If I could, I would give it 0 Stars.

Kickstarter is the biggest scam ever. It doesn't protect the people that put in the money, which is us, the backer.

All they care about is getting more creators in to drive in more people to pay for stuff that's not even that great or to pay for nothing.

Once the project is funded and kickstarter gives like maybe 60% of it to the creators to create the products, they don't care and they release all responsibilities.

So BEWARE, if it's too good to be true, it's TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

For example, I backed the dash cam with a 360 camera (No one has done this before, so now it seems it's too good to be true) the Vezo 360 by Arvizon. They promised the world that they would ship by September 2019, yet delays after delays after delays and then COVID-19 was the excuse and now they aren't even replying or updating the project. With no product and no refund, this whole project looks exactly like a scam.

I would rant on in the comments and my last few comments were of me exposing the CEO of Arvizon, Vivek Soni was the CTO of another company called TwoEyesTech which also had a campaign for a VR camera which was also "delayed" many months!

After posting that, Kickstarter deleted ALL my comments about those and took my commenting privileges away.

Talk about protecting the scammers.

After the projects I've backed so far, I will never back another project on kickstarter again.

They recieved money and didnt ship it since october
No customer service
Dont let them decieve you

I have tried two crowdfunding platforms and one of which is Kickstarter. I would say Kickstarter was the worst experience I had in many ways.

1. Review team slow in response. Question... are you guys really following your protocol? I set up a campaign to get new equipment for a long term project of fine arts and selling it for part of the returns to give back to society, you guys call it as an intention for charity. If my campaign is for the purpose of charity, then why are there at least 2 campaigns in the same category as I am, photography, but you still approve of their campaign when... at the end of it both of us are having the same direction? OR its just a random answer to by time on your end? I had ro practically revamp the whole advert and now...? Three business days? After 3 days I had to practically chase after you guys to check the status of my campaign. New joiners... just bear this in mind when you join in, after they had reviewed your campaign and they say just reply when the adjustments had been done, expect the reply in donkey years if you dont chase after them. Whats the purpose of having a timed campaign when the review team have no sense of urgency?

2. The only crowdfunding site that boasts 11.9million people backing Kickstarter projects. Ghosts? Based on the site traffic driven to Kickstarter? Or really there's a community behind it that's ready to sponsor a campaign. I'd love to see my campaign fly based on your so called 11.9million backers.

3. Genuine new projects or just clones? This might be a wake up call to the so called review team. Most of the projects I've read have all been designed, produced and shipped from their country of origin. And here comes another buddy cloning the same thing but using other material? If you cant differentiate an original idea, then you are simply wasting the investors or community funding. For God's sake there are even three Singapore accounts marketing the same campaign and you guys still release it?

I have only been through the website up til their useless frontlines. Until now its the 3rd time submitting my campaign for review and its my 3rd time chasing after them for the status. At the time of this review, no response yet from their so called review team. Let's see if my original idea based campaign is approved by them or it will go through a fourth so called review. If it is approved, let's see if the 11.9million people really exists or they are simply based on site traffic driven by campaign owner who have to invest to direct traffic to their campaign via Kickstarter link.

Let's see how it goes...

Kickstarter is just short of an out and out scam. You put your money in and if the people who raised the money through Kickstarter fail to deliver for whatever reason, even when they actually admit that they never planned to deliver on parts of what was promised during fundraising, Kickstarter just throws their hands up in the air and does nothing. I've had extensive emails back and forth with their customer support over one such project, and they essentially told me that my only option was to contact the project creators for redress, which I did to no avail, and, if they didn't work, sue, which the average person isn't going to do. I'd have more protection if I bought something on eBay through PayPal from a random person. Eventually they just stop responding to emails.

Quite honestly, I don't think this company should be allowed to operate this way. At some point, a company that takes on projects knowing that some portion will turn out to be fraudulent, takes a percentage of the funds raised, and then stonewalls and keeps their cut is participating in the fraud.

Steer clear. If the product is good, it or something like it will find a market and you can buy it from a retail outlet you trust when its ready. Kickstarters often offer what they say is a discount relative to the retail price, but you've got to weigh that against the knowledge that there's a chance people will just keep your money and essentially flip you off, and also that there may be a sale later that is even better than the "price" kick starter is offering things for.

