what's wrong with filco??

[adelek]

I purchased a filco ninja brown for work 2 weeks ago and it just died yesterday... It just stopped working like it has no power. I tried plug it into other computers at work and still not working so i'm pretty sure it's not my computer. god..i'm so disappointed with filco, they suppose to be well built and reliable!! This is my first filco keyboard and I heard a lot of great things about filco on this board, that's why i decided to go for it, but what a disappointment. I really like the design and the typing experience, as much as i would like to just exchange for the same one, i can't help but wonder if it will just died on me anytime like it did. Luckily, this one died in 30 days so i can just return it for a refund. (It's good that i bought it on amazon who covers my return shipping). Now, i don't know what to get anymore. I certainly do not like my old dell keyboard from work. Im in need of another keyboard quick! Any suggestions?

[litster]

Sounds like a one-off problem to me.  Maybe try to exchange for a replacement from Amazon?

[duncan]

Arrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!! Panic! Panic!

A mass produced electronic product has stopped working.
The company that makes it must be hopeless and despite all the people saying their boards are fine I will now assume if I get another one from this company it will have the same problem.

All this assuming the cleaner didn't throw a glass of water into your board overnight and it has nothing to do with manufacturing problems.

I suspect that you were just super unlucky and got a bad bit of product but since we know nothing about your circumstances it is not impossible that something other than the board is at fault. Again I doubt it. I think you got a bad board.

How fast do you want your new board?

Can you wait for mail delivery or do you need it immediately?
If you need it right now then go to the nearest shop and buy what they have.
if you can wait then go to any online store that sells boards and buy something you like the look of.

Leopold - Rosewill - WASD - Das - : are out there waiting for your cash.
Since you tell us nothing about your buying criteria then it's hard to give more detailed advice.

My best hopes to you that your next board has a luckier and longer life than your bad luck with this one.

[tsangan]

As you can already see, there are no other complains like this and surely a company that makes countless of keyboards and one breaks down doesn't automatically make the company terrible, shouldn't you see this as a you being slightly unlucky and receiving a lemon then that Filco is a terrible product?

I mean if any company mass produces thousands of product and one happens to break down and the company automatically considered "bad" then you probably shouldn't buy anything, or subscribe to any services anymore, because you'll be disappointed.

[tsangan]

GeekHack complains about ping! and then how the up arrow key is misaligned, some people just find stuff to complain about.

I'm in no way saying Filco is perfect, but it's not to the point where you should be disappointed at the company, I mean sure you got a lemon, and it happens to every company out there with any product, especially if its mass produced. Just have a open mind that's all.

[duncan]

That being said, as far as GeekHack is concerned there seems to be a 10 to 1 complaint ratio between Filco and Leopold.

Not sure if that is true (haven't done the analysis) but more than happy to accept it as a form of truth. If it feels that way to you then there is almost certainly something to it. No one is suggesting Filco is not a company making overpriced gear that is sometimes faulty. But as tsangan points out that's a description of many (most?) companies out there.

But let's keep it real in a general sense of what to do when one has problems with a product.

How about this for an internal dialogue:
"I got a bad X from company Y and as a result if I get more products from company Y then I think it will remind me of how annoyed I was when product X failed so now I want to try other brands."
As opposed to:
"I got a bad X from company Y and therefore company Y just makes bad stuff."

The other part of all such consumer complaints is to fail to see how the retailer and manufacturer respond to the problem. Sometimes the level of customer service in repines to a problem is so impressive it makes up for the original mistake. Sometimes the process is so ugly that it makes things much worse.

If you have a bad product and the companies involved refuse to act honourably then you have a real complaint. If the OP's story concluded with, "I contacted the retailer and they refuse to help me so I think the support for Filco is bad and won't use them again because if I get another product from them and it is bad I think I will get shafted at warranty call time again." That's completely logical and sensible and damning for the companies involved.

Having a product fail and rushing to the internet to slam the company before you give anyone a chance to help you is a bad idea.

Complaint stories are far better when they include a company refusing to act responsibly, or even respond to complaints at all, or other such true badness.

Stories that are simply, "My car broke down so every Chevy ever made is rubbish and the company are communists who trying to ruin America from within, and, and, and..." don't really impress anyone or help anyone with their purchasing decisions. (Not that the OP was at that level of ranting, but was taking the first small steps in that direction.)

[adelek]

i'm considering getting the same one back but i would like to know if anyone else experience dead filco board too?? And just to be clear, no, i did not spill water on the board nor did the cleaner as i cover my board each day before i leave from work.

[duncan]

I would have to know the exact number of keyboards Filco produces per month to consider them mass produced.

Filco are made in Taiwan.

If you just pause and take a breath for a moment and think about what you already know.

Do you think they are put together as artisan products by Electrical Engineers?

Or do you think unskilled or semi-skilled workers are jamming these together in a factory?

Obviously it is the second and that's what I (and the dictionary) mean by mass-production.

[duncan]

i would like to know if anyone else experience dead filco board too??

I have owned 7 Filcos (including 3 at the moment) and have never had a single quality problem of any kind.

I may just be lucky so take it with a grain of salt.

dante claims that the complaints about Filco are overwhelming as opposed to Leopold so if you accept that version of reality then you may be better to get a Leo instead.

[pitashen]

That being said, as far as GeekHack is concerned there seems to be a 10 to 1 complaint ratio between Filco and Leopold.

I've been completely turned off by Filco thanks to these forums and would only consider purchasing a used model by a forum member that I trust.

Mass produced products. You are bound to get bad apple from time to time. Don't panic just yet. Take a deep breath and go for another one. Or you could give Leopold a shot.

Filcos are made in Taiwan by the way. So are many other keyboard brands.

Usually not all the geekhackers report the positive response to the keyboards they own. They rather gracefully enjoy the board privately. On the other hand, most of the people who have trouble will go on the net and complain about it. That may be why u get the impression of 10 to 1.

It is certainly not healthy for you to read too much about keyboards on this forum if you are a keyboard noob. I bought mine without concerning too much what was going on here. It is a board most geekhackers would avoid but I enjoy it a whole lot regardless.

[mbc]

...damn not so funny

Sent from my Milestone using Tapatalk

[mbc]

****ing filco.

...that on the other hand.

Sent from my Milestone using Tapatalk

[pitashen]

****ing filco.

**** the ****ing Filco

[Oqsy]

Yes, this happens to every company.  This does NOT mean anything about Filco quality, it just means they build a lot of keyboards
Some people are having trouble with Rosewill, but I still suggest it as the best plate mounted cherry board for the money.  The number of people with normal boards far exceeds the number of people with problems.  This is why return policies exist.  These things happen.  Don't Panic, just bring a towel.

[duncan]

It is a board most geekhackers would avoid but I enjoy it a whole lot regardless.

+1

Some of the wisest words ever written in GH.

Get what makes you happy, *not* what people who spend too much time over-thinking about, and over-spending on, keyboards (that's me I'm talking about) might be impressed by. They are your fingers and it is your wallet.

[Bongoojingie]

Since you should get a free replacement being within 30 days, I'm not sure what you're considering.  I have a Filco and have had zero problems with it.  I picked it because I prefer the stabilizer layout which makes it easier to get key caps that fit.  My point being, mileage will always vary with products, pick what you will like and not what everybody tells you to.

Just be careful if you get a Ducky.  Ripster will quack Ducky jokes at you all day.

[Mazora]

Filco Magic

[Chobopants]

Perhaps Filcos also sell 10:1 to Leopold?

[flyball]

Perhaps Filcos also sell 10:1 to Leopold?

also ping