It's difficult to support CtrlAlt when they remove r/mechanicalkeyboards from their "Our Friends" list

[u/[deleted]]

[u/ripster55]

I talked to u/BunnyLake and u/_tym about this. They are are not comfortable with the "level of support" they can offer Redditors right now and are working on their internal systems to better do so.

For example I think the GeekHack account info is kinda silly since there are MANY people on both GH and r/MK but with different usernames.

But let's not blow this up into another www.mechanicalkeyboards.com Subreddit Drama post!

[u/BunnyLake → u/ripster55]

firstly

we removed it to make a positive change, as you are aware, i dont have an active presence on reddit, so as such, i currently dont offer reddit specific support, im not here enough, nor do i understand reddit enough to keep up and offer support and updates, so as such, i didnt want to give the impression (by having you as a friend of the site) that we do offer that

expanding over to reddit is something we are looking in to, but until i am in a position where i can offer a service i am comfortable with here, i dont wanna push anything to reddit without the ability to fully support it

it is a gradual process, starting with letting reddit users in to the bro sales (as we did last sale)

as we slowly integrate in to reddit, so will more reddit specific functionality enter the site

we are not a business, we are just a bunch of friend/community members trying to do some things we think are cool, im happy that that has grown to a point whereby people outside of our community have found us, and have an interest in us, but we never made the site with that goal, so its going to take some time to get it there

all that being said, respect is a 2 way street, give us some time, and show a little respect and ill go out of my way to make the site and us more friendly to reddit, or keep making threads like this and ill know that its not wanted and not worth wasting our time

[u/tylerbrainerd → u/BunnyLake]

or keep making threads like this and ill know that its not wanted and not worth wasting our time

Wow, getting a little snippy. This thread is not exactly antagonizing you as a whole, it's just curious about why the change. When you say respect is a two way street, it kinda literally means you should maybe offer a little and not get upset that some people were talking about the change since it wasn't really made clear before this.

[u/xlishi → u/BunnyLake]

Thanks for the reply Bunnylake.

Don't take the post as "disrespect". I can assure it is not. I am a very big fan of your work and I read geekhack almost daily. Thank you for clarifying that you guys are looking for a further presence on reddit.

[u/[deleted] → u/ripster55]

Their "friends list" seems to changed to be keyboard sites that ALSO have exclusive business connections (e.g. Massdrop and QWER are also now gone). These sites sell and promote each others products. For GH, ctrl[ALT]'s overall cooperation/presence on GH is pretty well-known and they have limited liability conducting business on it. They utilize it as a business portal/tool. Bro requires Geekhack accounts for many transactions. So, they appear to have changed the friends model to a 'business-partner' model. We clearly have no business connection, willingness to show favoritism to their shop. We are also part of a much bigger non-keyboard exclusive site (reddit.com) which really limits their business capabilities as well as increases liabilities. DeskAuthority isn't even on it. I do not feel anyone should feel alienated by CTRL[ALT] for this.

[u/Fnzzy → u/ripster55]

A non-sarcastic, serious ripster post? I'm impressed!

Thanks for clarifying this!

[u/xlishi → u/ripster55]

Thanks for clarifying, but it gets pretty annoying when you're treated like "second class enthusiast" just because you use one platform over another, especially by a "business".

I lurk geekhack too, and I have to say that while both communities are generally supportive, geekhack seems to be more cliqueish than reddit.

[u/drewba → u/xlishi]

but it gets pretty annoying when you're treated like "second class enthusiast" just because you use one platform over another, especially by a "business".

That is a lot to conclude from r/mk simply not being listed under friends. I don't think that's fair to assume, unless CtrlAlt says "r/mk sucks" or something comparable. What does "Our Friends" actually mean? Serious question.

[u/[deleted]]

If I was running a business, I would try to attract MORE customers rather than alienate the ones I have but that's just me.

[u/spamray → u/[deleted]]

from what has been said in the past ctrl[alt] doesn't consider themselves to be a business

[u/reggatronics]

The drama in this community is worse than a group of 8th grade girls. Grow up and enjoy the hobby without choosing a side or getting offended.

[u/WalrusPorn]

Does it matter? They are nice people that are always willing to help. If you don't want to support them then don't, but starting drama like this is stupid and petty.

[u/whiskeynrye]

Sounds petty.

[u/nubbinator → u/whiskeynrye]

Petty is what ripster thrives on.

[u/whiskeynrye → u/nubbinator]

Won't deny that haha.

[u/uck06]

This reminds me stupid, adolescent behavior of Friend A removing Friend B from Facebook and Friend B causes unnecessary drama for something so minute. Honestly grow the fuck up. Each time I've purchased something from CtrlAlt, it's been nothing but a prompt and pleasant experience. As long as I get what I need without having to deal with assholes flipping items for profit which occurs both on GH and r/mechmarket, and deal with decent individuals with prompt customer service, I could care less about who is on who's friendslist.

[u/wulkes]

This is kind of a middling example, but Generally speaking it's pretty bizarre that there seems to be no online retailer of mechs that can keep consistent stock, customer service and communication with the communities that comprise the foundation of their business in a rapidly growing niche product category.

There's a huge opportunity for someone to step in and either knock these guys out or make them clean up their act.

[u/PradaLoci]

GUYS, thats now a list of people that have direct links to there shop. Gon, Bro and Carpe sell through the shop and GeekHack has group buys through them. They've removed all the names that don't sell by there shop.

If were all "gee guys lets not support BunnyLake and _tym because they're not advertising our crib for free" then the lovely lads over at GH are going to get rowdy. I love both communities and its sad seeing banter (as funny as it is Mr Ripster) fly over like artillery every time a mild action is acted upon. :(

[u/jinxnotit]

Who cares? Does it affect your enjoyment of r/mechanicalkeyboards? Does it make you want to not support them? Then don't support them.

[u/brakhage → u/jinxnotit]

I think the point is that it makes OP want to not support them, and it also makes OP want to share the information because OP thinks other people wouldn't support them, either, if they knew.

[u/derzemel]

I noticed the same thing.

I wonder why?

u/ripster55 do you know why?

[u/ziggurati]

that's lame, but that's not going to make me miss out on a GMK-produced hyperfuse set ;)

[u/BestGaren_NA]

Either way, BunnyLake is one of the most generous people I've ever talked to. He's a really stand up guy who does a ton for the community, mechanical keyboards would be a totally different hobby without Bunny.

[u/RavenIl]

Weren't they the ones that said they'll NEVER have an r/mk key? Meh, I wouldn't buy shit from them anyhow.

[u/Paradox]

Yeah but those metal cherry stickers are the perfect size to replace a Corsair tramp stamp. :(