I backed a project from a musician who's work I loved who's been making music since the 60s. He screwed us all over, even wrote an update quoting me personally and flaming me. Now I have trouble listening to some of my favorite songs without thinking of that experience and how unscrupulous the guy is. I also wound up having a falling out with an online community of fans who I knew for a long time and who felt it was an honor just to give this guy money and anything we got back was a bonus. So, the cost can be more than just financial.

Crowd sourcing wasn't a bad idea in theory, but it requires a site that can exercise contractual rights that allow it to garnish the money from the person running an individual project that goes rogue to refund the backers and that is willing to do that. Kickstarter isn't a site that can or will do that, so unless you're willing to sue, anyone can screw you on there and leave you with little recourse.

I wish we had stronger consumer protection laws that would force these companies to take some responsibility or shut the down.

Below is what I posted on my Kickstarter project page. I did not let the project run its course, but instead stopped after the first week into the 37 day project term. A worthy project titled "Reserve" In memory of Kennedy" (The project is continuing without kickstart.)

Project link for kickstart;
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/*******/reserve-in-memory-of-kennedy

Project link for project continuation;
www.lorensalazar.com___________________________________________________

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST & LAST UPDATE TO THIS PROJECT.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO FUND THIS PROJECT, IT HAS BEEN CANCELED BY THE AUTHOR FOR REASONS BELOW.____________________________________________________

I have been completely disappointed in the reality of Kickstarter compared to the image they give to the public and contributors.

The public is mislead to believe that the hard earned money they support a project with goes to that project.

That's not correct.

When we launched this project, on the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's death, Nov. 22,2014, we were not contacted by supporters. We were instead contacted over and over by a flock of independent hucksters, salesmen, carnival barkers, fast talking sales personnel. Their messages were all the same;

"Pay us and we will promote you project. Do not pay us, and you will fail."

They agreed in phone conversations that their motives were borderline questionable and stated that the public is best not aware of this matter.

This is a bit of a scam that is defrauding the public trust. I simply do not feel comfortable participating.

Kickstarter needs to come clean to the pubic about the secondary business that have grown up around this mess and that Kickstarter actually does nothing to connect the supporters to the projects. It is done by secondary, unconnected hanger-on's, pitchmen with out whom Kickstarter would fail.

A little misleading.

Sincerely, Loren Salazar WWW.LORENSALAZAR.COM.

BELOW IS A PARTIAL LIST OF THE BUSINESS MEN, PITCHMEN, SCAMERS, AND "CARNIVAL BARKERS" WANTING MONEY;. Nick at Kickstartmyads (*******@Kickstartmyads.com). Funding Successful (*******@fundingsuccessful.co). SMT Agency - Crowdfunding (*******@smt-agency.com). Eran Back (*******@gmail.com). Don White (*******@pressreleasegorilla.com). Crowdfunding Services - The Road to Success (*******@crowdfunding-services.com)

https://www.fiverr.com/thevoiceisback/donate-to-your-crowd-funding- campaign-under-2-names-and-tweet-about-it. Harry Hillstrong says: Hey Loren, I wanted to connect early on in your Kickstarter campaign. I may be of some assistance in helping you drive more potential backers.________________________________________________

These are just a sample of the contacts through Kickstart, I have already deleted dozens more.

Over all, I am disappointed with Kickstarter and will have nothing further to do with them. They are misleading the public and those who post projects on Kickstarter.

Kickstartes policy states the they OWN this information, photos, and project and it will remain online even after I have stopped it._______________________________________________

NOTE; THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE WITH OUT FUNDING, THE PAINTING WILL BE COMPLETED AND POSTED ON FACEBOOK AND ON MY WEB SITE;

Web site; www.lorensalazar.com

Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/loren.salazarpainting

*******@facebook.com_________________________________________________

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH KICKSTARTER, HERE IS A WEB SITE WITH ACTUAL USER REVIEWS;

http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.kickstarter.com_________________________________________________

We had a project get funded. I was a backer. It turns out that Seth Nemic the creator of the project has either skipped down, died, whatever. All said, he cannot be found. I contacted Kickstarter with this email. The reply will follow. Kickstarted did not address my comments. Their response had nothing to do with my question. It was just a sidestep. I was going to start a kickstarter project, now I will use the competition.

