Kickstarter, Inc.

Hello,
We hope this response helps you and the complainant understand how Kickstarter works
Kickstarter is a platform where one party, the Creator, runs a campaign to raise money from other parties, the Backers, to fund a creative projectThe
filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projectsKickstarter is a platform and a resourceKickstarter is not involved in the development of the projects themselves
When users back a project, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our terms of useKickstarter is not a party to that agreement between the Backer and Project CreatorAll dealings are solely between users
Regards,
Kickstarter

AwfulThis company has a huge problem on obtaining any factual information on whether or not a company will be able to keep a guaranteed ship date
This website lures customers into funding projects by setting unrealistic product delivery dates on a extremely frequent basis
One of the projects I backed is a year behind the delivery date
Any communication from Kickstarter with the customer of their website? Absolutely not
Someone please file a class action based on gross negligence for allows Kickstarters
Kickstarter needs to take responsibility for their company and the service it offers
Kickstarter could care less what gets funded, after all, they collect 20% of the money raised
Such a shamBeware of this website
Stary was a waste of money

Kickstarter expects all members of our community to follow our rules (***) and Community Guidelines (***)Because these principles ensure the health of the Kickstarter community, failure to abide by them may result in the
revocation of certain account privileges, such as the option to launch a project on Kickstarter
While we cannot publicly comment on the reasons for actions regarding a specific user, we privately communicated to the complainant the reasons that his project was not permitted to launch.
Regards,
Kickstarter

Hello,
We're sorry for *** ***'s negative experienceAs previously explained, project fulfillment and/or the issuance of refunds are entirely within the project creator's controlKickstarter cannot issue a refund of its fees under these circumstances, but we encourage the backer to reach out directly to the project creator to request a refund or seek a resolutionWith that being said, we have reached out to the creator to encourage them to update backers on the progress of the project.
Finally, Kickstarter's Terms of Use give backers a legal recourse if a creator doesn't fulfill their promisesWe hope that backers will consider that option only in cases where they believe that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfillIf this backer believes legal action is appropriate, we encourage them to talk to an attorney about how to proceed
Regards,
Kickstarter

Hello, It's unfortunate that the *** project has not yet been able to send rewards to their backers However, when a creator provides a shipping date for rewards on a Kickstarter project, our site clearly displays it as an estimated shipping dateAs these products and rewards
are creative in nature and do not yet exist, it is not possible to have guaranteed shipping dates. This backer is correct in regards to Kickstarter’s position in regards to delivery of rewards and refundsEach time a pledge is made on the site, a notification appears to each user that states, "Kickstarter does not guarantee projects or investigate a creator's ability to complete their projectIt is the responsibility of the project creator to complete their project as promised, and the claims of this project are theirs alone." Below this, we link to our Trust Page, which outlines additional details. When a user backs a project on Kickstarter, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: ***Our Terms of Use outline the responsibilities of backers and creatorsThis information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreementWhile Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of itWe do not investigate a project creator’s ability to complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewardsThis information is publicly available and provided for all users on our Trust Page: ***. Due to the fact that we are not part of this agreement, we are unable to facilitate or mediate any type of legal dispute between backer and creatorWe have reached out several times to the creator of the *** project to relay the concerns of their backer community and encourage them to reach out to their backers. While we can encourage creators to respond to their backers, we are unable to force them to do soThe responsibilities of communication and fulfillment are strictly between the creator and backerWhile we can reach out to creators through Kickstarter, we are not able to take any action on activity that takes place on third-party services (such as ***, personal emails, ***, or other websites). While the Terms of Use can serve as a legal recourse for backers, we are clear that Kickstarter is not involved in that process in numerous places on our siteWe have reminded this backer of the Terms of Use to which she agreed upon pledging to a project on our site, and encourage her to continue reaching out to the creator. Best,Kickstarter

