Except for the fact that this exists:
Also, where can I find this newsletter?
GAN Digital GES Set
This is a set of the Numerical GES from GAN. This is the set that comes with the 356 M, but they are compatible with other puzzles from GAN as well. Compatible with: GAN 356 M GAN 356 M Lite GAN 356 X V2 GAN 356 XS GAN 354 V2www.thecubicle.com
This is a different set than the one that comes with the 354 "Explorer". The "Explorer Set" comes with blue instead of purple so if you want blue you are kind of screwed unless you want to pay an extra 40 dollars for the same exact cube for 1 set of nuts.Except for the fact that this exists:
Also, where can I find this newsletter?GAN Digital GES Set
This is a set of the Numerical GES from GAN. This is the set that comes with the 356 M, but they are compatible with other puzzles from GAN as well. Compatible with: GAN 356 M GAN 356 M Lite GAN 356 X V2 GAN 356 XS GAN 354 V2
GAN also seems very stubborn as they only make megaminxes and NxNs.
GAN is high quality but you can get similar quality cubes for much cheaper prices from Moyu or Qiyi. Plus, it seems like almost every new release is very similar to the last one except for a few small changes. Also, look at the first section in my signature
Sometime? I've been waiting for them forever
Well, I consider lying to your customers to be shady. That is a bit of a stretch though, but they have not said anything about the RS, M, or X v2 to have the same exact mechanism as the X. They also did the same thing by advertising the Air M as a completely new puzzle even though it's just an XS. I have a few problems with their 3x3's after the XS just being rehashes with no changes aside from the core and magnets, but I do have a problem when they don't tell you that its the same cube. Their marketing makes it look like they are all brand new and different puzzles and that's at least a little shady. I would be fine if they actually came out and said "Hey, The M is just the X, if you have one, you don't need the other one." instead of basically lying to their customers.
I doubt that their cubes are almost perfect. In fact, their performance hasn't gotten any better since 2016 when the Air came out. In fact, I think that the SM was their peak. Every cube afterwards has the same locking issues the original Air series had but without the stability. The only reason why their cubes are useable is that you are able to use the yellow GES and they are too weak for a cube as flexible as the gan cubes. Have you ever tried a post SM cube with purple GES? Its basically like trying to cube with a block of jello. I would also love to see them make something "stupid" that may or may not be good because that at least shows that they care enough to make something different. Also by slight variation do you mean a core swap? Thats the only difference aside from magnets between modern gan cubes since they are all either X or XS cubes with a different core.
Here, ill give an example of a rehash that was done CORRECTLY. The WRm is what a rehash should look like. Many people had a problem with the ridges on the GTS3, so they made a model without them since people were actually asking for it. Not only did they do that, but they also made the Dual Adjustmen system finer and included another set of springs for more customizability. If you went up to someone and said: "Hey, do you like your iPhone? Cool, buy this other one that has a different charging cable and no differences at all but we market it like its an entirely new product!" do you really think they would want that product? I think that the money should come from new innovations, something that gan hasn't been good at since the 356 Air and something they haven't done at all since the X.
I'm fine with them collecting the 3 jackpots they got from the original 354, X, and XS, but collecting 6 extra jackpots from the R, RS, M, Air M, Explorer 354, and X v2 is an issue. And I'm not sure how much money you have to invest to mix and match cores and hardware, I could do that for free, I'll just get an XS and put the core from the M in and boom, new gan cube!
You don’t need to buy them all. They are doing a good job of giving people who want to buy a Gan cube lots of options. If their business model takes advantage of the consumer, then that is the consumer’s fault. Don’t blame Gan for the lack of research by the consumer
You know what, I will. They are doing the worst job out of any cube company on making clear what products are what. When MoYu came out with the WRm it was clear that it was just a GTS3 without ridges and with some small variations. When QiYi came out with their valk power it was clear that it was a mere alternative to the original valk. When companies like Qiyi, YJ, Moyu, and Yuxin are as clear as they are about what puzzles are different from which it's inexcusable for GAN to keep tricking their customers into buying "New" puzzles for prices that are hard to justify for the product you are receiving. For me, and many others, the Air M was the last straw. Not only was it advertising itself as a new cube in the Air series, but it was also literally just an XS with capsule magnets instead of the adjustable ones. I'll stop blaming gan for a lack of research when they either actually inform their customers instead of selling them the same thing over and over again, or if they actually make a new puzzle that isn't a core swap of existing puzzles.
To an extent. GAN has pushed the envelope a bit too far on justifying high prices for their "premium" features. Alot of their business strategy just feels like a cash grab at this point. It seems similar to new phones coming out that really don't offer the consumer any drastically noticeable benefits even though the sticker price is considerably higher than market average.
I generally agree with this. Given the transparency displayed by other cube manufactures it definitely doesn't make you feel like GAN is trying to truly benefit the general cubing population but just collect a higher price from those arrogant enough to need "THE BEST" hardware because they have the cash and the power of brand recognition and marketing has convinced them GAN is objectively the best when in fact it's still a subjective subject. Then there's those who genuinely want to purchase something high end and premium but don't have all the details and comparisons made, this group often feels dooped or underwhelmed given the $$$ they spent when the cube arrives. I definitely fall into the second category.
