[WTB] AEK II with Alps switches

Limga · 01 Nov 2021, 20:07

I am really looking for AEK II with Alps switches with shipping options to Russia. Condition is not critical, yellowed might do.
Many eBay sellers can't even clarify if they will ship the exact board on photo or another so I can't even be sure what types of switches I will get. I already bought one AEK II from eBay only to get disappointed as it is with Mitsumi switches. Also shipping cost from USA is very high.
Any help or links would be greatly appreciated.

Palatino · 01 Nov 2021, 21:33

I’ve been after one of these for a bit just to try damped alps and cross them off my list, make sure I don’t prefer them to the stuff I usually use, and then sell on. They usually crop up quite frequently on eBay in the UK at least. If one comes along which I can snag at a reasonable price I’ll let you know. Postage to Russia seems about 15euros unless I’m missing some extra customs charges (though perhaps that happens at your end?)

Palatino · 01 Nov 2021, 21:33

PS equally there may be a large number of people willing to sell you one straight, as they’re not particularly rare.

Limga · 02 Nov 2021, 10:26

Palatino wrote: 01 Nov 2021, 21:33 If one comes along which I can snag at a reasonable price I’ll let you know.

Thank you very much for the suggestion, I appreciate it a lot. I am glad there are people willing to help

Actually, after I posted this topic a was able to make a bargain for AEK II made in USA for $70. Hope it will be delivered safe and sound. So, I guess this topic lost it actuality, I will bump it if I won't get needed AEK.

Muirium · 02 Nov 2021, 11:03

How much is the shipping to you? Just curious. I've found shipping things out of America costs a lot, if you just walk into a UPS Store or the like.

Limga · 02 Nov 2021, 11:26

Muirium wrote: 02 Nov 2021, 11:03 How much is the shipping to you? Just curious. I've found shipping things out of America costs a lot, if you just walk into a UPS Store or the like.

Shipping is another $70. I asked sellers and there is no way they could reduce costs.
Interestingly, every other item except keyboards I bought on eBay was shipped from USA with much lower shipping cost. Even GPU.

Muirium · 02 Nov 2021, 11:35

$70 isn't too bad, actually. I shipped a box of caps to South America from the US once, and it cost a lot as well. They need better cheapo shipping companies over there. Everything's all the pricey big boys.

hellothere · 03 Nov 2021, 19:39

FWIW, on the label on the bottom of the keyboard in the lower right corner is either an S in a box or nothing. The S = damped Alps ... well, cream damped, at least. I dunno about white. If there's a label that says "Made in/Assembled in Japan," it's going to be Mitsumi Standard Mechanical. None of those? Probably salmon Alps. Check out wiki/Apple_Extended_Keyboard_II.

I bought an AEK II that had one white damped Alps switch and the others were cream damped. The slider is bright white. So much so that you wouldn't confuse them for cream damped or standard white Alps. The white damped Alps pics in the wiki article look about identical.

I'm in the US and I put a warning in my ebay ads that shipping from the US can be $40 to $65 for a keyboard.