Hi there,While we cannot speak to the specifics of the project in question as it is not named in this complaint, I'm happy to provide more details about how Kickstarter works.Projects that launch on Kickstarter are often very early in the development processThis gives backers an
opportunity to be a part of the creative process from the beginningIt also makes backing a project on Kickstarter very different from purchasing an item in a store.Here at Kickstarter HQ, we expect creators to fulfill rewards, offer refunds if they’re unable to complete their project, and communicate with backers at every step along the wayWhile Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of itWe do not investigate a project creator’s ability to complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewardsWhile in most cases you’ll find that rewards are delivered as promised, it’s also important to realize that some projects might not fulfill as planned.When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: ***These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creatorsThis information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreementWe hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill.Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
As Kickstarter already knows I've made multiple attempts to contact the project creator to resolve this issue and they refuse to deal with itKickstarter processed my purchase and ultimately was the infrastructure that screened the project creatorsThey bare some responsibility either to process the refunds or to be advocates for customersAll I am asking for is to receive refunds for the items that I did return
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,
*** ***

Hi there,
At Kickstarter, we expect creators to fulfill rewards, offer refunds if they’re unable to complete their project, and communicate with backers at every step along the wayWhile Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of itWe do not investigate a project creator’s ability to complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewardsWhile in most cases you’ll find that rewards are delivered as promised, it’s also important to realize that some projects might not fulfill as planned.When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: ***These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creatorsThis information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreementWe hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill
Best,
Kickstarter

Hello,
Kickstarter is a platform where one party, the Creator, runs a campaign to raise money from other parties, the Backers, to fund a creative projectWe’re a home for everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology
The filmmakers,
musicians, artists, and designers on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projectsProject creators offer rewards to thank backers for their supportKickstarter is a platform and a resourceWe’re not involved in the development or fulfillment of the projects themselves and, apart from the fee that we collect directly from the project creators, we do not collect or store payments from backersWe urge this backer to contact the project creator directly to inquire about the status of the project
Regards,
Kickstarter

Hello,
Kickstarter is a platform where one party, the Creator, runs a campaign to raise money from other parties, the Backers, to fund a creative projectThe filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects
Kickstarter is a platform and a resourceKickstarter is not involved in the development of the projects themselves
When users back a project, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our terms of useKickstarter is not a party to that agreement between the Backer and Project CreatorWe've noted *** ***'s complaint about this project in our system, but all dealings are solely between users.
Regards,
Kickstarter

Hello,
Kickstarter is a platform where one party, the Creator, runs a campaign to raise money from other parties, the Backers, to fund a creative projectThe filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects
Kickstarter is a platform and a resourceKickstarter is not involved in the development of the projects themselves.
Backers pledge to projects in order to help those projects come to life; they are providing support, not purchasing a product as they would at a storeWhen users back a project, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our terms of useKickstarter is not a party to that agreement between the Backer and Project CreatorAll dealings are solely between users
Regards,
Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
Kickstarter says,"When users back a project, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our terms of useKickstarter is not a party to that agreement between the Backer and Project CreatorAll dealings are solely between users." this is not true.....Kickstarter fees are based on the amount the project creator
collects from the backers....the more the project creator collects, the more kickstarter receives in fees....Therefore, kickstarter does have an "interest" in every project created on their website, and, in my opinion, is a partner with every project.....The only way kickstarter would not be a "partner" is if kickstarter charged a "flat fee" to every project creator for the use of the kickstarter website
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,
*** ***

Hello,
Kickstarter is a platform where one party, the Creator, runs a campaign to raise money from other parties, the Backers, to fund a creative projectThe filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects:
we’re not involved in the development of the projects themselves
Kickstarter takes accusations of fraud very seriously, and monitors activities on the site vigilantly
That being said, when users back a project, they enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our terms of use. While Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of itKickstarter itself cannot force the creator to fulfill rewards, offer refunds, or communicate with backers (though we encourage them to do so)Kickstarter cannot issue refunds, as transactions are between backers and the project creator
We encourage this backer to contact the creator about her issue by clicking the "Contact me" link in the profile pane of the project page
Regards,
Kickstarter

After years and over 5k donated to a project that never came though, in attempt to get clarity from Kickstarter, they wrote back form letter mails that never answered my questions and never actually respondedI clearly asked in over emails what could be done and they sent back robot response emails that never actually responded or would say " contact the creator" when from the very first email I wrote clearly explained what was the issueAfter a week of strange emails and no possibility of contacting a person, or getting a clear response, I urge others not ever to use this company!

