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
We are receiving all the individual parts from our various vendors for the Infinity Ergodox now and we should expect fulfillment to start as soon as everything is sorted.
I will look into the status and get everyone an update by Friday 8/18.
8/18 Edit:
We have begun receiving individual parts from our vendor. In the next few days will be going through each shipment as it is received to ensure that all shipments are correct before shipping them out to you.
We currently expect shipments for this drop to begin going out on Wednesday August 23rd, and the full drop should be shipped by around August 31st.
Once your order ships you will get an automated email with your shipment tracking information within 1-2 business days.
Is it too late to cancel the order and get a refund?
lots and lots and lots of issues with MD lately.. =/
The email policy hasn't changed and I believe an email was sent out to everyone earlier today. My apologies for the lack of updates - we will work internally to see what went wrong this time and improve.
Even just a, "hello, we have a delay in shipment and will bring you an update as soon as it's available" probably would have eased a lot of people.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/infinity-ergodox/talk/1791828?utm_source=linkshare&referer=NS2GMH
"We currently expect shipments for this drop to begin going out on Wednesday August 23rd, and the full drop should be shipped by around August 31st. "
But it's sounding like nothing went out the 23rd.
Welcome to group buys, where stuff's complicated, and shipping dates are hard to predict.
I think we've got a few more days of keeping out pitchforks in their sheds. If we don't hear anything by 9/2, then we burn it all down, right?
I certainly agree that a little more transparency would be nice, but all in all, the start to eventual finish time of this drop is still ahead of the last one. I think that one took a little over 5 months? We have some time before we get there...
How do you let a ship day go by without communicating AT ALL? How does that even happen? How do you then provide a new ship date, and AGAIN let the date go by without any communication? How can that possibly ever happen when there are multiple full time people whose only job is to communicate with people on group buys? And it appears very likely this will happen a third time.
Communication is key. I'm not in the slightest bit upset about the delays here, and I'm in no hurry at all. I'm just super, super bummed because this company used to be absolutely ON THE BALL about communicating on every single drop. Massdrop has done so many great things for the keyboard community but something has obviously taken a horrible, HORRIBLE turn. It takes an insane level of disorganization to let this happen multiple times and it makes me very concerned for Massdrop's future.
Update: Just got an email notice of shipping. 6 days past the second ETA. A bit annoyed they didn't address this before complications and haven't followed up since the first screw up. I'm going to back off from giving them anymore money for a while until they turn this bus around. They've been going in the wrong direction for a few months now.
Recent email I received after asking why they weren't giving updates properly. I've never seen such a long list of non-committal statements. No actual apology. No responsibility. They're proud that Yanbo updated FIVE DAYS AFTER THE ETA! Just...wow. I'm blown away by how much MD doesn't care. Whoever sticks around for this...hats off to you. You pay to have a team not care about you at all, and that is a special kind of patience. I don't have it.
Which sounds more acceptable: "Yeah, shit happens." or "Sorry, that was my fault, I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
If you don't expect an apology, you don't mind being taken advantage of (please forgive the dangling preposition). I do.
You might think everyone is over-reacting, but I'm unsure why you want to be an apologist for MD when this has probably been some of the worst communication and customer service the site has seen. The statement you have from Brad is from 3 weeks ago. They didn't follow up after that. I emailed him and he said some things along the line of "we're talking to management to fix the situation" and "we'll be looking to address this in the short term." If there's no follow through, promises are meaningless. The fact they aren't taking ownership (or following up with their promises from the FIRST missed "update") is an issue for me, though it might not be for you. It's obviously an issue for others, as well.
They did say they would make sure it didn't happen again. What else do you really want them to say? That they fired the entire staff and hired new? Do you want them to explain the entire inner workings of MD customer support and explain exactly where the chain of communication broke down and exactly who they are going to fire and the exact steps they are going to take to fix it? That doesn't actually get you anywhere. If you look through the comments, you'll see time and time again that I found the lack of communication unacceptable. However, it was pretty clear from the communication that I received (via email and what I'd seen in the comments) that they were going to get to the bottom of it.
