01 Feb 2016, 22:13
I ordered again switches, namely Cherry MX Reds, PCB mounted for my Leeku 1800 PCB.
I have to admit I wanted to go the Chinese way, but then there were several reasons why I did not do so. You could compare this story to normal business companies, where companies struggle probably with similar problems. At least we (in the company where I work) have to think of such situations. They call it smart-sourcing, not out-sourcing.
There is merchant one, selling an European product. It is good, but little bit expensive at first look. Then there is the Asian counter part, which is cheaper, and may be better (all say that) - no one really knows yet about quality I would say (Gaterons are not there for more than 30 years). Of course it is just the same switch (is it?), so what could go wrong. Then there are the ones sold by ZealPC, which are probably superior to standard Cherry MX switches, but are more expensive again (at least for me when ordering 120 pcs for example). To be honest I really don't want to spend now $150 (+$30 = $180 when caught by customs) in total for switches. For comparison I think it would have been about $25 for the same amount of standard Gaterons at TaoBao. I checked what would have been the total sum there, with the agent fees, credit card fees, shipping (I am wondering why they don't have a fee for visiting there web page), and it was then not $25 anymore. Of course not, but it was not that nice looking $25 anymore. Fearing customs too!
So is it then just because of being lazy to go the European way? Or is it because it is in total almost the same amount of money spent in the end? Or because there are the magic words 'CHERRY' on the plastics? To have the original? I don't care that much about that a switch feels better, in the end it is for me more or less the same. I am thinking only about linear MX switches!