[FA] DK SAVER on Ebay

[quochung1989]

Hello. How are you?

Are you interested in DK SAVER keyboard ? APLS ? There is auction on ebay. If you wanna, let's go soon.
You can view it here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPS-DOKIU-SAVER-COSTOM-KEYBOARD-Tenkeyless-85-key-The-only-one-in-the-world-/281200377138?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4178d93d32

[bueller]

$999. Fuggedabotit.

[Morwrath]

...How would anyone in their right mind buy a keyboard for 999$ ....

[meiosis]

The kit was sub $350

[quochung1989]

The kit was sub $350

Yeah. i think too. But this is auction lol

[bueller]

The kit was sub $350

Yeah. i think too. But this is auction lol

Not at that price it isn't. He must take reserve price pointers from Cactux 

[demik]

The kit was sub $350

Yeah. i think too. But this is auction lol

Not at that price it isn't. He must take reserve price pointers from Cactux 

[bueller]

The kit was sub $350

Yeah. i think too. But this is auction lol

Not at that price it isn't. He must take reserve price pointers from Cactux 

Show Image

It is pretty silly though. You can call something an auction and bump it all you like, if you set your price that high you're not really asking for bidders. You're asking for a buyer and HOPING for there is enough interest to get some extra cash.

[MKULTRA]

Haven't some 356CL's gone for 1k+?  This is like one of the original custom keyboards right?

[SpAmRaY]

Isn't there already a thread about this auction?

[zenuty]

US $999.99 +$45.90 shipping 

[Hellmark]

Yeah, I thought I saw this crack smoker a week or two back being posted here.

[Pacifist]

Wait, isn't it against the rules to post your own ebay stuff?

quochung1989 also posted: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49002.0

The link there links to another item sold by truesys02.

So I have reason to believe that quochung1989 and truesys02 are the same people, and quochung is posting his own ebay item to our classifieds to boost views, which is against the rules(if I remember correctly)

[Photekq]

Wait, isn't it against the rules to post your own ebay stuff?

quochung1989 also posted: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49002.0

The link there links to another item sold by truesys02.

So I have reason to believe that quochung1989 and truesys02 are the same people, and quochung is posting his own ebay item to our classifieds to boost views, which is against the rules(if I remember correctly)

I have reason to believe that you're wrong.

quochong1989 : Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Based in Korea, South, truesys02 has been an eBay member since Feb 04, 2009

Truesys has sold a lot of stuff in the past, it's no wonder that quochong keeps an eye on his ebay.

[Pacifist]

Wait, isn't it against the rules to post your own ebay stuff?

quochung1989 also posted: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49002.0

The link there links to another item sold by truesys02.

So I have reason to believe that quochung1989 and truesys02 are the same people, and quochung is posting his own ebay item to our classifieds to boost views, which is against the rules(if I remember correctly)

I have reason to believe that you're wrong.

quochong1989 : Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Based in Korea, South, truesys02 has been an eBay member since Feb 04, 2009

Truesys has sold a lot of stuff in the past, it's no wonder that quochong keeps an eye on his ebay.

I guess your right. But quochong's wording seems like he's overly supporting and advertising the product even though he's not getting a cut

[Photekq]

I guess your right. But quochong's wording seems like he's overly supporting and advertising the product even though he's not getting a cut

Do you think the fact that english isn't his mother tongue might have something to do with that?

The kit was sub $350

Isn't the alps version a 1-off though?

[demik]

US $999.99 +$45.90 shipping 

right? ridiculous price and no free shipping.

reminds me of some "auctions" in the classifieds

[catnipz0098]

Who would pay 999 for this?

[Forever]

ridiculous price。
i dont think the seller can  make it.

[dorkvader]

So I have reason to believe that quochung1989 and truesys02 are the same people, and quochung is posting his own ebay item to our classifieds to boost views, which is against the rules(if I remember correctly)

I remember looking into it before and deciding that they were probably two different people.

Anyway, I think the seller has converted their DK saver to ALPS, as all the DK savers I could find are Cherry.

[jwaz]

OP is that your auction?

[meiosis]

OP is that your auction?

It's not his auction.