I understand if you just want to be a piss baby about the ordeal. If that's the case, that's fine, I'll let you go on your over-reactions about refusing to use MD ever again and whatnot. Enjoy your day. :)
And now you might want to take your rage glasses off. I didn't insult you once, yet you somehow find a need to drop low. Hopefully you can be as constructive as you wish others would be.
Whilst possible to flip it - you will have sharp metal edges facing upwards on the aluminum layer.
Both sides should be anodised, I don't think it's powder coating; that would be thicker and a lot more expensive.
PS. aenertia, are you using alps or cherry switches? If you are going with alps, at least the vintage ones, seem to be able to accommodate the diodes in flipped PCBs.
I just checked a switch on the flipped board, they don't align with either the guide holes or the contact holes when it's flipped so that's a non-starter. Also I don't really want t try and re-solder the LCD.
We are now checking through our entire inventory to make sure everything is labeled properly. We expect this to be completed next week. As soon as we have an exact ship date, we'll get that emailed out to everyone.
My apologies for not having exact information at this moment.
I don't think anyone is upset that you don't have exact information. I think we just need something, anything from you guys telling us what's going on. Problems like this happen with group buys, everyone here understands that. What shouldn't is radio silence.
I appreciate the update. I'm looking forward to building this board!
I would rather prefer to have and option of having, two sets and this would create some good will (allowing those with the double up's to build up a second kit) in the community as well as likely being less hassle logistically.
Massdrop? More like massively drop the ball, over and over and over and over and over again.
When can we expect an update for those of us who received two right hand PCBs? Does the manufacturer have available stock of the left hand or are we going to have to wait for a new batch to be produced. If it's going to be a new batch, approximately how long will it take until we receive it?
I feel like both of these questions are ones which should easily have been answered within 24 hrs and yet here we are almost a week after the error was discovered still not knowing what is going on.
Received mine a couple weeks ago and nearly everything was correct. I have a 1 left and 1 right pcb, but have 2 right hand cases. I sent support a message on Saturday when I was finally able to go through all the parts. Two right handed key cases stick out pretty quickly however...
This is crazy- How many of you had issues with being shipped duplicate items?
@matthewcnicklas the Infinity Ergodox is definitely one of our older keyboard kits - it's still very much packed like the group buys of the old - we've been improving all our offerings since the Infinity Ergodox to include full packaging - this is something we'd do for any new Ergodoxes in the future as well.
Please reach out to support with photos of your issues - I'm not 100% sure if we have replacements on hand but I'll work with the suppliers to get replacements sent in.
@Thread: Everyone I can understand your frustration with the given situation, Massdrop has made mistakes with a few of my very long waited orders, but in the end I was offered a refund for the problem. While some people may not like a refund, it's still better than saying sorry you're SoL, and you get to keep the part while massdrop assumes the loss.
Without Massdrop many of the things I've gotten on here would have been near impossible to get without. I take the issues to heart and hear everyone but look at the flip side of the coin, it's not like Massdrop is a multi-billion dollar company. They are trying hard to ensure that everything is perfect with your orders, and are coordinating with numerous manufacturers and shipping providers. Mistakes are bound to happen.
However, MD can definitely improve their communication - no question about that. Plus, they are "authors of their own misery" by trying to be all things, to all people; if you are going to act like a retailer, expect retailer hassles, or stick to your core model and make less profit.
TL;DR - People seem to forget this is group buy site / MD, a paragraph long email goes a long way...
I highly doubt Yanbo will answer your question regarding this dropping again. Even if he knew the answer he still probably wouldn't share it.
As far as this given situation and previous MD mistakes, I have never been offered a refund and the opportunity to keep the product. When my whitefox was missing a keycap they offered me $5 to replace an entire keycap set, a full refund if I sent it all back, or keep it as is. After putting in a lot of effort and bypassing their customer service I was able to get someone there who was kind enough to help me out, but that was certainly an exception and not the rule. Most of the time MD screws up, a refund simply isn't good enough. After waiting 4, 5, or 6 months being told that I won't get my product is not acceptable.
Also, while MD isn't a multi billion dollar company, they are certainly striving to be. I can understand some of these excuses when you are dealing with a one man shop who is running a side gig out of his home for very little profit, but once you make it a business and your full time job the stakes change.