Welcome to the Thocc Exchange

The Thocc Exchange started with a simple idea: people in this community deserve a shop that really cares about their journey. A real person, running a small home-grown setup, who LOVES keyboards.

I’m Matty, and I built this store in London after spending years messing around with switches as a hobbyist. I’d always felt the UK scene had amazing people but I felt like there was room for a business relentlessly focussed on customer service. I wanted to create something that felt honest and warm and invested in helping people enjoy the hobby.

There’s a personal story underneath all this. After my mum passed away in my care in 2023, I needed a complete change from corporate work. Setting up ThX the following year became one of the ways I honour her. She was warm, impossibly kind, and completely fair, and the way I run this store is very much shaped by her example. Our approach to charity comes from her too.

I started this whole thing from a small flat in Mile End. Eventually it grew enough that I moved out to Edenbridge so I’d have the room to run proper stock, group buys and all the rest. I now run multiple GBs at once, and the store has somehow become one of the fastest-growing switch retailers around, entirely because people kept giving me a chance and sticking with me.

When I say “us,” I now mean Chris and I. Chris hasn't been with us for long, but the impact has been huge, and he has great taste in order packing music. Chris runs everything on site - responsible for our library of switches and order packing. Matty is responsible for the rest.

So what makes ThX different?
The short version is that we care a lot about your experience.

When you message the store, you’re going to be speaking with the founder. My measure of success is simply whether you come back. Every order is packed by hand, every email gets a real reply, and every decision is made with the idea that the person on the other side deserves respect. The trade-off is that I work a little harder for my money but it's so much more enjoyable this way.

Pricing is another thing I take seriously. I don’t like the idea of pushing margins to the point where the hobby becomes exclusionary. I’d rather things stay fairly priced every day so you don’t need to chase discounts or shop around like it’s a puzzle. We won't do sales often, if ever, because our pricing is solid.

Everything that comes into the shop gets tested. Properly. I type on it, compare it, drop it, shake it, sometimes forget why I’m holding it and stare at the wall for a bit. I even drive my packaging around on rough roads to make sure it can survive a nightmare courier shift. I only stock products I believe in. If sending a payment through a better organisation costs me more but helps the world a bit, I usually bite the bullet and do it. 

Shipping is quick and tidy and fully tracked. I do my best to ship same-day if you order before midday on a weekday. It matters to me that people get their stuff fast and without drama. Monday is always the busiest day so orders placed Sunday evening may need an extra day for dispatch.

Transparency ties all of this together. Clear policies, honest communication, no weird tricks, no upselling for the sake of it. If I can save you money, I will.
If I mess up, I own it. All I ask back is a bit of kindness, because it’s just one person doing his best to run a shop the right way.

The mission has always been simple. Make the UK hobby more accessible, more enjoyable and more human. I want this store to feel like a safe pair of hands, somewhere you can hang out socially, get good advice, or just enjoy being part of a community. I regularly point people to other UK vendors if they have what someone actually needs. I believe in a rising tide, not a zero-sum game.

Today (April '26), ThX holds perfect 5 star reviews on every review platform and approaching 10,000 orders. We try to restock before we run out, we price fairly and have built strong relationships with manufacturers and boutique makers. . All of that has grown naturally, without hype machines or paid reviews. I do use Google Ads to help new people find the store, but trust comes from the work behind the scenes.

Looking ahead, the store is only getting busier. I’m expanding the catalogue, working with designers, makers and engineers, and hosting more small group buys. We thrive in the smaller, more personal projects. If you’re a creator with a strong idea, I’d love to hear it. I’ve funded prototypes before and I’ll keep doing it if the work is good.

No matter how well things grow, our values won't change. Same care, same honesty, same excitement I had packing my first order back in August 2024. And yes, every time someone places an order my phone pings and my dogs have learned that the sound means treats. They are very invested in the success of this business. 

So, thank you for being here.

Whether you’re brand new or deep into the hobby, I’m really glad you found us. If you need help choosing switches or want recommendations or just want to chat about builds, I’ll always reply as soon as I can. It might take a little while sometimes because of volume, but the intention is always there.

Matty
Founder