Beware of 'gmkkeycaps.com' – They're Selling Clone GMK Keycaps!

Submitted by Degrees7117 t3_11xda93 in MechanicalKeyboards

Edit: These 2 sites, ‘gmkkeycaps.com’ and ‘gmkkeycap.com’ , are different stores selling fake/clone GMK sets.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give y'all a heads up, especially those who are new to the hobby. I recently came across this site called 'gmkkeycaps.com' while searching for "GMK keycaps" on Google. Now, being years in the hobby, I could tell right away that something was off – turns out they're selling GMK clones for around $100! 😲

What's worse is that they're doing everything they can to make it look like they're selling authentic GMK keycaps, which is super sketchy. I figured it's important to bring this to everyone's attention, especially for those who are new to the hobby. Be careful, folks – those keycaps are NOT genuine GMK!

For those of you looking to buy genuine GMK keycaps, I've compiled a list of some trustworthy US-based sites that officially carry them. Many of these stores also offer pre-orders and often host group buys. Check these out: novelkeys.com, cannonkeys.com, drop.com, omnitype.com, spaceholdings.net, vala.supply, and mechsandco.com.

Stay away from that godforsaken site and keep your hard-earned money safe! Stay safe and happy clacking! 🌈🎉

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PepeGodzilla t1_jd2r3rm wrote

good catch. Write GMK a mail.

I know SKF has a department that only hunts down fakes as they hurt the brand image.

Now, GMK is a bit smaller and likely doesn't have the manpower, but they do have a brand name to protect.

Who knows, maybe there's a little "thank you" in it for you.

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Dull-Instance7913 t1_jd2fxn0 wrote

Just checked there website and they have dsa astrolkeys clones that they are calling gmk

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Degrees7117 OP t1_jd2g5gv wrote

Wow, that's even more deceptive! Thanks for pointing that out. Not only are they selling fake GMK keycaps, but they're also mislabeling other keycap profiles as GMK.

3

redkeeb t1_jd5zqfs wrote

The first thing I noticed too. Nice, DSA Astrolkeys transformed into "GMK".

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Phildilf t1_jd3kscr wrote

Thought this was funny, found in their "Terms and Services" section.

"You may not use our products for any illegal or unauthorized purpose nor may you, in the use of the Service, violate any laws in your jurisdiction (including but not limited to copyright laws)."

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darknessblades t1_jd2i8u8 wrote

Bloody hell, Justby checking that Iceberg keycap set, even if its a clone is worth at most 20$ [its currently on sale on aliexpress for less than 16$ [after all discounts]]

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Degrees7117 OP t1_jd2ichp wrote

Yepp. And they obviously do that to maintain their impression of being a genuine GMK.

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darknessblades t1_jd2isfq wrote

I think they are nothing more than a glorified dropshipper trying to get into the KB space.

​

My country is on their "do not ship list", which shows this clearly, as nearly anyone in the EU gets the ID/marker that its from aliexpress [when ordering from aliexpress]. which would expose their scam [99% of all my orders with local tracking had this identifier]

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Degrees7117 OP t1_jd2jt4e wrote

They are running a manipulative scam. Let's back trusted vendors and keep our community scam-free.

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darknessblades t1_jd2mo7h wrote

Did a quick check and the only one listed selling said "official" iceberg set

is mechsandco

https://mechsandco.com/collections/keycaps/products/gb-gmk-iceberg

It is not a XDA version, which would be the only thing differentiating the 2.

since its a known clone set, that sells for less than 16-22$ on aliexpress. it baffles me that they think they can get away with it.

Especially with the Keeb's space being quite familiar with sites like aliexpress.

​

Who do they think they are gonna fool, the veterans? new buyers, or people looking for a certain set?

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Degrees7117 OP t1_jd2qn4z wrote

They are probably targeting newcomers, or family members or friends, people who are not in the hobby looking to buy their loved ones something they love, and imagine the feelings of those people when they found out they bought them a fake stuff.

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darknessblades t1_jd2u730 wrote

That sounds about right. Like someone is into the keep-space, and wants a rare set. with someone not even knowing the difference between cherry and OEM keycaps. buying it for them, and falling for the Clone-selller's scam

1

QuickbuyingGf t1_jd355tg wrote

Honestly they have a better site than many other vendors lmao

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darknessblades t1_jd3idtt wrote

That is common with dropshippers, they use a PRESET website/look.

