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GMK Merlin GB 08/08/19 - 09/08/19 ENDED
Featuring stock GMK Colors TU1, N6, and CP, I present to you my first keyset design. For those who don't know me, I've been part of the community since around 2013/2014 (lurking primarily). Since then, I have created a YouTube channel where I review keyboards and feature meetups https://www.youtube.com/mechmerlin (https://www.youtube.com/mechmerlin) and I'm also the QMK Community Ambassador. If you're ever at a meetup and see someone with a wizard hat, that is most likely me.
This set is inspired by two of my favorite sets, GMK Triumph Adler and GMK Nautilus. I've included novelty kits for all your magical needs featuring my wizard hat, a crystal ball, and for the first time ever a QMK logo officially endorsed by QMK. (If other keyset designers wish to use this, simply ask QMK). My favorite novelty though is the "SUMMON" key. Disclaimer: Pressing the "SUMMON" key will not actually summon me. ;)
But Merlin wait, didn't this set come out on August 8th, 2019? Well yes, we've had some difficulties in terms of renders but through the help of the community I've managed to remedy most of those issues. =). Anyway without further ado.......... *cue magical music
Kits
Base Kit (MOQ 150):
[attachimg=1]
Wizardry Kit (MOQ 100):
[attachimg=2]
Ortho/40s Kit (MOQ 100):
[attachimg=3]
Keyboard Renders:
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
Where to Purchase?
US: https://kono.store/products/gmk-merlin-keycap-set (https://kono.store/products/gmk-merlin-keycap-set)
EU: https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/category/group-buys/gmk-merlin_178/ (https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/category/group-buys/gmk-merlin_178/)
Asia: https://ilumkb.com/collections/groupbuy/products/groubuygmk-merlin (https://ilumkb.com/collections/groupbuy/products/groubuygmk-merlin)
Projected Timeline
GB Ends September 6th, 2019
Shipping to customers begins December 2019
Other Info:
I will be posting updates on this thread from here on out. You can see the IC thread on: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=95019.0 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=95019.0)
For even more updates or if you just want to directly ask about GMK Merlin, feel free to join the gmk-merlin channel on my Discord Server: https://discord.gg/ZThNMBx (https://discord.gg/ZThNMBx)
Thank you to everyone for all their support in this set. From all the encouragement, to the novelty design and even to the renderings. Thank you all so much. Let's get this set to MOQ!
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Current GB Progress. The following statistics comprise total sales of each kit from kono, mykeyboard, and ilumkb. It will be in the format of sales/MOQ.
09/08/19 - FINAL CUSTOMER GROUP BUY SALES NUMBERS - numbers do not reflect vendor extras.
Base Kit: 203/150
Ortho/40s: 33/100
Wizardry: 137/100
More
09/07/19
Base Kit: 187/150
Ortho/40s: 31/100
Wizardry: 125/100
09/06/19
Base Kit: 178/150
Ortho/40s: 30/100
Wizardry: 123/100
09/05/19 - MOQ for Base and Wizardry Hit!
Base Kit: 166/150
Ortho/40s: 27/100
Wizardry: 112/100
09/04/19
Base Kit: 140/150
Ortho/40s: 23/100
Wizardry: 89/100
09/03/19
Base Kit: 119/150
Ortho/40s: 19/100
Wizardry: 74/100
09/02/19
Base Kit: 114/150
Ortho/40s: 18/100
Wizardry: 70/100
08/30/19
Base Kit: 88/150
Ortho/40s: 14/100
Wizardry: 56/100
08/23/19
Base Kit: 64/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 29/100
08/16/19
Base Kit: 39/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 23/100
08/08/19
Base Kit: 07/150
Ortho/40s: 00/100
Wizardry: 00/100
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06/22/20 - I finally got GMK Merlin lol.
06/12/20 - People have started to report to me that Kono has begun shipping!
