Price Check: How much is my _____ worth?

[berserkfan]

Halvar, I don't know how Ellipse does it, but he seems to have no problem selling things for fantastic prices that I myself would never seek.

Khers, I think it's very much in the eye of the beholder I guess. For instance, I didn't actually dislike my AT mod. I have a top end dremel and found the work very interesting. That's why I did it 2x! I also put my ATs back together without issues ALONE. But I absolutely had a nightmare putting back my F-122s. Had to summon entire family.

So for me when somebody wants to nitpick my F-122 price because of the paint, to me this is not a serious user who actually wants an ANSI board. Anyone can always redo the paint, but it is VERY hard to take apart and put back an F-122. Anyone who disagrees, I'll just ask him to put his money where his mouth is, and offer a cheapo F-122 ANSI modding service. It's great for shutting up idiots who happily disparage others' hard work. If F-122 modding is so easy, just do it for everyone at the next keyboard convention. Takes only a few minutes, right? Hehheh.

While I do want to sell stuff for as much money as possible, I also want to sell to real users who value what I have to offer. So I am not looking for Ellipse-style high prices. But it is not cool to offer people like the price of a teensy for a good quality board in good condition, modded to suit modern usage. Even if Model F XT is not a great layout, it is an extraordinarily good quality keyboard and it deserves a user who can put it through 1 million words per year. You will pay over $40 for a Chinese made cheapo board, so why do you insist on $40 for a Model F XT?

Someone suggested Reddit. It's not what I want, to have stuff go outside the community. But yeah, if community doesn't support the price checks, I will go the Reddit option.

btw normal space bar just involved removing the original carriage, putting in a modern spacebar, and hot gluing in zinc strips as the stabilizers. It takes some tuning to get the zinc strips aligned right and folded properly, but everything is as smooth as a NIB board after that. This mod can't be done with epoxy because tuning is needed.

[photekq]

So for me when somebody wants to nitpick my F-122 price because of the paint, to me this is not a serious user who actually wants an ANSI board. Anyone can always redo the paint, but it is VERY hard to take apart and put back an F-122. Anyone who disagrees, I'll just ask him to put his money where his mouth is, and offer a cheapo F-122 ANSI modding service. It's great for shutting up idiots who happily disparage others' hard work. If F-122 modding is so easy, just do it for everyone at the next keyboard convention. Takes only a few minutes, right? Hehheh.

As Halvar said, since your keyboards are mostly modded and ready to go I think many potential buyers will be people who want a ready to use keyboard. That will include the paint job. I know it's daft, but lots of people really just don't like to do things themselves.. including a paintjob! That's why I mentioned that it may affect the price. I'm not nitpicking; I'm merely pointing out things you may want to consider when pricing the items.

[Khers]

Khers, I think it's very much in the eye of the beholder I guess. For instance, I didn't actually dislike my AT mod. I have a top end dremel and found the work very interesting. That's why I did it 2x! I also put my ATs back together without issues ALONE. But I absolutely had a nightmare putting back my F-122s. Had to summon entire family.

Having disassembled my Bigfoot a couple of times, I have a great deal of sympathy for those, like you, who work on the F122s. The Bigfoot wasn't easy, but it must be a walk in the park in comparison.

Having said that, I think that most people who are likely to value the amount of work put into the mods you've done are among the least likely to pay for it. The thing is that most people who understand the time required do so because they have done similar things themselves and have done so because they enjoy it and would therefore rather do it themselves. I know, I'm one of those weird guys. People looking for a ready to use out of the box experience are less likely to understand what went into making it what it is today and will according to this line of thought value it lower. Those who are the most likely to pay for the work put in are those who have tried similar modifications themselves but for whatever reason think they don't have the time/skill required and therefore would prefer a ready to use product.

[bubblebobbler]

I finally got an access-is board I bought about a year ago working - I thought the board was faulty and stopped looking at it, turns out it's because of plugging it into a usb hub (I probably should've realised this.....)