Often these presets allow you to directly grab all data from aliexpress trough a script including pictures/reviews

​

Though in this case after triple checking the "store" did change the description, and does not look to use stolen reviews from before the site creation date

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Anifanopinion t1_jd37lv3 wrote

From the descriptions they have under each set, it is clear that they are trying to be deceptive to a high degree. The ethics of clones aside if you go on aliexpress some sellers go out of their way to state that you are buying clones, while whoever is behind this store is trying their best to make their site seem reliable. They have a fake backstory and hired a copywriter to create fake descriptions of each set for seo purposes, this is super shady behavior. Even the "gmk" in their name is deceptive as it is an acronym for "gamer made keycaps", yet they only refer to themselves with that name once on their about page, not on the front page or description of their keycaps.

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SexySarac t1_jd2wa1o wrote

Maybe the designers/vendors within this sub have an incentive to get their contacts at GMK looking at this...

2

jthd488 t1_jd36lwd wrote

I remember seeing this website many years ago when I was “fresh” into the hobby and I wanted GMK keycaps and I knew this fake because every thing on there is “GMK”. To confirm my suspicion, I looked up a set that was supposedly GMK, but no geek hack IC or group buy page came up.

Props to you for calling this out!

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1

Silentism t1_jd5k6on wrote

Since the topic is on clones being sold for a huge markup, people should avoid buying sets on Etsy as well. Most of the sets on there are clones you can find on aliexpress for half the price, and they're probably just dropshipping them to people.

Not that I advocate for clones, but I get why people buy them. But fuck the people that are trying to make a quick buck by reselling shit from aliexpress.

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redkeeb t1_jd602c1 wrote

That customer comment at the bottom,

"...but I always come back to GMK because of their affordability and quality."

I mean, at least get a believable "customer" comment.

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ZulkarnaenRafif t1_jd64e7t wrote

Goddamn bots took mah honest dishonest jerb for writing custom, fake reviews!

They terk mah jerb.

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ZulkarnaenRafif t1_jd63vip wrote

>Hey everyone, I just wanted to give y'all a heads up, especially those who are new to the hobby. I recently came across this site called 'gmkkeycaps.com' while searching for "GMK keycaps" on Google

I've seen this shit happened to Altra (shoe maker brand) too and other big name brands.

There's just too many fake sites that just probably take away your credit card information and/or outright send you clones that are being sold probably for much more than the "average" clone pricing of GMK keycaps.

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GRSimon t1_jd69ka0 wrote

seeing a DSA keyset "by GMK" on their website lol

1

BagelTheGreat t1_jd6fd0r wrote

"Welcome to the GMK Keycaps"

Ok yeah something's not right

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1

Scion-of-Urza t1_jd65kj9 wrote

Jeez, I was a bit dismissive due to the title - I don’t care for GMK clones, sometimes I downright recommend them. because to be quite frank, sometimes I just want a specific set and don’t want to drop $300+ on it or wait years for a R2 (pick a waifu set, Ishtar in my experience) and sometimes the aliexpress clone does the job or is downright better.

But the markup here is ridiculous. This is some dropshipper trying to scam people into thinking these are genuine and just offloading aliexpress sets for a profit. Very scummy

0

matskat t1_jd3qo3r wrote

Yeah just get the GMK clones from Amazon. :D

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MayAsWellStopLurking t1_jd41onq wrote

Still marked up. Taobao if you know your stuff, AliExpress if you don’t.

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matskat t1_jd4avgm wrote

I take offense. LoL.

Some of my favorite sets where AliExpress kids for like 20 bucks and under we're talking double shot PBT or we're talking five-sided dyesub.

I'd argue that if you know what you're doing you can find the deals pretty much anywhere.

Amazon has excellent double shot PBT caps for 40 bucks for sets that cover every board except ergo.

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darknessblades t1_jd4dgol wrote

From what I can find is that TAOBAO has similar prices to aliexpress [at least if you are in the EU, and add shipping+VAT cost to the Taobao price]

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matskat t1_jd4e98g wrote

I'm in the states and have had excellent experiences with AliX for knockoff GML sets. Shipping has been ridiculously fast. Last time China to US in 4 days.

Guess depends on where you are.

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darknessblades t1_jd4k9te wrote

In the EU shipping is also quite fast [especially with the combined shipping] [depending on the items, its either long or short trough customs]

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Awkward_Dragon25 t1_jd2ztup wrote

What's even so good about GMK keycaps? High price doesn't automatically mean high quality.

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spartaman64 t1_jd31g9q wrote

i mean if you look at other keycap makers they are not that much cheaper. economy of scale and limited production doesnt go hand in hand

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ZulkarnaenRafif t1_jd646wq wrote

It's a bad value for the aesthetics, sure.

But it is a double-shot keycaps set. It is pretty much one of the thickest option out there for keycaps barring CRP keycaps.

That said, there are clones with probably third or quarter the price that is instantly available that is also a double-shot keycaps set.

2