05/18/20 - Kono confirms GMK Merlin is in the new warehouse
[attach=5]
04/09/20 - Several people are already reporting receiving their sets. Lucky! US Folk will have to wait longer as Kono seems to be changing shipping warehouses
03/24/20 - mykeyboard.eu has confirmed that GMK Merlin has arrived! Hopefully other vendors will get theirs soon too!
[attach=3]
[attach=4]
02/18/20 - Received word that GMK is even further delayed. Order to be shipped to Kono and proxies in early March.
11/27/19 - Received word that GMK is delayed, order to be shipped to Kono and proxies in February 2020.
09/19/19 - GMK makes their own renders
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
09/16/19 - Order submitted to GMK
09/08/19 - GROUP BUY ENDS
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Approved!
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Folks, I updated the current GB progress! We still have a ways to go to meet MOQ!
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Current GB Progress. The following statistics comprise total sales of each kit from kono, mykeyboard, and ilumkb. It will be in the format of sales/MOQ.
08/23/19
Base Kit: 64/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 29/100
« Last Edit: Fri, 23 August 2019, 11:04:21 by merlin64 »
(https://i.imgur.com/WRkP1xz.png)
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Thanks dvorcal for the neat graph!
Anyway, updates for this week. Doing a little better but still haven't hit MOQ.
We've got 1 more week to go!
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Current GB Progress. The following statistics comprise total sales of each kit from kono, mykeyboard, and ilumkb. It will be in the format of sales/MOQ.
08/30/19
Base Kit: 88/150
Ortho/40s: 14/100
Wizardry: 56/100
08/23/19
Base Kit: 64/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 29/100
(https://i.imgur.com/o0G3g5n.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/N9L0D8d.png)
<-- history to date
Thanks dvorcal for the neat graph!
Anyway, updates for this week. Doing a little better but still haven't hit MOQ.
We've got 1 more week to go!
You're welcome!
Best of luck with this GB. August was a highly competitive month, but it looks like Merlin sales are picking up.
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How close is this to hitting MOQ?
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How close is this to hitting MOQ?
Pretty sure they're now past the point that it will get produced once you include the extras being purchased by vendors. So if you were thinking of hopping on board, this is happening!
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How close is this to hitting MOQ?
The second post in this thread contains up to date info on latest numbers. For more up to date info as I receive them you can look at my discord channel.
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More
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Current GB Progress. The following statistics comprise total sales of each kit from kono, mykeyboard, and ilumkb. It will be in the format of sales/MOQ.
09/02/19
Base Kit: 114/150
Ortho/40s: 18/100
Wizardry: 70/100
(https://i.imgur.com/SmOsMMg.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/VVNUQ8h.png)
<-- history to date
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Thanks dvorcol, I've looked back and tried to piece together metrics from conversations to backfill the earlier stats. =)
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As some of you may know, I also have a Twitch stream where I build boards and port boards into QMK.
I'll be doing a giveaway tonight 09/03 of a GMK Merlin base set during my Porting with Ports stream. Tune in at 7:30 PM PST on https://www.twitch.tv/mechmerlin to learn about the QMK porting process and to have a chance at the most magical set of the year!
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Thanks dvorcol, I've looked back and tried to piece together metrics from conversations to backfill the earlier stats. =)
Thanks, I updated the history graph --> More
(https://i.imgur.com/dkX1xc1.png)
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Good news! We are extending the GB end day by another day! Couple people have expressed that Friday is pay day, and would be able to better afford the set on Friday rather than Thursday.
Another bit of good news, vendors have assured me that even if we don't hit MOQ, we are at the point where vendor extras will allow us to hit MOQ for both the base and novelty sets. Ortho/40s is still trailing far behind so there is little chance of that pulling through unless 60 people sign up all of a sudden!
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Good news! We are extending the GB end day by another day! Couple people have expressed that Friday is pay day, and would be able to better afford the set on Friday rather than Thursday.
Another bit of good news, vendors have assured me that even if we don't hit MOQ, we are at the point where vendor extras will allow us to hit MOQ for both the base and novelty sets. Ortho/40s is still trailing far behind so there is little chance of that pulling through unless 60 people sign up all of a sudden!
