Model F Labs

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Model F Labs

Basic information
Founded	2015
Type	Private
Industry	Technology
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

Usage of dark patterns

Model F Labs' website makes use of FOMO tactics to instill a sense of urgency into potential customers. The homepage has an apparent order deadline that urges users to "please have [their] orders in by then!" Despite this messaging, the deadline has never been enforced and the date continues to be updated to the end of the current month.

While Model F Labs has stated that production will eventually cease for it's keyboard offerings, it has offered no specific deadline. All the products sold on the website are available until stock runs out.

Premature paint wear

Finish wear on a Model F Labs F62 keyboard. This example apparently occurred after roughly 9-months of use.

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.

However, Model F Labs does not specify in the ToS a timeline for when such wear might reasonably occur. Several users on Deskthority have reported that the powder coated finish on their F62 and F77 keyboards wore down within the span of a few months, exposing the bare zinc casing. Users agreed this was an unacceptable timeline for expected wear and called into question the company's QA, especially considering that Model F Labs advertises their keyboards as "Built to Last for Decades, Not Years" on their website's homepage.

Strandberg was criticized for his response to these cases; standing by the ToS and stating the wear was still normal. He has offered full case replacements in some select instances, but this appears to have been done as a result of Deskthority member backlash rather than intention to change Model F Labs' future policy.

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. However he didn't specify if those bags remaining on top of the springs would be secured to prevent movement. It is also unclear if any damage to the keyboard finish resulting from shipping will be treated in the same manner as long term wear under the ToS.

Alleged misuse of internet forums

Model F Labs has grown into a company that has amassed thousands of orders and millions of dollars worth of sales according to the company's homepage. However, it still continues to act as a small scale group buy despite engaging in conduct more aligned with that of a profit seeking business. Part of this conduct has been Model F Labs has refusal to divulge certain production information about it's products to users, despite taking user contributions to help develop them. Strandberg has also been accused of hijacking other user's threads to promote Model F Labs products.

This has caused controversy amongst some Deskthority forum members as keyboard manufacturers are supposed to conduct product promotion and support in different sub-forums, yet Strandberg has continued to utilize the group buy sub-forum despite acting on behalf of a business. Deskthority members have since asked for moderators to move Model F Labs' product discussion threads to a sub-forum specifically for keyboard manufacturers. As of February 20, 2025, this has not happened.

Strandberg has at one point offered to buy Deskthority and asked users if they would be willing to help fund his purchase of the platform. This was lambasted by forum members as they viewed a potential takeover by Strandberg would lead to criticism of Model F Labs on Deskthority being silenced, and continued promotion of the company at the expense of other member created projects to run unabated.

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.

Apparent failure to meet EU 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.

Per the guidelines outlined by the EU, companies selling to Europe - regardless of location, shall obey the European law which says that any product sold online in Europe can be returned within 15 days and has a guarantee lasting 2 years. If a company is selling new products with defects, it must clearly disclose the defects to the consumer before the sale. This includes informing the consumer about the nature of the defects and how they might affect the product’s performance or appearance. These rules apply to all new products, but "custom" and "made-to-order" products are not exempt from these guidelines.

The disclosure of potential cosmetic defects is buried in Model F Labs' ToS. As such, it is likely not considered clearly visible to the user while they are in the process of making a purchase. Model F Labs' no returns policy and limited warranty also do not meet the 15-day return window and 2-year warranty that the EU requires. The warranty terms are also not made clear upfront and only known to the user after receiving their keyboard, or by mail-in request as outlined in the ToS. The products sold by Model F Labs also lack a CE mark.