Kickstarter

Creator DESTINY0ne on April 27

Last update was the 2nd April, anymore info on project...

Creator Trevor G on April 6

Looks like there is finally a substitute project for people like me who got a refund when they really wanted a robot. I just pledged for a Fritz. http://kck.st/XRLKWT

Creator ccatks on April 3

I wish we could get some open source type of instruction so that we can build it
on our own. It does not have to be fancy. Just enough for one to work on a prototype.
This probably does not take too much time as the design is completed and prototype has been
built. It should not take too much time to post an instructables-like article with some decent pictures.

Creator Mike Benner on April 3

Yup, he just gave an update and looks to be back at it.

Creator Andrew S on April 3

good things come to those who wait

Creator Andrew S on April 3

i have backed multiple projects and this is not the worst one i have backed, its close, but most of them do pull through. the one difference that i see from this one and others is that he is doing this as a side kinda fun project where others are generating a full time job to live off of.

Creator Mike Benner on April 2

I have also tried to contact Jeff on several occasions and not heard back from him. Was on the early Build Yourself list (first 10) with a $160 contribution and have received nothing, not even an email.

Creator DESTINY0ne on March 31

are you still alive or just quit ????

Creator philkruger57 on March 28

Starting to look like a failed project. What a shame. No product no responses. Kickstarter should have a little more liability for projects that fail due to lazy dreamers. It appears that the thread reflects some shipments. But Jeff just quit.

Creator Mark Jarzewiak on March 13

I have left a couple of messages Jaff and would also like an update. Still waiting on the TJ* model as I didn't request a refund and was on the December build-your own kit, would love an update, and moreso TJ*.

Creator Steve Netsky on March 10

I'm done with the promises. Requests for refunds have been ignored. What a disaster and a disappointment.
I think Jeff has handled this so poorly. I'm totally turned off to new Kickstarter projects.

Creator philkruger57 on March 1

It's 3/1/2013 and I've not seen refund or product. Please update all as to status of this project

Creator Charles Alvis on February 14

If I haven't received a refund does that mean I am still in line to receive my $120 kit?

Creator James Howard on February 11

Jeff will you ever Post the plans for the TJ head? Or the just open source the files?

Thanks,

James

Creator Rob Yates on January 31

Hey Jeff, I was curious if the November deliveries ever went out. I'm #5 on the list, but still haven't seen anything. If they went out, then TJ* has indeed jumped ship and gone AWOL.

-Rob

Creator DESTINY0ne on January 23

hi, just a quick ? are Dec delivers beening delivered or refunded
ty,,

Creator Sean O'Connell on January 15

How about a status list on the refunds? It would be good to know where we stand on this.

Creator Steffen Hartmann on January 8

Have you already started refunding Jan - Apr rewards?

Creator Peter Aweeky on January 2

Hey Jeff, I was "supposed" to be November , I still havent seen mine nor gotten any tracking info. At this point I no longer give a shit or even want it knowing well that there is going to be little if any support. Please fell free to delivery mine to someone who cares , I would prefer my paypal back. Im pretty disgusted with this entire exercise, Peter

Creator John Chen on December 31

Hi Jeff,
My daughter and I will be very disappointed, but understand your decision to return some sanity in your life. Your vision of TJ* obviously connected with a lot of people in Kickstarter. Instead of letting this vision fade, I would like to proposed that you opensource your TJ* design and software so that your vision can continue in the community. I am willing to forgo my refund should you decide to do this, but will respectfully understand if you choose not to do so.
John.

Creator Trevor G on December 29

I think Kevin's comment is what prompted update #14, not a response update #15. Since Jeff wasn't responding to Kickstarter email during that time, the tone of the message is actually pretty tame. If I was in the Nov or Dec group and had no communication, I would have assumed that Jeff spent the money and there would be no TJ and no money and my tone would have been a lot angrier :)

Creator Stuart Williams on December 29

Jeff, my heart goes out to you and while I';d guess many backers are going to be disappointed (and no doubt voice that disappointment) I've got nothing but respect for your vision and your honesty. I think it is important to say that publicly.

