My Kingdom for Smooth ABS SA Keycaps
Every time I build a new keyboard, I go hunting for keycaps. And every time I go hunting, it eventually devolves into a desperate search for SA (or equivalent) profile keycaps with a smooth finish. SA is the ultimate profile, IMHO, and they're relatively hard to come by. Signature Plastics, which is where a lot of SA sets come from like the T0mb3ry SA Carbon set (they might actually hold the trademark on the SA profile if I'm not mistaken), is reportedly going through some management/ownership struggles (last I heard, they're looking for new ownership), and along with apparently the rest of the industry, they seem to be neglecting this superior keycap profile in their own stocks. If you order direct from them, they have a couple themed sets in stock (maybe), but generally you can have any color you want, as long as it's black or white. Drop carries a fair number of MT3 profile sets, which are very similar to SA. But just like SP's SA-P profile, they're made with a different...
Apr 10, 2024
If anyone wants to call Signature Plastics (tel: 360-366-5044), I think you can refer to Massdrop order #5014310. I noticed it on one of the pictures they posted, written on the cardboard.
They explicitly state on their website to not contact them directly about orders and to refer to the GB organizer for a reason. What are they going to tell you? "Oh shit, Olbez, you're right man, we'll get right on it- we totally forgot. Sorry man! Can you let Massdrop know?"
What more updates do you want? That they're still working on it, since we're clearly finally the order that's currently on their production lines?
Their latest update put the new ship date for July 31st. We're still a ways out from that.
Regarding "what more updates" I want and the July 31 date -- as @theimmc graciously summarized below, see this: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/godspeed-custom-sa-keycap-set/talk/1691101
Question: Does this new shipping date of July 31 override the one we received on 5/15 in an email from Massdrop, that stated, "The current estimate to complete the production run puts us at around June 15th, and we're hoping to get them shipped out of our warehouse by June 20th." ? Answer: Not quite - due to FTC regulations we have 1 shot to communicate the delayed ship date on this drop to the community. If that date is missed - all orders must be cancelled - which we feel would be counter to what most people want. So this date was communicated with a lot of buffer. We will ship these as soon as they've arrived in our warehouse.
It is totally cool if you're content in your wait despite the inconsistent communication and delays. Hell, I am even envious of your patience! However, I still think that it is not unreasonable for us to expect an update from Massdrop at this point. Cheers.
There's only so much info they really need to share. Are you expecting them to give you a breakdown of the names of the employees working on this drop so that you can audit their time sheets and quality record?
This drop has been delayed so extensively at this point and you've been given multiple opportunities to drop yet still persisted. Do you really think encouraging everyone to actively flood their telephone lines is in your best interest? It's a bold strategy.
Believe me, I'm sure SP wants to be done with this cluster of a drop far more than you and me at this point.
You opted to stay in the drop, you sort of waive your right to keep complaining. If you really cared you would have asked for a refund
Massdrop last said July 31st, and I'm no calendar expert but I'm fairly confident we haven't passed that bridge yet.
Wow, what a line to tow!
After 2-3 months of delays & spotty communication you still took the initiative and responded to keep your order.
How can you still complain, you were forced to either stay on or get off. You said "it's fine, keep my money" If you were still going to complain, why not just get a refund? It's a dead horse that's been mutilated and shot continuously with a machine gun at this point.
We get it, it's been much longer than it was supposed to be. But what difference does it make at this point? If you truly cared and didn't just want to continuously whine and feel vindicated by your peers, you'd stop giving MD your money. Speak with your wallet.
Hmmm...
@schoolbus I agree, we could've "voted with out wallets" and pulled out from the drop because of Massdrop's poor management of the issues here. I don't think, however, that by not pulling out, customer's right to ask for better communication is waived. Sounds like you are saying that people should just shut up and be quiet since they didn't pull out. Why have comments section at all?
For me personally, not pulling out only meat that I still want these keycaps. I does not mean that I will not consider this experience in my future purchases from MD.
I realize that it's tough to keep your mind leveled when you got your rage on. Peace!
I really don't think that a few calls would bring their manufacturing to a halt.
Do you think Massdrop is just telling Signature Plastics to "take their time" on this?
The drop is bordering on 3 months past the original commitment. You don't think that alone is creating an obvious sense of urgency for all parties?
This isn't about being level headed or rage at all. This is simply "What are you doing dude?"
If you think this is unlikely to work (and by all means, so far it hasn't) it is totally cool, but what's the worst thing that can happen?
