Early Birds

[jerichoholic]

I was just thinking I don't understand the point of some early birds, specifically when a creator does 1 single pledge for like $5. These only seem to benefit one person who apparently spends way too much money on his internet. If it only benefits the same person all the time, it just doesn't seem fair or justifiable. Why should 1 person always get rewarded? For fairness I ask that all creators refrain from this rewards who only benefit 1 single person and don't even bring anything to the project in terms of value or funding. Seems like a no-win situation for anyone involved other than the 1 person.

I personally don't care, I don't have time to sit on my computer all day and wait for projects to launch to get the early bird, I just don't see the point or how it's fair to everyone else who backs projects.

[ecNate]

Obviously it's not about fair, it's about marketing and driving initial interest, along with possibly leveraging the community to drive more external interest. I would agree though that what is better is a larger sized EB that brings more people in a good, but not crazy discount. This then helps drive initial interest and these people have a greater stake in seeing it funded, or so the theory goes, and will be more active in pushing it and driving grassroots marketing for the creator. The EBs that give a single person $100 worth of stuff and nothing for anybody else is counter productive because there are so many disappointed people that missed out on such a huge discount they feel like they missed out and thus the regular price is less appealing and may get upset like you have. Simply providing a larger group a small discount, possibly at cost or just above would serve them better.

[volantangel]

Now victor what's the point in bitching about this ? Are you having to pay more for the generosity of the creator ? Just because Pierre gets all the special eb, why does it affect you in one bit ? It's giving back to whoever gets there first, why should races have a first prize ? Why not the first 20 people have equal prizes ?

[Cbkimble]

Awww, poor poor Victor has to spend more money on campaigns instead of being happy for Pierre.

[CBJ]

I personally don't care

If you don't care... then why start this thread

[montecarlojoe]

Nate has it on the nose here - it's a sound marketing technique. Whilst you may not be one of them Vic, plenty of people will log in especially to try to get the early birds. Then when they see that the actual deck pledge is only two bucks more.... well why not right?

Sure it can be frustrating that Pierre seems to have a direct private fibre connection to the kickstarter servers lol, but that's the game!

[Mike Ratledge]

Pierre has been consistently first to pledge many projects, EB or not. If projects offer them, it's his to get. Not many people have fibre to their house, but it is getting more common.

I got in first - once. He must have been sleeping.

[jerichoholic]

Pierre has been consistently first to pledge many projects, EB or not. If projects offer them, it's his to get. Not many people have fibre to their house, but it is getting more common.

I got in first - once. He must have been sleeping.

That's the problem, it only seems to benefit one person, why should the one person get so many deals and not anyone else? And the creators get zero from this, only lose money on it. It only benefits the one person. Surely I can't be the only one who feels this one. There is no point to them. Might as well just change the name from Early Birds to Pierre Birds.

[ecNate]

While Victor's comments may come across as simple whining, which clearly it is, he does have a point here. Providing a single early bird is very likely a waste of money for the creator and doesn't serve well as a very effective marketing element either, it's simply a gift for a lucky individual. Which is perfectly fine of course, but I would still argue that providing 50 EBs at 20-25% off is much more effective as an ongoing marketing tool, as well as driving and maintaining initial interest. Plus it appeals to the 'participation trophy generation' as well.

I think there is good advice in here for project creators, even if it was disguised in a pity party comment. If the intent is to provide a gift through a rigged game I have no problem with it, but they should consider if it's the best use of their time and profit compared to potential benefits of spreading it across to other backers which may have a greater impact to their bottom line and success of the project.

Personally I have manged to be first quite a few times, but never when it really mattered. I congratulate those who might have the ability to grab the first one and get those great deals that have existed which yes really is just a contest to see who can click the fastest and biased to those with the fastest fingers and connections. Who lives near Pierre that can cut his Internet connection 2 min before the next one?

[badpete69]

Wow... Was talking with jay and he let me know about this thread. Victor has always complain to me wether here or on ebay. He once gave me crap for having a buy it now auction and not giving chance to people to bid on it and went on to lecture me that it would never sell at that prize. It got so annoying thta I had to block him on ebay. And of course the item sold within 1 day

I'm sorry you feel it is unfair Victor but what can I say. Yes I am online all the time which is my advantage here but fast internet helps. And by the way, it is totally common here to have fiber to the house and it is cheaper than cable and dsl. So i do not pay that much for it. Plus let's make sure we clarify here. MOST EB are multiple pledges of 5, 10 and even 20 or more. So 20 people are getting EBs not just me. There were only (2) 1 of 1 pledges that I got and that's the mathis stuff and the Shane Tyree chosen one pledge which was in fact for 5 people. In the end tons of people get the early birds, but become I pledge first it gives the illusion that only I get it

ooo time to check if a deck has been released on KS quick quick

[Mike Ratledge]

Exactly my point, and I see both sides. Vic doesn't have fibre, I am stuck on a satellite link, which automatically gives me a 2- 3-second delay, if not more.

As FIOS and Google Fiber to premises from others become more common, it will be more fair, but to say Pierre is taking things is absurd. Sure, I agree with Nate, as well.

It's the campaign runners who should know better than offering the old "$1 gets everything in this project" tier for one person, it turns everyone looking for a few bucks off. (off off?)

Works both ways, Victor. If you had a 1gigbit connection, you would buy them - if they were available. Why is Pierre wrong for doing so? Because you can't get it? I have the most handicapped Internet service provider possible, but I don't moan and groan...

[CBJ]

Victor. If you had a 1gigbit connection, you would buy them - if they were available. Why is Pierre wrong for doing so? Because you can't get it?

This sums it up perfectly... he's really only bitching because HE'S not the one getting the EB. If he was the one landing the deals, he'd be saying that everything if fine.

[Eoghann]

Shame on you Pierre.

On the plus side, it makes all the early birds we get before you all that much sweeter.

[badpete69]

In the end Dan, as long as I get one of them I don't care if I'm first or last... as long as I get one

[jerichoholic]

I'm not trying to start anything, just what ecnate said but in a different way. It doesn't benefit the creator so I don't understand the point.

Like I said before, I don't care. I have gotten some early birds myself, I just don't see the point in the single $5 ones is all.

I don't even use EBay so I don't know about that comment

[montecarlojoe]

Anything that creates a buzz is good for the creator of a project...

[Mike Ratledge]

...and - what Joe said!

[HudsonDesign]

I think it depends on how you do it. It might bring in some marketing ideals to create buzz. But a single twin set for $1?? Not that much really. But the One that was on (was it Icons?) or something else recently where the pledge was for the next 5 decks as well or something like that. That is clever. Its like winning the lottery. And despite the fact that every time people hear someone in X town just won $20 million they grumble and moan, who needs it more. Wasted on them etc etc. They all go out and buy that ticket the next time it hits that 20 Mil mark.

If its done well it can be a massive traffic mover. And Kickstarters all about the traffic. More traffic the more likely they promote, feature and rank you better. And if you ever get a feature email then your golden.