First time Taobao / obook user- general questions, what keyboard(s) to get

[mr626]

Hello all,

I have heard a few people on here mention buying from taobao via obook, and I'd like to give it a go. I've read through the info on the wiki, and the links mentioned there but I've still got a few questions:

-Given that taobao is described as being 'like ebay' does that mean that there are both new and used items listed? If so, how do you tell?
-Is obook a good choice to use?
-For ordering something via obook, is it pretty much a case of emailing them and asking for a quote for item(s) from taobao, plus shipping?

And, some item specific questions:

-What are some good, cheap keyboards to get? I'd like to get something full sized, with cherry blue or brown switches. I'm also interested in smaller boards that still have dedicated arrow keys (but are smaller than tenkeyless).
-Any recommendations on keycaps? Wouldn't mind a good quality set to replace the ABS ones that came with my Poker
-Has anyone used obook to get other non-keyboard related items from taobao? I gather the process is still the same?

Thanks

[litster]

From the questions you asked, it seems to me that you don't really have anything specific in mind to buy from taobao.  If so, I don't think buying from taobao is a very good idea.  There has been a few Poker and other random keycap group buy here, run by regular members here, or imsto or qtan.  You are better off going with them first.  People, like me, went to taobao only to find keyboards that were not available anywhere else, or somehow significantly cheaper even with oversea EMS shipping and agent commision.  It is quite a  hassle to buy from taobao through an agent, IMO.  You have to really want that something you are looking to make it worth it.  I went to taobao to find a white body tenkeyless Filco with red switches.  At the time, no one and nowherelse I could get it from.  It cost $270.  And you can now get other white body Filcos cheaper from qtan.

If you have a keyboard in mind you want to buy, you want to ask obook to check to make sure there is a taobao seller with the item in stock.  One bad thing about taobao is that sellers frequently list items that they don't have in stock.  If you don't check first, you would have sent money to the agent for something they can't buy for you.  And you would have paid for the exchange rate differences and money transfer fee for nothing.

Actually, obook's commission fee for electronics is about 24% which is higher than others.  I used taobaobee as well and they are bout 9%.  

In any case, if you should go with something more readily available, like Filco from keyboardco.com or Leopold from elitekeyboards.com.  Or just buy local.  You are Australia.  Cactux and Laggy-gaga here on GH are both from where you are.  They maybe able to give you advice on where to shop for keyboards locally or how to buy from overseas.

Good luck.

[mr626]

Thanks for the reply. You're right in that I don't have anything particular in mind. I was thinking of buying a cheapish mechanical board for a friend and thought it would be a good way to try out taobao. Yeah, I read your thread about your Filco board (looks good!).

I read the thread about taobaobee after I posted this- sounds like they would be the one to use for a keyboard if I was to buy one.

I'm pretty sure I already know of all the local places I can get mech. boards from, but thanks for the suggestion anyway :-)