[IC] Orange Alps Apple IIGS keyboard 658-4081 group buy

[Vanilla]

Vanilla go ahead and change one of mine to a white. I don't mind getting one of each.

Noted.

[jdcarpe]

My personal (selfish) opinion is that the orange Alps boards should go in order to the first people who requested them, unless they state otherwise.

[Vanilla]

My personal (selfish) opinion is that the orange Alps boards should go in order to the first people who requested them, unless they state otherwise.

If we do that, we will be 5 orange alps boards short of already who has expressed interest toward an orange alps keyboard. There's simply not enough to go around.

*Hears "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"

-Huh who said that?

[njbair]

Does the buy go through with just orange Alps or do you have to buy the whole lot?

[Vanilla]

Does the buy go through with just orange Alps or do you have to buy the whole lot?

The buy will happen whether we get the SMK monterey white boards or not.

The price for each board regardless of switch is still $17 each.

[jdcarpe]

Does the buy go through with just orange Alps or do you have to buy the whole lot?

The buy will happen whether we get the SMK monterey white boards or not.

The price for each board regardless of switch is still $17 each.

If I'm limited to only one orange board, I'd like to change my order from two to one, please.

[njbair]

Does the buy go through with just orange Alps or do you have to buy the whole lot?

The buy will happen whether we get the SMK monterey white boards or not.

The price for each board regardless of switch is still $17 each.

Well then first come first serve is totally fair. There will be some dashed hopes, but nobody will have lost money.

I kind of want to change my mind back now, and ask for two orange Alps again. Is that OK?

Can anyone weigh in on whether the white Monterey switches are worth having?

[Vanilla]

If I were to limit everybody to just 1 orange board there is enough orange boards to go around for everybody who has expressed interest so far.
With no further immediate participants.

Otherwise we're in a deficit of 6 orange ALPS boards.

I believe the newer SMK monterey white boards are less common than the older orange ALPS ones.

[njbair]

If I were to limit everybody to just 1 orange board there is enough orange boards to go around for everybody who has expressed interest so far.
With no further immediate participants.

Otherwise we're in a deficit of 6 orange ALPS boards.

Classic economics problem: unregulated free market versus compulsory wealth redistribution? Someone's going to be disappointed either way.

[Vanilla]

If I were to solve this with classic economics, I'd come out on top by having to charge more to quell demand.... which I won't. 

[jdcarpe]

If I were to solve this with classic economics, I'd come out on top by having to charge more to quell demand.... which I won't. 

I'd still be in for two orange boards at $22 each.

[njbair]

If I were to solve this with classic economics, I'd come out on top by having to charge more to quell demand.... which I won't. 

I'd still be in for two orange boards at $22 each.

JD is the keyboard 1%.

[unoab]

Well shipping makes much more sense at 2 boards per order.. so I would be hesitant to get just one, but if we are only given the option of just one....

And there is a deskthority thread that talked about the difference in switches, and it seems the SMK ones are more tactile than the orange ones, or so someone expressed as their opinion in the thread.  Though also in that thread they said that the double shot keycaps had binding issues on the SMK switches but not the orange alps ones because the stem tolerances on the smk switches were much tighter.

And I was hoping to try dyeing some of the caps, so double shot would be out for me, but if someone wanted to do a switch I would take a SMK board with PBT caps from one of the alps boards also with PBT caps and then they could have the double shots.  That should then fix the binding issue on the SMK boards and someone else could get an orange alps board..  Then I would be able to try each switch type too..


edit: found the page I was reading before, and actually Jacobolus actually suggested in there switching caps on the boards to alleviate the binding issues and make both versions pleasing to type on:
http://deskthority.net/post164638.html#p164638

[derezzed]

Sorry, but I have to bow out of this group buy.  Stupid grown-up responsibilities have hacked my wallet.

[Vanilla]

Sorry, but I have to bow out of this group buy.  Stupid grown-up responsibilities have hacked my wallet.

Noted.

The deficit has improved to 5!

[FrostyToast]

Still in for one orange board. 2 would have been really swell though but we are at a shortage.

[theanyday]

Definitely still in for an orange and possibly one of each for shipping sake. 

[Vanilla]

-

[nubbinator]

If it's one per person, I'm out, it's not worth it.

[Vanilla]

Alright I've slept on the issue and I'm going to just do it first come first serve with quantities already posted. In everybody's best interest, especially mine, I want to get this group buy delivered and completed as the supplier might have other plans. Otherwise I might just end up hoarding them all for myself.  )

[njbair]

Alright I've slept on the issue and I'm going to just do it first come first serve with quantities already posted. In everybody's best interest, especially mine, I want to get this group buy delivered and completed as the supplier might have other plans. Otherwise I might just end up hoarding them all for myself.  )

This was a tough call to make, but don't beat yourself up over it. You were given bad information by the seller. At least you caught it before the boards were paid for and shipped!

