What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
Regarding the warning signs kit - you guys are right - we totally screwed up the pricing there. However, with the help of Signature Plastics - we will be honoring the price for those that are ordered already.
The response to Carbon is pretty crazy - so thanks again to @T0mb3ry for his awesome design and for everyone else that's been helping out in the threads.
Your complaint is that you can not grab it at a wrong price instead of 'oh I can't get it any more'.
A warning with a last day to join the warning kit could have been appreciated and the legit thing to do, but nope.
Next.
They knew the price was wrong, but since MANY people joined it pretty quickly, they could NOT dishonour those highly anticipated customers. So, as he said, they talked with Signature Plastics, and seems like they reached an agreement. But after so much response, SP may have contacted MD and said they can't accept more warning signs kits because that wouldn't be viable for them.
What could Massdrop do?
They keep it for 15 days... not an error of 1 hour. I got your point, but still i'm blaming MD for a simple thing, not communication with us on this. They should have just warned us "hey guys we are going to remove it in 24/48 hours".
Also, i don't really think is a SP thing, SP can produce how many they want of it. It is on MD, they probably lost money on the warning kit (or simply no earn on it) and they accepted it since they got a lot of money from other kits. Now they want to remove it? I'm fine with it, but at least write me a mail and give me 1/2 day to still join with the warning kit at that price.
It was just a good move to do and they picked the wrong move that upset many people. Also, by simply offering the warning kit for other 1-2 days and giving an early warning before removing it, they couldn't have lost much since tons of warning kits were already sold (mistakes were made already), other 1-2 days with the warning kit here wasn't a big lose for them. A worse decision than this could have been only to remove all the warning kits ordered, upsetting even more people.
The whole point of Massdrop in the first place is to group up as a bunch of people, pool in your money and reap the benefits of reduced prices together... OH WAIT, I am going to pool in my money (stacking up for a large order), so that everyone else can get a price reduction on Warning Signs? Customer segregation at it's worst. The funny thing is, these things don't even lead to drop off from the specific drop, but from others as well. I am dropping out of the Artisan Spacebar as well unless this is reverted or delayed with a warning.
Is it the possible 20-30$ price increase that angers me ? NO! It is the damn principle. If such small price differences were a major factor, I wouldn't let Massdrop shaft me this hard for ISO kits, especially the price tag on the orange one.
that's the point in a nutshell. Even if they lost on this kit, most of the people already bought it, a remainder mail (since i got many from MD) or any update-warning before the erase or price change of the warning kit, was just a good move
I think that in the initial hour, they realized the mistake, so they contacted SP, and probably negotiated a way to lower MD margins, avoiding worst decision (remove all the warning kits ordered, upsetting even more people).
Right now, Warning Sings is the third most sold kit from the drop, at 922 kits sold. That's ALOT. Probably much more than MD and SP estimated.
There's no way to know if it's a MD or SP thing, but since it happenned out of nowhere and a an odd number (922, not a full number like 1000), for me it seems like they had to stop selling it at this price.
Mate, I'm sorry if I disrespcted you in any way, that was not my intention.
They decided to reward the people who previously committed, rather than raising the price for everyone. Either way you're going to piss people off- but as someone who already ordered it I'm biased since I'm locked into the "good price"
I get the criticism, but I also think it'd be more controversial at this point to offer a more expensive option for the folks who didn't get in earlier considering this is a "made to order" drop.
It sucks for those that didn't order- but as others have said... you don't get charged until the end so if you were on the fence unfortunately you will miss out, unless MD changes their stance again which will now piss off all the people who are currently locked in.
In essence, "You snooze, you lose" and I know it sucks, but it is what it is. This drop is already killing it from a volume standpoint so I don't think they're going to fold unless everyone pulls out their orders in protest (spoiler, they won't)
The easy solution is: * Bring back the kit * Warn people via update + mail that the warning kit is available at that price ($13) for other 24h * Purchase will be limited to 1 for user (only to user that didn't bought it yet) * After 24h remove the kit or change the price * ? * PROFIT (= everyone happy)
I think what truly sucks is "new" people have no option for the Warning kit, but I would also argue this drop has been going on for quite some time, everyone's known about the pricing error so it's not like this is "new"
People had the opportunity, hell I was almost only JUST going to get the warning keys kit and nothing else because it was such a good deal. I'm glad I committed earlier and I can understand your frustration.
The most "fair" thing would've been for them to just raise the price for everyone, but there would've been pitchforks for that as well. They decided to reward the 900+ people who have joined this drop over the last 2 weeks and unfortunately for those who were waiting, they are now SOL. :(
Where is the darn rationality here?
Obviously this wasn't decided upon measly early phone calls between SP and MD, nor the pressure of the amount of orders taken - we are on god damn 7500+ orders now and have been past 6500 for over a week. The damage was done way after MD realized they made a mistake and way after they should have taken necessary actions to remedy the situation. With all their time and effort, they decided it best to shaft the remainder of customers in a point in time where we are way into an extension provided by them. (way past the time alotted for the initial drop).
This one hell of a failure of epic proportions - why would any major company take this much flack, for the remainder of petty orders, genuinely surprises me. This is a multi million dollar buisiness after all. Not some back-alley kiosk.
No more excuses, please for the love of upcoming group buys. Jesus christ
I think it's unfortunate that it's no longer an option for people. While I benefit from the decision, it would've been more fair to just charge everyone what it truly costs.
MD isn't exactly best in class on dealing with these things, and no matter what they're going to alienate people.
I don't really get what point you're trying to portray to me here... sales slowed down so why should Massdrop care if they're losing money? I assume you don't run a business.
I imagine they didn't address this earlier because Yanbo is the one running it and he's apparently been out of the office. Should MD have addressed it sooner anyway? Yeah probably, but I don't work at Massdrop.
You're clearly frustrated and upset and understandably so, but I think you need to take a breath and see what happens.
If the warning kit price change makes you pull your order, then speak with your wallet.
I believe your "ideal" solution is for them to arbitrarily honor the price for those who already committed (okay check), but then you want them to charge more for everyone else who joins. That just sounds bad to me, and I think it'd leave a more salty taste in peoples mouths.
Either they do what they did now, or they just raise the price for everyone.
A decision like this should come way sooner, or not at all.
I will put my wallet where my mouth is, don't you worry about that.
Had to do a double take of my transaction to ensure the price was indeed the same for Warning Signs.