12x6 matrix board, mx blacks, ps/2, all of the usual features of access-is (programmable and whatnot)
the alpha keys are doubleshot (and have a really nice looking font, imo), I have the missing keys (2 units things), but if I sold the board I'd probably sell it barebones

ignore my bastardised layout





anyone have an idea?

[rddm]

How much a custom keyboard with:

Sprit's faceW pcb black
Sprit acrylic plate white frosted
Cherry mx mount stabs with 24k gold wire
Sip sockets
1.8mm Leds UV (purple)
cherry mx clear with 62g 24k springs , blue stickers and lubed
ISO layout
Tsangan bottom row (1,5-1-1,5-7-1,5-1-1,5)

[berserkfan]

As Halvar said, since your keyboards are mostly modded and ready to go I think many potential buyers will be people who want a ready to use keyboard. That will include the paint job. I know it's daft, but lots of people really just don't like to do things themselves.. including a paintjob! That's why I mentioned that it may affect the price. I'm not nitpicking; I'm merely pointing out things you may want to consider when pricing the items.

No, wasn't mad at you photekq. We've always had a good relationship. Just a general rant aimed at the people who insist that a paint job lowers value.

[ohaimark]

These sound like incredibly lowball offers to me. The Teensy alone is almost $20...

The OP for that list lives in another country, so I had to consider international shipping prices. People aren't going to want to pay $60-$70 shipping plus a "normal" price.

I may be flat out wrong, but hey -- at least I got the discussion rolling.

[berserkfan]

Having said that, I think that most people who are likely to value the amount of work put into the mods you've done are among the least likely to pay for it. The thing is that most people who understand the time required do so because they have done similar things themselves and have done so because they enjoy it and would therefore rather do it themselves. I know, I'm one of those weird guys.

When I did my mods, it was also for myself. I admit this much. No one could possibly mod hoping to make money out of it.

If any of you know me, you would know that I never use these keyboards myself. I am entirely an ortholinear keyboard user. Modding is a hobby that is much more pleasant than cleaning up the kids' vomit.

If space were not a premium for me, I would never sell my beloved collection to low ballers who dare offer $40+ shipping for my Model F XT, painted plate, spacebar mod, teensy mod, etc.

That said I have been very reluctant to sell on reddit because I just don't know the people and it is kinda intimidating. It's not that easy to post stuff, upload pictures, etc.

Ohaimark, I think you're right to factor in shipping. Just that you didn't make it clear.

[ohaimark]

I guess people didn't read your post thoroughly before seeing mine. Bear in mind that I didn't intend to insult you with any of my valuations.

I mean, jesus, you're a fan of Berserk. I loved the anime and manga.

Edit: I agree that reddit is a bit nitpicky. I finally started linking flickr albums, which is what made it bearable. Also, the whole name/date thing started to get annoying fast.

[scottc]

I would be thrilled to find someone selling interesting, well-taken-care-of or modded things in the country in which I lived, but in 95% of cases that's just not going to happen. Expensive shipping is the norm for heavy and ancient beasts, not the exception. Particularly for those of us not in the USA (you know, like most of Deskthority).

berserkfan, I can only applaud your preference for keeping things inside the community and not Ellipticising prices. I've seen selling modded keyboards discussed before. The best explanation I've found for it is calling the mod work done a "labour of love" and not expecting a flat hourly rate + blah blah blah (hello, M'er Forever), which I think is fair.

[ohaimark]

Particularly for those of us not in the USA (you know, like most of Deskthority).

I guess I'm a privileged bastard, then. People in the USA, who are used to getting good keyboards for cheap, have trouble shelling out for more shipping.

