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> To me, Kickstarter backers aren’t just customers. They’re our friends. They are mavens. They represent our most passionate, most ardent and most enthusiastic

by a2kadet 12y ago

> To me, Kickstarter backers aren’t just customers. They’re our friends. They are mavens. They represent our most passionate, most ardent and most enthusiastic customers. > Yes, that’s it. I failed. We failed. It feels horrible, and it’s the end of Ada. But not the end of Triggertrap. Uh... if I was your "friend" I would be livid that you weren't going bankrupt to sell off every asset you had to pay me back in full. *Edit - My post was more about the use of the term friendship to absolve the author of guilt. Seems to have been effective This seems like shady business ethics to me.

deleted 12y ago
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dsugarman 12y ago
If I was his friend, I'd buy him a drink and tell him that we all fuck up and things will get better.
pavlov 12y ago
In the friend scenario, you gave your friend a hundred bucks so he could try to build his dream widget. Would you really demand that your friend be declared bankrupt over a 100 dollar debt? (I'm not sure I agree that Kickstarter backers are that kind of "friends" to companies who took their money, but that seems to be the argument...)
welly 12y ago
Some "friend" you are then.
Frondo 12y ago
I am glad that my friends feel differently (and that I feel differently about my friends and their success/failure).
aikah 12y ago
> To me, Kickstarter backers aren’t just customers. No , the people you took money from aren't even your customers, because you didn't give them the service they paid for. So don't even insult them saying they aren't just customers, they aren't even customers to you. If there were, you would have delivered what you promised. They are just easy money with no strings attached.
marssaxman 12y ago
If you are expecting to be paid back in full then you should not be spending your money on Kickstarter!
- vitalus 12y ago
  At the same time, though, being paid back shouldn't be a low priority.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- DanBC 12y ago
  At the time they launched this project the TOS said "deliver the product or offer a full refund".
  - Retra 12y ago
    That seems like completely unrealistic terms. How can you afford to pay for a refund if the product fails?
    - DanBC 12y ago
      Don't ask me. https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use/oct2012?country=GB https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use/oct2012?country=GB > Kickstarter does not offer refunds. A Project Creator is not required to grant a Backer’s request for a refund unless the Project Creator is unable or unwilling to fulfill the reward. > Project Creators are required to fulfill all rewards of their successful fundraising campaigns or refund any Backer whose reward they do not or cannot fulfill. > Project Creators may cancel or refund a Backer’s pledge at any time and for any reason, and if they do so, are not required to fulfill the reward. That "at any time" para is possibly going to cause problems to the backers.
      - Retra 12y ago
        So if you are successful, you are required to fulfill your terms. Or you can back out by refunding money. But if you fail, you have no such obligation.

by a2kadet 12y ago

deleted 12y ago

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dsugarman 12y ago

If I was his friend, I'd buy him a drink and tell him that we all fuck up and things will get better.

pavlov 12y ago

In the friend scenario, you gave your friend a hundred bucks so he could try to build his dream widget. Would you really demand that your friend be declared bankrupt over a 100 dollar debt? (I'm not sure I agree that Kickstarter backers are that kind of "friends" to companies who took their money, but that seems to be the argument...)

welly 12y ago

Some "friend" you are then.

Frondo 12y ago

I am glad that my friends feel differently (and that I feel differently about my friends and their success/failure).

aikah 12y ago

> To me, Kickstarter backers aren’t just customers. No , the people you took money from aren't even your customers, because you didn't give them the service they paid for. So don't even insult them saying they aren't just customers, they aren't even customers to you. If there were, you would have delivered what you promised. They are just easy money with no strings attached.

marssaxman 12y ago

If you are expecting to be paid back in full then you should not be spending your money on Kickstarter!

vitalus 12y ago
At the same time, though, being paid back shouldn't be a low priority.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
DanBC 12y ago
At the time they launched this project the TOS said "deliver the product or offer a full refund".
- Retra 12y ago
  That seems like completely unrealistic terms. How can you afford to pay for a refund if the product fails?
  - DanBC 12y ago
    Don't ask me. https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use/oct2012?country=GB https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use/oct2012?country=GB > Kickstarter does not offer refunds. A Project Creator is not required to grant a Backer’s request for a refund unless the Project Creator is unable or unwilling to fulfill the reward. > Project Creators are required to fulfill all rewards of their successful fundraising campaigns or refund any Backer whose reward they do not or cannot fulfill. > Project Creators may cancel or refund a Backer’s pledge at any time and for any reason, and if they do so, are not required to fulfill the reward. That "at any time" para is possibly going to cause problems to the backers.
    - Retra 12y ago
      So if you are successful, you are required to fulfill your terms. Or you can back out by refunding money. But if you fail, you have no such obligation.