Has Kickstarter finally hit rock bottom?

[maxxon]

Looks like they basically limited deliveries of the actual table to EU only. But otherwise the prices seem to be the same.

So what was so much off in the initial calculations, one wonders...

Well, somebody seems to want it and now they are (hopefully) going to get it.

[Dr. Zombie]

They have cut down on the beewbs a bit, that might have saved a few bucks..?

Looks like it will fund this time round. Good for them.

But I still really cannot see the need for this product. I have never had a problem with a lack of table. Only with a lack of things to put on the table.

[petercooman123]

So what was so much off in the initial calculations, one wonders...

From the kickstarter page:

"Quitting, sadly, the mass shipping to the USA for tables give us the possibility to reduce 39% of the goal; the remaining 47% of the goal reduction is given from our really friendly suppliers wich have understand our "situation" and decreased their minimum of order."

The minimum order thing makes sense to me though. If the supplier they work with says 'i will only manufacture these if you order at least XXX copies' , then you have to have money for XXX copies. If the supplier halfs that initial 'print' run, you obviously only need half of the original production budget.

[maxxon]

The minimum order thing makes sense to me though.

Yes, I agree with that, though it's more like cutting the minimum run to one quarter.

But the US shipping thing seems weird. They budgeted $40,000 or so to ship a container full of cardboard to US? Is this because of some stupid KS rule that US pledges must include shipping?

[petercooman123]

And don't forget, if your pledge includes shipping, would kickstarter then take a percentage of the shipping for themselves??

[maxxon]

And don't forget, if your pledge includes shipping, would kickstarter then take a percentage of the shipping for themselves??

Ofcourse they do.

Every time someone gathers a cool million for their super project and needs to work their a$$ off to make it real and keep the backers happy...

...Kickstarter collects $100K essentially just for keeping a website up.

But my point was more about the KS rule that you can't charge US backers extra for shipping, the basic pledge amount should include US shipping. Which results in kinda backwards situations when the producer is actually somewhere else. (They may have changed/relaxed this rule lately)

[Sangennaru]

actually, it's not 10% their fee, quite less.

And they do not only keep a website, but they offer a marketing and business solution that is extremely effective! ^_^

For the us shipping, KS is meant to be for US only, so it makes sense for now. They are all italian but the company is based in US, they should have thought about that, before promoting a 100% italian product! :S

[Conquistador]

War Gamer with Good Idea not = business professional.

I see a lot less people opening game shops without a well thought out business plan today.  Considering past history, having a viable business plan is a good idea in itself!

Gracias,

Glenn

[Sangennaru]

War Gamer with Good Idea not = business professional.

I see a lot less people opening game shops without a well thought out business plan today.  Considering past history, having a viable business plan is a good idea in itself!

Gracias,

Glenn

SO TRUE.

[Cubs]

It happens all over that people think that having a product they think people will want is the same as having the guarantee of being successful. I've seen a good few hard working people throw money down the drain for making naive decisions and not acting like business people.

[FramFramson]

I've lost count of the number of game stores I've seen run into the ground after being opened by gamers who had a few bucks with which to open a business.

[Sangennaru]

I've lost count of the number of game stores I've seen run into the ground after being opened by gamers who had a few bucks with which to open a business.

As i always say, the right to have a job is not the same of the right to have a successiful business...

They decided to invest money without being competent, they fall. Sad but fair.

[zizi666]

I've lost count of the number of game stores I've seen run into the ground after being opened by gamers who had a few bucks with which to open a business.

... that revolved round their hobby.

There's no problem in that, but they mostly see the hobby side and not the bussiness side 
I've seen 3 game stores and 1 modelling store go bankrupt here in Ghent over the years.
Worst one was the modelling shop. Guy had to take out a loan after his first year to be able to continue and again after his second year! I mean, come on, wasn't it obvious the first time ?
Yet, whenever stuff got delivered there was something he ordered for himself...
Guy didn't even have a home. he lived in that (small) store, sleeping bag in the back and only a toilet and small storage space 

[beefcake]

KS isn't free US shipping. It is free domestic shipping. If you start your project in the US then you include shipping for "free" (included in the pledge price) for the US. If your start one in the UK you have UK "free" shipping. It is domestic shipping that you include into your pledge price.

[FramFramson]

Yep. Hobby knowledge does not equate to business knowledge and too few people understand that.

Of course, even successful businessfolk need to try and sometimes fail.

As i always say, the right to have a job is not the same of the right to have a successiful business...

They decided to invest money without being competent, they fall. Sad but fair.

Over here in North America, you don't have the right to a job either. Maybe the right to grovel. Maybe. But I'm straying into politics, so I'll just leave it at that...