KickstarterReviews 206

I've backed 2 projects: one went off without a hitch, came on time and everything worked out spectacularly. The other was delayed about a year, had no communication (aside from telling us about more delays and product issues) and pretty much killed the brand.
That being said, that's all the start ups and not Kickstarter itself. I can't speak for the site, but as a consumer just know what you're backing and understand that there is some risk involved. But yea, most of the stuff is either insanely expensive, very niche or crap. Also way too many people trying to fund little homemade candle operations.

Recently, about a year ago, like many aspiring filmmakers, I went onto Kickstarter to help fund one of my film projects. But unlike the other hopefuls, I chose not to campaign for my project. Needless to say, I failed to receive any funding. I was by no ways shocked at the results; I expected those results. I wanted to prove a point. I went on Kickstarter once more, this time it was for a safety product I had created to save abandoned children. Once again, I refused to campaign myself. And, once again, I failed to receive any funding. And now I will reveal why I refused to campaign for myself--I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO!
Let's take a look at this objectively. Kickstarter's concept asks it's consumers to place their projects on their site. They then offer a slew of suggestions on how to go about campaigning to raise funds for your product. And when, on that magical day, you reach your financial goal, you are given the funds to launch your project minus their COMMISSION, and minus Amazon's commission. If you fail to reach your EXACT financial objective, you get NOTHING.
Think about this for a minute. You are asked to come up with a product, tweak the product, campaign to raise funds for YOUR product, and in the end Kickstarter and Amazon get a cut of what you have earned. What's the point in that? Our nation is inundated with MIDDLEMEN; Kickstarter fits that mold to a T. They're nothing more than pimps. They make money off your hard work. What's the point of these websites like Kickstarter if they do absolutely nothing to help you with the collecting of the funds, but draw their financial share provided by your hard work?
And yes, I also placed my safety product on Indiegogo, and as you may have guessed, the results, or lack of, were identical.
Let's stop supporting these PIMPS OF THE INTERNET.

Kickstarter gets 5% of every transaction on the site, so they (and those who reached their funding goals) are probably the only ones happy.

This video from The Onion (news parody site) hits the nail on the head:
http://www.theonion.com/video/internet-scam-alert-most-kickstarter-projects-just-*******

It is in the best interest of those raising funds to have a great looking page and words to entice investment. Once the funds are raised, Kickstarter considers the project a "success" and YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN if you are dealing with someone dishonest! Legal recourse is hard because it is difficult to prove intent.

The good news is, the FTC is coming after Kickstarter scammers, as evidenced by this article:
http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/06/feds-take-first-action-against-a-failed-kickstarter-with-112k-judgment/

Stay away!

I was filling out my form and there is this live chat window. I simply ask why are they asking for my credit card for the second time. The lady on the other end used vulgar language on me and informing me that I am giving them a hard time. Immediately offered me a refund. I fine and ask of my email address.

I am not sure if this is a scam. I don't know if I will have my refund back or not or how long will it take.

Be careful people. I will not advice you to sign up on their investment offer.

I was very moved by this project and am disgusted about the way Kickstarter ignored it on their spotlight and films we love pages. I truly believe this company practices cronyism and favoritism. Typical Hollywood wannabes. If I were a filmmaker I'd really support the films you are moved by, such as Peter Ertel's, and not fall in kickstarters' phoniness for a lot of the films "they love" which are so amateurish and teach us absolutely nothing.

The truth is: it depends on if you are lucky and the project you are backing up is produced or if the project owner/company just runs of with the money.
No matter what, if kickstarter gets its 5% for successful funding, they don't give a sh*t.
So keep in mind, kickstarter is neither responsible nor willing to help you in case of problems or if your money is gone.
Conculsion: kickstarter is like gambling, but the odds are worse.

I have always been hesitant to just "donate" my hard earned money to help fund a startup project, and Kolstom eyewear helped me to confirm that hesitation. This was my first and last contribution ever to ANY Kickstarter program. After a $200 "investment", the program not only ran out of money, it was also "forced to abandon the project". So after waiting 2 years, I received nothing except an email from the company stating that there was no money left and the project would not be completed. Save your hard earned $$$$ people... Biggest waste of money EVER!

There is no delete button. If not successful, it will be on the internet permanently as a failed fund raising effort, so I recommend keeping your donation amount low. We received a private donor shortly after we put our Kickstarter site and did not pursue or advertise Kickstarter because we no longer needed to raise funds, but we could not delete the Kickstarter page. Now it is a permanent search engine find when Googling our name showing that we only raised $1 for our Kickstarter Fund Raiser effort. That $1 was from a solicitor wanting services. I would not recommend the site.

