Click Clack Conspiracy pt3 (how tp4 made them popular)

[Paddywagon]

And off we go...!

I wan't to hear more about how click clack finds you to be a funny guy.

[funkymeeba]

I think the tp4 story won't be funny until pt4.

[tjcaustin]

This seems awesome more than funny to me.

[Michael]

I think we might be giving tp more attention than he deserves, Paddy

[clickclack]

*… takes the podium …*

 Ahaaaheeem, AHEM! 

*… throat cleared, loosens tie … *

I would  like to thank the Academy for… errr, wait, wrong speech.

*… rustles through pockets… *

ahem, 

*… a little softer this time, with reservation… *

I would like to begin by saying that this thread is a bad idea (sorry paddy). But, in the spirit of all bad ideas in the off topic forum, I would like to proceed anyway.

Where was I?
Ah, yes…

No see.. he's the guy selling you the clack,, THEN he's ALSO the guy auctioning on ebay..

I Don’t have an ebay account, but I wish I did and used it the way you suggest. You know, just so you could be right for once. I’m starting to feel bad for you. You’re kinda like that unlucky kid who bubbled in all the “C’s” on the scantron because you didn’t know the answer. Yet somehow all the answers were A’s, B’s, and D’s. Tuff break kid, tuff break.

And I have a feeling he's also in control of a few other acounts on this site, which auctions off his so called "Extra caps"
but the whole time, there were MANY extras... to be spread over months..

DAMMMIT! You got me. I’ve been outted guys. I never thought anyone would catch on. For years I tried to get away with it. But I made a fatal mistake. I posted with all three of my accounts in the “conspiracy pt2” thread.

I have the following accounts here-
Clickclack
Clackfactory
Tp4tissue

My main point is a few of the "alleged" $200 sales are made up and didn't really take place.
It's like you try to create a new clothing, but how could you convince someone that it's $200... by putting on a show where you complete a successful sale to a non existent person, clickclack himself...
 

Good gawd that’s a lot of work, no wonder I’m so busy and tired all the time.

The scam here is... click clack.. auctions his clacks to another account he's created.. then when THAT guy sells it, it'll look like a rare cap is making it's way through the market... BUT that's not the case... you're buying it from click clack @ $250 

“When that guy”? Wait, don’t you mean me? A slight flaw in your reasoning, uh..., I mean “my” reasoning.
If some people were interested in my keys and were willing to pay a modest markup, and I said “HEY YOU GUYS, I’ve got a single special super uber duper rare limited key” instead of the convoluted route you suggest, don’t you think I would have been able to sell it?

So why not skip the middle man, who is the direct man, who is faking the sale to get the money directly.
Phew! You must be right, I would have to be brilliant in order to keep that up!

At least this is how I would do it... if I ran out of pocket money.

Good to know. But I think you lack the motivation and skill to pull it off. But you see, there in lies the problem. If you did indeed have the motivation and skill, then you would likely have pride. And it’s that pride that would stop you from doing it.

[Turbo Slaab]

I knew you were tp4tissue. I freaking knew it.

Click Clacks just laid the foundation for your life's greatest masterpiece entitled "The Internal Struggle" with every thread being another chapter.

[Larken]

dear clickclack,

I may not be a fan of your keycaps, but you sir,
 
are a man with a wicked sense of humor.

[clickclack]

Then lets add another chapter shall we? One more chapter is one more page closer to the unsatisfying end! Whooo hoo!

noisy, there's no proof that any of these sales ACTUALLY happened...   

We never landed on the moon.
shhh, don’t tell anybody…

It's like you run an art gallery... and I've worked with many of these... they have show nights like I've described, where people PRETEND to buy paintings.. to make it look like there's a market.
you know how they hire people to stand in line during product releases?  same gig..

Nope, sorry, that was really sad. You didn’t even try to sound like you knew what you were talking about. What happened? Did you give up or something?