(https://i.imgur.com/0ZySQ12.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/lVCEzm1.png)
<-- history to date
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Getting closer!!!
Metrics updated with 09/04 stats
09/04/19
Base Kit: 139/150
Ortho/40s: 23/100
Wizardry: 89/100
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Getting closer!!!
Metrics updated with 09/04 stats
09/04/19
Base Kit: 139/150
Ortho/40s: 23/100
Wizardry: 89/100
(https://i.imgur.com/OXt4pau.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/rz1MMeJ.png)
<-- history to date
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Wooohoooo! Folks, we finally hit MOQ, and that's before any vendor extras!
Thank you everyone who has purchased a set so far! We still got one more day to go!
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Current GB Progress. The following statistics comprise total sales of each kit from kono, mykeyboard, and ilumkb. It will be in the format of sales/MOQ.
MOQs have been hit for Base and Wizardry. These do not include vendor extras for replacement or instock sales.
09/05/19
Base Kit: 166/150
Ortho/40s: 27/100
Wizardry: 112/100
More
09/04/19
Base Kit: 140/150
Ortho/40s: 23/100
Wizardry: 89/100
09/03/19
Base Kit: 119/150
Ortho/40s: 19/100
Wizardry: 74/100
09/02/19
Base Kit: 114/150
Ortho/40s: 18/100
Wizardry: 70/100
08/30/19
Base Kit: 88/150
Ortho/40s: 14/100
Wizardry: 56/100
08/23/19
Base Kit: 64/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 29/100
08/16/19
Base Kit: 39/150
Ortho/40s: 9/100
Wizardry: 23/100
08/08/19
Base Kit: 07/150
Ortho/40s: 00/100
Wizardry: 00/100
Wooohoooo! Folks, we finally hit MOQ, and that's before any vendor extras!
Thank you everyone who has purchased a set so far! We still got one more day to go!
(https://i.imgur.com/XTTvEqy.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/GMuvC6K.png)
<-- history to date
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Wooohoooo! Folks, we finally hit MOQ, and that's before any vendor extras!
Thank you everyone who has purchased a set so far! We still got one more day to go!
Congrats :D
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Folks, we have entered our FINAL DAY! As mentioned yesterday I am pleased to announce that MOQs for base and wizardry have been hit!
As of this posting, we got roughly 15 hours and 25 minutes left!
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Hello everyone. Kono has informed me that since they can't submit the order until Monday 09/08 anyway they might as well keep the GB open until then.
Hence, GMK Merlin will continue to be on sale until Sunday 09/08!
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Updated Sales
09/06/19
Base Kit: 178/150
Ortho/40s: 30/100
Wizardry: 123/100
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Man I wish I had the money to get in on a set, really love this colorway, but didn't know it was even running till a few days ago. Hopefully they'll be some extras cause I have a feeling this is gonna be one of those sets that skyrockets in price on the second hand market!
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Updated Sales
09/06/19
Base Kit: 178/150
Ortho/40s: 30/100
Wizardry: 123/100
(https://i.imgur.com/z56RQVU.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/FT0cGFo.png)
<-- history to date
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Updated Sales
09/07/19
Base Kit: 187/150
Ortho/40s: 31/100
Wizardry: 125/100
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Updated Sales
09/07/19
Base Kit: 187/150
Ortho/40s: 31/100
Wizardry: 125/100
(https://i.imgur.com/aFmGQR1.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/DUSLnmC.png)
<-- history to date
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It's the FINAl DAY 09/08! Get your orders in!!!!
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We are down to the FINAL 4 hours! Get your orders in!
I'll provide a final total once everything has been accounted for.
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The Group Buy for GMK Merlin has officially ended! Thank you to everyone who has joined. It was quite the ride, and I appreciate all the support you guys all so graciously provided.
Final Customer Sales Numbers for GMK Merlin
Base Kit: 203/150
Ortho/40s: 33/100
Wizardry: 137/100
These numbers omit any vendor extras.
