...the minimum order of switches you can purchase are 70 switches given the high MOQ....
Out of curiosity, since I am still relatively new to this hobby compared to many who have been here for multiple years on, I was curious as to why there often does not seem to be an option that allows for you to buy a 'sample pack' of these switches instead of having to sink into the wallet to buy 70/90/110. The reason I am saying this, is that I and I'm sure a relative minority of the community are switch collectors who would love to have one of these for our collections, though don't see the justification in buying that many when I/we in reality only need maybe 1 or 2.
To the possible responses this conversation may garner:
1. Why don't you just buy them, take a couple, and then re-sell them on r/mm? -
While this is a completely valid option, the idea of growing my switch collection rather than my boards at the moment is because I'm in classes and not trying to spend *that* much money. Additionally, there is hassle with this option including listing, shipping, and hoping that someone purchases them. Albeit probably a safe route, I'm not sure I want to take the risk in sitting on switches I don't need out of collection's interest.
2. It's a pain for them to ship out orders of 10 where as 70/90/110 are easier to deal with from stock?
This is often a very valid point that gets brought up in regards to these switches. However, many sites including Zeal, Novelkeys, and KBDFans allow you to purchase switches they currently have in stock in quantities of 10, and several others have allowed me to purchase quantities of 10 in groupbuys (Linjar, YOK Red Pandas, GSUS Pandas, etc). If the one doing the purchasing is willing to pay the price, and hell maybe even a couple cents more a switch for a 'tester' option, as well as shipping, I see no reason why this shouldn't be offered more so than it is.
3. Why don't you just buy them off of r/mm?
This is typically what I/others have to resort to if they can't/don't want to meet this minimum order amount, especially if they are relatively high such as with the FEI Matcha Linears (MOQ was around 200/person I think)
4. Why don't you wait until they are on mechbox?
US Shipping
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I don't mean to drum up any controversy here by any means, I was simply wondering why GBs are done in this fashion, when it could and probably does exclude a couple of orders from being placed from individuals who would have no other easy means of doing such. I love zeal, and I'd gladly support them all the way down if I had the money to go in for 110. That being said, I simply can't afford to/don't think its reasonable given my rationale for wanting to purchase.