So I have reason to believe that quochung1989 and truesys02 are the same people, and quochung is posting his own ebay item to our classifieds to boost views, which is against the rules(if I remember correctly)

I remember looking into it before and deciding that they were probably two different people.

Anyway, I think the seller has converted their DK saver to ALPS, as all the DK savers I could find are Cherry.

Correct.


.

truesys is a member of OTD who ran the EVA case group buy.

quochung isn't even in Korea ._.

[berserkfan]

At these prices one is not looking for a bidding war. One is looking for impulsive fools. And there are many such impulsive fools in the world, so the seller only has to be patient.

Fohat just sold an F-122 for $350 barely a few days after he listed it. Now as much as I respect fohat and believe that any keyboard processed by him is worth significantly more than the average garage sale keyboard, I don't believe an F122 is worth anything near $350. But there are always rich people who buy on impulse.

[fohat.digs]

Fohat just sold an F-122 for $350 barely a few days after he listed it. Now as much as I respect fohat and believe that any keyboard processed by him is worth significantly more than the average garage sale keyboard, I don't believe an F122 is worth anything near $350.

It sold a few hours after I listed it, not days.

Just to put it in perspective:

165  keyboard on ebay
 17   shipping to me
 20   Teensy delivered
  5    USB cable
 10   misc hardware - bolts, solder, paint
 22   key caps delivered from Unicomp
-------------
$239  hard costs in materials

Realistically, I probably spent at least 6-7 hours in time that I spent finding and ordering all the components plus the actual physical work performed on this board (nothing works right the first time and you have to go through an entire process each time), so at a $350 selling price that pays me $15-20 per hour.

Despite people on this forum who pretend that good raw F-122s are plentiful and cheap, Soarer's Converter has made them very hard to find and expensive in recent months. I strongly recommend that these people do what I did, and see if they think that it is a profitable venture.

[SpAmRaY]

Isn't there already a thread about this auction?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50019.0

[Hellmark]

I mean, look at what soarer's did for the XT. Most people hate that layout, and the last couple on ebay had a few people bidding them up. I feel like I got a good deal at $35 for mine, because most of the XTs I've seen lately went for higher. Now that people can get things running with USB, and make tweaks to the layout, people are buying them up. It may not be that way for a long time, but it is the case right now.

That said, I still think the OP's link is crazy.

[berserkfan]

Great to have you list out all your actual costs. I still haven't gotten to fixing my XTs let alone F122, but this is plenty of incentive to get off my ass.

I actually bought four clamps already for no other purpose than to fix my Model Fs, so I guess you have to add $8 to my cost basis, plus quite a pile of money in shipping to my location. The value to me will be pretty high also. There is no way in hell I will ever sell my collection, even if (thanks to me or some factor in shipping) a good 1/3 of my collection is not currently usable.

Interestingly, when all that's said and done, I like my well-used M122. I think there is really something to be said for vintage M buckling springs. The actuation feels less crisp than new springs and less fun than Model Fs, but the noise factor is significantly lower and the springs feel much more relaxed. Its like using Cherry Browns. Browns are not the best in many specific circumstances (eg not the most tactile), but they work good and are very satisfactory for daily use. So the current keyboard of my choice is back to the M122.

I would actually strongly recommend that a prospective buyer concentrate on the M122, not F122. Light in weight, very cheap in price, easily sourced parts - M122 occupies an ideal price and performance point.

I"m sure Dante is having a great time now with the M122 you sold him for 5 bucks. If I'd known better, fohat, I would have bought up all your M122s for cheap and painted each M122 a different color!

Fohat just sold an F-122 for $350 barely a few days after he listed it. Now as much as I respect fohat and believe that any keyboard processed by him is worth significantly more than the average garage sale keyboard, I don't believe an F122 is worth anything near $350.

It sold a few hours after I listed it, not days.

Just to put it in perspective:

165  keyboard on ebay
 17   shipping to me
 20   Teensy delivered
  5    USB cable
 10   misc hardware - bolts, solder, paint
 22   key caps delivered from Unicomp
-------------
$239  hard costs in materials

Realistically, I probably spent at least 6-7 hours in time that I spent finding and ordering all the components plus the actual physical work performed on this board (nothing works right the first time and you have to go through an entire process each time), so at a $350 selling price that pays me $15-20 per hour.