Here is my letter to kickstarter followed by their response:

I'm pretty sure that you guys are aware of the Odin's Ravens Kickstarter. It appears that Nemic either up and disappeared or he died or something.

I'm sorry, but I can no longer fund kickstarter projects if there is no protections. If you look at my patterns, I had started being more involved, but since this fiasco, I'm done.

Ebay has buyer AND seller protection. It's not great but it helps. I need some kind of assurances that we aren't getting screwed or at least enforce some kind of insurance to protect the backers.

I was going to start my own kickstarter campaign, but not until I feel safe about your process.
(joke) or maybe I should. I'll get people to pay my annual salary, then do it again in a year.
I won't even have to do much.

I don't know what else to tell you guys other than, it takes a lot of good press to make a company, but takes very little bad press to destroy one.

So, let me know when you've created some kind of fix for things like this. Until then, I will never support another kickstarter project.

Terry

------------------------------------------

Hi Terry,

Thanks for writing in and sorry to hear about this.

When projects launch on Kickstarter theyre often in the early stages of development. Before the project can be fulfilled they have to complete it first. Please keep in mind that it is an estimated date rather than a firm ship date. Its not uncommon for things to take longer than planned, and creators are expected to keep backers in the loop whatever is happening.

Also, creators should be updating their backers on the projects progress. If theres news this is where creators would most likely be sharing it: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/works/odins-ravens/posts

If you feel that the creator hasnt updated enough, send them a direct message or post a comment letting them know that youre interested in whats happening with the project. Sometimes creators just need to be woken up. If you have already tried to contact them through the "Contact Me" link on the project page but haven't gotten a response, you might also check their profile for other contact information.

On each project page, you'll see a 'bio' link on the right. In the bio you will see a link to their Facebook profile, website, or both and you can try contacting them through those. Unfortunately, we aren't able to provide any additional information other than what is listed on the creator's profile.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best,
Ian

Kickstarter is the Soup Nazi of crowdfunding sites. I wasted 2 and a half weeks of my very busy life carefully building a kickstarter page paying close attention to Kickstarters very vague guidelines, only to get shot down in the review process without explanation. When I tried to contact Kickstarter in attempt to get details on their rejection, I found out quickly that it is nigh impossible to contact them. I filled out their e-mail form and never got a reply. For the two and a half weeks that I wasted chasing their smoke and mirrors, they couldn't even find the decency, respect, or professionalism to give a reply. In their vague rejection form letter, they claimed that my project didn't meet their guidelines, although anyone who has the ability to interpret written English to a reasonable degree would tell you that their claim was complete bullcrap. Nothing in the language in the guidelines came even close to being cause for rejection of my project. The fact is that Kickstarter is a group of cliquey, biased insiders who apparently are judgmental of which projects meet their edgy, yerba-mate-drinking, skinny-jeans-wearing, hipster standard, regardless of actual merit or probability of success. My project was highly evolved and professionally presented, and it got bounced -- yet the famous "Death Star" kickstarter project that has made headlines somehow got the green light (google it if you are not familiar with it). I guess Kickstarter makes exceptions for publicity stunts that they can benifit from. That ought to tell you a lot about the inner workings of their ethics. Before I even learned about kickstarer, I had support from hundreds of people to get my project off the ground so that they all could benefit from the end product of my project. They literally couldn't wait for my kickstarter page to launch. I'm talking about HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS. I only needed a group of 150 backers to reach my $28,000 goal on Kickstarter, and with the support that I had coming in, I would have met that goal VERY quickly. Kickstarter would have had my 5% commission, and everybody would have been happy and moving on with their lives. But my project wasn't hip or edgy like the faux Death Star project, or like any of the thousands of no-name Indy rock garage bands seeking help on kickstarter to produce their CD's. Which is fine. I will gladly go to Kickstarter's closest competition and give them my commission instead. If you have an innovative technology project that you feel is close to realization, and if you value your time like I do, I suggest looking to one of kickstarter's competitors.

Until Kickstarter let people like this guy below be on it, I will do all I can to get people away from it. Check what I found on youtube about this guy and Kickstarter allows him to collect money and donation? Should he be rewarded so much?
JT

"This is the story about the relationship we had with a photographer by the name of Eric Schwabel!

