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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: voodoo6k on Sat, 20 October 2018, 12:45:12

Title: How do you feel about multiple base kits?
Post by: voodoo6k on Sat, 20 October 2018, 12:45:12
There are several approaches to group buy kits:

Without going into the pros and cons of each, why isn't a "multiple base kits" approach more popular, especially in the case of a single colour alphas / modifiers? For example:

Perhaps even a standalone 60% kit, in addition to TKL and full-size. Do you feel there is any inherent disadvantage?

The only set that comes to mind is SA 1976 (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/nineteenseventysix-sa-keycap-set?mode=guest_open), because of its particular stripped colourway that wouldn't work on different layouts.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: How do you feel about multiple base kits?
Post by: Signature on Sat, 20 October 2018, 12:51:08
I think it has to do with pricing and MOQ. If a set isn't very popular it can be hard to get to MOQ for just the base set, there won't be any extension available then/ or very expensive. But for a very popular set like 1976 it's possible since it will always fund + massdrop helps funding.
Title: Re: How do you feel about multiple base kits?
Post by: voodoo6k on Sat, 20 October 2018, 13:49:37
Quote from: Signature on Sat, 20 October 2018, 12:51:08
I think it has to do with pricing and MOQ. If a set isn't very popular it can be hard to get to MOQ for just the base set, there won't be any extension available then/ or very expensive. But for a very popular set like 1976 it's possible since it will always fund + massdrop helps funding.

You're implying that if a set is unpopular, then it will be hard enough hitting MOQ for the main set. Therefore offering alternate sets is kind of pointless, with which I agree.

However, say you were offering a base set and an optional ortholinear modifier kit; I can see why ortho users would be deterred from getting the base set in addition to the modifier kit: it's more expensive and wasteful than getting only what you need. So wouldn't a standalone set simply boost the ortho option's popularity?

From there, we could argue that offering an alphas kit + modifier kits is exactly "getting what you need". Yet, I could see that (in the case of single colour sets) everyone is getting alphas anyway, so why not include them with each modifier kit? I will have to confirm with the manufacturer, but don't larger sets mean less $ per key?
Title: Re: How do you feel about multiple base kits?
Post by: LightningXI on Sat, 20 October 2018, 14:01:33
It's difficult to offer separate modifiers and alpha kits for GMK sets due to the pricing scheme. T0mb3ry, designer of Carbon and Yuri, describes it here (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96488.msg2669525#msg2669525). It might be best to approach designers to get their input as many of them have done both Signature Plastics and GMK-based group-buys.
Title: Re: How do you feel about multiple base kits?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 21 October 2018, 16:05:58
fewer base kits = less options = easier to hit moq

but i can see the case being made for multiple base kits since it allows for more options

or something

complex issue