Hi all, this will be my for sale thread for some 3278 beamspring keyboards I found. For more information in regards to how I found them:

DT
Reddit

Today I am going to sell the first of my 5 remaining 3278s.

Pictures

I apologize for some of the blurry pictures, as I probably need a new phone.

All of the switches click properly, though one of the stems (on the +/= key) is bent very slightly. I have not removed the contamination shield (as seen in the pics) and cannot guarantee 100% working condition, since this has not been converted or tested on my end. I recommend that the buyer also thoroughly cleans the case and caps as well as checking the inner foam, replacing as needed to reduce the wobble. There does not seem to be significant rust from the spots I have checked, but this can only be determined for sure if all of the caps and shield are removed and disassembling the entire board.
Currently asking for $800 shipped (to CONUS) OR BEST OFFER, emphasis latter. I do not want to make my asking price too low since this will just lead to a lottery/raffle situation, as I know many people want these boards. However if you can't afford the asking price, please PM me an offer as I will consider all off them, though the first offer I receive at or above asking price will be guaranteed this board. If you read the threads above, I have four more so if you miss out on this one, you will have another chance, though the condition of each varies slightly. I'd say this one is among the better ones I have based on the pictures I have taken. SOLD

Update: (4/16) I have another 3278 for sale.

Pictures

This 3278 seems to be in comparable condition to the others with two major exceptions. First, 4 of the keycaps are slightly chipped near the top. Only especially noticeable on the +/= key. There are also 4 switches in the nav / PF cluster which currently do not click properly. If disassembling and cleaning the affected switch modules does not work for you, you can buy some replacements from orihalcon.

Considering these blemishes, I am asking for $700 or best offer. This can be cash or cash plus some stuff I am looking for (see below). SOLD
If you live in the SoCal area (LA or Orange County) I am willing to offer local pickup and will more likely consider your offer if it is below asking price.

In addition to cash, I will also consider offers which include the following:

• SA Dasher (TKL and Specialty kits)
• Good condition blue alps boards and/or switches (including customs), and TKL boards with an alps compatible PCB (ie, a Filco Zero). Might be interested in building a custom with these switches.

For now though full cash offers are definitely preferred.
Thanks!

I wish I could afford one

wobbled wrote:I wish I could afford one

I wish I could afford the KB things that you can afford!

wobbled wrote:I wish I could afford one

Again, I stress that all offers are welcomed, even if you can't afford the asking price, since then you'll have a chance if nobody is able to afford the asking price.

Willing to trade my super rare SKCM Blue Alps Acer kb101as with double shot caps and scooped F and J keys, plus cash. Other boards include an excellent condition brown alps videowriter and orange or green alps (loose or full boards).

$800?!

How much did these cost to buy?

I wouldn't consider the KB101AS ultra rare, but it's a desirable board nonetheless.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:$800?!

How much did these cost to buy?

It's a good price. He has to ask some price, and these assets could be milked for more on ebay. It would be silly to sell for a tenth of what the buyer could resell it for.

In other words, punish everyone who is good, because some people are bad?

Just economics. These are assets. I can't give you $100 for $50, even if I found it on the sidewalk.

Just for the record I put A LOT of thought into the asking price, as I know these can go for at least twice as much when fully restored and in working condition. I think even for beamspring boards the 3278 arguably has the best compromise between form factor, color scheme, and layout, so the demand for these is high. I spent quite a bit of time agonizing about this since I want to make a nice profit but I want to still make these accessible to a decent number of people here.

$800 for a dirty used keyboard might not sound "accessible", but multiple buyers have already made me offers (when accounting for the value of some the blue alps boards included in the offer) which are at or very close to asking price. Sale is currently pending from a buyer on here who actually offered me HIGHER than asking price for this one as well as another one, and I have PMed them.

Everyone else, please stay tuned since I still have at least two more of these to sell. I will need to do a quick inspection of them and take some more pictures.

Thanks for all the interest.

IMO, you will never make everyone happy. $800.00 sounds fine to me.

Christ on a bike, $800. Maybe I should sell my 3278. It even comes with an xwhatsit. I just never bothered restoring it.

Damn right scotty, I'm almost tempted to sell my 3101! But I love it...and cleaned out soooo many ladybugs from in there that I can't bring myself to do it!!!

Welcome to Greedthority …

I wonder how we got to this point in a bit over a year that I was gone...I don't even want to imagine what my Unsaver would fetch...

Didn't Cindy sell a 3278 for around 500usd just last christmas? With these rates I'll never get a 3277 without giving up my 5251

5251 ~250usd April 2017 -> 3278 ~500usd December 2017 -> 3278 ~800usd April 2018 Jesus Christ on rollerskates these prices are skyrocketing

chzel wrote:I wonder how we got to this point in a bit over a year that I was gone...I don't even want to imagine what my Unsaver would fetch...

