Project Closed - Go to ZucatiCorp.com
almost 4 years ago
– Fri, May 08, 2020 at 11:57:30 PM
Kickstarter Project Closed
When I started this project I had many successful Kickstarter projects completed and fulfilled.
I thought I knew what was coming and what to expect and I had a clear plan how to complete this project just like all the others.
Then I got sick, for the better part of 2 years and this project more or less got put on hold, and then sat while I declined, and have now been recovering.
I've tried many ways to get things going again, but each time I do I've been delayed by something I hadn't expected
The length of time it would take to recover, the death of my mother, and the latest the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
Each of these has slowed, and in some cases stopped my ability to start, continue or even finish some or all of the work associated with this project.
I'm done with Kickstarter
Because I'm running a small business, and because that business is my primary source of income (reduced more than 80% since March this year) I've had to make concession after concession on my Kickstarter projects so I could keep my revenue stream as constant as possible and make it possible for me to complete both my daily work and my outstanding Kickstarter projects.
That's meant that it's taken all this time to get us all here.
Where is here? Here is me closing down this and all my other Kickstarters on Kickstarter (and by extension backerkit) and moving all my obligations to where I'm working now.
Etsy.com (store name ZucatiCorp) and Zucaticorp.com
What this means is that I'm no longer going to check this project, or any others for comments, messages or anything, nor will I be working in the BackerKit tool either.
All fulfillment, communications and all other obligations from this and my other outstanding Kickstarter projects will be handled and completed through Etsy.com (store name: ZucatiCorp) and ZucatiCorp.com
What this means for your pledge
1. The money you pledged in support of my work is directly transferable for anything currently available on my Etsy and ZucatiCorp sites. I'll want your Name and E-Mail you used in Backerkit to confirm your pledge and payment made and then I'll transfer your pledge over so you can use it for anything I make and sell. Now, right away. As soon as it can be shipped. All Etsy and ZucatiCorp items listed are made and ready to ship now. Custom Orders can also be placed with your pledge money if you want something you don't see that i can make and deliver in a reasonable time-frame.
2. I'm not offering cash refunds. I tried that, it just makes it too hard to live and hurts too much to do financially. And it takes WAY too long. If I was super rich, or there was no global pandemic, I was forecasting to have enough money for this already this year from convention income, but those conventions were all canceled, and may remain canceled through this year, or mabye more, so I can't count on that.
3. It's going to be on you to come to me. I've tried doing the work to contact backers, but because of the time that has lapsed and the response rate I've gotten, less than 1% reply to my requests for information, I'm putting this on my backers to do the work to both read this update, then go to Etsy.com (store name: ZucatiCorp) or ZucatiCorp.com and find something they want with their pledge amount in mind, contact me and provide their Name and E-Mail for verification of their pledge status. I won't be working through Backerkit for pledge processing, but I will be verifying pledges that way as a last use of that system.
You will need to pay shipping
While I'm providing full credit for your pledge, including whatever shipping you paid. I need all backers to pay for whatever the current shipping cost is on whatever they pick from my Etsy.com and ZucatiCorp.com sites. That means I'm crediting shipping and then requiring shipping on pledges processed through those sites.
Everyone with an outstanding pledge should do this
1. Find your pledge, here or on Backerkit.
2. Write down how much it was for including shipping charged.
3. Go to: ZucatiCorp.com or Etsy.com (Store name: ZucatiCorp)
4. Contact me through one of those two sites and I'll setup either a coupon or custom order for you that you can use to purchase whatever is available on my site.
5. If all else fails, contact me at: [email protected] with the same info and I can get the ball rolling that way, though with the e-mail throughput I have daily, this is the slowest option.
Why I'm doing this
I've tried working inside the Kickstarter and Backerkit walled gardens. I've tried using their tools and their processes and it's failed and failed and failed.
I've been successful using my own sites and processes so I need to do whats working for me.
I need to eat, pay rent and continue growing my business, one that I'm working on for what I believe will be the rest of my life. I love doing it, I'm good at it and I can't put it aside or delay it anymore than I already have for these Kickstarter projects which are not working they way I've been trying. A good friend of mine told me to do what works, till it doesn't then do something else that works. That's what I'm doing.
Thank you for helping start and grow ZucatiCorp
While this all may seem to some like I'm giving up, coping out, or in some way not delivering on what I promised you in exchange for your pledge of support, I don't see it that way.
You helped me create ZucatiCorp. You helped me buy equipment, expand my skill, grow my business knowledge and make the contacts, supply-chain improvements and materials purchases in a time-frame I would not have been able to do alone.
You have all been extremely important supporters and investors in my skill, talent, creativity and work. And you've enabled me to make a huge career-shift from something that I now think was killing me slowly to something I look forward to doing every day.
You.
And for that I will always be grateful and do whatever I can to repay your kindness and support as I am able.
Lastly - What I really need
I know that by posting this here and then not looking back it's possible that some folks who pledged will not get the message. So if you're reading this, and you know someone that needs to hear this message, please send them along here to read it, or just tell them what they need to get their pledge fulfilled. Basically just go to one of my sites and contact me so I can transfer their pledge.
Additionally, I would ask that anyone who can, or wants to, donate their pledge and simply move on. You've supported me already and that's gotten me and ZucatiCorp here. If you can, dropping your pledge and being satisfied with the knowledge that you've done a very good thing and helped me become a better person and provide my services and products to the world would be of the most help to me.
I'm not going to ask this of anyone outside of these Kickstarters or again as I see this as a one-time thing for both you and me, but if you're feeling charitable, I've been though a lot, and this is one way you could really help me without any further trouble or expense.
Thank you.
Thanks again for your support, this is the best I can do, and it gives everyone with an outstanding pledge to use that pledge for something I've been able to make with their support. It's not like I planed at the beginning of this, but it is where we all are now. It doesn't leave anyone behind and offers everyone a choice as to how to proceed.
I have no plans to come back to Kickstarter, at this point it's done for me and ZucatiCorp what I originally wanted which was to help me start a business, and then grow it. Mission Accomplished. It's been harder and messier than I wanted or intended, but Kickstarter did it's job. And so did you by participating.
Thank you.
- Hal