ShaBlack OP t1_j9x4wud wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:48 AM

Reply to comment by 808s-n-KRounds in NKs mystery switches just game in. I believe they’re Gateron Black linears. by ShaBlack

Building a budget board for my sister so figured the mystery would be fun as she doesn’t have a switch preference. I’m fairly new to the hobby tho, why is everyone saying the selection of switches aren’t the best?

808s-n-KRounds t1_j9xacrh wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:43 AM

Just because the ones they have in stock for this mystery drop are mostly probably manufacturer extra stock, which will be some of the less popular or cheaper switches they made extra of. It’s less likely that you get “good” switches, although that’s more subjective

If they were more popular switches or “higher quality,” then they probably wouldn’t sell them all for this price/ they would just list them on the site and people would buy them full price anyway. I’m sure they’ll mix in a few nicer sets, but not anywhere near half even will be Creams or Black Inks V2, etc.

I think for your sister it’s fine, and for the price almost any switch is decent if the user isn’t going to mind or just wants another feel than what they already have

Amaakaams t1_j9xf1yb wrote on February 25, 2023 at 6:35 AM

Yeah, I mean its $.22 per switch at that price. While there maybe switches you can get that I wouldn't use on a board even if they were free. For the most part there isn't a real negative throwing a $20 bill on some random switches. I did get last year a 110 pack of V2 Black Inks so there is an opportunity for a really good selection, its not the near 0 it sometime is implied. Its as much an marketing move (sell some switches at a loss to put the business in peoples head), as an inventory clear. It was pretty obvious by how they shipped and packaged them last year they actually purchased switches for the event.

This isn't Idobao pretending they are shipping keyboards and even when they snuck in a keyboard (Hipyo) it was their smallest keyboard (40%).

808s-n-KRounds t1_j9y15ps wrote on February 25, 2023 at 11:35 AM

I was under the impression that last year was a much higher % of old stock as opposed to this year, but I don’t know where I got that

Ink Blacks are a great pull at that price

Yeah if I got a clickjacket switch I’d just have a bag taking up space because I wouldn’t even give those away

Amaakaams t1_ja0pno1 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 11:41 PM

It's possible and the next guy might be closer to right that it was a full inventory clear. But it wasn't just about getting rid of cheap unsold switches as suggested.

helmsmagus t1_j9zpht1 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 7:26 PM

last year was them dumping their entire inventory because they switched to a new system, this is cheapo switches ordered for resale as mysteries. Pretty big difference.

Amaakaams t1_ja0pd2t wrote on February 25, 2023 at 11:39 PM

That might be the case. It was obvious it was new stock because of how all shipments for a given day were the same switch. I figured it was purchased specifically for the event. Not just clearing stock of cheap switches.

RelativeChance t1_j9xe9rm wrote on February 25, 2023 at 6:26 AM

They are just low end switches, I think with your switches they are somewhat scratchy and have some spring/leaf ping. The price/value is ok not good or great, and you didn't get to choose. I am sure it would be fine for most people especially if they are new, but if you have been using some of the better switches (which are not that much more money) you probably would not want this. They would be good if lubed but it's probably not worth your time on a low end switch.

I think people were hoping to get something at least slightly unique or interesting but it's just a basic below average switch which is exactly what I was expecting given this price and my belief that this mystery box is just a vehicle to dump stale inventory. I don't agree with the concept of a mystery box on a fundamental level. The whole point of getting a custom board, and either paying more for hotswap or taking the time and equipment to solder, is that you can customize it to your exact preference and there are so many options, something for everyone. If you just mystery box a basic low end switch, what was the point of all this, you could have just gotten a cheaper prebuilt keyboard.