Author Topic: Missing out on keycap sales? (Read 4364 times)

longweight · « **on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 11:43:48 »

So... I sense that this is known by many members but that it is never discussed as it increases the chance of others getting in to sales very quickly.

Do you base your CC / Brobot / whatevercap hopes on the newsletters? The websites go live first and then the newsletter goes out, how do some people know about the sale before receiving the newsletters?

Well this is how I knew about the last few sales and I can confirm that it works really well. If you haven't thought of this yet and use the internet regularly then you should feel bad about yourself.

It is very simple, use something like Page Monitor: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/page-monitor/pemhgklkefakciniebenbfclihhmmfcd?hl=en ( Here is the a Firefox extension, I have never used it but it looks the same: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/alertbox/ ) It will notify you within 2 seconds of a page being updated and as we know, every second counts with these sales. There are some email services but I have found them to be very slow, page monitor is the quickest method that I could find.

So do this:

1. Download and install the extension.
2. Visit the page that you want to monitor, I monitor the CC threads here, EK homepage, CC page, Topre page, MX page, Techkeys Brobots page etc....
3. In the settings make sure that the audible notification is enabled and reduce the time between checks to 2 seconds.
4. If you have an understanding GF / bro / sister / cat then ask them to do the same and to notify you the second that it pings just in-case you are away from the computer.

Another good thing to do is to set up search result notification on eBay, some CC sales don't make it to the forum as the people that spot them obviously don't want everyone bidding on them!

I apologise in advance if you all already know about this, hopefully you will find it helpful! It has worked for me, in the last open CC sale on EK I was able to buy the three that I wanted and let a couple of friends know before the email newsletter reached me or it appeared on the forum.

Good luck!

Michael · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:08:34 »

Excellent write-up. I was doing something similar for EK sales. Sometimes with mixed results, other times spot-on.

longweight · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:11:39 »

Thanks, I think that quite a few members know about it but definitely not all.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:16:37 »

Quote from: longweight on Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:11:39

Thanks, I think that quite a few members know about it but definitely not all.

I didn't know about this at all. Thanks!

longweight · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:22:54 »

No problem!

hashbaz · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:29:04 »

Thanks for the protip longweight.

longweight · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:44:15 »

I'm glad that it is helpful!

SmallFry · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:50:13 »

I just F5 like mad. I've been lucky enough to get two Clacks from the man himself, and had the opportunity to purchase one from the latest lottery via EK. I also had the chance to purchases BroBots both times, which I passed on for two reasons, one I don't like the aesthetics, and two I don't really need more expensive keys. (No offence to MMB, I assure.)
That said, I do push the TechKeys newsletter to my tablet via ZNC-Push. I created a filter in my Gmail to forward to my NotifyMyAndroid email and that pushes the email to my tablet/media player.

longweight · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 12:53:33 »

You F5 all the time on the sites?

SmallFry · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:09:00 »

Well, not all the time. I just don't use and special methods to get Click Clacks/BroBots/other rarities.

longweight · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:18:24 »

Fair enough, it does work well though.

SmallFry · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:20:03 »

Meh.

I'm happy with the mystery.

longweight · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:21:55 »

I think that most want keycaps over mystery.

codyeatworld · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:23:12 »

I used page monitor when the hp touchpad was on fire, and I snagged about 4 of them!

Glissant · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 13:25:40 »

Nice writeup, and so much simpler than the webmon way of doing it that I used to do. I won't be monitoring sites anymore, but I hope more people get what they want with this little helpful tool

.

longweight · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 17:03:32 »

Thanks Glissant

noisyturtle · « **Reply #16 on:** Sat, 09 March 2013, 23:38:54 »

Not much you can do if you're in class or working at the moment of the sale though. This is why they should be in the evening, or at least have the newsletter go out a few hours before the sale. This is also why the same hoarders always get in on sales, and other fans get left out in the cold consistently.

longweight · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 04:08:59 »

So when you say that the sales should be in the evening I take it that you mean on Greenwich Mean Time?

Glissant · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 05:40:22 »

Clearly he means GMT+1 and EST. Or was it UTC+8?

I have yet to see a sale of CC or brobots go up at the same time every time. Who are these fans that get left out on consistently? You? Me? Am I being targeted because I was sick this one day and sleeping when the sale started?

Just think about it, noisyturtle. They don't target a certain group of geekhackers. They make the keys and release them when they are able to be around in case something bad happens.

(Sorry for off-topic, longweight)

noisyturtle · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 06:01:19 »

And I suppose you would argue that the same people don't always get their wishes in almost every sale, and that these same people are by no means able to stay by a computer for long periods of time without fear of prior engagements or responsibilities drawing them away. The point that these 'collectors' caps are of small quantity leaves no other reason then to assume that a majority of folks do indeed get consistently left out in the cold. Time of each sale pending, of course. I am not claiming that anyone is being targeted in a purposeful way, just an inconvenient one.
I rather like the way EK handled the last sale, even though I did not win and that the system can be easily exploited. Better a raffle then a floodgate of rabid fans cutting off others chance at the quick.

Glissant · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 06:22:30 »

It's not fair for everyone. Get over it.

Grim Fandango · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 07:32:09 »

Nice , thanks for the suggestion.

