The Cubicle vs Speedcubeshop Debate

[qwr]

The speed stacks stuff is expensive simply because there isn’t much market competition. There have been some other brands attempting timers recently but speed stacks has been in the game for so long and has such a massive portion of current market share they can charge whatever they want.

I do agree it’s ridiculous how much money is demanded for how simple these objects are to design and fabricate.

I think it could be a fun project to write some arduino code to read the stackmat audio format and translate that to the timer.
I'll file that away to my list of projects I'll never get to.

 

[ender9994]

A few years ago I made a series of videos where I made a purchase at the same time from multiple different speed cube shops (cubicle, speedcubeshop, cubedepot, cubes4speed, and lightake). I also sent emails to everyone checking their customer service. In the end I did an unboxing checking to make sure the orders were correct and ranked each company based on service/time to ship, etc.

I don't make videos anymore, and have deleted my old YouTube account, but someone should do this again. Would definitely be a good watch.

 

[Mr. McCubing]

Honestly this is not worth $32. It's less complex than a digital watch and it should be $10.

StackMat Pro Timer Gen4

The StackMat Pro Timer Gen4 features a curved design with touch tensors that tilt towards the middle of the timer. It uses AAA batteries (included with the timer, please remove the plastic strip in the battery compartment to begin using the timer). Compatible with both G4 and G3 mats. Comes...

www.thecubicle.com

And why is the display over $100!?

SpeedStacks Tournament Display Pro

The SpeedStacks Tournament Display Pro is a table mounted display that is fully compatible with the StackMat Pro Timer Gen3. It is used in official competitions to allow the audience to see the times in large digital font from up to 100 feet away. Power source: Uses either AC Power Adapter (120...

www.thecubicle.com

I could slap together an arduino module and display for a lot less. For a mini in college on 3D printing and basic fabrication, I built a digital clock that used a very similar 7seg display over I2C. @cyoubx video idea

I agree. All of it is way to overpriced.

 

[DNF_Cuber]

Maybe as a starter we can change the speedstacks so it shows 0.00, instead of 0.000,

I mean you can just ignore one digit. the old speedstacks only went to 0.00

 

[PetraPine]

I mean you can just ignore one digit. the old speedstacks only went to 0.00

ya why are they not that way is it because speed stacking using the thousandths place?
because usually for cubing we do use X.XX not X.XXX

 

[Sub1Hour]

ya why are they not that way is it because speed stacking using the thousandths place?
because usually for cubing we do use X.XX not X.XXX

Extra accuracy can't hurt, and some people like Lucas Etter use the thousandths place in practice, however its only useful if you want that extra bit of accuracy

 

[qwr]

I looked again carefully at SCS's page and it is legitimately harder to navigate the site than TC's. I think it's because SCS has so much whitespace and so small text. Here are the two pages at the same zoom level:

I have a 24" monitor and the SCS page is harder to read and the info is so tiny. I feel like I'm straining my eyes and wasting time looking at whitespace. There's also annoying sidebar crap like an extremely distracting popup telling me someone in the US bought something and uselss sidebar icons that no one uses. This also makes SCS's site load about twice as slow.

 

[Sub1Hour]

I looked again carefully at SCS's page and it is legitimately harder to navigate the site than TC's. I think it's because SCS has so much whitespace and so small text. Here are the two pages at the same zoom level:

View attachment 14226

View attachment 14227


I have a 24" monitor and the SCS page is harder to read and the info is so tiny. I feel like I'm straining my eyes and wasting time looking at whitespace. There's also annoying sidebar crap like an extremely distracting popup telling me someone in the US bought something and uselss sidebar icons that no one uses. This also makes SCS's site load about twice as slow.

I never understood the purpose of the popup. I'm just looking at sticker shades and the popup comes up, is that supposed to convince me that people actually shop there? I know that people use SCS products since I see them all the time at competitions, so why would I need to know that this guy from DC bought a redi cube? I'm also not quite sure if the product purchases are 100% legitimate since it shows towns in my state, and I know there is no way that there were 20 people in my state that made an order on SCS in the last hour. BTW the average comp in my area is around 105 people (EDIT: Someone a town over apparently ordered a Lingao 15 minutes ago, definitely illegitimate "orders")

Their website is better than the old cubicle site, but the new cubicle site is 100% better.

However, I'm glad SCS did away with the super obnoxious backgrounds on their premium puzzles. It looks like they just threw a can of paint on a canvas and put a cube in front of it.

