the fact that only 277 people ordered the numpad kit compared to 937 for the TKL kit.  This is a pointless observation to make on the basis that almost no keyboards designed and made by the community have a numpad.  In fact in the last year I don't remember anyone designing and running a GB for any full size keyboards.  Personally I would love to see some full size designs coming to the community and I also ave to say, that I almost always order the numpad kit when ordering, just in case.

Also interesting to note that NordeUK kits, although understandably lower,  were still significant and important for many people, myself included.

I tend to agree that numpads are more popular than some people seem to think. Only reason why it's separate was to allow for two base sets (considering GMK pricing).

The extra R1 and media keys make the numpad kit more worthwhile as standalone and full-size; neutral colours also help in general.

To be honest, I always consider the most popular pre-built keyboards when designing kits. For example, in this case the K2 and for DSA Scientific the Vortex Race 3. Incidentally, these are both 75%. 

[yqqdrasil]

Wow, beautiful keycap set. Hope this gets a rerun in the future!

[yuejia]

That’s what I want!!! Amazing stuff!!!

[sachin3767]

Will there be extras on any vendor sites?

[voodoo6k]

Will there be extras on any vendor sites?

Yes!

[VXQN]

Will there be extras on any vendor sites?

Yes!

Glad to hear! I'm regretting not getting the icon mod kit and maybe some split spacebars.

[sefixmm]

Any upgrade of the production ? 

[Jo_hannes]

Estimated shipping (for the US vendor) is November 2021 (Source: https://omnitype.com/blogs/timelines/gmk-thinkcaps). So, just lay low and be happy when you get a shipping notification. My personal realistic expectation is early next year. Peace!

[sefixmm]

Thanks for the reply, i'm not in a hurry at all, it was just to have some news 

[sefixmm]

Any news ?

[WHAT!?]

I'm just kind of butting in here. I don't know if it helps but this was the latest bit I could find...
https://omnitype.com/blogs/timelines/gmk-thinkcaps

[voodoo6k]

I'm just kind of butting in here. I don't know if it helps but this was the latest bit I could find...
https://omnitype.com/blogs/timelines/gmk-thinkcaps

Yep. I'm waiting for the blue samples but Garrett at Omnitype has seen them.

[hottrout]

sefixmm is your avatar Rachel?

[sefixmm]

sefixmm is your avatar Rachel?

Yes 

[azzipa]

sefixmm is your avatar Rachel?

Yes 

avatar is ok but i prefer no cgi.

hugs + kisses,
deckard

[hottrout]

My favourite film of all time and a great avatar.

[sefixmm]

Rachel is one of my favorite characters 

[azzipa]

+1 for rachel. honorable mention for roy (tears in the rain!). also, i think 2049 also holds up to repeated re-watches. and answers the question left hanging at the end of the original. brilliant the way gaff shows up in the sequel, made me smile. and you might like the three shorts made in connection with 2049 release to fill in more of the story, if you haven't already seen them 

and voodoo: my apologies for the brief thread-jack!

[hottrout]

azzipa, thanks for the link, I had not seen them but I had heard of them.  Just watched them and they are great.  Years ago I bought a set of the whiskey glasses that Deckard uses in the original movie, I should dig them out for a drink and watch 2049 again soon.

[hekt1k]

As an avid ThinkPad enjoyer I am bummed I missed this one

[sefixmm]

Any update ?

[jpk6134]

As an avid ThinkPad enjoyer I am bummed I missed this one

There will likely be some extras available when it finally drops.