I have worked with AND in numerous galleries. I have also worked with many, many, many artists in all imaginable ways. Some even very well known, names you might actually recognize. Oh my! I feel so special.

Lets see the places you need help with-
“Run an art gallery” –tp4
This is mostly accomplished through the Gallery Director and Curator(s)

“I’ve worked with many of these” –tp4
Translation: I have no idea what I’m talking about

“they have show nights” –tp4
Did you mean “night”? It’s called a “R e c e p t i o n”. Okay, say it with me… “recpktakion”, almost got it. One more time… “reception”. HOORAAY! You got it!
They are usually too packed on that night for anyone to notice a dimwit "fake sticking" red dots on things.

Sometimes they even have a pre-screening for affiliates or a pool of collectors.   <<< added this one so you could make your use of “nights” legitimately plural. You can thank me later.

I have sadly seen some unsavory practices in a very tiny number of galleries, but what I saw was not what you mentioned. They were more clever than what your scenario would suggest, which is hardly surprising.

[BunnyLake]

Then lets add another chapter shall we? One more chapter is one more page closer to the unsatisfying end! Whooo hoo!

noisy, there's no proof that any of these sales ACTUALLY happened...   

We never landed on the moon.
shhh, don’t tell anybody…

It's like you run an art gallery... and I've worked with many of these... they have show nights like I've described, where people PRETEND to buy paintings.. to make it look like there's a market.
you know how they hire people to stand in line during product releases?  same gig..

Nope, sorry, that was really sad. You didn’t even try to sound like you knew what you were talking about. What happened? Did you give up or something?

I have worked with AND in numerous galleries. I have also worked with many, many, many artists in all imaginable ways. Some even very well known, names you might actually recognize. Oh my! I feel so special.

Lets see the places you need help with-
“Run an art gallery” –tp4
This is mostly accomplished through the Gallery Director and Curator(s)

“I’ve worked with many of these” –tp4
Translation: I have no idea what I’m talking about

“they have show nights” –tp4
Did you mean “night”? It’s called a “R e c e p t i o n”. Okay, say it with me… “recpktakion”, almost got it. One more time… “reception”. HOORAAY! You got it!
They are usually too packed on that night for anyone to notice a dimwit "fake sticking" red dots on things.

Sometimes they even have a pre-screening for affiliates or a pool of collectors.   <<< added this one so you could make your use of “nights” legitimately plural. You can thank me later.

I have sadly seen some unsavory practices in a very tiny number of galleries, but what I saw was not what you mentioned. They were more clever than what your scenario would suggest, which is hardly surprising.

owned

[clickclack]

dear clickclack,
I may not be a fan of your keycaps, but you sir,
 are a man with a wicked sense of humor.

Thanks for the kind words, err, word!
They kinda grow on ya though, don't fight it! ;)

Seriously though, I need a faster printer.

[keymaster]

I have the following accounts here-
Clickclack
Clackfactory
Tp4tissue

WE NEED TO GO DEEPER

[clickclack]

another way to look at it is, if there were no cc hype, would people still be paying 100+?

no, at least they didn't a couple of years ago

Hi brialona and sth,

I don’t know if this actually answers your question but when my keys were first shown before they were posted online and before there was more than one posted online, I had offers that easily rivaled the highest bids that you commonly see around here. It was enough to start funding this new adventure of mine. I was able to bring the prices down on my side of things while poorly managing the logistics and giving back to the “investors” (early enthusiasts) so to speak. I have even redone multiple sales for people who missed out and was nearly able to get something for everyone that missed out on some of the sales. However, if the percieved value goes up and up, then I actually have to work more, for less, in order to keep up. A bit of self preservation should be in order, and I feel I deserve the chance to pursue whatever success this may or may not end up being.

There are greedy people, it’s a bummer. But I would also like to think that there are a number of people who like my work enough to give it a personal value that they are comfortable with.

