How do you track group buys you have joined?

[rowdy]

I keep forgetting what group buys I have joined, which I have paid, which have stalled, what has shipped when.

I try to send myself an email with all the details - URL for the GB thread, description, what I ordered, original estimated cost + shipping, final cost + shipping (usually converted from US$ to AU$), payment date, shipping date, tracking info (where applicable), delivery date.

I sometimes struggle to remember to update the email properly, have to remember to send it to work and home, and sometimes just generally forget about things.

Has anyone got a good application or methodology for tracking group buys (and maybe interest checks too)?

[ghostjuggernaut]

I keep forgetting what group buys I have joined, which I have paid, which have stalled, what has shipped when.

I try to send myself an email with all the details - URL for the GB thread, description, what I ordered, original estimated cost + shipping, final cost + shipping (usually converted from US$ to AU$), payment date, shipping date, tracking info (where applicable), delivery date.

I sometimes struggle to remember to update the email properly, have to remember to send it to work and home, and sometimes just generally forget about things.

Has anyone got a good application or methodology for tracking group buys (and maybe interest checks too)?

I use Google Keep, and basically just have a memo of things that I am expecting to come in.  I try and keep it updated with minor details in case I forget the status.  I am sure there are better ways to go about it, but I use Keep rather frequently and it has syncs across my devices. 

[rowdy]

I use Google Keep, and basically just have a memo of things that I am expecting to come in.  I try and keep it updated with minor details in case I forget the status.  I am sure there are better ways to go about it, but I use Keep rather frequently and it has syncs across my devices. 

Interesting - I hadn't heard of Google Keep before now.

As I am inside Apple's walled garden I could use iOS Notes application (same functionality, especially if you have a recent version of OS X).

But I was hoping for something a bit more structured.

[rowdy]

Also LOL Google, very fast indexing, but I didn't create this thread 18 hours ago, more like 1 hour ago )

[filphil]

I keep a spreadsheet on google drive with a list of things I buy for hobbies with date of purchase/paid and cost.  Whenever something comes in I highlight it green.  Nothing special but it gets the job done. 

[rowdy]

I keep a spreadsheet on google drive with a list of things I buy for hobbies with date of purchase/paid and cost.  Whenever something comes in I highlight it green.  Nothing special but it gets the job done. 

Good idea!  That's a similar approach, but a bit more structured.

Maybe the ideal would be an online app/service that could also send email alerts when something is overdue by a certain amount.

[swimmingbird]

I have a spreadsheet that has all my finances in it - has like charts and stuff showing spending over time lol

I have one worksheet called Capex which tracks any purchases that are non recurring (e.g. groupbuys)

Each row is an item I have bought and has criteria for who I bought it from, date purchased, links to tracking info etc

Rows have conditional formatting so that if something hasn't been delivered it is coloured bright yellow

[heedpantsnow]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

[rowdy]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

Same here

But sometimes it's nice to know what has gone missing for too long.

[fliptrik]

tbc turned me onto this thread and I think we could add a function like this to the keyset tracker, keyset.me. It would be something lowkey that would just let you remember what has been purchased or what you'd like to keep track of such as a link that sorted only what you 'saved'. It would delete itself because the buy would be removed from the tracker once most items have been shipped out.

Do you have any ideas for how you'd like to see it implemented?

[rowdy]

tbc turned me onto this thread and I think we could add a function like this to the keyset tracker, keyset.me. It would be something lowkey that would just let you remember what has been purchased or what you'd like to keep track of such as a link that sorted only what you 'saved'. It would delete itself because the buy would be removed from the tracker once most items have been shipped out.

Do you have any ideas for how you'd like to see it implemented?

I was also vaguely thinking of some sort of mobile-friendly web service that would track such things.

Would your proposal include Massdrop and other purchases from vendors sites?

In my case, however, I'd prefer to have a permanent record of what I have bought, kinda like swimmingbird's spreadsheet.

[azhdar]

The payment are tagged in my mailbox so I remember.

[rowdy]

The payment are tagged in my mailbox so I remember.

I think someone else said (in a different thread) that they keep all the GB emails in a specific mail folder, but I wanted a bit more than that, including some GBs that don't involve any emails.

[user 18]

I'm not normally in too many buys at once, so I can hold all of the information in my head fairly readily. Exact numbers are sitting in my paypal transaction history.

I also only order stuff I have a clearly thought-out use for, so it's easy for me to keep track of what is what. Easier to remember that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming because I wanted a SA set for the Novatouch than just that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming.

