Do I Need to Lube My Keyboard Switches?
Figure 1: Sometime around here is a good time to ask that question... If you’re new to the mechanical keyboard hobby, I have no doubt that planning your first keyboard build is a bit of a daunting task. To be entirely honest with you, it’s only a tiny bit less daunting for your second or even third keyboard builds should you stay around a little while longer. You’ve got the keyboard itself to worry about, stabilizers, keycaps, and even switches on top of all of the intangible marks you want your dream keyboard to hit. Switches are especially daunting right out of the gate as there’s just so many options out there to pick from – each with their own unique specifications, manufacturers, and more. Yet, in spite of all of these differences between switches, time and time again I find people always asking about lubing switches as one of their chief concerns when it comes to picking some up. With countless numbers of content creators talking about lubing switches, its no...
Apr 17, 2024
I'm avoiding all SP buys after this...
Massdrop made the mistake of assuming that SP's original ship date applied to an unlimited number of keycaps, and then had to scramble at the nth hour once they realized they'd far surpassed the order size SP had been expecting when they gave their original estimate. SP probably ran into a production error in making the RGB modifiers and had to resupply before making the rest of the batch. Since that would extend the shipping deadline, they probably approached Massdrop to let them know about the delay, and Massdrop opted to go for this split shipping schedule in order to at meet their original shipping deadline for at least some of the users in this drop.
Either way, both companies have proven themselves to be more than willing to make up for their mistakes in my eyes. Looking over my past Massdrop orders, I've had notable quality or delay issues with 2 of 22 completed drops, but in both cases I feel that Massdrop made a fair effort to compensate for the issue at hand. Likewise, when I ordered the Galaxy Class set from SP, they ensured that all involved in the group buy were aware of the (rather egregious) delays that occurred due to their difficulty in sourcing some kind of coloring paper. This kind of responsiveness was seen again when SP put a rush order on remaking a small novelty key set that they'd accidentally moulded for row three instead of row one, and then shipped the recreated keys free of charge to everyone who had received keys for the wrong row.
At the end of the day it isn't like these keys are a time-critical product. Whether they arrive this week or next, I'll still have a board to put them on.
Although Massdrop's tendency to meet update deadlines at the last minute is a little tiring. (All eyes on you @HassanS -- would love to see that promised 12/10 update for my AKG K7XX and Amber Rix Gaming Dice orders.)
Maybe they will update with some good information soon.
So I won't actually be seeing these caps till next year sadly.
After joining the ill-fated 'Wood Omega Style Headphone Stand' drop, Massdrop offered to either accept a full return and refund for the product, or to apply a 15$ credit to my account. The other order I was referring to was a seriously delayed order for the Aune T1; although I can't remember what, if anything, Massdrop did about that. I think that in the case of the Aune it was more the distributor's fault than Massdrop's, and I was just happy to be receiving regular shipping updates.