To Live and Die by the USPS
Evening friends,
We are in the thick of it now folks.
Everything has come down to the absolute last minute. Today we received our very first bulk shipment of Leash and Cuff. Ever. And they're really, really nice :)
We are opening hundreds of boxes and stuffing thousands of envelopes. I know we said we were going to do it by Christmas for the domestic early birds...and we are. But it blows me away frankly. A lot of things had to go right to make this happen, and we still have to receive two more international shipments on time in order for everyone's packages to get out the door.
Here's where we're at with fulfillment....
Domestic Early Birds, most of your stuff shipped today. There were a few that didn't make the Post Office cutoff, but it's ok....tomorrow is the last day to drop First Class Mail off at the PO and have it arrive by the 24th, according to their schedule: https://www.usps.com/holiday/welcome.htm
Tomorrow, we'll be sending the International Early Birds, and we may even get to the majority of the domestic non-early birds. By Friday, it's possible....only possible, no guarantees...that we will have shipped every package for which a survey has been returned.
The difference in fulfilling the kickstarter this time around, vs. last time, is incredible. Last time, it was me and an "intern" I picked up from the kickstarter community (you did great Harrison). It took us three weeks of struggling to get things shipped.
This time, people from all over the world have rallied to make this happen. It was a ridiculously aggressive delivery schedule, and it is actively being met. I couldn't be happier with everyone's hard work and efforts. I especially want thank my team here in San Francisco, which includes Art who's taking time off from designing rad products to pick and pack, Jen who is printing labels at a rate of 2.8 sec./label, Dave who has the ridiculous task of sorting through 3,108 line items of data, much of it messier than the office is right now, Moby who's unpacked and broken down at least a thousand boxes today, two new guys, Jesus and Noe who are moving at light speed bearing my music selections with a grin, and of course Ivy, who does it all with me hand in hand (and with a beautiful smile, more often than not).
Here's Art landing harder than he expected on a pile of boxes, and below that are some answers to a few FAQs I've been seeing in the comment stream:
Customs Value
Unfortunately, we couldn't take all the risk here. The custom's value for a Capture is going to show up as $40, while we're at $15 for a Leash, and $10 for a Cuff. We have recently been made aware that customs officials in particular can audit the value of exported goods. If they find that goods have come in valued less than their actual worth, any country (or, the entire EU, as we've heard) can stop allowing shipments into a country until the difference in retail cost is paid for the entire shipping history. I have no idea what causes the audit, but I know that our exposure there could be huge if we tried to lower the value. We have lowered it to what we feel is a defensible cost, in order to try to limit the amount of taxes you may have to pay. Again, we apologize for that, but we must play by international rules.
Shipping Dates/Times
I'm afraid we're too busy with handling the batch shipping to take a look at any individual shipments. You should be able to make an estimate, based on the general information I listed above.
THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!
3,108
Backers
$215,721
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Nov 22, 2012 -
Dec 14, 2012
- 2 created · 14 backed
- Peter Dering 1164 friends
- Website: peakdesignltd.com
Pledge $15 or more
91 backers
Preorder Cuff: the baby brother of Leash. Cuff is a quick-connecting camera wrist strap.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $25 or more
226 backers
Preorder Leash: the ultra-versatile, minimalist camera strap.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $40 or more
853 backers
Preorder Leash + Cuff: get the most versatile camera strap ever created, along with it's smaller wrist strap counterpart.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $60 or more
83 backers Limited (167 of 250 left)
Early Bird Special #1: Cuff + Capture Clip = first in line to receive the first Cuffs made, and bundled with a Capture Camera Clip. If you need Cuff before Dec. 25, this is your best bet!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $70 or more
164 backers Limited (86 of 250 left)
Early Bird Special #2: Leash + Capture = first in line to receive the first Leashes made, and bundled with a Capture Camera Clip. If you need Leash before Dec. 25, this is your best bet!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $80 or more
1668 backers Limited (332 of 2000 left)
Early Bird Special #3: Leash + Cuff + Capture = the best deal around! Get first articles of Cuff and Leash, as well as a Capture Clip, sent to you ASAP. If you want the whole shebang before Dec. 25, this is your best bet!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $90 or more
0 backers
Sleepy Bird #1: Cuff + Capture. Missed out on the Early Bird Specials? Get Cuff + Capture, sent to you as soon as the first set of preorders are fulfilled.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $100 or more
1 backer
Sleepy Bird #2: Leash + Capture. Missed out on the Early Bird Specials? Get Leash + Capture, sent to you as soon as the first set of preorders are fulfilled.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $110 or more
10 backers
Sleepy Bird #3: Leash + Cuff + Capture. Missed out on the Early Bird Specials? Get Leash + Cuff + Capture, sent to you as soon as the first set of preorders are fulfilled.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Add $10 to ship outside the US
Comments
Creator Anthony Braithwaite on January 7
Has anyone in th UK received their early bird packages yet? I'm still waiting.