An unsaver sold for $2000 not long ago on eBay - though it was in really really good condition, and I think came with APL caps.

I sold my 3278 a year or two ago for like $450

Update: The board I have pictured has been sold for asking price! I am going to work on getting this as well as the APL board I sold yesterday packaged and shipped. I am still planning on selling a few more of these, the majority of which should be in similar condition to the one currently pictured. I have a total of four left but am thinking about keeping 1-2 for my own personal restoration project / parts.

In the meantime I will try to get pictures of the remaining two which I will definitely sell and update this thread later tonight. If I didn't respond to your PMs yet, please assume that your offer is still on the table.

Thanks!

800$ is actually a good price.

Wazazaby wrote:800$ is actually a good price.

Yes it is, the last one of those sold for 2000$. Not sure why someone says that this is greedy, should he do a giveaway next time?

hansichen wrote:

Wazazaby wrote:800$ is actually a good price.

Yes it is, the last one of those sold for 2000$. Not sure why someone says that this is greedy, should he do a giveaway next time?

Yea the guy gave a more than a fair price, dont know why some people are complaining. Do they want to buy a 3000$ ebay beamer?

hansichen wrote:

Wazazaby wrote:800$ is actually a good price.

Yes it is, the last one of those sold for 2000$. Not sure why someone says that this is greedy, should he do a giveaway next time?

Get real. It's a dirty old keyboard. This hobby is rapidly turning into an elite club for the rich. $800 is an incomprehensibly ludicrous amount of money for what it is (even if it was cleaned, converted and tested).

It's got so bad now that these extortionate figures are being classed as reasonable because they're less deplorably greedy than others would charge.

At least the original seller seems not to have tried to stitch up Bass.

No wonder the club concept was such a (predictable) failure.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:

hansichen wrote:

Wazazaby wrote:800$ is actually a good price.

Yes it is, the last one of those sold for 2000$. Not sure why someone says that this is greedy, should he do a giveaway next time?

Get real. It's a dirty old keyboard. This hobby is rapidly turning into an elite club for the rich. $800 is an incomprehensibly ludicrous amount of money for what it is (even if it was cleaned, converted and tested).

It's got so bad now that these extortionate figures are being classed as reasonable because they're less deplorably greedy than others would charge.

At least the original seller seems not to have tried to stitch up Bass.

No wonder the club concept was such a (predictable) failure.

I don't disagree that the price is absurd but what should I do with my beamer when I'm not using it? Keeping it until I die or sell it for 20€ on dt cause the board is fucking big and useless? That's not a solution too..

I would genuinely like to believe that the community here would hold itself above all the greed on eBay and function as a place to serve other community members, including pricing that is fair to the whole community, not just to the rich. The seller here isn't even a long-standing community member; he's just turned up and is immediately trying to turn a hefty profit. I think the rich here forget that not everyone here shares their wealth.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:I would genuinely like to believe that the community here would hold itself above all the greed on eBay and function as a place to serve other community members, including pricing that is fair to the whole community, not just to the rich. The seller here isn't even a long-standing community member; he's just turned up and is immediately trying to turn a hefty profit. I think the rich here forget that not everyone here shares their wealth.

Greed prevails as usual.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:I would genuinely like to believe that the community here would hold itself above all the greed on eBay and function as a place to serve other community members, including pricing that is fair to the whole community, not just to the rich. The seller here isn't even a long-standing community member; he's just turned up and is immediately trying to turn a hefty profit. I think the rich here forget that not everyone here shares their wealth.

My most expensive board is still only 45eur, and Im not planning to spend any more atm. But no matter what we say this here is still the most active vintage keyboard forum, so no wonder the guy came here to sell his keyboards. Most hobbies today sadly require a lot of money, not just keyboards. In terms of greed we are still just people. If you were to sell a freebie beamer on here, would you really sell it at a "cheap" price?

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:I would genuinely like to believe that the community here would hold itself above all the greed on eBay and function as a place to serve other community members, including pricing that is fair to the whole community, not just to the rich. The seller here isn't even a long-standing community member; he's just turned up and is immediately trying to turn a hefty profit. I think the rich here forget that not everyone here shares their wealth.

Yeah man, things are so expensive with all these bloody keyboards. If I found 5 beamsprings, I would sell them for around 500 bucks or 400 depending on the condition, and keep one. That's $2000 dollars, still a BIG amount of money!

I wonder if there will be a bursting point. Or people find a better switch design/make a replica.

Give away one.
Sell one for 250$.
Sell one for 500$.
Sell one for 750$
Sell one on eBay.

Everyone is happy (except the seller)