Touchfire is Shipping!
Summary
We started shipping Touchfire yesterday (June 28). Over 300 Touchfires went out to Kickstarter backers. We will be shipping hundreds of Touchfires every business day going forward.
Details
The final part of a project like Touchfire is completing the transition to manufacturing. Every detail, from the actual manufacturing and assembling of the product to the quality control procedures to timely shipping around the world needs to be handed off. We spent the last week down at our factory doing that. And now the hand off is complete.
Here are some Touchfires that came off the liquid injection molding machine.
They then go to an assembly line where the magnets are put in and the Touchfires are inspected and tested.
Next, the Touchfires are packed out - that is, put into their packaging, along with the other pieces like the storage case and the cover clips to make a finished product.
Finally, shipping labels are generated and the Touchfires begin their journey to you. Here we are with the first shipment:
Everyone at the factory is pretty happy that we reached this milestone. We were able to get the Touchfire manufacturing team outside for a quick group photo.
That's All Very Nice, But When Will I Get My Touchfire?
We are shipping out in generally the same order that people backed us. They are now going out as fast as our factory can make them, but it will take a week and half to two weeks to produce all the Kickstarter units. Shipping should take between 4 and 8 days. So please be patient during the final part of the process.
We would appreciate it if you'd drop us a line at info@touchfire.com when your Touchfire arrives. We would really like to understand what actual shipping times are.
We usually sign off by letting you know how much we appreciate the opportunity you have given us to bring Touchfire to life. Well, yesterday what you have done allowed Touchfire to go from a dream to a reality. Nothing beats that!
3,146
Backers
$201,400
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Oct 20, 2011 -
Dec 13, 2011
- First created · 29 backed
- Bradley Melmon 138 friends
- Website: facebook.com
Pledge $1 or more
83 backers
THANK YOU! Pledging any amount you feel comfortable with will help turn this project into reality. You will be listed as a contributor on the TouchFire Web site.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $45 or more
2096 backers
Congratulations, you've just pre-ordered the TouchFire Standard Pack! It contains a keyboard, a storage case and a pair of cover clips, all in black. Shipping is free in the U.S. Please add $10 to your pledge for shipping to Canada, $25 for International shipping.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $80 or more
877 backers
KICKSTARTER SPECIAL! We created the TouchFire Variety Pack exclusively for Kickstarter - 2 keyboards in black and white, 2 storage cases and 5 pairs of cover clips in colors that complement the iPad Smart Covers. This is a $100 value. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $200 or more
59 backers
Five TouchFire Standard Packs. Outfit your friends, co-workers and clients with TouchFire! Plus save $25 over the single unit price. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $350 or more
16 backers
KICKSTARTER UBER-SPECIAL! Five TouchFire Variety Packs - 10 keyboards in total! The perfect gift for your group of iPad toting compadres. This is a $50 savings over the single unit price. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $1,000 or more
6 backers
Customize TouchFire! Add a graphic (your logo, your signature, or whatever you'd like) to the bottom of the TouchFire keyboard and choose your keyboard and cover clip colors. 20 custom units are included in this reward, and you will be able to order more of your customized TouchFires at volume prices. Free shipping anywhere in the world.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2012
Comments
Creator John Tino on July 25, 2012
Fantastic product! Typing is amazing on the Touchfire! You might want to look at cleaning up the silicone residue at the corners of the keypad, it looks like I spilled glue all over. But great product!
Creator SG Tessler on July 20, 2012
Hi Brad and Steve,
I got my Touchfire today, and it is terrific! I tried it out on your tutorial, and I can see that getting some tactile feedback is exactly what I needed in order to type more accurately. Of course it I had taken typing in high school, instead of a fourth year of French, I would be in better shape still, but that is water under the bridge now...
Thanks again for all of your hard work on this project. I hope you will have great commercial success with this product, and I look forward to your future products.
Creator CJ Poon - www.shopipad.nl on July 20, 2012
Hey Brad & Steve,
Today I got my touchfire, actually I'm using it right now. I must say it works but initially it was sticky when unpacking. I looked at the protective case and the side was damaged, chipped sort to speak. Also the sides of the touchfire, the part that is attached to the small clips have silicon residue, could be more cleaner. Investigating further I noticed some more silicon residue at the bar of the touchfire.
The final verdict and version I got is not suitable for retail however it works. So you really need to work on quality control.
Rgds,
Chiejoung
Shopipad.nl
Creator Gordon Williams on July 19, 2012
I have not received either an email telling me my touchfire has shipped, nor a touchfire in the mail. Any way to check my shipping status? I thought I was fairly early in the backer queue, so I'm a little concerned.
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 11, 2012
@Elayne, Kenneth, we sent you email about where your Touchfires are in the shipping queue.
Creator Kenneth Elchert on July 9, 2012
Any way to get tracking information? I got the update that shipments went out on the 29th, but now it's July 9th and no word here in New York. Thanks!
Creator Joel McCarty on July 9, 2012
Absolutely certain that this product will be worth the wait. Congratulations, guys.
