Model F Labs: Difference between revisions

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==Controversies==

===Premature paint wear===

[[File:Model f labs wear.jpg|thumb|Finish wear on a Model F Labs F62 keyboard. This example apparently occurred after roughly 9-months of use.<ref name="wear">https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521981#p521981 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203141/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521981 Archived])</ref>]]

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.<ref name="ToS">https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/terms-and-conditions/ ([https://megalodon.jp/2026-0406-0731-30/https://www.modelfkeyboards.com:443/terms-and-conditions/ Archived])</ref>

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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.<ref>https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521310#p521310 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203143/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521310 Archived])</ref>

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.<ref>https://forum.level1techs.com/t/if-you-bought-from-modelfkeyboards-2-years-ago-how-s-it-going/240632/</ref>[[File:Model f labs warranty.jpg|thumb|Warranty flyer for a Model F Labs keyboard. The warranty information on this sheet is normally only available by mail-in request as stated in the ToS, or upon arrival of a purchased product.]]

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.<ref>https://forum.level1techs.com/t/if-you-bought-from-modelfkeyboards-2-years-ago-how-s-it-going/240632/</ref>

===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.<ref>https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521939#p521939 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203144/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521939 Archived])</ref>

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ==Controversies==
 ===Premature paint wear===
-[[File:Model f labs wear.jpg|thumb|Finish wear on a Model F Labs F62 keyboard. This example apparently occurred after roughly 9-months of use.<ref name="wear">https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521981#p521981 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203141/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521981 Archived])</ref>]]
 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.<ref name="ToS">https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/terms-and-conditions/ ([https://megalodon.jp/2026-0406-0731-30/https://www.modelfkeyboards.com:443/terms-and-conditions/ Archived])</ref>
@@ Line 24: / Line 23: @@
 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.<ref>https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521310#p521310 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203143/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521310 Archived])</ref>
-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.<ref>https://forum.level1techs.com/t/if-you-bought-from-modelfkeyboards-2-years-ago-how-s-it-going/240632/</ref>[[File:Model f labs warranty.jpg|thumb|Warranty flyer for a Model F Labs keyboard. The warranty information on this sheet is normally only available by mail-in request as stated in the ToS, or upon arrival of a purchased product.]]
+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.<ref>https://forum.level1techs.com/t/if-you-bought-from-modelfkeyboards-2-years-ago-how-s-it-going/240632/</ref>
 ===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.<ref>https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521939#p521939 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708203144/https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=521939 Archived])</ref>