GMK-electronic make cherry keycap ?

[nntnam]

For all the dream crushers, I send you this:

Dear Mr. Wang,
 
thank you very much for your request. You are right, we have the original Cherry tools for two-shot-molded MX caps.
 
Can you give me a more detailed description of what are you looking for?
 
Kind regards
 
Christoph Kredler

This would be CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

[DanGWanG]

My understanding at this point is they understand our need and rough MOQ of an individual community.  With that being said, I'm staying optimistic that they can meet our needs given our prospective MOQ.  I'm not giving up on this.

If you all want this to happen, don't troll this thread and keep constructive criticism going.  GMK now is aware of this thread and likely going to be actively browsing it.

[damorgue]

man i hope the pricing won't be crazy like SP

Their pricing ain't crazy. We just order so few that the fixed costs are distributed on too few sets.

MOQ is not a good term to use. Why? Well, because if the company says that you'll have to order a minimum of 10000 sets at $10 each, then they will be just as fine with you ordering 1000 sets at $100 each. It makes no difference to them. They get paid just as much, and for all they care, they can throw away the extra 9000 sets and pretend the order was according to the first case.

MOQ is a term which is thrown around a lot and it is some arbitrary chosen point where the seller believes that increase in cost per set will discourage the buyer. If you pay enough, they would agree to making a single set, I am sure of it. Just keep this in mind.

[Alessandro]

With us, Deskthority and some Korean forums perhaps participating, I'm sure we could reach a good number for staple caps, such as the red esc and RGB sets. As for anything else, we'll have to see.

[IvanIvanovich]

Good news. You must have sent a better worded questions than me since they never replied.

[DanGWanG]

man i hope the pricing won't be crazy like SP

Their pricing ain't crazy. We just order so few that the fixed costs are distributed on too few sets.

MOQ is not a good term to use. Why? Well, because if the company says that you'll have to order a minimum of 10000 sets at $10 each, then they will be just as fine with you ordering 1000 sets at $100 each. It makes no difference to them. They get paid just as much, and for all they care, they can throw away the extra 9000 sets and pretend the order was according to the first case.

MOQ is a term which is thrown around a lot and it is some arbitrary chosen point where the seller believes that increase in cost per set will discourage the buyer. If you pay enough, they would agree to making a single set, I am sure of it. Just keep this in mind.

I agree, and I've only been using MOQ here on the forums.  When discussing with vendors, I've asked what kind of services do they provide for individuals, groups and companies followed by pricing tiers per piece or set.

[Alessandro]

This is certainly positive news. Perhaps prepare to hail Dan?

[DanGWanG]

Good news. You must have sent a better worded questions than me since they never replied.

I figured a second inquiry wouldn't hurt, and actually I sent it before I saw this thread or were even aware you had messaged them.  Regardless, when it gets down to the technicals, you will be the main person coordinating...I'm just a liaison at this point =)

[jeroplane]

This is really exciting news... I'm envisioning Red Escs and RGB sets, as well as REAL Moogle Kits with the right colours and the right thickness. And beyond that, maybe one day sets of those green on white or Olivetti doubleshots could be made.

But for now, can't wait for updates! I wonder how this will affect the "Geekhack market" if they are able to make the rarer caps for us.

[guilleguillaume]

Why settle only with Red and RGB?

I don't see any particular reason to just stick to those keys. We need full sets 

[Zehkul]

man i hope the pricing won't be crazy like SP

I actually hope they have crazy pricing like SP where you can order just 50 pieces of a cap without having to pay 50$ per cap.

[jdcarpe]

This is really exciting news... I'm envisioning Red Escs and RGB sets, as well as REAL Moogle Kits with the right colours and the right thickness. And beyond that, maybe one day sets of those green on white or Olivetti doubleshots could be made.

But for now, can't wait for updates! I wonder how this will affect the "Geekhack market" if they are able to make the rarer caps for us.

You missed my post in the other thread:

IF we really can have new key sets made in correct Cherry profile, with correct legends and colors, by Cherry's own OEM manufacturer, I foresee the practical end of the "rare Cherry key cap" market. No more $500 dyesub sets or $250 red Esc's. People who purchased Cherry key caps as an investment opportunity, rather than something to use on a keyboard, will be sorely disappointed when the bottom falls out of the collector/secondhand market. Why pay a premium for "vintage," when we can have the exact same thing newly produced?

I am already getting my hopes up for Dolch sets, black on beige sets, white on black sets, as well as our own color creations, all at group buy prices.

[absyrd]

Why settle only with Red and RGB?

I don't see any particular reason to just stick to those keys. We need full sets 

Agreed. I'm much less concerned with tons of runs of individual keys and much more interested in well-developed full sets.

[Alessandro]

Because Red Esc and RGB are what most people cross forum will want, and will allow for better numbers. More people are going to want those caps than a full dolch set, for example.