[rowdy]

I'm not normally in too many buys at once, so I can hold all of the information in my head fairly readily. Exact numbers are sitting in my paypal transaction history.

I also only order stuff I have a clearly thought-out use for, so it's easy for me to keep track of what is what. Easier to remember that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming because I wanted a SA set for the Novatouch than just that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming.

My current list includes 16 GBs or similar that I have joined, and that was all I could remember last time I updated the list.  I know it is already out of date as 3 or 4 of them have shipped.

[azhdar]

The payment are tagged in my mailbox so I remember.

I think someone else said (in a different thread) that they keep all the GB emails in a specific mail folder, but I wanted a bit more than that, including some GBs that don't involve any emails.

You must have at least the mail regarding the payment on paypal.

Otherwise spreadsheet.

[user 18]

I'm not normally in too many buys at once, so I can hold all of the information in my head fairly readily. Exact numbers are sitting in my paypal transaction history.

I also only order stuff I have a clearly thought-out use for, so it's easy for me to keep track of what is what. Easier to remember that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming because I wanted a SA set for the Novatouch than just that I have Hack'd by Geeks coming.

My current list includes 16 GBs or similar that I have joined, and that was all I could remember last time I updated the list.  I know it is already out of date as 3 or 4 of them have shipped.

I wish I had that kind of money

I'm only in six buys right now, and because several of them are with [Ctrl]Alt, I only have four orders to be shipped.

I also have a springs/stabilizers order from Sprit, but that's shipped already, so I'm not really counting it.

Probably if things started getting out of hand, I'd just make up a text file and leave it in dropbox or something.

[rowdy]

The payment are tagged in my mailbox so I remember.

I think someone else said (in a different thread) that they keep all the GB emails in a specific mail folder, but I wanted a bit more than that, including some GBs that don't involve any emails.

You must have at least the mail regarding the payment on paypal.

Otherwise spreadsheet.

Sometimes.

But I also like to track giveaways and trades.

And occasionally I don't pay with PayPal.

[rowdy]

My current list includes 16 GBs or similar that I have joined, and that was all I could remember last time I updated the list.  I know it is already out of date as 3 or 4 of them have shipped.

I wish I had that kind of money

I'm only in six buys right now, and because several of them are with [Ctrl]Alt, I only have four orders to be shipped.

I also have a springs/stabilizers order from Sprit, but that's shipped already, so I'm not really counting it.

Probably if things started getting out of hand, I'd just make up a text file and leave it in dropbox or something.

They are not all that big - a few Sadster keys, some O-rings are in the smaller GBs, a couple of Tai Hao keycap sets are in the larger GBs.

I prefer to track these until I actually receive the items.  So far one GB was completely lost in the email (and already resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, btw), and another is dragging its heels far too long.

I like to see my data sorted and filtered

[sth]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

yessss surprise motha****a

[animal]

The only way to do it right is to remember to update emails/spreadsheets or whatever you use. Other than that, get someone to do it for you 
But the surprises are very pleasant when you forget your orders.

[Jokrik]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

Can't agree more
That moment when you receive a mystery box, priceless

[madhias]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

Can't agree more
That moment when you receive a mystery box, priceless

Or you get a bill and don't know first what you have to pay again!

I don't track the group buys I am in, and always surprised when I get a package.

[fliptrik]

tbc turned me onto this thread and I think we could add a function like this to the keyset tracker, keyset.me. It would be something lowkey that would just let you remember what has been purchased or what you'd like to keep track of such as a link that sorted only what you 'saved'. It would delete itself because the buy would be removed from the tracker once most items have been shipped out.

Do you have any ideas for how you'd like to see it implemented?

I was also vaguely thinking of some sort of mobile-friendly web service that would track such things.

Would your proposal include Massdrop and other purchases from vendors sites?

In my case, however, I'd prefer to have a permanent record of what I have bought, kinda like swimmingbird's spreadsheet.

It would include whatever keysets are added to the tracker. I usually add everything I find whether it be from Massdrop or Keypop or whatever. The exception being ones that run on Massdrop all the time like the ABS single color keys or the Vortex caps.

I'm guessing the site would mostly just hold on to what you pick. Almost like pinning it for you. A dedicated permanent record one would probably be something a little more involved that would be put into it's own page. Maybe a link at the top that would allow you to go to your Keyset History where you could enter all the information like where it came from, what sets you bought, how much you paid, and more.