[Vanilla]

Alright I've slept on the issue and I'm going to just do it first come first serve with quantities already posted. In everybody's best interest, especially mine, I want to get this group buy delivered and completed as the supplier might have other plans. Otherwise I might just end up hoarding them all for myself.  )

This was a tough call to make, but don't beat yourself up over it. You were given bad information by the seller. At least you caught it before the boards were paid for and shipped!

I try my best to cover all my bases.

[brownbaglunch]

If these will work with PC's, I'm in for two, possibly three.

[nubbinator]

If other people really want one, it's not a problem for me to give mine up.  It just wasn't worth it with shipping for just one of them.  I have one at home, so it's not a huge deal.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm with nubbinator. If I can get an Orange Alps board, that'd be great. If there is someone ahead of me who doesn't already have Orange Alps, they can have mine and I'd be happy to bow out. Not interested in the Monterey boards.

If these will work with PC's, I'm in for two, possibly three.

You have to have an ADB Converter like hasu's, there's a converter you can buy, or Soarer Mod it. It won't work right out of the box with your PC.

[jacobolus]

You guys are silly with the shipping thing. These boards in similar condition often sell on ebay for about $50 + shipping (though price is fairly variable depending on how good the pictures are, how many keywords the ebay title covers, etc., so you can occasionally find one for $20–25). Getting one for $22 + shipping is still a great deal.

[Vanilla]

You guys are silly with the shipping thing. These boards in similar condition often sell on ebay for about $50 + shipping (though price is fairly variable depending on how good the pictures are, how many keywords the ebay title covers, etc., so you can occasionally find one for $20�25). Getting one for $22 + shipping is still a great deal.

This 110%. I personally have a full collection of ALPS & SMK switched boards and I paid $40 for my orange ALPS board.... without considering the groupbuy, $22 is a steal already.
The GREED is strong.

[njbair]

You guys are silly with the shipping thing. These boards in similar condition often sell on ebay for about $50 + shipping (though price is fairly variable depending on how good the pictures are, how many keywords the ebay title covers, etc., so you can occasionally find one for $20�25). Getting one for $22 + shipping is still a great deal.

The GREED is strong.... in all honesty I'm pretty disheartened and fed up by this.

I work a full time job with a family. This is something I don't need. No good deed goes unpunished I suppose.

I hope my comments below don't sound argumentative, because they're not intended to be.

Maybe I missed something, but I saw two people who already have orange Alps boards willingly surrender their rightful spots for two boards each. Both of them made it sound like it was totally not a big deal to them.

I personally offered to change my second spot to a Monterey board when I thought the buy was in jeopardy, but then changed my mind when I found out the seller was willing to part with only the oranges for the same price. Does that seem greedy to you?

[wakko]

 I'm still in for one orange alps board. Not a big deal if I don't get one.

[Vanilla]

You guys are silly with the shipping thing. These boards in similar condition often sell on ebay for about $50 + shipping (though price is fairly variable depending on how good the pictures are, how many keywords the ebay title covers, etc., so you can occasionally find one for $20�25). Getting one for $22 + shipping is still a great deal.

The GREED is strong.... in all honesty I'm pretty disheartened and fed up by this.

I work a full time job with a family. This is something I don't need. No good deed goes unpunished I suppose.

I hope my comments below don't sound argumentative, because they're not intended to be.

Maybe I missed something, but I saw two people who already have orange Alps boards willingly surrender their rightful spots for two boards each. Both of them made it sound like it was totally not a big deal to them.

I personally offered to change my second spot to a Monterey board when I thought the buy was in jeopardy, but then changed my mind when I found out the seller was willing to part with only the oranges for the same price. Does that seem greedy to you?

The overtones are still present. You can't deny it.
Then again, that's the point of groupbuys.

I'm pretty disheartened and discouraged by this nonetheless. Especially considering this is the 1st group buy I've organized while balancing full time work and family.
It's been so much more than I bargained for especially considering I'm doing this for nothing in return.

I'm going to have to do some thinking in regards to the progression of this.

[njbair]

It takes some thick skin to run a group buy, from what I gather. Look at what mkawa has dealt with in the Smallfry kit buy, or even BunnyLake in recent keycap buys. You're correct that nobody appreciates the work involved. People just want their stuff. But it's oftentimes a necessary evil.

However, I don't think this feeling is unique to group buys. I gave up on EBay years ago because of greedy scumbags. Especially as a seller, there are all kinds of scammers who will ruin your auction for a chance to rip you off. Then when you refuse their shady terms they back out of the sale, forcing you to relist and wait longer, hoping that the next winner is not a scammer.

The simple truth is that people are all selfish jerks.

[nubbinator]

You guys are silly with the shipping thing. These boards in similar condition often sell on ebay for about $50 + shipping (though price is fairly variable depending on how good the pictures are, how many keywords the ebay title covers, etc., so you can occasionally find one for $20�25). Getting one for $22 + shipping is still a great deal.

And your point being?  Everyone is in different economic conditions.  While $40 for one might be good for you, others may not be able to justify that cost.  I couldn't justify it unless it was an average of $30 or less for each board shipped.  I've never paid more than $30 for one shipped and I've gotten a couple.  Since I have one at home, these were to be backups for future projects.

