an open letter to online retailers

[Giorgio]

Searching online for keyboards is often a pain, because the keyboards are not correctly classifieds, and the relevant details are not shown.
So I'm asking if geekhack, being the most relevant kb community in the universe, can send a letter to those retailers, specifying the details that need to be shown in the description of each keyboard.
I consider this important because it will make searching more simple, and will help the consumers to understand mechanical keyboards better, thus creating a culture that will help the movement to grow.
Do you consider this important?
I think that many retailers would consider this an important marketing opportunity.

[absyrd]

I'm sure if their businesses were failing, they'd optimize their sites.

I know for a fact that mechanicalkeyboards.com and elitekeyboards.com monitor GH and/or participate. Both those sites do very good jobs in their articles and product descriptions in explaining what you are getting.

I know companies like CoolerMaster are on here and places like overclock.net.

And this is a "movement"? Powaful stuff.

[Giorgio]

"Movement: a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas."
Nice keyboards are inspired by artistic ideas too! )

I'm sure if their businesses were failing, they'd optimize their sites.

I know for a fact that mechanicalkeyboards.com and elitekeyboards.com monitor GH and/or participate. Both those sites do very good jobs in their articles and product descriptions in explaining what you are getting.

I know companies like CoolerMaster are on here and places like overclock.net.

And this is a "movement"? Powaful stuff.

[Snowdog993]

I was just thinking about it, and honestly, how many online retailers are there?  Wow.  Uh, usually they allow you to send a question about an item they have for sale.  If they provide the information you want, stick with them!  Sometimes asking a few questions makes a big difference.
If they don't provide the answers you need, maybe looking at another retailer that can help you would be better.  A lot of electronics retailers provide a lot of electronic equipment.  Not just keyboards.
They do want to sell them, and it is places like here that can provide more details with reviews and on hands experience than any retailer could give.
Maybe asking around here about a certain keyboard you are interested in would give you more result than asking all online retailers to provide what is here already.
We all enjoy using our keyboards.  Whether it is a new one or a vintage one.  I would think the manufacturer of the new keyboard would provide the most information about their own products, and it is up to the consumer to decide whether or not they want it.
That's what reviews are all about.  (I would think.)
One point of view isn't necessarily the same as another.  And a keyboard is more of a personal preference.  No matter what anybody says, it is ultimately what you prefer.
That's it.

[Giorgio]

The process of choosing a keyboard is not linear, you don't go from the website of the manufacturer to the retailer. Maybe it's true if you live in the USA and you know where to search. More often, the user doesn't even know what to search for, and doesn't know that gh exists, and will go on the site of the retailer, look at the available keyboards, then eventually go the site of the maker. Back and forth.

The problem is that many makers are now selling keyboards with undisclosed switches of low quality. And a bad experience will probably drive the user back to membrane kb, like it happened in the past, when mechanical keyboards where ugly, and noisy.

I was just thinking about it, and honestly, how many online retailers are there?  Wow.  Uh, usually they allow you to send a question about an item they have for sale.  If they provide the information you want, stick with them!  Sometimes asking a few questions makes a big difference.

[Snowdog993]

Searching online for keyboards is often a pain, because the keyboards are not correctly classifieds, and the relevant details are not shown.

The process of choosing a keyboard is not linear, you don't go from the website of the manufacturer to the retailer. Maybe it's true if you live in the USA and you know where to search. More often, the user doesn't even know what to search for, and doesn't know that gh exists, and will go on the site of the retailer, look at the available keyboards, then eventually go the site of the maker. Back and forth.

The problem is that many makers are now selling keyboards with undisclosed switches of low quality. And a bad experience will probably drive the user back to membrane kb, like it happened in the past, when mechanical keyboards where ugly, and noisy.

Exactly what you are saying?  What can GH do to help retailers sell (or not sell) keyboards to anyone who shops online?
I don't understand your original statement now.

Most people just buy a keyboard just to buy a keyboard.  They like the way it looks, the price they can get it for, and move on.

To the enthusiast, I would gather that the buyer would have a decent amount of knowledge and would choose a keyboard that would suit their needs.  Especially going to the display and typing on it regardless of it being connected or not.  They will spend more money on a keyboard that suits the purpose they need it for.

Which goes back to what I originally said.

[Giorgio]

Exactly what you are saying?  What can GH do to help retailers sell (or not sell) keyboards to anyone who shops online?
I don't understand your original statement now.

Ask them to allow the client to search for - or to include this information:
- switch: brand, linear tactile etc
- layout: tkl, 60%
- language
...

You can't imagine how many times these details are wrong, also in amazon, with the article showing even a wrong picture.

[My_Thoughts]

You can't imagine how many times these details are wrong, also in amazon, with the article showing even a wrong picture.

It is a big problem in Europe.  Online shops mostly use ANSI pictures and not ISO, though some will say in the description UK or DE layout.  Further the online listing will say "Available in Cherry Red/Black/Brown/Blue" but if you have the knowledge you can learn that ISO only come in one colour.

I do often wonder if the % of people into these keyboards is lower in the EU than in North America.

[Giorgio]

Just received the novatouch from amazon, it should have been ansi, as shown by the pictures and the description... I was curious to try ansi.... But it's an Italian iso :-|

Btw that thing is noisy as a typewriter. I will need to put o-rings in and out.

[Data]

You can't imagine how many times these details are wrong, also in amazon, with the article showing even a wrong picture.

It is a big problem in Europe.  Online shops mostly use ANSI pictures and not ISO, though some will say in the description UK or DE layout.  Further the online listing will say "Available in Cherry Red/Black/Brown/Blue" but if you have the knowledge you can learn that ISO only come in one colour.

I do often wonder if the % of people into these keyboards is lower in the EU than in North America.

Browse through a site like Taobao and you'll start to believe Asia has the biggest mechanical keyboard market. They seem to have infinitely more options than your typical Western electronics retailer like Newegg or Amazon. But the strange thing is all the boards are ANSI layout with English legends. I haven't figured that one out yet. If you ask the guys at Deskthority this question they'd probably say EU has more mech fans.