Creator Jeffrey B George on December 23
I carried my Canon G12 today, lighter than my DSLR, but so incredibly comfortable compared to before. I mounted the camera like a neck strap, but down low as a sling. So much more comfortable than simply around my neck with the factory strap. I love the material, it glides over my garments like silk and it lies flat against my body. Thank you for reinventing the camera strap.
Creator Patrick P on December 23
Got mine today and I'm out in Hawaii. Thank you for the quick shippment. Haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but it looks great.
Creator Jeffrey B George on December 22
Contrary to another post, I LOVE the packaging. So much better packaging than similar straps sold in camera stores. What a great use of a die cut, your design team is amazing. I just hope the card stock holds up to retail stores. If I may make a suggestion, you should include a close up of the fastener as an illustration, just to eliminate any confusion after the items have been taken off the card. I just can't believe this came already, I am so proud of your team Peter, and all the kickstarters who helped and surpassed making this product available so quickly. I am so excited, heading out with this strap today.
Creator Randy Reyes on December 21
I got my early bird special #3 but I pledged $75 so I could get another cuff and I didn't get the other cuff. When will I get it?
Creator Aaron Robinson on December 20
Also, I'd recommend changing the way you attach the extra anchors. People may think they are just garbage (like a hook used to hang up items in retail stores) and throw them out.
Creator Aaron Robinson on December 20
The packaging choice isn't the best, it makes the product seem like a gimick but the product itself is awesome and very well built!
Creator Aaron Robinson on December 20
Awesome, got mine in the mail today, but it didn't have to travel far (I'm in San Francisco). Thanks so much for this awesome product!
Creator Pat Killen on December 20
The USPS delivers! I just received my package with my Early Bird Special #3. I won't have time until tomorrow to really play with all the pieces, but I do like what I see at first unpacking. Thanks for all the hard work to get this project out.
Creator Mike Philippens on December 20
Great effort! I'll let you know when it arrives in Holland and if I got into any 'trouble' with our friends of the customs community.
Creator GCRaya on December 20
Seriously, you guys are awesome! I can't wait.
Creator Gianluigi Santillo on December 20
I really hope you're not going to make me pay 40$+10$+15$ = 65$ for the whole package...! I'd rather come in the US to take everything!
Creator Isaac on December 20
can't bloody wait!
Creator Ryan Rodrigues on December 20
Awesome, Love the fact that apart from making a great product and are doing everything possible to send shipments out in time, you guys take time out to inform us with a status update. Love you guys for that.
Creator Yusuf Gunawan on December 20
Thank you for the update and the hard work that you have done to get the project fulfilled on-time. Just get my shipment information.
Can't wait for it. You guys rocks!!!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Creator Sharil Abdul Rahman on December 20
A question - can you guys give us how the packaging and the packed stuff looks like for one unit? so we all can picture how it will look like?
thanks!
Creator ethan on December 20
thanks for the effort guys! don't forget to enjoy the holidays yourselves!
Creator Benni Klomfass on December 20
great !
Creator ChenCM on December 20
Keep it up guys! You have my support.
Creator Martin Ouellet on December 19
Awsome! You are the latest project that I backed and will receive my reward before at least 5 previous project! Will definitivly keep an eye open on your futur project!!!
Creator Jeffrey B George on December 19
Ditto "Jon's" comment. I am so excited, and proud for you and your team.
Creator Jon Burke on December 19
Thanks a lot for the detailed update, and the enormous effort you're making to keep to schedule. This has been one of the most professionally run Kickstarter projects ever.