How can you allow this baby bunny book to be funded? Again, this is abuse at the hands of people who raise these rabbits for meatThey do not care about these rabbits and exploited this baby rabbit for their own greedI will boycott your site if you continue to allow this

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
The canned response provided by kickstarter did not answer why kickstarter was not standing behind the policy which I cut and pasted directly from their websiteThe response they provided was word for word match which other individuals have received from kickstarter for situations which were very different than mineA cut and paste response does not answer my complaint
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,
*** ***

Kickstarter does not conduct proper due diligence on what are purported to be entrepreneurs and inventors For example, a new product called AutoSteady is reported to be not from an inventor, but rather from a Chinese exporter/distributor posing as an 'inventor' or whatever terminology Kickstarter uses Moreover, by their own admission, Kickstarter does not support 'funders' nor do they stand behind the products funded Their people do not have their own email so everything you contact them its a different person (feels like a shell game) When asked specific questions about returns, their due diligence process, etc., they selectively choose which questions they respond to Lastly, their is no phone number to contact them with
I have a defective product called AutoSteady (as do a number of others)
I am giving 'AutoSteady' and Kickstarter additional days to refund my money or I will begin writing to the Attorney General, posting to blogs about Kickstarter and making consumers aware on social media to avoid this organization

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
[The resolution is for Kickstarter to remove our project from the Kickstarter website and they have not done soRemoval from the Kickstarter website is necessary because the negative and disparaging comments on the Kickstarter website will otherwise be seen indefinitely by potential customers, investors and our communityThese comments are the direct result of Kickstarter's irresponsible generation of innuendo via their (literally) incomplete and disparaging email sent to our project's pledgers.Kickstarter continues to take no responsibility what-so-ever to clarify, provide comment or explanation for their actions that have generated this damaging innuendoAfter approving our project, we launched it exactly as we had described it to KickstarterKickstarter then suspended our project without notice or explanation and then sent a disparaging and suggestive email (attached) to pledgers from their "Integrity Team." The text of the email is literally incompleteIt says we have "demonstrated one or more of the following:" but in fact provides no list of the "following." It further states that they "find strong evidence" that we are "misrepresenting" ourselvesThe email generated innuendo and negative comments on the Kickstarter website, which remain accessible to the public and search enginesWe have no ability to defend ourselves or respondThis is wholly unfair and damaging to our companyThey should not be allowed to continue to capriciously, and without consequence, damage our company's reputation by keeping the project and comments on their website. Kickstarter should remove the project and comments form their website ]
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,
*** ***

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
[Your Answer Here]
I reject this answer because Kickstarter makes their money off of a serviceThe service being a platform for people to gather donationsKickstarter takes a percentage of the funds gathered as a feeHowever, Kickstarter does nothing to protect the people that they are taking the money from, they only protect the people placing project on the site and making Kickstarter moneyI have reached out to Kickstarter, I have reached out to the project creator and no one wants to helpThe project creator says "I'll send you a refund when I get around to it but you aren't a backer anymore and I won't respond to you." I've contacted my bank and just by the way Kickstarter is setup to much time has passed for a charge backKickstarter is protecting a project creator who is taking people's money, harassing them, slandering them and victimizing themBecause this is being done on Kickstarter's website, Kickstarter is just as liable. Given a few minutes of research, this is not the first time that Kickstarter has run into problems between backers and project creatorsYou have a TOS for project creators however, you don't enforce themYou have a project creator who is in clear violation of your TOS yet, you do nothing to help those he has scammedIs that because you will lose your 5% of his over funded project? All I'm asking and have been asking is that you work with the project creator to get my refund just as timely as you worked with him to remove the money from my bank accountI've been asking him for a refund since OctoberI've been asking for Kickstarter's help since DecemberAll I've gotten is "oh not our fault"Apparently no one is at fault, but you got your $from the project, he got his $46,from the project , he's got several people asking for refunds and several people asking Kickstarter for helpAnd people have been asking for your help on getting refunds on this project since November. Why are you all about helping those who take the money but not about helping getting the money back from those who have scammed and victimized backers?
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,*** ***

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ***, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
Kickstarter took the money out of my account The Bank statement does not give the creator's name as the one receiving the money It is Kickstarter that received the money and they should refund my $as I never got what was promised I have repeatedly tried to contact the creator and Kickstarter and neither will return my inquiries I want the $that Kickstarter took refunded to me from Kickstarter
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above
Sincerely,
*** ***