Once again thank you guys for all your support. I'll be updating the second reserved post for any future announcements and shipping updates.
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More
The Group Buy for GMK Merlin has officially ended! Thank you to everyone who has joined. It was quite the ride, and I appreciate all the support you guys all so graciously provided.
Final Customer Sales Numbers for GMK Merlin
Base Kit: 203/150
Ortho/40s: 33/100
Wizardry: 137/100
These numbers omit any vendor extras.
Once again thank you guys for all your support. I'll be updating the second reserved post for any future announcements and shipping updates.
Ortho will not be produced as it did not hit MOQ
(https://i.imgur.com/KyetArc.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/BRP6KTz.png)
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09/19/19 Updates: GMK has made their own renders of the set! Not sure what this means on how close or how far they are on production though.
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09/19/19 Updates: GMK has made their own renders of the set! Not sure what this means on how close or how far they are on production though.
They do it pre-production so that the designer can accept the final keys. They do it before quoting you, and before heading into production. Basically, the order is in the confirmation stage. :)
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UPDATES
11/27/19 - Received word that GMK is delayed, order to be shipped to Kono and proxies in February 2020.
Kind of expected this to happen based on the number of GBs happening that same month.
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UPDATES
11/27/19 - Received word that GMK is delayed, order to be shipped to Kono and proxies in February 2020.
Kind of expected this to happen based on the number of GBs happening that same month.
Somewhat hefty delay from the original date of December, but as you say, not really surprising.
I'm sure it'll be great when it comes anyway :)
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Will Ortho/40s Kit be produced?
And is 'yellow Enter' in Ortho/40s kit 2U size or 1.75U size?
It looks like 2U in rendering:(
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No Ortho will not be produced as it did not hit MOQ
Ortho/40s: 33/100
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UPDATE:
02/18/20 - Received word that GMK is even further delayed. Order to be shipped to Kono and proxies in early March.
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I was thinking how long it will take GMK to follow SP steps and it seems it just happened...
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LOL. Yeah oversaturated. Hopefully they will get new machines to keep up with demand soon. Though I wonder how much extra demand is needed for a company to be able to justify purchasing new machinery. Like maybe its when lead times take 5x as long, then its justifiable lol.
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UPDATE!!!
03/24/20 - mykeyboard.eu has confirmed shipping of GMK Merlin! See pictures in update post!! HURRAY!
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Any chance there will be extras available? Specifically on Kono? Missed this and would love to pick it up.
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Got my set in the mail the other day :D
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Super jealous of all you folks who have already got it!! Make sure you post pics!
Anyway....looks like us folks in America will have to wait longer. This just in from Kono
Distribution Warehouse Transition -
Temporary Fulfillment Shutdown
Fulfillment for new orders has been halted while we transition inventory to a new warehouse. If you received a shipping or progress notification (not your order confirmation email) we expect your order to ship before the move is complete. There will be delays given the pandemic.
With that in mind, we’re making Domestic US shipping free during the transition.
We planned to move our stock in two phases to keep fulfillment active for core products, but our current provider cut off services early (and unexpectedly) due to Coronavirus’ impacts on their operations. All inventory must move; fulfillment for new orders cannot begin again until that is complete. We hope to complete the transition fully within 2 months.
The new fulfillment center will be a dramatic improvement. Bringing awesome new products to life will be way easier, so we’re excited. Please contact support@kono.store with questions and concerns — thanks for your patronage!
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Folks, Kono has confirmed that GMK Merlin has made it safely to their new warehouse
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when will kono ship the orders?
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Folks I am getting reports of people receiving tracking numbers for GMK Merlin here in the US! Woohoo. Hopefully we'll see the end of this soon!
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Fortunately being in Europe I received mine quite some time ago. Hopefully this picture will sweeten the remaining time for those still waiting :)
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Fortunately being in Europe I received mine quite some time ago. Hopefully this picture will sweeten the remaining time for those still waiting :)
Such a beautiful set. So sad I missed out on this :( :(
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Folks, just wanted to say I FINALLY got my set!