Way back in the first week of April, I made a 'pledge' to a company advertising a way to stop internet ads. Recently (08/27/15) I went back to kickstarter to follow up on my pledge. To my surprise, they had no record of it! I have disputed the charge with my CC company, because I WAS CHARGED, and hopefully this will be the end of it. I thought kickstarter would be more consumer friendly than I have found. As far as I'm concerned, this is nothing more than a complete RIPOFF! Also, there is apparently no way to contact the company (or person) you pledged to after the funding is completed. Kickstarter says they do not keep those records.

I can not believe what I found out today. If you do not the goal that you set, Kickstarter will send the mone back to people and then tell you oh well to bad you deal is done. And now all that time is gone, and have you ever tryed to get a email or phone number for them, and lets even take this one more stem here. Once your deal is posted, about a week or two b4 your listing is done, You will get an email from someone blowing smoke up you well you get it. And they can help you, and think for a day and they will get back to you, but pay attention they are asking if you spend money they will help you get things done on this, By law they can't ask for money but if you state you are doing this cuz you do not have money well they just got the work you are looking for free help and it will not come from them, because you will not get email from them again, and if you mail thm they still do not get back to you. I know I had this happen 4 times and got $00.00 cus I did not pay... My Job was Hooked On Sport Fishing

My horrible experience with Kickstarter​. This is a great and powerful tool, don't get me wrong, but there is a lot more to know about it. They will promote the things that they want. There were things that they constantly put above others. No matter the design, practicality, or use, they will make sure that funding happens for only the things they want to by promoting it in different ways like "staff picks" "New but worthy" and etc. Also they keep piling on their favorites on top of the list, and by default, when you do look at a specific category, the projects are sorted by "MAGIC!"? Seriously? The magic of, "we think you should fund these and not those"? While I appreciate the website and allowing opportunity, I was less than thrilled by the way things were handled. Good luck to everyone else and your Ideas. But I'll tell you this much, that it is very hard to get your project, great Idea, and unique designs noticed, when they keep putting projects that are 1700% funded on the top page, and your project somewhere on page 175!

Nice idea. It sadly has been adopted by SCAM merchants. Lack of support from kickstarter means merchants have free hand to do whatever they want. You have no recourse and no support from Kickstarter itself.

Great idea, poor execution. If a project gets "funded" then later fails before you ever receive your product, theres nothing you can do about it and you are out the money. I funded a project for $240, never got my product, and after the company abandoned it, I was only able to get a 20% refund on it (which that isn't even guaranteed... the company says I will get it in 90 days.)

I have backed 3 Kick starter projects that have simply evaporated. The one I backed most, buying 3 units, had a prototype on their campaign. All of these had regular updates... At first. Then, complete and total black out of correspondence and updates. Even if the entrepreneurs start in earnest, they flee like scammers. The minimum etiquette would be to admit they did not budget correctly, the tech was not viable... The truth. If that is the truth. I think when I lose $500 to a fledgling company, who enticed me with promises of product, I have earned the expectation of some notice of their failure. Jorno, for example, posts nothing to any site. They had a prototype. What happened? CST had a thin watch where batteries and the band became an issue. That wasn't so clear when they had campaigned for money... It was worse that they contacted me to clarify payment when online fraud kicked in on my card! I guess my credit card knew I was getting greased! Shame on all of them! No matter what the fine print says: we all paid to see product. We all expected regular updates. A minimum expectation would be to notify investors that they would never see goods! Kickstarter is to blame as well. If they get their cut of our investment, they should be obliged to refund their brokerage/commission when it falls through. I actually think Kick starter has the real grift. They get paid as soon as reserves are met... And feign neutrality and claim immunity. Kick starter needs to feel some hurt for these losses too!

I have been a backer for several Kickstarter projects and would like to share a word of caution for those contemplating being a Kickstarter backer. My recommendation is to first read the Kickstarter's "rules" so that you know what you're getting into when you back a project. If something goes wrong and the backer doesn't deliver or doesn't fully deliver what they promise, you are on your own. Kickstarter does not intervene nor will they even attempt to push the developer to comply. From my experience, I would say that the general tone from Kickstarter is to take the developer's side ("things happen", "developer is solely responsible", "be patient and understanding") versus a more balanced, business like position. Yes, you have the option of legal recourse against the developer but good luck with that approach.
Word to the wise - don't count on Kickstarter to stand up for you as a backer.