Model F Labs

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Model F Labs

Basic information
Founded	2015
Legal Structure	Private
Industry	Technology
Also known as
Official website	https://www.modelfkeyboards.com

Model F Labs LLC is an American technology company that specializes in mechanical keyboards and related products. It was founded in 2015 by Joe Strandberg (aka. Ellipse) as a crowdfunded group buy on the Deskthority keyboard enthusiast forum with the purpose of creating reproductions of discontinued IBM keyboards. Strandberg acts as the company's primary representative and point of contact. Model F Labs uses Deskthority as one of their main platforms for announcements and product support.

Controversies

Premature paint wear

Model F Labs specifies in it's terms of service (ToS) that all buyers agree to accept cosmetic defects on their products, and that finishes on it's cases are expected to wear with use.

Model F Labs notes that complaints regarding paint wear stem almost entirely from the original production run of classic-style F62 and F77 models that began shipping over six years ago. The original zinc casting and matte paint formulation were intentionally selected to exactingly reproduce the historical 1970s and 1980s IBM manufacturing style, and the expectation of cosmetic imperfections and wear over time was explicitly disclosed on the product pages prior to purchase. Five years ago, the project transitioned to a modern, highly durable powder-coating formulation. The vendor reports zero complaints of premature wear for any of the newer keyboard models utilizing this updated finish. Remaining stock of the original models with the older paint formulation is still available, but with full disclosure regarding the finish and at a heavily discounted rate.

Shipping damages

Several users have reported shipping damage to their new Model F Labs keyboards. They have called into question the adequacy of Model F Labs packaging, typically utilizing a tab locking box with two foam endcaps that secure the keyboard in place. The keys are not installed in the keyboard, leaving the barrels and springs exposed. Any additional loose components such as keycaps and replacement parts are placed in unsecured bags on top of the exposed springs. The movement of these unsecured bags or movement of keyboard may result in damage to the case, broken keycaps, bent springs, and damage to other components.

Model F Labs will generally replace components damaged during shipping upon user request. Strandberg has also acknowledged these issues and stated that additional tape will be applied to the boxes and more components will be packed behind the keyboard in the future. Additionally, the boxes have been redesigned by the factory to offer higher burst strength so as to limit the damages sustained by strong g forces in shipping.

Model F Labs emphasizes that these keyboards are designed as Buy It For Life enthusiast projects that fundamentally reject the modern planned obsolescence model of renting devices until they break. To keep the retail price between $200 and $400, compared to the inflation-adjusted $800+ that IBM historically charged for similar hardware and maintenance contracts, and because there are hundreds of keyboard variations and dozens of key sets to choose from, but only a few to dozens of keyboards of each variation manufactured by the factory, tthe project relies on the end user to perform basic setup and maintenance. Spending an hour or two following the newly rewritten, step-by-step manual to reseat springs and install keycaps is considered a normal, expected part of the setup process, not an indicator of a broken product. Providing white-glove assembly and concierge-level customer service would double the cost of the keyboards and defeat the project's goal of accessibility.

Apparent failure to meet standards

While not confirmed by any legal firm/case, Deskthority members have observed that Model F Labs' policies may not be meeting EU guidelines regarding the sale of "custom" or "made-to-order" products by companies despite Model F Labs shipping it's products to customers in the EU.

The vendor asserts that the project is fully compliant with EU regulations based on the legal exceptions for customized goods. Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive (Directive 2011/83/EU), Article 16(c) provides an explicit exception to the standard 14-day right of withdrawal for "the supply of goods made to the consumer’s specifications or clearly personalised." Because Model F keyboards are highly customized, factory-direct group-buy products with hundreds of possible user-selected combinations (including layouts, case colors, and specific keycap sets), they are classified as made-to-order rather than standard off-the-shelf retail inventory.

Additionally, regarding claims of cosmetic deficiencies, EU consumer law permits the sale of goods with specific cosmetic traits or imperfections as long as the consumer is explicitly informed of them prior to the conclusion of the contract. The project's Terms of Service and product pages provide transparent, upfront disclosures, thereby fulfilling the legal requirement for explicit consumer consent prior to purchase.