This is a good topic! Thank you livingspeedbump for kicking off this thread because there are a lot of nuances here.
Group buys have definitely evolved since I got started with GeekHack. It used to be that they were only run by individuals. These days we have individuals (IvanIvanovich), Co-ops (CTRLAlt), companies (MassDrop) and even Manufacturers (PimpMyKeyboard) running them, so the lines have definitely become blurred as to responsibility.
Your question also hits the nail on the head though, because on top of the various types of GBs there's the buyer's
perception and how that colors their expectations of the group buy. Here's mine.
ManufacturersThis is the easiest since we're purchasing directly from the source. If there's an issue/problem, then it's only the manufacturer that can make it right. That's not to say that it's going to be an ideal and perfect buying experience for everyone, but major issues should definitely be addressed.
CompaniesI perceive MassDrop as a business - their business is running group buys and they seek to make a profit from doing so. Ultimately they are responsible for the outcome of any group buy they run. I expect a more professional experience and I'm less tolerant if the ultimate outcome is different than what was promised.
I also expect that they are more capable of resolving issues with manufacturers for no other reason than the fact that they can leverage their buying power and their long standing relationship with the manufacturer. Their buying power and influence is more substantial than an individual who is doing a one-time buy.
Co-opsThis is a weird hybrid that pertains only to CTRLAlt at this point in time. They are technically a group of individuals cooperatively working together to run various group buys, but on it's face they
appear to be a business. BunnyLake has taken on risk to reach certain MOQs in the past and he's gone out-of-pocket to resolve issues with other partners have gone MIA, but it's not as transparent of a transaction as an individual running a group buy. I'm not saying that CTRLAlt needs to be more transparent, it's just that because of these factors, it feels more like a business than an individual.
That being said, I view a CTRLAlt group buy the same as I would a group buy from an individual.
IndividualsI give these types of group buys the greatest of leeway, because I know that it's a single individual that is volunteering their time. If there's an option to add a donation, I do, because I know that there are going to be additional costs that weren't expected and I know that it's going to take WAY more time than the leader has planned.
If there is an issue -- and there almost always will be -- I expect that the leader will communicate that and do their best to resolve it. However, since they aren't a business, it's one person doing what they can to resolve it and I don't expect them to move mountains, or refund my money. They have no more influence than I do when talking with another company.
These types of group buys are also the riskiest. As a buyer, I'm entrusting an individual to handle a large sum of money, conduct a large transaction with one, or multiple vendors and then process one large delivery into individual orders and ship them timely. That is
a lot of responsibly for just one person.
Group buys typically take months to complete and a lot can change over that time. I was personally bit by the
group buy curse when distributing the Commando 23 key cap set, so I expect that real-life will get in the way and that there will be delays.
Bottom line: individual run group buys are the riskiest and I give them the most leeway for delays and problems.