So I guess to answer you brialona, yes, it seems some people still would, since they initially did and still do. It’s very flattering at times, and I most certainly want to earn it. It also provides the backbone to my motivation. What? People care about what I do? Well if that’s the case, then I think I should at least do what I can to earn it.

[Turbo Slaab]

All witch hunts aside, I'm still flabbergasted at the (relative) low prices you manage to keep on CC's. You could easily double, triple, or quadruple your prices and still sell them all to only the hardcore collectors. Keeping the price in range for just about everyone is, in my eyes, very respectable. Kudos to you sir.

[esoomenona]

All witch hunts aside, I'm still flabbergasted at the (relative) low prices you manage to keep on CC's. You could easily double, triple, or quadruple your prices and still sell them all to only the hardcore collectors. Keeping the price in range for just about everyone is, in my eyes, very respectable. Kudos to you sir.

QFT

[clickclack]

…I am only saying that Clickclacks are a terrible investment..
 

OH FOR CRISSAKE! That’s all you were trying to say???
Good gawd man, ever heard of CliffsNotes?
You really got to work out this free time thing you got going on.

For someone who Genuinely just wants the itty-bitty piece of plastic.. sure pay whatever ..
 

Thank goodness you finally said it. Do you even know the number of people who were waiting to hear your words before they bit the bullet (accidental double-entendre, I swear!).

For anyone who's "investing" in clacks,, THIS IS A TRAP....

This reads as such a good compliment that I don’t even want to tarnish it with a sad attempt at humor.

But… then again. That never stopped me before…

My guess is that that people who are “investing” probably know what they are doing to a large extent.
But, you heard it here first people, Adm Ackbar says SELL SELL SELL!

Im not arguing against anything.  I'm just curious if people buy cc for their own sake or if they buy it just because its so hard to get/hype
 

Hi again brialona,
Well from what I have gathered, most who get them seem to just like them (and the multitude of  personal reasons that go with that), some for the hype, and some for the profit.
Hope that quenches some of your curiosity. =)

my claim, is that cc is generating artificial demand...

By trying to keep my prices low and increasing supply. How mi doin?
Or by letting others reap the benefits? Am I doin this right?

[clickclack]

All witch hunts aside, I'm still flabbergasted at the (relative) low prices you manage to keep on CC's. You could easily double, triple, or quadruple your prices and still sell them all to only the hardcore collectors. Keeping the price in range for just about everyone is, in my eyes, very respectable. Kudos to you sir.

Well, I don't know if I could really do as you mentioned, but I certainly know a compliment when I see one.
Thanks! Nice of you to say, I appreciate it.  =)

[Shadovved]

All witch hunts aside, I'm still flabbergasted at the (relative) low prices you manage to keep on CC's. You could easily double, triple, or quadruple your prices and still sell them all to only the hardcore collectors. Keeping the price in range for just about everyone is, in my eyes, very respectable. Kudos to you sir.

Well, I don't know if I could really do as you mentioned, but I certainly know a compliment when I see one.
Thanks! Nice of you to say, I appreciate it.  =)

Well done, sir

I think you deserve to earn slightly more by adjusting for the rising costs of living and production

[JPG]

He surely deserve less of these threads. And they seem to come back on a regular basis sadly. A few people won't ever learn ...

All I want to say is keep the good work you are doing. Making stuff is great. Making great stuff is even better. And you are making HIGHT STUFF 

For all of those that don't like these keys, just stop talking about it! (ok, you won't I know it, but it's worth a try haha)

[clickclack]

I don't know why you guys keep pushing basic economics on me...
 

Think of it as charity work.

I'm merely alluding to the fact that there may be a PLOY here.. and some people are getting suckered like with the $250 red esc
 

Definition of alluding-
Verb
1.   Suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.
2.   Mention without discussing at length

NOPE! Try again.
You're not even close to either of those two definitions.

And while you're at it, change the word “fact” to “possibility”. Using the words “fact” and “may be” in such close proximity makes you look like a paranoid schizophrenic.

