Updates:
❧ [12/07/2020 -> 12/11/2020]
File submitted to produce the prototype keyset
❧ [01/20/2021]
Got informed that prototype keyset was made and was on its way to me to check colors.
❧ [02/14/2021]
Tweaked some wrong legends;
Added a couple of accent keys to the core kit.
❧ [03/14/2021]
New Manufacturer/Profile
New Kits
Infinikey to KAT
I did not want to add that to the above text simply because some people won't care; for those that do, here is a bit of reading:
I did my DD and asked around before deciding to go with IFK for this keyset - I knew the community was divided about them but wanted to reach out to designers that previously ran with them. There were some pros and cons, but, from the designers point of view, things were rather positive. My main motivation was that I wanted a simpler keyset (less kits) produced faster (IFK turn around time was around 3-4 months back when I reached out to them, so that was rather fast).
After a bit of consideration, I decided to reach out to them to start the process and... the beginning wasn't pleasant, to say the least. I got accused of not reading through their material and not paying attention (their material was at fault). This almost made me reconsider IFK/TKC, because well if this is how I get treated for a "mistake" (which wasn't my fault, again, it was their material), how will it go down if I have something to say about any samples or if there are issues during the GB? I decided to stick to them because everybody's allowed a bad day and it might have just been that.
As I said during the IC, TKC wasn't available to run this keyset and they offered to let me run this via another US vendor; sure, why not. I submitted the files (TKC/IFK, if you read this, please it together, that file is a mess - I send a better version to you guys, not all issues are fixed, but it's a beginning) at the end of November to proceed with the prototype keyset. I had to ping them a couple of times but got informed that files were send for the prototype production early december and, around beginning of January I got informed production was almost done (it's long for a single set... but end of year and what not, ok) and that I would get an updated soon after that.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and nothing from them. Again, I reach out since they don't and I get informed that the keyset has been shipped to me. Weird since I did not get any notice of it shipping out and even weirder, I don't recall giving them my address, but I figure out I must have in one of the forms. A week or two after that, I reach out again because I am still waiting for a set and/or tracking info and I get told again "I'll check with the production team". Couple of days after I received the message I was dreading "Hey, can you give me your address for shipping?"
Long story short, 1.5 month after giving them my address, 2 months after getting told for the first time that the prototype had shipped, and after a bunch of message and attempt to contact them to see what was happening, I still don't have a keyset, I still don't have prices, and I have absolutely no idea when I will get them. GB was set to launch almost 2 months ago and I do not know if this is because TKC is not the main vendor or if it is because of something else, but I am done waiting and pinging them to get a generic answer. I have also been hearing more and more reports of users disappointed with IFK quality, with TKC's support (or lack thereof), and I've seen some really scary things about colors of GB sets which have had samples approved. I have thus decided to go back to what I wanted to do in the first place: go with KAT/Keyreative. I know they have had some issues in the past, but they have worked on their process and invested in new equipment to fix those. Yes, they are still late on delivering their sets, but I believe these delays will tend to disappear once their double-shot production kicks in.
Feel free to ask any question regarding this (or anything else) either via PM or publicly here