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The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

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Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#61

Post by dkersten »

ThomPete wrote: post #46
nirvana wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kickstarter can say whatever they want in their FAQ. It doesn't change the law. It doesn't change the contracts they signed with Amazon. It doesn't change the contract Amazon signed with the credit card companies. It doesn't change the FTC regulations for sales. It doesn't change the fact that this product was advertised for sale, explicitly. Further, nothing in this indicates that it was a "donation" or on the "hono…

On kickstarter you are an investor not a customer. It doesn't matter how you make your investment. If you don't want the risk, then yes, KickStater is not a place for you.

I was under the illusion that investment laws are stricter than consumer laws. If I, as a backer on kickstarter, am an investor and not a customer (or donor or whatever), then investment laws apply. Does anyone know what, under such laws, is legally required by a kickstarter project?

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#62

Post by rdl »

ThomPete wrote: post #57
rdl wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I totally agree about lights for self defense -- they're the one thing I carry all the time, followed by an inoffensive folder, and then escalating from there. There is basically no situation other than being in a shower where I don't have at least one 120+ lumen tactical flashlight, and no firearm-defense situation where I don't have a mounted light and/or handheld light. I keep lights stashed by the bed, in my desk…

You guys should check out wiseled.com http://www.wiseled.com/wiseled_products_tactical_flashlight.... I did some work for them years back, have a sweet forensic set at home.

Those are nice. The biggest portable spotlight I've seen was IR, but visible light is a lot more useful usually. Too bad there isnt an hn discount!

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#63

Post by onemoreact »

dkersten wrote: post #61
ThomPete wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On kickstarter you are an investor not a customer. It doesn't matter how you make your investment. If you don't want the risk, then yes, KickStater is not a place for you.

I was under the illusion that investment laws are stricter than consumer laws. If I, as a backer on kickstarter, am an investor and not a customer (or donor or whatever), then investment laws apply. Does anyone know what, under such laws, is legally required by a kickstarter project?

IANAL However, as I understand unless it's clearly a case of fraud the law treats such things as a loan, because you where not offered stock or a cut of profits ect. If he incorporated, you might at best be able to recover your money from whatever the company's assets are, but you really have minimal recourse that's worth the time investment at this point.

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#64

Post by Lewton »

tylermenezes wrote: post #50

I'm helping out with a Kickstarter project ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studentrnd/plasma-speake... ) which is already 2 months behind the delivery date, and I just wanted to offer a view from the other side. Shipping a product is hard. Our initial prototype used some components we had in our parts organizer, and a $100k variable DC power supply Boeing donated. It was pretty cool, so we put it online, and it…

>we've refunded anyone who asked for it

If you don't mind me asking, how many refunds have been requested? It might give an insight into what people expect from Kickstarter

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#65

Post by Terretta »

After the iPhone "antenna gate" with a rubber bumper as the resolution, how did 1,053 backers conclude surrounding an iPhone 4 with a metal band would be a good idea?

The author even owned Apple's bumper, but perhaps had not realized why it was rubber. Then the author's other stated reason was frequently dropping the phone. How shock absorbent does he imagine solid metal is, compared to that rubber bumper?

As easily discerned from the photos, this antenna blocking, shock transmitting, "case" doesn't even extend past the face glass, allowing it to shatter if dropped on any front face corner.

Seems like this project's backers should consider it a $65 lesson in weighing the plausibility of marketing claims for oneself.

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#66

Post by hessenwolf »

rdl wrote: post #44
nirvana wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using Fenix lights for years. We have several L1Ds among us. I love the multi-mode of them, flashing, including SOS, etc. Since these are rechargable we have enerloop batteries that we can recharge using the computers USB port. Hate the idea of trying to find unusual batteries in an obscure location. Since we travel internationally all the time and since some of us are female, some form of self defense is n…

I totally agree about lights for self defense -- they're the one thing I carry all the time, followed by an inoffensive folder, and then escalating from there. There is basically no situation other than being in a shower where I don't have at least one 120+ lumen tactical flashlight, and no firearm-defense situation where I don't have a mounted light and/or handheld light. I keep lights stashed by the bed, in my desk…

Are you kidding?

(not a very high-level HN contributory comment, I know)

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#67

Post by rdl »

hessenwolf wrote: post #66
rdl wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I totally agree about lights for self defense -- they're the one thing I carry all the time, followed by an inoffensive folder, and then escalating from there. There is basically no situation other than being in a shower where I don't have at least one 120+ lumen tactical flashlight, and no firearm-defense situation where I don't have a mounted light and/or handheld light. I keep lights stashed by the bed, in my desk…

Are you kidding? (not a very high-level HN contributory comment, I know)

No.

A super-bright flashlight is a critical self-defense (from all kinds of danger, man made or natural) tool. I'd put a cellphone as #1, bright light as #2, and some kind of very small knife/multitool (for cutting things, like seatbelts, not people) as #3.

It's crazy when people go straight to pepper spray, big knives, firearms, etc. for self defense, but don't carry simple things which are used far more often. There are costs (increased legal compliance, weight, training needs, risk if the item is taken from you, moral issues with hurting/killing other people) with each, vs. the benefit, but I can't think of any situations where the analysis for a tactical light isn't strongly in the "do" category.

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#68

Post by goatforce5 »

I've put done close to $300 to help fund a programmable espresso machine. Funding closes this Friday. Get in quick if it might be your sort of thing:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zpmespresso/pid-controll...

Just yesterday they posted a very good update letting people know where they stand. Notably that the shipping times are already longer than originally stated, and that now is the time to ask them questions (before the money is taken). They also specifically state that they're not a storefront, and that setbacks in the schedule are possible:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zpmespresso/pid-controll...

Seems like a sensible way to set expectations upfront.

(I discovered this project as I was close to spending $700 on a machine that is (on paper) lower spec'ed (but, to be fair, available now). I'm willing to wait the few months and risk some cash to give some guys a chance at producing something new/different.)

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#69

Post by hessenwolf »

rdl wrote: post #67
hessenwolf wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you kidding? (not a very high-level HN contributory comment, I know)

No. A super-bright flashlight is a critical self-defense (from all kinds of danger, man made or natural) tool. I'd put a cellphone as #1, bright light as #2, and some kind of very small knife/multitool (for cutting things, like seatbelts, not people) as #3. It's crazy when people go straight to pepper spray, big knives, firearms, etc. for self defense, but don't carry simple things which are used far more often. Ther…

This is interesting; could you give some examples of what you mean by a tactical situation?

Re: The worst project I ever funded on Kickstarter

#70

Post by tylermenezes »

Lewton wrote: post #64
tylermenezes wrote: post #50

I'm helping out with a Kickstarter project ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studentrnd/plasma-speake... ) which is already 2 months behind the delivery date, and I just wanted to offer a view from the other side. Shipping a product is hard. Our initial prototype used some components we had in our parts organizer, and a $100k variable DC power supply Boeing donated. It was pretty cool, so we put it online, and it…

>we've refunded anyone who asked for it If you don't mind me asking, how many refunds have been requested? It might give an insight into what people expect from Kickstarter

I only see two in the notes section on Kickstarter. Amazon Payments would be the definitive place to check but I don't know the password for it, and I probably won't be in our office until Thursday because of snow in Seattle.
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