This 110%. I personally have a full collection of ALPS & SMK switched boards and I paid $40 for my orange ALPS board.... without considering the groupbuy, $22 is a steal already.
The GREED is strong.

If you're going to talk trash about people looking to be in your GB like that, I'm out.  Before it was me being nice and being willing to give up my boards for people who wanted them more than me, but at this point I'm out and not looking back. 

Talk to anyone on here and you'll see I sell things at cost and never try to go around making a profit off of other people's work.  This just wasn't worth it to me unless I had two.  It had nothing to do with greed and everything to do with what I'm willing to pay for something.  I set hard limits for myself and don't go over them.

[Vanilla]

If you're going to talk trash about people looking to be in your GB like that, I'm out.  Before it was me being nice and being willing to give up my boards for people who wanted them more than me, but at this point I'm out and not looking back. 

Talk to anyone on here and you'll see I sell things at cost and never try to go around making a profit off of other people's work.  This just wasn't worth it to me unless I had two.  It had nothing to do with greed and everything to do with what I'm willing to pay for something.  I set hard limits for myself and don't go over them.

I simply agreed and shared my experience collecting ALPS boards. That's all.
I'll admit that "greed" was too strong of a word for me to use. I probably should've used the word "WANT" instead. It was not directed at anyone whatsoever. If any of you guys were offended or set off I apologize for misusing that one single word, it was not the right word to use and I blame my preoccupation and frustration with a task that was underestimated by me. We are all human.
It's not you guys it's me. As I for one do not come from a retail or sellers prospective. And pretty much I've never organized a groupbuy let alone participate one.

Everybody has a budget and I respect that. Reason why I'm charging what they're charging me; at cost. Like I said before I'm doing this for the team.
I could have simply shrugged off the opportunity to put the container of boards in the hands of the eager deserving masses who will love them for what they are for a down to earth price but no I did not.

Nubinator, the decision is yours to make. At the moment I still plan on doing 1st come 1st serve, quantities reserved. I do not plan on changing the price.

[rsadek]

I'm still in for 2 orange. I appreciate your hard work on all this. 

[Vanilla]

I'll be sending out confirmation emails with further instructions for payment tonight.


ALPS orange boards *may* be all gone BUT there are still SMK white boards w/ double shot keycaps up for grabs. 

[rsadek]

I'll be sending out confirmation emails with further instructions for payment tonight.


ALPS orange boards *may* be all gone BUT there are still SMK white boards w/ double shot keycaps up for grabs. 

I'm cool either way.
 I'd prefer orange since I have more white switches than boards to build.
I guess I could ....keep ... one .... intact  ?

[jdcarpe]

I would suggest adding a few dollars per order as a group buy fee. That way you don't end up paying out of pocket when things don't go exactly as planned, as usually happens.

[njbair]

I would suggest adding a few dollars per order as a group buy fee. That way you don't end up paying out of pocket when things don't go exactly as planned, as usually happens.

Agreed. Especially since this is your first time running a buy, I'm sure something unexpected will come up.

[Vanilla]

You guys are definitely more experienced with these than I am. Any suggestions? I want to be fair. I'm all ears.

[njbair]

You guys are definitely more experienced with these than I am. Any suggestions? I want to be fair. I'm all ears.

Actually I've never run a group buy either. But having taken part in several. $3-5 per order seems pretty fair to me.

[Vanilla]

You guys are definitely more experienced with these than I am. Any suggestions? I want to be fair. I'm all ears.

Actually I've never run a group buy either. But having taken part in several. $3-5 per order seems pretty fair to me.

$3 fee for 1, $5 for orders of 2 sound about right?

[Vanilla]

All confirmation messages have been sent out via GH PM!

[Vanilla]

It looks like everybody who has expressed interest and got into the group buy have confirmed.
Paypal invoices will be sent out shortly.

[Vanilla]

There are still SMK monterey white boards if anybody's interested.

[rsadek]

I'd be game for one...unless I'm a,ready getting one! So confused... Let me check my pm.

[Zukoi]

Can you fit Matias switches in a SMK Monterey board?

[njbair]

Can you fit Matias switches in a SMK Monterey board?

No. They use a different mounting hole and pin layout. http://deskthority.net/wiki/SMK_Alps_mount

[CPTBadAss]

Yay! Vanilla is spreading the Orange Alps love! Glad my board is going to someone who doesn't have them yet. I was just being greedy .

[Vanilla]

Update: all invoices to those that made it in and responded with a paypalable email address have been sent!
Any stragglers should pick up the pace!

Like the saying goes, the faster everybody posts payment, the quicker the boards will arrive! 

[njbair]

Update: all invoices to those that made it in and responded with a paypalable email address have been sent!
Any stragglers should pick up the pace!

Like the saying goes, the faster everybody posts payment, the quicker the boards will arrive! 

Yes, that's an old saying. I believe it was coined by Abe Lincoln.