Contacts & FAQ

Discord (preferred): alybuilds#1619

Reddit: /u/deftrocker

Instagram: @alybuilds

Email: alybuildskeyboards@gmail.com

Where are you located?

Orange County, California

What is your typical turnaround time?

My goal turnaround time is to have a batch of ~100 switches or 1 keyboard back out within 3-5 business days of receiving them, but turnaround times may be delayed up to a week or more for larger batches, ultrasonic cleaning, multiple keyboards, and depending on my queue/availabilities. I will keep you updated as needed.

For Gazzew switches specifically, please refer to my Gazzew Switches page for the latest updates, as turnaround times can vary.

I keep my status queue on my home page updated in real-time, so feel free to check my home page should you inquire about the status of your order at any given time.

What is your method of shipping?

I ship via USPS First Class, USPS Priority Mail, or UPS (depending on the package) and will provide tracking information as soon as I pack and ship your order. Please be mindful that tracking may not always update immediately and may take up to 24 hours or more before it refreshes and updates. Shipping will ONLY be to the listed PayPal address, so please make sure that the address selected on PayPal is correct. Any requests to cancel an invoice and adjust details and/or shipping information fees is subject to a 5% cancellation fee. As stated in my invoice, I am not responsible for any shipping issues (damages, theft, loss) or delays once dropped off to the designated courier.

Do you have "XYZ" switches/springs for purchase? Or what about "XYZ" type of lube or switch film not listed on your main page?

No, I do not stock parts other than what is listed on my main page (lube and TX switch films). I ask that you provide all necessary parts for your order (switches, springs, stabilizers, modification materials), and if you would like to use something other than what I have stocked, then it will be your responsibility to provide it. If I ever have switches for sale, they will be posted on my For Sale page and/or r/mechmarket. Whatever I have listed is all I have for sale. Please do not ask/beg for other switches, parts, and keyboards that are not listed.

Can I place an order in advance?

No, I do not take orders in advance. I constantly have orders going in and out at any given time and cannot predict my availabilities weeks out in advance, especially because I have other life obligations as well and only view keyboards as a hobby. Please have ALL parts ready to go before requesting services or filling out my Google form.

Important to note: Please do not attempt to skip my order process and queue by directly sending me parts without my consent. I do not accept advance shipments, so if you send me anything without an appropriate invoice (i.e., if I have not yet consented to taking on the work), then I will consider those items as gifts and treat them as such accordingly.

I already submitted an order, but why don't I see it on your queue yet?

My queue only shows my current active orders, which are orders that have been confirmed, invoiced, and/or paid. Simply submitting an order request does NOT automatically reserve you a spot on the queue. Depending on the information (or lack thereof) I receive, I may still need to verify additional information before we can proceed, and ultimately, I must still consent to taking your order in the first place. I have and will decline orders for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) if my availabilities are limited, if I do not think that I can provide the request you are seeking, and if I do not think I can work with you based on our interactions. This is a hobby rather than a business for me, so I am quite selective in the projects I choose to take, as I want to provide quality work that I personally care about and value.

Your queue is full. How do I know when you're available again?

I have a status queue that is constantly updated and available to view on my main page, so please refer to that first for my status and availabilities. Open slots are where there are numbers with no entry next to it (no current order in that slot). You are welcome to message me and check in as well if you have any questions. My queue is on a first-come, first-served basis, so you are responsible for checking back when appropriate.

Please do not expect me to be the one to reach out to you and keep you updated on when I have another open availability. I receive numerous requests and inquiries regarding my services every day and do not have the capacity to personally message every single person who has expressed interest in my services. I am only a one-person operation, after all, and I have other life obligations beyond keyboard work, so this is only a hobby rather than a business, and I treat it as such. 

Can I ship parts from vendors directly to you?

The short answer is: it depends. 

In general, yes, I usually recommend and encourage you to ship directly from the vendor to me in order to reduce shipping costs and time for you. The only exception is if you are purchasing/ordering multiple parts from different vendors and/or if not all the parts are currently available. I would much rather prefer that you collect all your parts and send them to me in as few packages as possible in order to avoid misplacing/losing your packages during transit and confusing your parts with other orders, especially during peak courier times (like the holiday season). Please PM me to further discuss your situation, as my recommendations may vary on a case-by-case basis. 

Important to note: Please do not attempt to skip my order process and queue by directly sending me parts without my consent. I do not accept advance shipments, so if you send me anything without an appropriate invoice (i.e., if I have not yet consented to taking on the work), then I will consider those items as gifts and treat them as such accordingly.

Can I make changes to my order?

Yes, you have a right to request changes and/or cancel services at any time; however, please note the following:

1. I will treat every change request as a new order, and your order will be subject to forfeiting your slot in my order queue. 

2. Once an order is placed and an invoice is paid, any requests to edit and/or cancel will be subject to a 5% cancellation fee.

As a result, I highly encourage you to make sure your order is 100% complete before requesting services. I cannot always accommodate to multiple requests for order changes once an invoice is sent and especially after an invoice is paid, as I will not be able to edit PayPal invoice details anymore. If I need to cancel/refund the first invoice and re-send you a new invoice with the correct details, then your order will be treated as a completely new order (i.e., you are forfeiting your slot in my order queue, and I will reprioritize your order accordingly), and, depending on the details of the work and/or my queue availability, I may even decline your order at that point. The more complicated the order process is for me, the less likely I am willing to take your order, so please consider this prior to submitting an order request. 

Can you put together hybrid or "franken" switches?

Yes, as long as you provide the parts, I will assemble hybrid switches for you. Full disclosure: I cannot verify compatibility or functionality for your hybrid switches. I only assemble and lube switches, I do not test switches and am not an expert on switch compatibility, so it will be your responsibility to select/choose your parts accordingly. Please keep in mind that I am not a vendor or manufacturer and so do not have spare parts to replace yours should compatibility issues arise. You will be responsible for all parts and replacements needed. Please note: orders that have too many compatibility issues are subject to cancellation, as I cannot afford nor want to spend extra time fixing, crafting, or cherry picking parts. The more complicated you make the order process for me, the less likely I am willing to take your order, so please consider this and verify that your switches are compatible before requesting switch lubing services.

Can you solder LEDs, SMDs, microcontrollers, etc... for me?

In order to streamline my services and allocate my time accordingly, I am not providing these services at this time. Depending on the request, I may possibly be able to accommodate, but I cannot guarantee this without all the details of the work. Feel free to PM me if you would like to further discuss.

I really like your work. How can I support you?

Thanks, I really appreciate the kind words and support from community members like you. Please feel free to leave any comments and/or feedback on any of my Reddit posts (/u/deftrocker). I already feel grateful if you follow any of my social media platforms (Twitch, YouTube, Instagram), but if you would like to provide monetary support as well, then please refer to the "Tips/Coffee Fund" tab at the top of my website. This money goes to my coffee and supply fund. Coffee keeps me happy and going, so thank you for buying me coffee. :)