[Acetrak]

Agreed, and doing a big GB with high quantity is a great way to establish a relationship

[IvanIvanovich]

What I would like to do for first round from GMK
white on COLOR X esc set (red, blue, green, orange, purple, etc.), white/black on COLOR X (red, blue, green, orange, purple, etc.) modifiers kit (tab, caps, shifts, ctrls, alts, win, menu, enter, backspace), RGB set, blue on white full set, green on white full set, red on white full set, classic black on beige and white on black full set. Maybe have some groups for ISO to help break the cost and put language with most of same characters together? Maybe have all mods and full set include both 1.5 and 1.25 and both fulltouch and step caps by default?

[jwaz]

Because Red Esc and RGB are what most people cross forum will want, and will allow for better numbers. More people are going to want those caps than a full dolch set, for example.

IDK as far as the a full keyset goes Dolch might be most in demand...

I suppose if this works out we could do a blank cherry PBT set of even Colemak doubleshots?

[Alessandro]

Because Red Esc and RGB are what most people cross forum will want, and will allow for better numbers. More people are going to want those caps than a full dolch set, for example.

IDK as far as the a full keyset goes Dolch might be most in demand...

Probably a bad example.

My point was that more people are going to order smaller, popular things like the RGB and Esc rather than a full set. Mostly anyway, I'll certainly be ordering a few full sets if this goes through!

[IvanIvanovich]

Oh yes and of course Dolch...
Sure there will be a good demand for modifiers kits, and esc and etc, but I think you may be surprised with how many people would like full new sets.

[pitashen]

Their pricing ain't crazy. We just order so few that the fixed costs are distributed on too few sets.

Unless 7bit was lying, I am pretty sure SP jacked up the pricing not because of the volume of the order.


I am certainly looking forward to a moogle kit replacement if we are not doing the full original cherry sets.

[jwaz]

I still haven't bought a full set from SP... so maybe you have a point there

[Alessandro]

If such a massive buy was to go through, I'd be more than happy to help distribute in the UK.

[fl0w3n]

Oh yes and of course Dolch...
Sure there will be a good demand for modifiers kits, and esc and etc, but I think you may be surprised with how many people would like full new sets.

Personally, I'd be all for buying full sets of the classics...mainly the sets you've got listed in classifieds, lysol. 

I'm not too big a fan of the RGBY mods...so I'd probably only jump on those for the sake of it. 

[Shadovved]

Looks like my rainbow unicorn vomit classic cherry rare set is a dream no more!

[Alessandro]

Seriously, this has me very excited considering I lust over a lot of the stuff in Lysol's FS thread!

[Shadovved]

I'll grab a hundred of those red cherry escs, just to sprinkle them over my bed and laugh like a psycho  ) )

While I hammer them to bits one by one!

Or...... Maybe not.

[IvanIvanovich]

Some color still might not happen depend on what is needed number wise to do a run at reasonable price. There is a lot of different tastes. My guess is Dolch, and black on white/beige would probably be the biggest for full sets. Though COLOR X on white/beige options could be quite huge as well.

[pitashen]

There is a lot of different tastes. My guess is Dolch, and black on white/beige would probably be the biggest for full sets. Though COLOR X on white/beige options could be quite huge as well.

Agree

[Shadovved]

Some color still might not happen depend on what is needed number wise to do a run at reasonable price. There is a lot of different tastes. My guess is Dolch, and black on white/beige would probably be the biggest for full sets. Though COLOR X on white/beige options could be quite huge as well.

Oh no, so means its a no-go for that fabulous cherry made unicorn vomit board?

[hashbaz]

Oh no, so means its a no-go for that fabulous cherry made unicorn vomit board?

We don't know enough yet to say.  All we know at this point is that they have the original Cherry molds.  We don't know anything yet about pricing structure or colors.

[Shadovved]

Oh no, so means its a no-go for that fabulous cherry made unicorn vomit board?

We don't know enough yet to say.  All we know at this point is that they have the original Cherry molds.  We don't know anything yet about pricing structure or colors.

Hmm  i know there should be another individual which would be very interested in this too, so that makes it 2 sets.

Wonder if its enough to fit their price breaks

JKJK. Hoping people are interested in that colourful board too!

[IvanIvanovich]

Right, still need more details about how they do things at GMK. I wouldn't say anything is impossible, but usual groupbuy demand defines what is made will likely apply. While I am also a personal fan of the multicolor typing tutor keycap set, I am not sure if there would be enough people that would want it to make it a go is all I was saying.

[Shadovved]

Hoping for the best now

Thanks for the hard work, lysol, really appreciate it alot! 

[IvanIvanovich]

Does anyone have more than 17 distinct (counting both different key base color and legend color) color of Cherry keycap? Just wondering if there is anyone that would be better to get a color ring for vintage set matching when it comes to that?

[Shadovved]

I think squarebox has cherry colour rings.

Maybe he can step in and take a lookie  )

[i3oilermaker]

I have the SP color rings


But I guess that doesn't help...

