Shipping outside Kickstarter

[Conturbia]

I don't even know if it's legal - from the Kickstarter perspective - but would you back a playing cards project that makes you pay the shipping after the campaign, before fulfilling?

[chicken_ql]

I don't even know if it's legal - from the Kickstarter perspective - but would you back a playing cards project that makes you pay the shipping after the campaign, before fulfilling?

Depends how expensive the cards were and how badly I want the cards

[hsbc]

I've had this happen with board games and books on KS - usually they use BackerKit to charge shipping

[Merlebird]

I've had this happen with board games and books on KS - usually they use BackerKit to charge shipping

Same. It's actually not uncommon. I think it's usually done either to simplify the calculation of shipping costs for add-ons pledged for during the campaign, or else as a way for the creator/campaign manager to avoid eating any increase in shipping costs between campaign launch and fulfillment.

I don't really have a problem with it either way, so long as the creator says upfront that they will be charging shipping after the campaign; those costs can be pretty volatile, especially internationally, as I'm sure you know. I doubt Kickstarter has a problem with it either, since from their perspective it's no different from any other pledge tier that doesn't include shipping (many food- or performance-related projects, for example, stipulate local pickup only).

[MagikFingerz]

I'm surprised more projects aren't doing this. KS takes their percentage of everything raised, so you'd save a fair amount of money right there (though perhaps not if done through backerkit, don't they take a similar cut as well?).

[Conturbia]

I don't even know if it's legal - from the Kickstarter perspective - but would you back a playing cards project that makes you pay the shipping after the campaign, before fulfilling?

Depends how expensive the cards were and how badly I want the cards

in the end the project will suffer ... that's the bottom line

[Conturbia]

I've had this happen with board games and books on KS - usually they use BackerKit to charge shipping

Same. It's actually not uncommon. I think it's usually done either to simplify the calculation of shipping costs for add-ons pledged for during the campaign, or else as a way for the creator/campaign manager to avoid eating any increase in shipping costs between campaign launch and fulfillment.

I don't really have a problem with it either way, so long as the creator says upfront that they will be charging shipping after the campaign; those costs can be pretty volatile, especially internationally, as I'm sure you know. I doubt Kickstarter has a problem with it either, since from their perspective it's no different from any other pledge tier that doesn't include shipping (many food- or performance-related projects, for example, stipulate local pickup only).

There is something in the rules about it. Local pickup is a different thing, but you can't (or shouldn't? ) "fake" a digital reward to avoid that. If you mark it as digital, you can't mark it "shipped" on Kickstarter (actually I never did that...)

[Conturbia]

I'm surprised more projects aren't doing this. KS takes their percentage of everything raised, so you'd save a fair amount of money right there (though perhaps not if done through backerkit, don't they take a similar cut as well?).

Yes, backerkit will cost you money. And... I guess you figured out the point: KS would give up to some revenues...

[guru]

As said above, it is not uncommon on Kickstarter but when you look at the projects taking shipping outside of Kickstarter, you will find that the product offered has a reward price of US$55 or more at least, and in many cases it is close to a 100 bucks or more. A board game or even some electronics will have both volume & weight associated with it, and putting the shipping through Kickstarter would mean either one of the following:

1. Put some buffer on the shipping cost per reward- means backers pay more
2. Charge the true cost as charged by fulfillment company - This means that the creator has to pay from his or her own pocket or absorb the cost in the reward pricing.

Taking the shipping cost out of Kickstarter is a win-win for both the creator & the backers but when it is a low priced reward (as compared to a board game) like a playing card deck ($12-$15 as an example), it could make backers wary of backing the project itself. My 2 cents.

[Bradius]

David kind of did this with those that pledged for full sets on The Planets. However, we settled up on Backerkit or whatever it is called. Still, it was a lot cheaper than getting the decks as we went along.

[JackBrutusPenny]

I'm surprised more projects aren't doing this. KS takes their percentage of everything raised, so you'd save a fair amount of money right there (though perhaps not if done through backerkit, don't they take a similar cut as well?).

A surprisingly obvious yet good point that many creators (including myself) don't realise there may be other ways to approach. Though as a consumer, don't you feel knowing the exact total cost upfront is preferable?

[MagikFingerz]

I'm surprised more projects aren't doing this. KS takes their percentage of everything raised, so you'd save a fair amount of money right there (though perhaps not if done through backerkit, don't they take a similar cut as well?).

A surprisingly obvious yet good point that many creators (including myself) don't realise there may be other ways to approach. Though as a consumer, don't you feel knowing the exact total cost upfront is preferable?

Yeah, but surely the cost can be disclosed during the campaign?

[Bradius]

I understand the shipping challenges, so I might be willing to deal with shipping costs after the campaign. I have been in a few Kicstarter campaigns where the shipping costs were not finalized until after the campaign. Mainly the reason was that they didn't nknow what the final weight was going to be due to bonus goals being met and such. Plus, it was going to be heavy anyway.

The campaign I am thinking of hasn't shipped yet, so not sure how that will work out in the end. They did estimate the shipping (it was steep, no lie), but they warned it may have to go up even more, especially for some international locations. They were upfront on it, and a bunch of people would not back it because of it.

If you do go that route, expect some people to be upset and not understanding. Try to state your position simply and stick to it. You will lose potential backers over that position though. You have a good reputation, so I expect you will retain most of your loyal fans.

[JackBrutusPenny]

I'm surprised more projects aren't doing this. KS takes their percentage of everything raised, so you'd save a fair amount of money right there (though perhaps not if done through backerkit, don't they take a similar cut as well?).

A surprisingly obvious yet good point that many creators (including myself) don't realise there may be other ways to approach. Though as a consumer, don't you feel knowing the exact total cost upfront is preferable?

Yeah, but surely the cost can be disclosed during the campaign?

Yeah, I'm sure for the repeat Kickstarter user/backer they know to check shipping details. But when pages open in the reward tab - especially on mobile devices - I have a lot of my art supporters now backing my currently running art playing cards campaign, who ask hundreds of questions that are explicitly laid out in the campaign page information. My point is that if it's not written on the price when they click the reward, a less inquisitive backer may feel duped. I wasn't even sure if I should include the shipping in reward price and then put it as free shipping to be totally clear (though the issue there is domestic and international prices differ and it makes the cards look more expensive.