[evolveS]

+1 Google Keep

[limitz]

I don't. I forget about it usually right after I participate.

Most of the time something cool just shows up at my doorstep some random afternoon, and it's a good day. So far, so good. Don't think I've ever not received something (but have been forgotten once, the GB runner made it right in a day or two).

[rowdy]

When I get around to it I'll probably write something simple to suit my needs.

Some interesting ideas though

[heedpantsnow]

Ok I'll take this the other way. How do you effectively ignore GB's you didn't join?

I wish I could mute a GB I'm not interested in. Like it goes into a muted expandable area like Stickies. Doesn't come up in unread posts.

[SpAmRaY]

Ok I'll take this the other way. How do you effectively ignore GB's you didn't join?

I wish I could mute a GB I'm not interested in. Like it goes into a muted expandable area like Stickies. Doesn't come up in unread posts.

I wish I could ignore some group buys, especially ones where the group buy leader chooses to spend all the money on 'innovations' without actually delivering anything.

Typically I don't keep track, I know I've  got a GH60 order, it'll come some day, at this point I'll probably just use the PCB for wall decoration.

I've got an R5 order and it should ship soon, my other keycap buys are all Ctrl[Alt], they've always delivered so no worries there.

I'm thinking at any given time I've got ~$1,000 in outstanding buys yet to be delivered.

I think I'm about done or at least I want to be, I'm beginning to see where photekq was coming from about this place.

[heedpantsnow]

Ok I'll take this the other way. How do you effectively ignore GB's you didn't join?

I wish I could mute a GB I'm not interested in. Like it goes into a muted expandable area like Stickies. Doesn't come up in unread posts.

I wish I could ignore some group buys, especially ones where the group buy leader chooses to spend all the money on 'innovations' without actually delivering anything.

Typically I don't keep track, I know I've  got a GH60 order, it'll come some day, at this point I'll probably just use the PCB for wall decoration.

I've got an R5 order and it should ship soon, my other keycap buys are all Ctrl[Alt], they've always delivered so no worries there.

I'm thinking at any given time I've got ~$1,000 in outstanding buys yet to be delivered.

I think I'm about done or at least I want to be, I'm beginning to see where photekq was coming from about this place.

I've said that before and actually made good on it. I was off this board for about 18 months a couple of years ago.

But I can never stay gone.

[cheddarbek]

I just buy the things, forget about the things, wonder why I have less money than I did before, and eventually there is a box at my door. It's like Christmas!

[henz]

i just..... Remember.. Maybe i dont join enough GBs

[rowdy]

Ok I'll take this the other way. How do you effectively ignore GB's you didn't join?

I wish I could mute a GB I'm not interested in. Like it goes into a muted expandable area like Stickies. Doesn't come up in unread posts.

I usually read most areas of GH every day, and pretty quickly spot threads I have decided to ignore.

Typically I don't keep track, I know I've  got a GH60 order, it'll come some day, at this point I'll probably just use the PCB for wall decoration.

I've got an R5 order and it should ship soon, my other keycap buys are all Ctrl[Alt], they've always delivered so no worries there.

In response to this, it is more a case of things taking around 3 weeks to ship, usually from the US.  By that time everyone else has received theirs (usually after 3 days!), posted pictures, and then forgotten about it.

I usually forget about it too.

If I don't keep track of something, there is a chance that I will remember seeing a picture of it, but not necessarily associate that with my order not having arrived yet.

Also I seem to somehow manage to be one of the last orders shipped for many of the GBs, which only seems to add to the delay.  Not blaming anyone, I know US orders are always much easier to ship for US GB oragnisers.  No blame or anything there, I'd probably ship AU orders if I ever happen to run a GB.

The main thing for me is something to automatically remind me when things are taking too long.  With 16+ GBs on the go at the moment, they are easy to lose track of.

[nmur]

I've only been around since the beginning of this year, but I've joined a handful of group buys (albeit small ones, no full boards or anything). I'm also in Aus so I know the feeling you mentioned where everyone else gets their orders weeks before we do haha.

But yeah as for tracking them, I'll usually just see the thread bumped up one day and think "oh yeah, wonder how that's doing" and then read the most recent page of replies, which usually give a pretty good indicator of how it's doing.

[LXXXIX]

I don't. And then I'm totally surprised and delighted.

me 2

[rowdy]

A basic system has been written, but I still need to add editing (including status change e.g. moving from paid to shipped), a mobile interface and automatic reminders.

I've imported my active GBs into it, and already added one new one.