Just thought I would throw a “pro tip” out there since you're such a champion of the mentally handicapped.

That there is the conspiracy... they never sold out of stock... they were never all that popular, and yes they're STILL quite ugly...

Yup, I only made 4 keys. They just keep getting passed around for higher and higher prices.
And of course they’re “STILL quite ugly…” if you were passed around innumerable times you wouldn’t look so hot either!

What clack did do "clever guy" is go from selling crappy plastic to selling "RARE" crappy plastic..  Then, by creating a few LARGELY staged transactions established the current fascade..
 

…to then only sell them at a lower price than what was offered. 4uck I’m Awesome!

[Shadovved]

I think CC should get hazard pay for dealing with things like this personally

[clickclack]

and yet you're bored enough to partake.. fk off if you have something "better" to do..
kiddie hippocrits..
and you still haven't answered my question from another thread, are you an african american person?
 

I don’t have anything to really say after this one. It just made me laugh out loud. “LOL” if you prefer.
I’m just trying to learn how to stretch things out like master tp4.

I won't lie to you on the internet..  But if I met you in person.. I certainly would..
 

Smart man, that's probably what has kept your nose straight all these years.

wait.. "are you ugly? "
I'm curious now... that would explain why you chose to make skulls.. as people who usually follow that direction of expression steer clear of conventional beauty due to their internal conflict with inadequacy.

No, not really. Well idunno, nah… I wouldn’t think so, no.
But seriously who really believes their family and girlfriend when they say you’re handsome. *wink-wink*
"Bewbs" you know, those lovely items that hang infront of a womans bare chest, would likely fall under "conventional beauty". Just sayin.

But you might be on to something. Because by that logic your posts instantly make sense! Lets try this out shall we? I’m so excited…

In being mostly wrong, you try to steer clear of making any conventional sense.

Oh-boy, oh-boy, oh-boy! What did I win? =D

[MKULTRA]

Does tp4 ever talk about keyboards?

[Turbo Slaab]

I'm still reading this as CC is tp4tissue and it's quite entertaining.

[Krogenar]

I've got a question for ClackFactory; why make so few of these keycaps? Actually, that could be an assumption -- how many were sold in the last 4Grabs sale, anyway, if you don't mind me asking? I think the CC skulls are great, but I don't think I would pay $200 - $250 for one. Others clearly will and do, and I'm fine with that. But why not just make, I dunno 200 of them, sell them for $50 and then everyone who really wants one has one, and the people who paid $250 might feel a little silly. And you would be rolling in money, which is absolutely fine by me since you're making something that people obviously value. It seems very charitable to me for you to offer them at the $30 range, when you could so obviously get more for them.

I don't think the charity is necessary -- the cool keycaps are enough. Also, keep in mind I'm an avowed capitalist, your pricing your product your business. All I'm saying is that you'd be making a lot of money for yourself and a lot of people happy by just making more of these awesome caps. I'm conjecturing wildly, but it seems you're an artist -- do you keep the supply low in order to see people battle over your work? I'll be honest -- that would make me feel good too, LOL! I know it's not always about the money. Is it just the time constraints of making the keycaps?

Again, as I said, your product your price your business. It's none of my business, so don't feel compelled to answer, I wouldn't hold it against you. I'm just curious and figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

[jcrouse]

The real story here is that tp4 is a clack collector trying to control the market. If he can keep CC busy and not allow him to ship the items from the recent sale he can impact the supply side, increasing the value of his own collection. He seems to have disappeared for a bit and I can only imagine he is readying his collection for sale before the market saturation takes place.

John

[Halverson]

I'm still reading this as CC is tp4tissue and it's quite entertaining.

Hah! Throws my mind for a curve ball, that it does!

[SP534]

I'm still reading this as CC is tp4tissue and it's quite entertaining.