[IvanIvanovich]

Old Cherry rings may or may not be of help, also need all the keys to compare against as well. Matching with images can be quite difficult even on properly calibrated display when the photo was taken with a correct white balance. Direct plastic to plastic comparison will yield the best result. But this only matter if want more repro set of classics like the colors used on the Commodore, Amiga, Triumph Adler, etc.
Though it may also be possible that Cherry/GMK may have that info available already too if they are willing to share it.

[emptythecache]

I would personally rather we not do the colors you can already find (black on beige, white on black), in favor of an Olivetti replica (blue on white/biege), based on the huge interest in keyboard story's elusive CCnB set, and the insane $400+ bid on tsangan's set. I also think we need to make sure they make enough red escs to make anyone who's spent $250 on one weep, but I guess that's just me being a ****.

[DanGWanG]

We'll likely need to do some polling to get some serious interest checks going.  But from what I'm hearing in this thread so far, we're talking multi-colored Esc's, RGBs and Dolch or Beige sets.

[IvanIvanovich]

There will be big demand for black on white/beige full set for sure. It is almost impossible to find a good condtion full set with 1.25 mods and fulltouch caps lock. Surely many would like a nice new set instead of a patched together used set. Same goes for white on black, but maybe not as much as it is still possible to find ok price on NOS sets. White on black 1.5 mods are not easy to find though at the moment and I know there is going to be some good demand for those for certain.
Also many other vintage set have strange keysize and layout, so recreate with modern layout may be better to some than just getting patch kits.

I agree though, we need to start polling, and then just go with a few of most popular item to keep it manageable. I would hate for it to get nuts like group buy round 4 and take a year. I would also like to suggest the avoidance of having a bunch of add on option, just make all the keys in the set by default so it dosen't become a confusing mess. All set should just get 1.25 and 1.5 mods, both style caps lock, etc. Better to have them on hand in case you change board in the future.

[blighty]

The Skidata keys (burnt orange on charcoal?) would look great in ANSI.  Actually, any set that has been previously run would look great (red on charcoal/Red Alert v2.0 anyone?)

[MMB]

(red on charcoal/Red Alert v2.0 anyone?)

You mean 3.0. Or is it 4.0 now, with Klaxxon....

[Alessandro]

What about the coffee on cream doubleshots from your sale thread Lysol? They're beautiful and I'm sure a few others would be interested in them.

[emptythecache]

There will be big demand for black on white/beige full set for sure. It is almost impossible to find a good condtion full set with 1.25 mods and fulltouch caps lock. Surely many would like a nice new set instead of a patched together used set. Same goes for white on black, but maybe not as much as it is still possible to find ok price on NOS sets. White on black 1.5 mods are not easy to find though at the moment and I know there is going to be some good demand for those for certain.
Also many other vintage set have strange keysize and layout, so recreate with modern layout may be better to some than just getting patch kits.

I agree though, we need to start polling, and then just go with a few of most popular item to keep it manageable. I would hate for it to get nuts like group buy round 4 and take a year. I would also like to suggest the avoidance of having a bunch of add on option, just make all the keys in the set by default so it dosen't become a confusing mess. All set should just get 1.25 and 1.5 mods, both style caps lock, etc. Better to have them on hand in case you change board in the future.

1. Every mention of R4 miss my $300 that is clearly gone forever.
2. Forcing "full" sets might not go over super well with everyone, but it will help us with the "MOQ" concern. I think overall we've reached a good level of piecing things out, the main TKL set, Numpad add-on, Tsangan set.

[blighty]

Well, I wasn't suggesting it be called that, just making a comparison.  I think all the random set names are kind of silly to begin with.  I suppose we play the waiting game for pricing tiers. 

[rowdy]

No-one has explicitly mentioned yellow yet

I wonder if they could provide a sampler kit, as WASD does, with each of the major colours (unless they have dozens of colours, like SP).

[tsangan]

For all the dream crushers, I send you this:

Dear Mr. Wang,
 
thank you very much for your request. You are right, we have the original Cherry tools for two-shot-molded MX caps.
 
Can you give me a more detailed description of what are you looking for?
 
Kind regards
 
Christoph Kredler

I thought we knew this already and the only concern was the MOQ

[DanGWanG]

le dream crusher!  I think we were in some preliminary discussions as to whether their tooling was IN FACT Cherry OEM stuff, and this confirmed it.  The next email from them should address MOQ, capabilities, colors, etc.

[damorgue]

le dream crusher!  I think we were in some preliminary discussions as to whether their tooling was IN FACT Cherry OEM stuff, and this confirmed it.  The next email from them should address MOQ, capabilities, colors, etc.

Don't worry, the rest of us are all with you sailing this rainbow dream straight into the brick wall. What else are high expectations for

[Acanthophis]

I asked them about their colours and also their price tiers, all in German of course.
I also asked about custom graphics and if they do so, what the routine looks like.
As lysol, I didn't get an answer so far.

I plan on calling them if they don't respond in a week (which will be Tuesday).