Despite people on this forum who pretend that good raw F-122s are plentiful and cheap, Soarer's Converter has made them very hard to find and expensive in recent months. I strongly recommend that these people do what I did, and see if they think that it is a profitable venture.

[fohat.digs]

I would have bought up all your M122s for cheap and painted each M122 a different color!

I have bought about 3-4 M-122s strictly for harvesting parts. I sold most of them in a lot to Techno Trousers a few months ago, perhaps he has revived at least one of them. Getting an ANSI layout will require a bolt mod, but that is not too hard (easy for me to say).

I did buy a first-generation M-122 recently because I wanted the top case shell for an F-122, and so I do still have the guts laying around. It would be a good candidate for a "stealth" mod like I did earlier. By the way, I have done a greatly improved one now, and will update my guide soon.

The Model M I sold Dante was an "RJ45" terminal board but not a 122.

[xmagusx]

Over a grand for a TLK.

The only "Great Find" here will be for the OP if this ad finds a buyer for this seller.

Crap like this makes me miss the downvote button.

[SpAmRaY]

Over a grand for a TLK.

The only "Great Find" here will be for the OP if this ad finds a buyer for this seller.

Crap like this makes me miss the downvote button.

It isn't the OP's auction 

[berserkfan]

Fohat, I think you're doing the right thing. F122s are too precious to mess around with experimental mods.

In contrast, M122s are plentiful and you would be doing many sellers a favor by buying theirs for cheap.

I await your guide. Your posts are extremely educational! But I think RJ-45s come in 122key formats as well. I've seen ads for that on ebay, dunno whether seller was being accurate of course.

Thanks to the wonderful Soarer, now even formerly useless Model M terminals are reusable. The combined genius of geekhackery is awesome!

[xmagusx]

It isn't the OP's auction 

Didn't say it was -- especially since that's already been established earlier in the thread. Still doesn't change that it won't be a Great Find for any poor sucker who gets conned into buying it at this price.

[SpAmRaY]

It isn't the OP's auction 

Didn't say it was -- especially since that's already been established earlier in the thread. Still doesn't change that it won't be a Great Find for any poor sucker who gets conned into buying it at this price.

I misundertsood

But yes I have a hard time seeing how this is really worth the asking price

[xmagusx]

I misundertsood

But yes I have a hard time seeing how this is really worth the asking price

No worries.

If it turns out that the person selling this just accidentally hit his 9 key one too many times and fixes the price at 99.99, then I say it was a good deal. Otherwise, though ...

[fohat.digs]

I have a hard time seeing how this is really worth the asking price

If you desire an item that cannot be bought off the shelf, you will have to make it yourself or hope that somebody who has made one will sell it to you.

There has been a lot of noise about my ANSI/Teensy F-122, so have at it!

If you are not capable of building something yourself, then you pretty much have to pay any price you find out there, if you want it bad enough.

And if the item is particularly rare, that price might be high. Demand will bring supply out of the woodwork.

"Money talks and bull**** walks." as the old saying goes. If you aren't talking, you should walk.

The definition of a good business transaction is one where both parties are satisfied with the outcome.

[SpAmRaY]

I have a hard time seeing how this is really worth the asking price

If you desire an item that cannot be bought off the shelf, you will have to make it yourself or hope that somebody who has made one will sell it to you.

There has been a lot of noise about my ANSI/Teensy F-122, so have at it!

If you are not capable of building something yourself, then you pretty much have to pay any price you find out there, if you want it bad enough.

And if the item is particularly rare, that price might be high. Demand will bring supply out of the woodwork.

"Money talks and bull**** walks." as the old saying goes. If you aren't talking, you should walk.

The definition of a good business transaction is one where both parties are satisfied with the outcome.

I agree! If I wanted it I'd buy it haha

I mean if there is a back story etc I'd love for the seller to put that info in there just so people can try to understand!

[xmagusx]

I agree! If I wanted it I'd buy it haha

I mean if there is a back story etc I'd love for the seller to put that info in there just so people can try to understand!