From: http://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/
Group Buys Please do not email Melissa to find out the status of a Group Buy. The Group Buy organizer can update you on the status from their communication with Melissa.
Second of all, if you don't believe how small the company is, get it from the horse's mouth in an interview with livingspeedbump of keychatter:
https://www.keychatter.com/2016/10/11/interview-melissa-with-signature-plastics/
" Signature Plastics is a small family owned company in Custer Washington. Since the company’s inception, we have focused our time on growing the commercial side of the business, dealing with keyboard resellers and companies that create their own boards for a variety of purposes. Over the last few years, we discovered the world of what we call retail and consumer sales, where we are dealing directly with the end user. We are constantly surprised at the level of interest in keycaps and are always excited to see new ideas coming from the keyboard enthusiast community. "
They communicated the ship date in the e-mail they sent out requesting that people opt-in to the buy. What else do you expect at this point?
Can't wait to start dealing with these posts on the Dasher & Dancer drop as well.
#logic
No, I wasn't forced to do anything. The Federal Trade Commission forced Massdrop to "poop or get off the pot" - as my grandmother used to say. Even by opting to stay in the drop, I'm still not guaranteed I'll ever see the keycaps. This is why the horse is not dead.
Why are you continuing to complain about people complaining??? People aren't going to stop complaining, so aren't you the one beating the proverbial dead horse?
I agree we shouldn't be calling up SP and bugging them about the status of the order - which is where this thread started. But I'm not sure how anyone could make the jump from "don't call" to "everyone just STFU!" Clearly that's where you've landed, so good luck with that.
You can't just try and start a riot and then tell people they just didn't understand your logic. They understood you fine. You're just in the wrong.
That was my point.
You don't bitch about updates, get an update, and then bitch about it again immediately after this time posting the business's phone number and encouraging everyone to call. Otherwise you're just being a shitty customer and I think everyone (MD included) would've preferred if you asked for a refund.
You can certainly be upset it's taken so long, but it is what it is. If it bothers you that much... get a refund? This isn't the first time this has happened, and it certainly won't be the last. If you don't have patience, you shouldn't be in this community, plain and simple.
Massdrop hasn't scammed anyone as far as I know (and I think we would), and will always either deliver or refund you. So I think it's pretty bullshit to act like they're going to use THIS drop as the one where they take everyones money and shut the site down.
If you're that fearful of Massdrop stealing your money and not giving you your keycaps as you give off in your post, I would assume you'd be smart enough to cancel your drop. Otherwise, what are you complaining about? I'd say you're pretty stupid to just trust your money with someone you don't trust that much.
Surely that helps you to understand?
Thank you for calling me "pretty stupid" for trusting Massdrop to follow through. I believe they will follow through, one way or another: I will either get my keycaps or they will refund my money. I do not, and have not, expected or said anything different.
As stated - I agree with you that we should not be calling SP. It serves no purpose to help.
Also as stated - it was the FTC that stepped in and gave Massdrop the deadline to provide the keycaps or refund everyone.
Even by opting to stay in the drop, I'm still not guaranteed I'll ever see the keycaps. If I don't, I will get my money back. Everyone understands this, but everyone would still PREFER to get the keycaps.
You ask: "Otherwise, what are you complaining about?" - How about the fact that communication has been bad on this drop? Sure, they've finally given a new date and we're not past it yet, even people who aren't condescending "calendar expert[s]" can see that. - How about that fact that the FTC got involved? The FTC doesn't get its jollies from jumping into random transactions. Someone reported Massdrop and/or SP on this - I don't know who - and after the FTC looked into the details, they decided they should step in. That's a serious concern! - In the end, I truly believe the problems are mostly due to bad planning - which is a great thing to complain about as well! Hopefully someone at Massdrop and/or SP has/will learn from this or more people will take your advice to heart and " [s]peak with [their] wallet." - And now I'm complaining about you complaining about me complaining and saying I'm not allowed to complain! Shall we continue this fruitlessly?
Hopefully we can agree that we all want the keycaps. Hopefully we can agree this has been handled poorly. Hopefully we can agree calling SP directly is not the correct course of action.
I am refusing to attack you personally, and I'm sorry you feel the need to attack me. Have a great day!
/unsubscribe
The FTC didn't jump in. These were FTC regulations, that Massdrop has to adhere to, especially as they grow. This clarification is from talks with Massdrop personnel on the Slack. People are assuming that they were cornered by the FTC or something- no, it was just a precaution as the size of Massdrop becomes larger, and there is the possibility of additional scrutiny.