The selection of Cubicle premium products is also far FAR better. There are very specific lubricants that appeal to a particular feeling; I'm glad that I can choose between a soft and plush Mystic setup or a fast and crisp Celeritas setup. I also like how TC tells you what lubricants are actually inside of the puzzle. SCS's description of their premium products doesn't show what's in them, so If I really liked the setup then I wouldn't be able to tell which lubes were in it so I would know which lubes are best for me. Not to mention it seems like their Cosmic and Supernova cubes are the exact same except Supernova cubes take less break-in and wear out quicker.

I'm also not convinced that most of the cosmic lube (aside from lunar) are different fundamentally. They seem like carbon copies of each other with a fancy new color and a different viscosity. Every single cubicle lube that isn't their weighted silicone lubricants are very unique and each bring something new to the table, it doesn't feel like they just slightly altered silk and called it a new lube. The properties of TC lubes are also very unique and helpful. One of my favorites is Lubicle-1. The only real knock on it is that the batches are super inconsistent, but if you get a good batch, it's a REALLY good batch. The Teflon makes a big difference in puzzles that just need a refresh. Normally if a cube's lube is dying you would have to clean out then reapply lube the whole thing, but Lubicle-1 can extend the lifespan of your lubricants tenfold if not more. Just one drop speeds it up to where it was when it was at its prime 9/10 times in my case.

 

[qwr]

I can't speak for SCS premium setups but from what I've heard from a friend they are pretty good. I'm also not sure of the difference between Cosmic and Supernova.

I agree with you on the lube thing too. I have not used many of Cubicle's lubes, including their compound X, lubicle 1, speedy, mystic, max, celeritas, etc. but the ones I have used (DNM and silk) do their job reliably and very well. The SCS lubes appear to be all silicone, even their fastest lube which I think is lunar. That doesn't include the core lubes which might be better. Idk I always use traxxas just because that's what I'm used to, although that can feel gummy so maybe I'll try a different core lube.

I'll give credit where it's due: SCS has a PVC coating service that I think is really interesting and totally unique from any other cube store. It's a shame that cubicle got rid of their boron treated cubes because I think those were popular and people would pay a lot for them.

 

[Sub1Hour]

I can't speak for SCS premium setups but from what I've heard from a friend they are pretty good. I'm also not sure of the difference between Cosmic and Supernova.

I agree with you on the lube thing too. I have not used many of Cubicle's lubes, including their compound X, lubicle 1, speedy, mystic, max, celeritas, etc. but the ones I have used (DNM and silk) do their job reliably and very well. The SCS lubes appear to be all silicone, even their fastest lube which I think is lunar. That doesn't include the core lubes which might be better. Idk I always use traxxas just because that's what I'm used to, although that can feel gummy so maybe I'll try a different core lube.

I'll give credit where it's due: SCS has a PVC coating service that I think is really interesting and totally unique from any other cube store. It's a shame that cubicle got rid of their boron treated cubes because I think those were popular and people would pay a lot for them.

I'm 99% sure that Supernova cubes just have less lube in them so they break in faster.

The core lubes from SCS are also straight ripoffs of cubicle products. I mean come on, Vortex coming out a few months after Lubicle Black that not only claims to have the same effects but is also the same exact pitch-black color that will stain your hands. Controlius (now called Cosmos which is a much better name IMO) is also just crappy Compound X that doesn't smell as nice.

Boron Cubes had to be discontinued for safety concerns. It used a chemical called THF which is not only extremely easy to combust, but prolonged exposure to a high amount also causes some fun stuff like loss of consciousness and death, so that's pretty cool. They were also pretty expensive, and making your own isn't that hard since you don't actually need THF (tutorial linked here)

 

[qwr]

I thought Vortex was supposed to not stain your hands? I have not tried any of the cosmic lubes and I haven't seen a comprehensive cubicle vs scs lube comparison though I'd be interested to see it.

 

[Sub1Hour]

I thought Vortex was supposed to not stain your hands? I have not tried any of the cosmic lubes and I haven't seen a comprehensive cubicle vs scs lube comparison though I'd be interested to see it.