+1. For a while though I actually thought it was true (I'm new ) and I was beyond confused.

[Krogenar]

The real story here is that tp4 is a clack collector trying to control the market. If he can keep CC busy and not allow him to ship the items from the recent sale he can impact the supply side, increasing the value of his own collection. He seems to have disappeared for a bit and I can only imagine he is readying his collection for sale before the market saturation takes place.

John

There was a discussion thread a while back about 'Community vs. Capitalism' and tp and I got into it. I don't know if he's trying to distort the market or not.

[clickclack]

I don't like the term trolling, because the definition changed over time, from ACTUAL trolling, inciting-emotional-response, to  labeling ANYTHING-at-all you disagree with..
 

I agree!
From this moment forward we should call “actual trolling” (inciting-emotional-response), tp4tissuing!
Who's with me? lol

And honestly, I don't know why this forum even needs Mods, because there's like almost NO ONE here saying anything most of the time.
 

Well give them a chance man. Just shut yer yap for a second or two.

If anything.. the fact that my posts make the place more lively is better than the dreary sullenness that GH usually is.

“Lively” is different than “Full”.
When I feel the need to use the bathroom, I don’t go around telling the world. That’s not really enriching.

not mass-marketable product = not popular..
 

High school mustta been rrrrrrruff.

 

You're likely overestimating the market.  If these clacks were at all POPULAR, there is EVERY REASON to sell them in volume and make a whole lot more.
 

All things are relative. Here, these clacks seem popular enough. It’s not universal, but few things made by artists are.
If by “EVERY REASON” you meant “limited reasons”,  then by george, you’re almost half right!

I have different intentions and motivations than you, I can’t help that you don't understand when there is resistance you should pull the q-tip out.

Just out of curiosity (morbid), when would this supposed legitimate popularity be measured. Is it possible that things are not just instantaneously achieved? I may fail, but it won’t be for a lack of effort.

So Enough with the popular thing, I’m starting to feel really bad about your childhood.
Wait! I thought your beef was with twits being scammed. What does it matter if they are popular or not? Stop being vain.

The trouble is, keyboardin' is not there yet.. at least not in the USA..
 

I can almost hear it now…

“Everybody’s gone boardin’
Boardin’ USA… “

You know, that famous song by the “Beach Boards”?

[cytoSiN]

The real story here is that tp4 is a clack collector trying to control the market. If he can keep CC busy and not allow him to ship the items from the recent sale he can impact the supply side, increasing the value of his own collection. He seems to have disappeared for a bit and I can only imagine he is readying his collection for sale before the market saturation takes place.

John

There was a discussion thread a while back about 'Community vs. Capitalism' and tp and I got into it. I don't know if he's trying to distort the market or not.

Either way, between this theory and "tp is CC," there's a novel/Lifetime special in the works here...

[Grim Fandango]

All witch hunts aside, I'm still flabbergasted at the (relative) low prices you manage to keep on CC's. You could easily double, triple, or quadruple your prices and still sell them all to only the hardcore collectors. Keeping the price in range for just about everyone is, in my eyes, very respectable. Kudos to you sir.

QFT

QFT x 2

[clickclack]

if people want to take internet seriously, i can't stop them

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!      Srsly ???
THIS IS PERHAPS WHAT YOU DO BEST!

Forget the philanthropic mentally ill champion thing.
You could single handedly rid the internet of all seriousness. You just need to post outside of geekhack more. I release you! Free the world tp4, FREE THE WORLD!!!

know what guys. look I'm sorry if you're offended, my only intention was to warn anyone who may dive into cc as a investment..
That's it.. so. i'm locking the thread..
 

Something, something, something, whatever.
What’s for breakfast?

[Turbo Slaab]

What’s for breakfast?

A foot in mouth sandwich made by tp.

[Krogenar]

The real story here is that tp4 is a clack collector trying to control the market. If he can keep CC busy and not allow him to ship the items from the recent sale he can impact the supply side, increasing the value of his own collection. He seems to have disappeared for a bit and I can only imagine he is readying his collection for sale before the market saturation takes place.