I have my shares of faults for which I came clean, and I have done many bad things to you after finding out who or what you were or what you are.
You made us believe you were real.
You made us believe we had a future as a family
You asked me so many times to marry you. Thank God it did not happen!
You made us believe we were a family.
It was all premeditated from the very beginning: taking advantage of us, of me.
Went over with accountant and attorneys and I spent almost half a million in three years to get your career going and getting you out of the mud and having your career taking off. From paying your bills, buying you equipment and Producing all the Burning Man photo shoot, choosing EVERY SINGLE subject, with it's expenses, etc. etc. Etc. All on paper! Black on white. We have all the receipts and statements and records.
One day, after you reached your goals, meaning you got famous and known, you left us without communicating your intentions, which as per today I have NO idea what that was.
What kind of human being would do that to a man and a child? Or better yet, not who, but WHAT king of human being?
I do not believe your parents and family knows who you really are, and all your friends and clients too.
Luca still devastated and speak of you constantly. Nothing bad comes out of my mouth about you to him. But it is hard! You created all this.
Sex addiction; cheating from the very beginning. Names, numbers, emails web-sites and hook ups all on record.
Never communicated to me your problems nor tried to work through them. You lied to your therapist, you lied to our couple therapist, but most of all: you lied to yourself and blamed me for YOUR issues without taking ANY responsibility.
It was possible to make it work, as I believed in you like I have never believed in anyone else before. I proved it to you!

You can dye your hair blu, pink or purple or yellow, but it will always be you. You can hide, but you cannot escape reality.
You ruined three people's life: Luca and I, and yourself.

I am so angry!
And I am sure you wonder "why" without understanding, because that's who you are.
But remember, the bad things I did to you after you left us and I found out what you have done to me/us, is because I was so angry at you. Angry for you cheating from the very beginning. Angry for not talking about your problems. Angry for you lies and cover ups. Angry for you taking advantage of me. Angry for leaving a child who adores you.
And I still angry for all of the above. Less, but still am!

My therapist said: it is not about revenge. It is about justice! I got your career going. Introducing you to VIPs, getting you a rep, spending half a million dollar for you in three years.

Got your career up and running. Created you at Burning Man and so much more.

We are coming back to CA. We will be at Burning Man and be there with a few people that know you and know about you.

We loved you, believed in you, supported you, created a future for you. You reached your goals and split!

Fausto and Luca Callegarini

A fantastic idea. Who wouldn't want a website that helps people fund their creative projects.

Of course, the funding depends on the involvement of friends and colleagues. So far so good. The problem, however, is that you have to know in advance precisely how much you can raise and in what time frame. If you don't meet your funding requirements within the time frame you set, you earn nothing. The assumption is that if you earn only $2999 or $3000, you won't have enough to complete the project, and so you're back to where you started despite all your hard work raising funds.

In the real world, you raise what you can and what funds you earn, you put towards your project. Additional funds may come out of your own pocket, but at least you'll be in a position to apply funds once you get them and put them toward your project. You don't know how much you might earn, nor will you know how long it'll take, but at least no one's imposing a deadline and telling you it's all or nothing.

Not only is Kickstarter all or nothing, it also involves up to a 10% deduction in your funding, due to charges by Amazon and Kickstarter. In the real world, you don't have to pay for the work you put into raising funds from friends and colleagues. At Kickstarter, you pay a commission, as it were, on your own work.

If the premise of Kickstarter is built upon your own work generating interest in a project and raising funds, why not bypass the middleman and just ask friends and colleagues to write checks or make paypal payments? Kickstarter does nothing to get you any closer to funding a project but providing a platform and perhaps a motivation to raise funds since you can be a dollar short and get no project.

Yes, it's a wonderful idea, and Kickstarter, if anything, is stifling it by holding you to your initial uninformed assumptions about your project and then charging fees for succeeding. In short, it's still a great idea. I don't know that Kickstarter, with its all or nothing approach to funding, is going to make it any easier for them to get projects funded. Why try to fund a project and fail at Kickstarter when you can bypass Kickstarter and campaign as long as it takes to raise funds. Fundraising is fraught with uncertainty. It's a shame that Kickstarter doesn't appreciate that. Projects aren't all or nothing. They're dreams that evolve into fact through commitment and belief, as well as the support of friends.

If Kickstarter could lend support rather than imposing unnecessary hurdles, they wouldn't potentially kill so many projects.