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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: nogoodnames444 on Tue, 09 January 2018, 15:39:01

Title: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Tue, 09 January 2018, 15:39:01

I really want to know cause they looks like really nice keycaps but it's hard for me to understand why they are so expensive

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: zslane on Tue, 09 January 2018, 15:47:13

Mostly due to the low quantities they are manufactured at. Custom keycap sets are a very niche product, and are made at such tiny quantities that there is very little economy of scale to help lower prices.

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Tue, 09 January 2018, 15:49:06

Thanks i knew they made them in small quantities but yeah i really do need to get a set to them

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: Kavik on Tue, 09 January 2018, 16:13:40

They are also made in Germany. Anything made in a first world country costs significantly more. That combined with the small scale of most sets, as Zslane said, makes them rather pricey.

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Tue, 09 January 2018, 16:15:51

Also could the cherry orgins of the keycaps make them cost more :P

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: Giorgio on Tue, 09 January 2018, 16:35:34

They aren't expensive when compared to other sets. Just look at the price of SA keys made by signature plastic, or to the price of enjoypbt sets. When you consider that gmk often includes a lot of extra keys, you'll see that quality sets are priced similarly. Then there are inexpensive sets by taihao, that are, well, thin. Not long ago a gmk set sold by massdrop was sold for 99 USD

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Tue, 09 January 2018, 18:27:21

Huh good to know i do have a set of shine through abs double shots from tai hao and they are quite good so getting a set of gmk should be good comparison

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: Happy Hopping on Fri, 12 January 2018, 00:55:42

I hope there is glass keycap in the future.  They have laser glass keyboard but no tactile feedback.  5 yr. ago, we can say the same thing w/ glass case.  Nowadays, half of the cases are glasses, and they are thick enough that it doesn't break.  How hard is it for technology to have glass keycap in the future?

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 13 January 2018, 22:47:49

Quote from: Happy Hopping on Fri, 12 January 2018, 00:55:42

I hope there is glass keycap in the future.  They have laser glass keyboard but no tactile feedback.  5 yr. ago, we can say the same thing w/ glass case.  Nowadays, half of the cases are glasses, and they are thick enough that it doesn't break.  How hard is it for technology to have glass keycap in the future?

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=87503.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=90281.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=92975.0

Title: Re: Why are GMK so expensive
Post by: hineybush on Sun, 14 January 2018, 00:01:16

The Euro is stronger vs. the US Dollar atm as well, than it was 3-4 years ago when sets would regularly start at ~$115 instead of today's $135 or so.