John

There was a discussion thread a while back about 'Community vs. Capitalism' and tp and I got into it. I don't know if he's trying to distort the market or not.

Either way, between this theory and "tp is CC," there's a novel/Lifetime special in the works here...

Ah, yes, Lifetime Channel -- where every man is a rapist. LOL!
If tp is also clack, then it's the ultimate socialist economic trolling X ... I dunno, four? So the theory would be that tp/CC argues with himself, sells a few clacks of his own creation for low prices, to pump up the market, and then he sells his remaining stock of clacks via various sock puppet accounts? So sure, he sells ten for $35, but can then sell 20 at $250?

(dons his tin-foil hat +1 versus mental attacks)

[aggiejy]

This is the most epic troll smack down thread ever.

[SmallFry]

LMAO! ClickClack, how long have you been formulating this?! Your wit and quickness is very funny. I wish I could convey my IRL conversations to here because I have (or so I think) a wit like yours. Tis a hard thing to do, so I award you 50 Klaxons.

[esoomenona]

I imagine after reading many discussions here, he has had much time to think about this.

[CPTBadAss]

This page's Klaxon number is 2.

[Michael]

This has been the most active I have ever seen CC. It's a shame it has to be to handle a silly troll....

[boost]

This has been the most active I have ever seen CC. It's a shame it has to be to handle a silly troll....

Very interesting, very.

[Alessandro]

This is brilliant.

[Rare]

I don't understand why people are hassling clickclack. for real. let him do what he does. wheres the fun in making something EVERYONE can own? I mean, seriously. There wouldn't be rare things if it weren't for people like him.

[funkymeeba]

I don't understand why people are hassling clickclack. for real. let him do what he does. wheres the fun in making something EVERYONE can own? I mean, seriously. There wouldn't be rare things if it weren't for people like him.

Well, there would be you.

[Alessandro]

I don't understand why people are hassling clickclack. for real. let him do what he does. wheres the fun in making something EVERYONE can own? I mean, seriously. There wouldn't be rare things if it weren't for people like him.

Well, there would be you.

And your avatar.

[SpAmRaY]

I say clickclack should make a click clack of shame....it could be a Troll CC.

[ekw808]

Just leaving this here:
http://www.poopsenders.com/

in case anyone has TP's address....

[davkol]

I have the following accounts here-
Clickclack
Clackfactory
Tp4tissue

Thou shalt suffer under the ban-hammer.

[eth0s]

All I have to say is that I like Click Clack, and I like his keycaps.  And that I'm willing to spend a lot more than the retail price of between $8-$30 to buy one.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to buy one for retail price, and $8-$30 is mighty cheap if you ask me (I live in NYC where it costs about $30 just to drive from New Jersey to Staten Island (which is a 2 mile trip, btw)).  I've just never had the opportunity to buy a Clack at retail price.  I joined geekhack.org too late to get any from the early sales, and I've been too slow or unlucky to get any in Clacks in any of the 4grabs sales.  So in order to get a Clack, I'm willing to pay more than the retail price, not because I was tricked or manipulated or bedazzled or enchanted or brain-washed.  But because I like them, and I value the time and effort that went into making them, and so they are worth a lot more than $8-$30 to me.  Now, would I pay $250 for a single Clack?  I really don't know.  I haven't yet, and I don't plan on doing it soon.  But for the right Clack, I just might.  Who knows?  Also, I collect Clacks because I enjoy them, not as an investment.  I have made so many bad investments, I think I know something about bad investments:  Facebook, Zynga, Lehman Brothers, the list goes on and on for me.  So, anyway, I'm just saying I like Clacks, and nobody made me say that. 

[Paddywagon]

Well I don't know about you guys, but I had a laugh and shed a tear in delight. Thank you Click Clack.