I had not actually thought about this, and I did not know this extension existed. I will use it for more then just getting these sales. There are a number of things I would like to use this for. Really useful to me. Thanks!

longweight · « **Reply #22 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 16:01:42 »

Quote from: noisyturtle on Sun, 10 March 2013, 06:01:19

And I suppose you would argue that the same people don't always get their wishes in almost every sale, and that these same people are by no means able to stay by a computer for long periods of time without fear of prior engagements or responsibilities drawing them away. The point that these 'collectors' caps are of small quantity leaves no other reason then to assume that a majority of folks do indeed get consistently left out in the cold. Time of each sale pending, of course. I am not claiming that anyone is being targeted in a purposeful way, just an inconvenient one.
I rather like the way EK handled the last sale, even though I did not win and that the system can be easily exploited. Better a raffle then a floodgate of rabid fans cutting off others chance at the quick.

It is always going to be unfair for some, nothing can be done about that!

I completely disagree about the first come first served sale model, I like it and I think it gives everyone a good chance of getting one as long as they are set up to get it.

longweight · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 16:02:07 »

Quote from: Grim Fandango on Sun, 10 March 2013, 07:32:09

Nice , thanks for the suggestion.

I had not actually thought about this, and I did not know this extension existed. I will use it for more then just getting these sales. There are a number of things I would like to use this for. Really useful to me. Thanks!

Glad that it is of help to you!

Michael · « **Reply #24 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 16:03:59 »

Quote from: longweight on Sun, 10 March 2013, 16:01:42

I completely disagree about the first come first served sale model, I like it and I think it gives everyone a good chance of getting one as long as they are set up to get it.

I tend to agree with this, because people that want hard-to-get, or limited quantity items should be rewarded for their diligence. But I believe in placing a limit on the quantity to keep it fair for both parties.

longweight · « **Reply #25 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 16:11:35 »

Absolutely.

Grim Fandango · « **Reply #26 on:** Sun, 10 March 2013, 17:18:45 »

I live in Europe (GMT+1) , so as you can imagine the timing of these sales are not exactly that convenient for me. But if I really wanted them I could set it up in various ways. As things are now, I am just making sure there are some ways in which I will be notified quickly. If I miss it, I miss it.

I am fairly sure that no matter how you sell them, there could always be an argument about "unfairness" even if it was all a big lottery with each interested person having an equal chance of winning. Even then, you could argue that completely randomly distributing them is not fair either. And for those who truly want them, this would be even more frustrating, because that would mean there is truly nothing you can do to try and get them.

longweight · « **Reply #27 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:18:48 »

Did anyone get the Candycorn skull that went up today?

Dgsbllx · « **Reply #28 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:35:21 »

Quote from: longweight on Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:18:48

Did anyone get the Candycorn skull that went up today?

lol wut

For some reason I keep getting updates saying the page has changed but when i click on the update nothing has?

longweight · « **Reply #29 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:37:59 »

You will get that, are you monitoring the clackfactory section of the site?

Dgsbllx · « **Reply #30 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:43:16 »

Yes but I haven't been online for the most part of today anyway

longweight · « **Reply #31 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:59:42 »

You are monitoring this page?

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=special&filter=clackfactory

Dgsbllx · « **Reply #32 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 14:04:28 »

ahh no I was just monitoring the topre and cherry mx keycap pages

longweight · « **Reply #33 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 14:06:04 »

Ah, that link always includes any Clickclack caps that go up

Dgsbllx · « **Reply #34 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 14:07:29 »

Cheers, thanks a lot for your assistance + write up!

longweight · « **Reply #35 on:** Tue, 12 March 2013, 14:13:44 »

No problem! I will update the OP with that link.

WarNutts · « **Reply #36 on:** Wed, 13 March 2013, 10:58:42 »

lol thanks for this very helpful!

longweight · « **Reply #37 on:** Wed, 13 March 2013, 17:29:09 »

Glad that you think so!

longweight · « **Reply #38 on:** Fri, 15 March 2013, 15:04:46 »

Bump for people that might have missed this thread.

SmallFry · « **Reply #39 on:** Sat, 16 March 2013, 00:49:15 »

Are you fishing for compliments or something? Darn near every other reply is you.

Dubsgalore · « **Reply #40 on:** Sat, 16 March 2013, 01:35:45 »

Quote from: Dgsbllx on Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:35:21

Quote from: longweight on Tue, 12 March 2013, 13:18:48
Did anyone get the Candycorn skull that went up today?

lol wut

For some reason I keep getting updates saying the page has changed but when i click on the update nothing has?

i get that too:(

longweight · « **Reply #41 on:** Sat, 16 March 2013, 02:28:41 »

Quote from: SmallFry on Sat, 16 March 2013, 00:49:15

Are you fishing for compliments or something? Darn near every other reply is you.

Nope I'm just making sure that everyone sees this, it is funny how those that collect the CC's have viewed the thread but not commented. Almost like they want this thread to go away....

Glissant · « **Reply #42 on:** Sat, 16 March 2013, 05:46:00 »

If you are monitoring this forum with that extension it will give you an update every time it checks as the timestamp changes every second.
You would have to use a program that can isolate a specific part of the code if you want to check if someone has changed a closed thread.

longweight · « **Reply #43 on:** Sat, 16 March 2013, 07:06:26 »

I haven't used it on the forum just the sites.

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Author Topic: Missing out on keycap sales? (Read 4364 times)