[DanielT]

How much a custom keyboard with:

Sprit's faceW pcb black
Sprit acrylic plate white frosted
Cherry mx mount stabs with 24k gold wire
Sip sockets
1.8mm Leds UV (purple)
cherry mx clear with 62g 24k springs , blue stickers and lubed
ISO layout
Tsangan bottom row (1,5-1-1,5-7-1,5-1-1,5)

That should be a really nice board I would say 150-170$ at least for something like that, it's a lot of work involved and good quality materials. The LED's are 1.8mm or the ractangular ones ? Because for the rectangular ones you have to file them down in order not to affect the travel of Cherry key caps, and if you have done that, well I know what kind of work is that

[zennasyndroxx]

What is the price can I get for a Sony NEWS NWP-5461 Topre keyboard? The caps still feels good.

However, the board is untested as I don't have any adapters/converters to try them on. Case is slightly yellowed.

[Blaise170]

Based on the Japanese prices, I'd say about $100.

[Chyros]

How much for the Maltron I dug up yesterday? It's in very good condition.

[Crazy Canadian XXIV]

Keep it and review it first

[tigpha]

How much for the Maltron I dug up yesterday? It's in very good condition.

Hi Chyros, Considering that the new price is £450, I'd hold out for nothing less than £300. More if you can get it.

The Maltron being assembled by hand explains why the price is so high! Those seeking one will have exacting requirements, and will be able to pay a good price because of this.

[Chyros]

Jeez, really? Oo That's pretty.... enticing .

[tigpha]

Keep it and review it first

Now that is a challenge. I'd have to force myself for weeks on end to get used to it, before being able to make a balanced opinion of it.

[tigpha]

Jeez, really? Oo That's pretty.... enticing .

Take the money! I don't think anyone here would begrudge you of earning a profit, considering the effort you put into your video reviews. A review of a Maltron would be nice, of course

[HzFaq]

I don't think you'd get that much for it, but it's probably pretty good trade fodder.

[effectiveduck]

Brand new keycaps from a G81-1800HQMUS, WoB 6u bottom row, how much?

[DanielT]

Brand new keycaps from a G81-1800HQMUS, WoB 6u bottom row, how much?

Around 30-40$

[photekq]

Brand new keycaps from a G81-1800HQMUS, WoB 6u bottom row, how much?

Around 30-40$

I'd say more like $65-75.

[DanielT]

Brand new keycaps from a G81-1800HQMUS, WoB 6u bottom row, how much?

Around 30-40$

I'd say more like $65-75.

The prices went up lately... last year I bought from a seller over on GH a set for 35$ + shipping , he lowered the price a few times. It was a brand new never used set of 1800 wob caps. If those were winkeyless, that's another story.

[photekq]

The prices went up lately... last year I bought from a seller over on GH a set for 35$ + shipping , he lowered the price a few times. It was a brand new never used set of 1800 wob caps. If those were winkeyless, that's another story.

The prices have stayed pretty constant.. I think you just got them bloody cheap!

[DanielT]

Then I have to say I'm a cheap lucky bastard

[ruizufase]

I found this Alcatel MMK 4049 on a school, it has doubleshot caps (some of them not all) and MX black switches, it is missing a few of the caps and it is in very bad shape (i dont think it is working anymore).

http://imgur.com/a/GPweJ

How much can i ask for the caps and the switches?.

Thanks a lot.

[Blaise170]

If the switches are cleaned and still work maybe $20. Caps probably nothing.

[kbdfr]

I would say otherwise:

• The board has a few interesting caps which I think make the set, even incomplete, worth something like 10-20€. Just have a look at the F row, all windowed caps!
  [Additional info: the caps are doubleshot except for the windowed ones, the darker ones and those with a symbol (like the Win key or the * key), which are pad printed. The bottom row is A profile (i.e. with a higher front side than the "Shift" row]. The caps are whiter than usual Cherry caps.)
• As for the switches, I just don't know, but aren't Cherry MX very easy to find? Note that under the windowed caps, some switches have green, some red LEDs.

By the way, the doubleshot caps are printed the usual black. They just seem grey because of the dirt