EEVBlog 31 Dec 2013 : Traps for even simple successful crowd funded projects…

[BravoV]

In case you never visited EEVBlog front page, latest entries for end of the year at 31st Dec 2013 -> http://www.eevblog.com/2013/12/31/traps-for-even-simple-successful-crowd-funded-projects/

[jolshefsky]

Maybe Tip #0 is "Don't assume your project will be popular, but don't assume it will be unpopular either." In other words, if Dave was prepared to send 500 rulers, then the campaign should have been for 500 rulers. Live and learn, indeed.

[BBQ]

The tyvek envelope were great! Never encountered it before.

[DrLuke]

Well, atleast dave will know better when he ships out his next batch.

[SeanB]

First time I met a Tyvek envelope was when I ordered some 35mm film spools from Seattle Filmworks in the early 1980's, and the 2 rolls arrived in one. Sample rolls of 35mm direct transparency film, though the development needed hunting up a lab who had the right processing tech and chemicals to do this.

[Bored@Work]

Well, atleast dave will know better when he ships out his next batch.

Who knows? I got virtually laughed at when I asked about the contract with the shipping company. Contract? I guess the laughing pretty much died now.

TIP #7: Have real contracts in place, clearly stating what you get for your money. If nothing else you can roll the papers up into a swatter to hit the shipper over the head.

[SeanB]

Having done bulk mailing in the past at work I did do the sort into areas, batch and band into hundreds and such. When I delivered them to the post depot, complete with the large cheque for postage, they promptly removed all the bands, put them in a pile in a box then dumped it into the sorter at random. Next lot they went all loose in bags, still got the discount for bulk.

[snoopy]

Perhaps dave could have put the rulers in a seal-able plastic bag before he put them in the envelope ?

This would have avoided the rulers cutting through the envelopes or falling out of them. BTW I got my rulers and envelope in one piece. Thanks dave

[Maxlor]

I like the text format of the article. I read much quicker than people talk, and this is the kind of article where video doesn't give any added benefit. So from my side, thumbs up for the format! I'm all for making this a multimedia blog (Dave has video and audio-only nailed down already, so I guess plain text is next!)

[EEVblog]

Who knows? I got virtually laughed at when I asked about the contract with the shipping company. Contract? I guess the laughing pretty much died now.
TIP #7: Have real contracts in place, clearly stating what you get for your money. If nothing else you can roll the papers up into a swatter to hit the shipper over the head.

What am I going to do? Sue them for late delivery that was technically beyond their control?
It was Direct Link who screwed up, not my mailing house, they did their job and packed and shipped out on time using one of their (supposedly) proven services.
Ok, I had no idea they used Direct Link, and maybe a contract would have forced them to use Australia post, but geeze, this isn't shipping a million iPhones, it's just a few thousands letters. Shit happens, contracts do nothing. It's like getting a patent, it's practically useless you plan to follow through and sue the arse off someone.

[strangelovemd12]

Tyvek envelopes are some of the best.  For those interested in the US, USPS has free 11"x14"ish ones for priority mail.  They are especially good for anything where edges or pins might make a little hole, since they don't run.

[calexanian]

Tyvek is used as house wrap here in the states and I am sure an equivalent is used elsewhere. DuPont basically has free advertising as a house is being built as it has DuPont Vtyek written in big as day letters on it and the whole house gets wrapped in it. Houses with stucco do not have it as the lower K-Lath serves as the moisture barrier. Typically exterior framing is 2X6 sheathed in OSB then covered in tyvek. Throw some siding on it and you have an exterior wall.

[all_repair]

It was Direct Link who screwed up, not my mailing house, they did their job and packed and shipped out on time using one of their (supposedly) proven services.
Ok, I had no idea they used Direct Link, and maybe a contract would have forced them to use Australia post, but geeze, this isn't shipping a million iPhones, it's just a few thousands letters. Shit happens, contracts do nothing. It's like getting a patent, it's practically useless you plan to follow through and sue the arse off someone.

I did not receive the uRuler but it is water under the bridge.  I am more concerned of the uCurrent shipping arrangement.  Naturally I am more doubtful of the mailing house's claim  of Direct Link poor performance.  And having so many postal offices handling a single batch naturally open up more possible errors.  And it must be a common practice for Direct Link to minimize cost for mass mailing advertisement materials which arrival is non essential at all.  And this type of material is handled with the least amount of care and urgency, and over here there are some lazy postman even throw these material away (they know the class of material from how the material are given to them). 

[EEVblog]

I did not receive the uRuler but it is water under the bridge.  I am more concerned of the uCurrent shipping arrangement.

I've had almost no issues with sending uCurrents and other stuff via untracked Australia post before, but I will be looking into other options this time.

[Bored@Work]

What am I going to do? Sue them for late delivery that was technically beyond their control?

Getting a refund, for example? But that of course requires you know what you have bought from them.  Depending on what you bought from them, e.g. complete service, not just envelope stuffing, it doesn't matter if something was technically beyond their control. They made that choice. They made the wrong choice.

[Orpheus]

Thanks so much for this. You gave me a lot of ideas for things to check up on before deciding to do a Kickstarter I'm contemplating -- things I'd planned to turn over to The Pros to "set and forget".

I needed this concrete reminder that 95% of the screwups and hosedowns I've encountered in my daily life have been the actions of "professionals" in their fields.

[sacherjj]

I needed this concrete reminder that 95% of the screwups and hosedowns I've encountered in my daily life have been the actions of "professionals" in their fields.

People often need a reminder that Professional has two meanings.  1) somebody is excellent at it.  2) somebody does it for their profession (i.e. as a job).  I know in my working career, I have most often encountered the second.   The venn diagram where those overlap does exist, but lacks many. 

[EEVblog]

Getting a refund, for example?

You think they'll just give it to me because I have some sort of service contract? It likely would have contained standard fluff that once it leaves their premises, they can't guarantee the local postal system etc etc, it's out of their control. Pretty much standard clauses for everyone except courier companies who can control the entire flow end to end and track it. They wouldn't have guaranteed Australia Post (they don't even guarantee themselves!), so why would they guarantee Direct Link? Ultimately it ends up in the same local postal system.
Once again, this isn't a million iPhones, it was a few thousand standard letters that were a couple of weeks late.