It might not stain your hands to the degree that lubicle black does, but there is no way that it won't stain something else, plus as long as you are using gloves it doesn't matter in the first place

 

[cuber314159]

I never understood the purpose of the popup. I'm just looking at sticker shades and the popup comes up, is that supposed to convince me that people actually shop there? I know that people use SCS products since I see them all the time at competitions, so why would I need to know that this guy from DC bought a redi cube? I'm also not quite sure if the product purchases are 100% legitimate since it shows towns in my state, and I know there is no way that there were 20 people in my state that made an order on SCS in the last hour. BTW the average comp in my area is around 105 people (EDIT: Someone a town over apparently ordered a Lingao 15 minutes ago, definitely illegitimate "orders")

Their website is better than the old cubicle site, but the new cubicle site is 100% better.

However, I'm glad SCS did away with the super obnoxious backgrounds on their premium puzzles. It looks like they just threw a can of paint on a canvas and put a cube in front of it.

The selection of Cubicle premium products is also far FAR better. There are very specific lubricants that appeal to a particular feeling; I'm glad that I can choose between a soft and plush Mystic setup or a fast and crisp Celeritas setup. I also like how TC tells you what lubricants are actually inside of the puzzle. SCS's description of their premium products doesn't show what's in them, so If I really liked the setup then I wouldn't be able to tell which lubes were in it so I would know which lubes are best for me. Not to mention it seems like their Cosmic and Supernova cubes are the exact same except Supernova cubes take less break-in and wear out quicker.

I'm also not convinced that most of the cosmic lube (aside from lunar) are different fundamentally. They seem like carbon copies of each other with a fancy new color and a different viscosity. Every single cubicle lube that isn't their weighted silicone lubricants are very unique and each bring something new to the table, it doesn't feel like they just slightly altered silk and called it a new lube. The properties of TC lubes are also very unique and helpful. One of my favorites is Lubicle-1. The only real knock on it is that the batches are super inconsistent, but if you get a good batch, it's a REALLY good batch. The Teflon makes a big difference in puzzles that just need a refresh. Normally if a cube's lube is dying you would have to clean out then reapply lube the whole thing, but Lubicle-1 can extend the lifespan of your lubricants tenfold if not more. Just one drop speeds it up to where it was when it was at its prime 9/10 times in my case.

You would be surprised, only after growing my store I realise just how many people buy from cube stores who are not competitive speedcubers, often just gifts for their kids who are interested in cubing for a few months and then quit.

 

[Max Zemdegs]

I shop SCS and have never used TC before, I literally order a x-man volt v2 arriving today. I shop SCS Mainly because I strangely feel that I am betraying SCS and have guilt whenever I think of buying from TC. It's really stupid, especially since TC generally offers more cubes and more services. Am I stupid?

 

[DNF_Cuber]

Even if PVC coating is useful it isn't worth 24.95, it just makes your cube slightly grippier.

 

[Sub1Hour]

Even if PVC coating is useful it isn't worth 24.95, it just makes your cube slightly grippier.

I agree 100%. The old saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it", and SCS tried to fix what wasn't broken. Sure, its 100x better than matte plastic, but does making your cube have a slightly better grip matter that much? I mean for the same price of a PVC Cosmic RS3M 2020 you can get a 10 cc bottle of Mystic, DNM, Compound X, Silk, and Lubicle 1 with 2 bucks to spare.

I shop SCS and have never used TC before, I literally order a x-man volt v2 arriving today. I shop SCS Mainly because I strangely feel that I am betraying SCS and have guilt whenever I think of buying from TC. It's really stupid, especially since TC generally offers more cubes and more services. Am I stupid?

Maybe. If you haven't tried TC products then it's worth the purchase to see if you like them more. I've tried a few supernova cubes at competitions and I defiantly prefer Cubicle Premium setups.

 

[qwr]

I agree 100%. The old saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it", and SCS tried to fix what wasn't broken. Sure, its 100x better than matte plastic, but does making your cube have a slightly better grip matter that much?

I don't get it... you say "don't fix what isn't broken" but isn't matte plastic a problem that needs to be fixed?

 

[Deleted member 55877]

I don't get it... you say "don't fix what isn't broken" but isn't matte plastic a problem that needs to be fixed?

Not really. The matte finish wears off over time, and it eventually gets glossy and grippy

 

[Sub1Hour]

I don't get it... you say "don't fix what isn't broken" but isn't matte plastic a problem that needs to be fixed?

It's a solution to a problem that didn't exist that is now a problem that does exist if that makes any sense.
Sorry, my wording was super confusing, I was meaning that at least SCS had a better approach to outer plastic than manufacturers.

 

[Kaiju_cube]

I don't mind the price for the timer (speedstacks) nearly as much as I mind the $100. price for the big display you can plug into it and mount on the table.