Creator Elayne Sawaya on July 9, 2012
Hi Steve and Brad
Where is my Keypad ? Haven't received it and it is July 9th.
Can you let Me Know
Creator Jason Gullickson on July 9, 2012
Great work guys, can't wait to try out the finished product. Everyone here who is complaining about the delays has obviously never brought a product like this to market and probably shouldn't even be using Kickstarter in the first place. If you expect guaranteed delivery times, go back to Amazon.com and buy stuff from major manufacturers that's already been on the market for years.
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 6, 2012
Thanks, Wayne! Just to give you a preview of the upcoming video, the way to put Touchfire back into its storage case is to fan-fold it while it is still on your iPad, then lift Touchfire off your iPad and put it into the storage case.
Creator Wayne Wong on July 5, 2012
Yes, Virgina, there is a shipping TouchFire keyboard!
Seattle, WA July 5, 2012: Mailman just delivered my 2-pak (white & black) today via the UPS-USPS mail Innovations program. What a wild ride, given that you guys are designers with your first taste of manufacturing and fulfillment, I know the expectations have been high that if crowd-funding can happen so fast that going to manufacturing would be equally fast..NOT -it's hard.
Congrats on this wonderful achievement, wonderful product and Thanks for sharing the wild ride through the world of manufacturing!
Now, would love to see the promised "unboxing video" on the kickstarter site soon as I would like to put the kb back in the travel case but I don't remember how it came out and I don't want to damage it. Again Thanks!
Creator bonmot on July 3, 2012
I'll certainly be happy when I receive mine, but at the risk of being contrary, I'm not sure why congratulations are in order. The project is SIX months behind schedule, which I believe is the worst slippage of any of the 20 some projects I've backed.
The unexpected occurs in any project, and with a more realistic timeline at the start, the project creators could have managed expectations at the get-go, and nobody would be unhappy.
By shipping on time (or even a few weeks late), they would have bypassed the entire iPad 3 magnet mess, as that device wasn't announced until March.
The decision to produce domestically is laudable. I definitely would have supported that decision if it had been factored into the estimated delivery time. To be quite honest, I think I would have preferred having use of the device since December on a keyboard manufactured overseas, rather than the current situation where nobody actually has one yet. I readily admit that others may have different preferences.
I'm still a big fan of the idea of this project, and I suspect that it will perform as well as advertised. It will be a great alternative to carting around a bluetooth keyboard. I just think that, like any business, you should be held accountable for hitting your project milestones. Just my 2 cents.
Creator Eric Gasber on July 2, 2012
This has been a pretty cool journey to watch. Looking forward to putting touch fire through its paces.
Creator jamileh delcambre on July 2, 2012
Will we receive any type of tracking or verification that the touchfire has shipped?
Creator Jennifer L Smith on June 29, 2012
YAY! Congratulations, you guys. I've been really impressed by how you handled this process.
Creator Wilfred Phua on June 29, 2012
Well done Brad & Steve! It's been such a long journey but I'm glad the TouchFire Type is on it's way. You guys have been swell and I'm amazed at the amount of nonsense you put up from us backers. ;)
Cheers from S'pore!
Creator chuckmonte on June 29, 2012
Congratulations Brad and Steve. WOW! Quite a ride to the starting-line. It was especially great to have shared the experience through Kickstarter, and can't wait to get my lot.
May I wish you continued success with Touchfire - Really looking forward to your new products to come.
Friend and Colleague,
Chuck Monte
Creator Teresa Hull on June 29, 2012
As others have said this has been a fascinating journey to watch. I am sure at times you guys were frustrated but I always had confidence I would eventually get my Touchfire. I look forward to getting the Touchfire I think it will be a wonderful item that will just enhance my Ipad experience.
Creator Yoshiichiro Kawai on June 29, 2012
Thank you guys!
And congratulations!!
Big smile!
Creator Edward M. Stadum on June 29, 2012
Congratulations for sticking with it. It has been a fascinating story to follow. I can't wait to get my keyboard.
Creator Harriet on June 29, 2012
Congratulations to Steve, Brad, and all of the Kickstarter backers! Those long roads do have an end and rewards... Can't wait to finally get my hands (fingers?) on the Touchfire!
Creator laura on June 29, 2012
Awesome! It'll be Christmas in July. Congratulations.
Creator Sydney Ely on June 29, 2012
Congratulations. I look forward not only to receiving my Touchfire but also to witnessing your well-deserved success. It's been frustrating for everyone but let's hope the future gets bright from here on!
Creator Joseph Terry, III on June 29, 2012
I am the grouch, you have the list of backers by zip code and could provide that so we could see where we are in the enormous shipping delay.
Creator Jeff Warner on June 29, 2012
Congrats gentlemen! Can't wait to get mine. I hope this is the start of something huge for you.
Creator Sean Shapcott on June 29, 2012
WOW that is SICK!!!! CONGRATS GUYS!!!!!
Creator rick gregory on June 29, 2012
Woo Hoo! This has been fun to watch as you've gone from a kind of surprise hit on Kickstarter, worked through issues and now... shipped. Congrats.