We can always postulate backstories in which this could actually be a good/interesting deal --

• Inexplicably found in the recently unsealed tomb of a Confederate general
• Wiring is actually the gilded hair of Marilyn Monroe
• Doubles as Janek's little black box from Sneakers
• Switches were harvested from Apollo spacecraft
• Keycaps produce a euphoric high or something

[fohat.digs]

if there is a back story

The back story on all this is the value of the time spent at the work bench.

Our society attempts to condition us to think that white-collar work is of extreme value (tens or hundreds of dollars per hour) while manual (definition = work with hands) is of very little value.

A person who has soldered/de-soldered a set of switches on a board knows that this is a fussy and tedious procedure, even if you have great tools (I don't). So is rebuilding a Model F with over 300 tiny and uncooperative parts.

A craftsman who has done this work knows that it is worth a considerable amount of money, while a person who has not actually performed the work himself might discount the value of the work altogether.

I can hardly imagine selling a keyboard on which I went through the switch-soldering process, which, to me, is more tedious and cumbersome than the mechanical work of physically rebuilding something, although many people may take the opposite view.

Obviously, I am not buying this keyboard (I don't even like small boards) but the seller will find a buyer sometime, at some price.

[xmagusx]

The back story on all this is the value of the time spent at the work bench.

Our society attempts to condition us to think that white-collar work is of extreme value (tens or hundreds of dollars per hour) while manual (definition = work with hands) is of very little value.

A person who has soldered/de-soldered a set of switches on a board knows that this is a fussy and tedious procedure, even if you have great tools (I don't). So is rebuilding a Model F with over 300 tiny and uncooperative parts.

A craftsman who has done this work knows that it is worth a considerable amount of money, while a person who has not actually performed the work himself might discount the value of the work altogether.

I can hardly imagine selling a keyboard on which I went through the switch-soldering process, which, to me, is more tedious and cumbersome than the mechanical work of physically rebuilding something, although many people may take the opposite view.

Obviously, I am not buying this keyboard (I don't even like small boards) but the seller will find a buyer sometime, at some price.

An interesting supposition, but I disagree. I believe high skill work is seen as more valuable than low skill work. Examples: the manager of a Burger King (~40k according to glassceiling) will likely make less than the journeyman plumber (~48k according to indeed) he has to call when the sink clogs.

Unless you take "white collar" to mean "executive" or even "managerial", there's a lot that falls into that category that doesn't even pay a living wage, and more that only pays minimum wage.

On the flip side, well trained and skilled tradesman can command very impressive salaries. Jewelers, electricians, even carpenters. Manual labor that anyone can do after a day of training (such as bulk desoldering)? Yeah, that's going to command the very least an employer can possibly pay, you're right.

[Hellmark]

I don't see why people are balking at Fohat getting $350 for his F122. There obviously was demand in how quickly it sold. The difference is the DK Saver obviously isn't selling.

[fohat.digs]

So once we can determine a valid hourly rate for specialty keyboard building/refurbishment, then that one component of the price is easier to get a handle on.

Other aspects are even more amorphous, such as the hours spent searching online and waiting months for one of these rarities to come available.

These rare and unique items should be evaluated as from an esoteric collectors' marketplace instead of being like ordering something that came out of a factory last week.

[Hellmark]

Electronic repair and modification is one area that pays little, but does require experience and know how. It isn't brainless. For years, I worked for a company that handled commercial telecom, and part of that was doing repair. The pay didn't reflect what was required.

[fohat.digs]

The pay didn't reflect what was required.

Not a problem. If the seller believes that his keyboard is worth $1K, considering his work, then he should stick to his price.

[Hellmark]

Oh, I said that trying to make the point that most people try paying less than they should for electronics work. Most people see it as blue collar grunt work, when it often isn't. With my old job, they tried paying people half of the industry average for the same thing, and of the old timers that had worked there before the new owners came in, had their wages slashed, because the new owners didn't think they were worth that much. Funny thing is, their actions chased off people and they weren't able to hire people to fill those spots for the rates the new owners thought the going rate should be.