Some vintage IBM keyboards on Taobao

[ctm]

I was wandering on Taoboa and found some interesting IBM boards. There are some 50 key Model M and SSK at pretty good price. I even find two M15 split keyboards! A few links:

SSK: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.229.mnjN5e&id=38153119095&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail
50 keys: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.20141002.9.WdWL4v&scm=1007.10009.17335.100200300000001&id=40508443517&pvid=3e16ca48-b1ab-483d-a34e-31ad1a56650d
M15-1: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-12726215304.12.dXfPde&id=44166186095
M15-2: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.239.ajnUe5&id=524433296459&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail

[1391406]

I've never ordered from Taobao. Does anyone here have experience ordering from them without using an agent?

[jerue]

I've never ordered from Taobao. Does anyone here have experience ordering from them without using an agent?

Aren't there only a few sellers that will directly ship internationally? Or even accept a payment that isn't alipay? I hear it is hit or miss, to somewhat answer the question. I use an agent.

[1391406]

I've never ordered from Taobao. Does anyone here have experience ordering from them without using an agent?

Aren't there only a few sellers that will directly ship internationally? Or even accept a payment that isn't alipay? I hear it is hit or miss, to somewhat answer the question. I use an agent.

I browsed the site earlier and noticed some sellers accepting Alipay and some major credit cards. I also noticed some of them advertising USPS, EMS, etc. shipping methods. During checkout I was able to select one of those shipping methods, but I never confirmed any orders for obvious reasons. I thought about making a $5 - $10 purchase just to test the waters, though.

[Kazekumiho]

I was wandering on Taoboa and found some interesting IBM boards. There are some 50 key Model M and SSK at pretty good price. I even find two M15 split keyboards! A few links:

SSK: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.229.mnjN5e&id=38153119095&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail
50 keys: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.20141002.9.WdWL4v&scm=1007.10009.17335.100200300000001&id=40508443517&pvid=3e16ca48-b1ab-483d-a34e-31ad1a56650d
M15-1: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-12726215304.12.dXfPde&id=44166186095
M15-2: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.239.ajnUe5&id=524433296459&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail

If it's legit, that SSK is a steal!

[ctm]

I was wandering on Taoboa and found some interesting IBM boards. There are some 50 key Model M and SSK at pretty good price. I even find two M15 split keyboards! A few links:

SSK: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.229.mnjN5e&id=38153119095&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail
50 keys: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.20141002.9.WdWL4v&scm=1007.10009.17335.100200300000001&id=40508443517&pvid=3e16ca48-b1ab-483d-a34e-31ad1a56650d
M15-1: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-12726215304.12.dXfPde&id=44166186095
M15-2: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.239.ajnUe5&id=524433296459&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail

If it's legit, that SSK is a steal!

I don't think it's fraudulent, but I am not sure about the condition (especially the inner condition). I will travel to China during winter and one of the SSK seller is in the city that I will visit. I think I can go try that SSK myself. Is there a way to inspect the condition of a model M? Also is there difference between SSK with blue and with grey IBM logo?

[chyros]

I was wandering on Taoboa and found some interesting IBM boards. There are some 50 key Model M and SSK at pretty good price. I even find two M15 split keyboards! A few links:

SSK: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.229.mnjN5e&id=38153119095&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail
50 keys: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.20141002.9.WdWL4v&scm=1007.10009.17335.100200300000001&id=40508443517&pvid=3e16ca48-b1ab-483d-a34e-31ad1a56650d
M15-1: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-12726215304.12.dXfPde&id=44166186095
M15-2: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.239.ajnUe5&id=524433296459&ns=1&abbucket=20#detail

If it's legit, that SSK is a steal!

I don't think it's fraudulent, but I am not sure about the condition (especially the inner condition). I will travel to China during winter and one of the SSK seller is in the city that I will visit. I think I can go try that SSK myself. Is there a way to inspect the condition of a model M? Also is there difference between SSK with blue and with grey IBM logo?

Open it up and see how many rivets it's missing. You'll need a 5.5 mm nut driver for that. Obviously trying out the feel of all the keys is mandatory. Grey label Ms are generally older, but any differences depend more on the part number.

[larryniven]

Both M15's are listed for quite some time. I've contacted the seller. He said the photos on the listing are copied from somewhere else and are not showing the item he is selling. He then sent me another photo, said the joint is cracked, and asked if I still wanted.  Buy at your own risk...

[Norman_the_Owl]

15 dollars for the 50 key?

Surely this can't be legit?

[Sniping]

These IBM boards have been available at this price for years now. I'd be hesitant to buy it though. There's been threads about buying SSK's and such from Taobao in the past, and tl;dr is that it's sketch.

[Norman_the_Owl]

These IBM boards have been available at this price for years now. I'd be hesitant to buy it though. There's been threads about buying SSK's and such from Taobao in the past, and tl;dr is that it's sketch.

How sketch?

Geekhacks search functionality isn't working out for me, i can't seem to find any threads with people receiving goods