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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:35:21

Title: Question about clacks..
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:35:21
On Ebay there is a clack factory keycap with a buy it now price of $1000 US.

A resin plastic keycap only has about a 1.00 worth of material (not counting labor)..


How in the sweet name of Jesus is this possible, am I missing something?  Why are artisans selling keycaps for 30-70 bucks, and then the same keycaps are going for a grand on Ebay?

Are they made of ground up unicorn hooves or something?
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:36:09
Unicorn tears and gnome hairs to be exact.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:39:34
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:36:09
Unicorn tears and gnome hairs to be exact.

gratz on the 16k spammy :thumb:


there's only a ****-ton of threads discussing this exact question, yet nobody is ever happy with the answers

clearly the answer is to make more threads about it
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: mobbo on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:41:34
Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:35:21
On Ebay there is a clack factory keycap with a buy it now price of $1000 US.

A resin plastic keycap only has about a 1.00 worth of material (not counting labor)..


How in the sweet name of Jesus is this possible, am I missing something?  Why are artisans selling keycaps for 30-70 bucks, and then the same keycaps are going for a grand on Ebay?

Are they made of ground up unicorn hooves or something?

Best way I can explain it seriously is by drawing comparisons to any niche hobby that has a collector's component. What is the cost of material for a single stamp or coin? Astronomically low, and yet rare ones are worth hundreds, or thousands to the right person. Or how about any form of trading card game, especially Magic the Gathering? Same thing. The reason it's so high compared to contemporary prices is because rare things that people enjoy collecting have a tendency to appreciate over time.
 
you payin' for prestige not product

Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: henz on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:48:41
gief link, ill buy it
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: reaper on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:52:22
Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:39:34
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:36:09
Unicorn tears and gnome hairs to be exact.

gratz on the 16k spammy :thumb:



Congrats on that 16k post Ray.  :)    Oh and yes, unicorn tears sounds about right.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:16:55
Quote from: mobbo on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:41:34
Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:35:21
On Ebay there is a clack factory keycap with a buy it now price of $1000 US.

A resin plastic keycap only has about a 1.00 worth of material (not counting labor)..


How in the sweet name of Jesus is this possible, am I missing something?  Why are artisans selling keycaps for 30-70 bucks, and then the same keycaps are going for a grand on Ebay?

Are they made of ground up unicorn hooves or something?

Best way I can explain it seriously is by drawing comparisons to any niche hobby that has a collector's component. What is the cost of material for a single stamp or coin? Astronomically low, and yet rare ones are worth hundreds, or thousands to the right person. Or how about any form of trading card game, especially Magic the Gathering? Same thing. The reason it's so high compared to contemporary prices is because rare things that people enjoy collecting have a tendency to appreciate over time.
 
you payin' for prestige not product

I definitely see what you are saying, but still, that means that clacks, of all things, have proportionately one of the highest profit margins of nearly any product on planet earth..  Not only is this 'rare' clack worth more than what it retailed for, it proportionately is worth more than nearly any item ever made by man...

Rare cars, even the highest selling ones dont see these kinds of margins... 

Im obviously in the wrong business... lol

Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:17:50
Quote from: henz on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:48:41
gief link, ill buy it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPRE-Clack-Factory-Click-Clack-TRIPLE-SHOT-Skull-Keycap-3-Colors/162121217885?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35389%26meid%3D4144a52f174f42339f0b1083fb0e1f85%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D162121217215
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: appleonama on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:40:40
(https://preetamsushistory.wikispaces.com/file/view/Supply-and-Demand-Graph.png/339495246/Supply-and-Demand-Graph.png)
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Waateva on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:45:47
Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:16:55
Quote from: mobbo on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:41:34
Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:35:21
On Ebay there is a clack factory keycap with a buy it now price of $1000 US.

A resin plastic keycap only has about a 1.00 worth of material (not counting labor)..


How in the sweet name of Jesus is this possible, am I missing something?  Why are artisans selling keycaps for 30-70 bucks, and then the same keycaps are going for a grand on Ebay?

Are they made of ground up unicorn hooves or something?

Best way I can explain it seriously is by drawing comparisons to any niche hobby that has a collector's component. What is the cost of material for a single stamp or coin? Astronomically low, and yet rare ones are worth hundreds, or thousands to the right person. Or how about any form of trading card game, especially Magic the Gathering? Same thing. The reason it's so high compared to contemporary prices is because rare things that people enjoy collecting have a tendency to appreciate over time.
 
you payin' for prestige not product

I definitely see what you are saying, but still, that means that clacks, of all things, have proportionately one of the highest profit margins of nearly any product on planet earth..  Not only is this 'rare' clack worth more than what it retailed for, it proportionately is worth more than nearly any item ever made by man...

Rare cars, even the highest selling ones dont see these kinds of margins... 

Im obviously in the wrong business... lol

A little over a year ago, the painting below sold for almost $300,000,000.  $300 million dollars, for something that was made by an artist who no one even cared about until he died.  I'm sure the cost of materials as well as the retail price of it were less than a couple hundred dollars even adjusted for inflation, yet it sold for probably a million times what the so-called "actual" value should be.

(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/02/06/arts/06painting-1/06painting-1-blog427.jpg)

Another one, a biscuit supposedly from the Titanic sold less than a year ago for almost $25,000.  A ****ing biscuit.  I imagine the retail price for a single biscuit is probably less than a couple cents, and yet it sold for an absolutely stupid amount.

(https://media.lonelyplanet.com/news/production/2015/10/titanic-biscuit-1.jpg)

My point is that people pay stupid amounts of money for things that they deem collectible, be it model trains, paintings, MTG cards, comic books, china dolls, or even keycaps.  Clacks sell for a stupidly high amount because of rarity, prestige, and of course hype.  Does that mean you have to buy them?  No.  Does it mean most people that are into keyboards will buy them?  Probably not.  But some people will and if people will pay $50, then the next person selling decides to try for $75, and the next person tries $100, well, then it just climbs from there.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: romevi on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:49:19
I'll never understand it.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Waateva on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:51:14
Quote from: romevi on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:49:19
I'll never understand it.

My wife would probably beat me if I bought a Clack for $300.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:54:34
Quote from: appleonama on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:40:40
Show Image
(https://preetamsushistory.wikispaces.com/file/view/Supply-and-Demand-Graph.png/339495246/Supply-and-Demand-Graph.png)


just to make it more obvious

(https://i.imgur.com/BzeSxRM.png)
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: romevi on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:55:29
Quote from: Waateva on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:51:14
Quote from: romevi on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:49:19
I'll never understand it.

My wife would probably beat me if I bought a Clack for $300.

I won a cc in CV. My first ones. Even at $65 for a mystery cap, I'm stretching my budget.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:59:56
I think much of my amazement is also due to my ignorance...

I thought clack factory caps were still being made, perhaps I should have done a little more homework..
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: romevi on Thu, 30 June 2016, 10:03:11
Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Thu, 30 June 2016, 09:59:56
I think much of my amazement is also due to my ignorance...

I thought clack factory caps were still being made, perhaps I should have done a little more homework..

Yes and no. CC does CV's and 420 events now, so they're made a couple of times of year. It depends on his schedule and mood. Late last year he came out with the Keypacitor and made only five.
Title: Re: Question about clacks..
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 30 June 2016, 15:17:15
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Thu, 30 June 2016, 08:36:09
Unicorn tears and gnome hairs to be exact.

Congratulations on 16K :)