Delicious by Emmanuel Jose - Now live on KS

[Gamblers Warehouse]

Its because everyone is getting affected by your business practice !!
We never thought you would cancel our pledge even though we helped you when your project was not funding because i personally like your projects and have been pledging on every project...

[decibelhz]

I actually thought the can was a placeholder image because it was a "Mystery" item and you didn't want to give away what it was. I didn't think I was actually going to get the can that was pictured. At least that's what the copy led me to believe. oh well

[ecNate]

@E: Call me crazy, but that can easily be misinterpreted as an item contained within the can. I guess quite literally what you see is what you get. Ah well..

I'm probably the biggest Emmanuel fan around, but while likely not intentionally misleading it certainly confused pretty much everybody and I am shocked to hear they were empty. When I saw that pop up as an option I thought, oh, a mystery item. Perhaps an early sketch, discarded idea or miscut original work, etc. I NEVER would have guessed it was JUST the can itself. Where is the mystery? I skipped it so not impacted, but boy am I glad I skipped it. It's neat, but certainly not something I would have even considered if I had known. I suppose packaging and shipping drove up the costs, plus the effort to make it, so it's not a rip off, just confusing and a let down for many I'm sure. This will ruin any future chance of me ever trying a grab/mystery bag though.

The GW thing makes me realize how small and undeveloped the custom card industry is. Ideally every artist would have a huge tier for 10+ bricks that come with promotion images or rights to use, plus a discount for extra bulk order. It seems like it would be a good idea, but then again if they did that then the artists would really be undercutting themselves and lose chance to sell direct to consumer if retailers late can sell for same or less than the Kickstarter because of larger bulk discounts. So I can understand both sides here, but it's hardly "unethical", it's his choice on how to sell and if he requires retailers to use their own images and request credit. Really weird this is all being aired openly too. While not unethical perhaps his lack of response is unprofessional, but I would question who went down that road first...

Over all I'll still get Emmanuel's future decks and will still buy from GW. I hope you guys kiss and make up, because this is embarrassing.

[Gamblers Warehouse]

We would love to get this settled...If he had any issues with his pictures listed on our website he should have contacted us about it... But barely using this as an excuse to refund an order is not fair.
Other retailers have bought his decks so its certainly not that he does not want to sell to retailers specially at the retail price which every other backer is receiving.

[Emmanuel]

Nate, you're right, it is embarrassing, and I'm sorry this is all airing out in the open like this. More importantly, I'm sorry for disappointing or letting anyone down. If you have concerns about your pledge, please email me (emjose@gmail.com) or send me a private message. It's been an eye-opening, humbling week, and this community is very important to me.

[Cbkimble]

I'm kinda at Crossroads. I was expecting a "mystery item", not a couple of empty cans. That's not cool at all. I could've gotten the uncut but I was hoping for some cool item and end up with two empty cans. Novelty they are not.

[shermjack]

I agree with all on the issue with the mystery item/can...thought it is definitely different, it is also definitely something that I would not have pledged for knowing what it was.

[volantangel]

I'll echo what the others have said, at that price everyone was expecting more and not just that can. Didn't I read explicitly in an update that it's not going to be the can ?

[Emmanuel]

Didn't I read explicitly in an update that it's not going to be the can ?

I never stated that in any update.

As I've already told Brent and Michael, for anyone who ordered the mystery item or mystery set, I'd be happy to offer you a refund for the item or set, but the artwork must be destroyed according to my instructions. You are welcome to email me at emjose@gmail.com for specific instructions on how to destroy the artwork to receive the full refund.

[EvanEssence]

It was a mystery item! I took it as a 20 dollar gamble. I was hoping for maybe a curator deck, but it just as well could have been 20 dollars donated to the next EJ deck and a thank you card and I would have dealt with it.

I don't want a refund for the mystery item not am I pissed about it, I just hope my 20 bux is going towards your next deck in some way. Maybe make it up to the pissed off customers by some sort of free gift for backers or an upgrade to the deck in the next project? Just a thought!

[Mike Ratledge]

Eddie, please take the issue to private mail. It's not something that should be aired here in public, no different than any other dispute that both sides could have handled better.

Guys, the can is a piece of art. I suppose everyone here is too young to remember Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup cans? I can see how people might have expected something more or different, but again, that's what the (private) PM system is for - if for some reason you don't have Emmanuel's email address. It's not like he hides it, and the statement that he did not reply is not a valid reason to ride his arse here in public.

I'm not trying to take sides, in opposite, as always I see both sides of the coin(s). This is not the place.

Let's get back on topic...

[bamabenz]

Eddie, please take the issue to private mail. It's not something that should be aired here in public, no different than any other dispute that both sides could have handled better. ...

I'm finding the exchange refreshing. I've heard many designers complain about retailers, but this is the first time I've seen a designer turn-down a (large!) KS pledge. Compare what Emmanuel did to the artists who sell at a discount to retailers (and even have them do their fulfillment) which results in their decks being offered for less on eBay before other backers get their reward.

I'm grateful to GW that he brought his complaint to UC.

Emmanuel does not have anything to be embarrassed about.
Quite the contrary -- his stance left money on the table.

/bama

[DragonSoul]

I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed when I opened my package yesterday. I completely understand the soup can as an art piece. It's clever and different just like Randy's mini bowling pin. I would have been satisfied with receiving one even if it didn't open. What I didn't expect was 1) for the companion piece to be ANOTHER can and 2) for one of them to actually have the words "Mystery Item" on the label. That makes absolutely no sense to me. I also thought the picture was a placeholder for something else not a picture of the actual item! I won't be taking any more chances on mystery items.