I agree it should have been discussed and finalised in the IC instead of here.
I just saw a massive difference in cost to us between these sets at an apparent 100 MOQ and the prices we saw in the previous GB (which also included new legends and polycarbonate doubleshots). I have taken the legend cutting costs into account (around $50 each, really minimal compared to the total value of any of these sets at 100 orders) and in fact have used a slight overestimation on some sets, although the R3 base set calculation was off. I have no problem paying the $2 GB fee, it's a lot of effort to do this, but a little more transparency on the pricing goes a long way.
Here's a bit of my math, for those interested:
Series 2:
2 new legends cut.
Irradiated vaults, 2x PC doubleshots @100: $2.52 = $1.26 per cap (the most expensive)
Other child buys, 3x ABS @100: $2.13 = $1.07 per cap
The base set of 3x ABS and 1x PC reached the 200 point and sold for.... $3.37.
But let's just take them at the 100 MOQ point for this.
Series 3:
2 new legends cut. The cost of this is easier to absorb in larger sets, so it should have even less effect on pricing than in Series 2.
R3 core = 8x ABS and 1x PC = 8.56+1.26 = $9.82
R3 wasteland = 6x ABS = $6.42
R3 Irradiated = 5x PC = $6.30
Six pack = 5x PC + 1x ABS = $7.37
R1 core = 5x ABS + 1x PC = $6.61
R1 junktown = 5x ABS = $5.35
R1 radiation = 5x PC = $6.30
So when I see us all being charged more than double the likely cost for these (in fact almost triple) plus a GB fee, plus paying shipping ourselves (did you perhaps miss this part Data?) I just couldn't say nothing. If the difference in cost between what SP charges to make these and what we pay doesn't go to your pocket, please let us know where it does go...
A quick profit calculation assuming all sets met MOQ and we all paid $3 per cap:
Amount paid by us - cost to OP = $12600 - $4817 = $7783
Not a bad haul for a few caps. Oh wait, I forgot to add the $2 GB fee to that, but assuming people averaged ordering half the sets = $400, which pushes it up to $8183.
I don't like being ripped off and I don't like when the keyboard community in general gets ripped off, either. Let's do this again at the new "fair" $2 price point:
$8400 - $4817 = "only" $3583 plus the $400 in GB fees = $3983... pure profit in your pocket.
I can see why you want to go with a "simple price"... I don't have a problem with people getting paid for doing good work, whether it be designing, running a GB, etc, but I do have a problem when I'm paying for it without being told that it's happening or how much of my money is going to the artist / organiser. The way this IC and GB was posed it seemed that the $2 GB fee was this payment, but as you can see the major profit is from the "simple pricing".
I think you're a very good designer and these caps are very desirable, but I think you should have been a lot more open and clear about this. As it is, I feel like we've all been scammed. I somehow doubt it will cost almost $4000 for shipping from SP to you.
If any of my calculations or values are different from what you've been quoted, please correct me. I really do just want transparency here.