The latest update (#15) advises that all backers scheduled for a January delivery and beyond are going to be refunded as you have run out of legs. Frankly, I'm surprised that you had the endurance to get as far as you did. It is a soul destroying task to grind out production on the scale you were inadvertently committed to. While I sympathise with Kevin (comment Dec 17), I think you have gone above and beyond meeting the challenge of "drudgery". Drudgery kicks in around the 10th build, masochism kicks in around build 20, going further, working at a financial and time loss, is just not sustainable. You had an idea, asked for $2560, but the idea was so good you got swamped and I think you have given it a damn good go.

I'd like to remind everyone about the kickstarter philosophy. It is largely (supposed to be) philanthropic. We (the backers) are kicking in to help someone realise a dream. This isn't amazon. We are getting a reward in being given a puppet, not buying one off the shelf with a delivery expectation. Kickstarter is going to be a bumpy ride and the point of kickstarter isn't to railroad people into destroying their lives meeting "orders", but to get ideas off the ground. Kickstarter projects require the project manager investing a lot of effort and time, for little initial financial reward. Kickstarter isn't about sending people broke and destroying their lives. When you invest in a kickstarter project, you are primarily supporting a project and if a reward comes through, it is a nice gesture. We blow what ? $70 ? $120 ? Jeff is in a lot deeper.

$70 (in my case) possibly rewarded me with a handmade, adaptable, custom designed puppet that Jeff invested his design smarts, experience and hard graft into. A mass producer might be able to make that kind of financial equation work and the designer would wash their hands of the manufacturing side very early on. I'm surprised someone didn't jump at Jeff's idea and offer manufacturing support, because that is what is needed, rather than Jeff spending every minute of his spare time soldering, fabricating and packaging off these little gems.

Anyway, this is to say, thanks for giving it a go Jeff. While I am in the tailend of the december shipments, I wonder if it is worthwhile shipping out a reduced version of the product, cutting back on the assembly perhaps and offering people the chance to at least get their hands on a TJ*. Just a thought and thanks again for being upfront and for committing to refunding the backers money, that is better than the usual result in the commercial world.

stu

Creator Kevin McCarthy on December 17

Jeff-

I have reached out to you several times with no response, please have the decency and courtesy to respond to me. Jeff, I love what you proposed so many months ago with TJ and was willing to support you in fulfilling your vision; however, I feel as though as time has passed and you are faced with the drudgery of coming through on what you have committed to, you would rather fade into obscurity. Like yourself, I was excited about TJ and again like you, I have conceived and executed many different ideas. Commonly the idea can be much more exciting than the execution but, after convincing investors/supporters to get on board, the execution can be long a d tedious, yet you have to persevere and see the project through completion.

I too know the nature of scheduling and timelines, IT ALWAYS TAKES LONGER than you initially think. I have been extremely patient with you and have only requested updates so that I might know when to expect my TJ. Please do the right thing and follow through as you have committed to do and in the meantime, simply communicate with me.

Thanks,

Kevin McCarthy

Creator Sean O'Connell on December 8

Update please!! I need to see some action on this project. Now I see that the people on your schedule are not getting the shipment. It does not leave me hopeful on getting mine.

Creator James Howard on December 8

Has anyone got a TJ head yet? Jeff give us an update please?

Creator Laurence Lee on December 4

Jeff, I would also like a status update, as I was also scheduled for a November receipt of a TJ*. Thank you.

Creator Peter Aweeky on December 3

Another month has come and gone, any updates Jeff? I was supposed to be in November. I have to become much more selective about backing Kickstarter projects, they are getting more and more problematic and Kickstarter needs to take more of a roll in these things, perhaps escrowing money along the time line.

Creator Sean O'Connell on November 30

Update please.

Creator Dexter Andrada on November 8, 2012

Hi Jeff,

I look forward to playing with TJ as i try this with arduino. Can you give us an idea on this as we wait.. Thanks

Creator Antoinette King on November 7, 2012

Hello Jeff,
I wanted to give my TJ* to my son, TJ, for his birthday...11/25. Is there ANY chance this could happen? Please let me know. If not I have to come up with a quick give as there is only 2 weeks until his birthday. Thanks.
Antoinette King

Creator Paulo Couto on October 17, 2012

Jeff, any idea on when you would be able to ship my TJ to Brazil?
Tks,
Paulo Couto

Creator Anna Plumlee on October 13, 2012

Hi Jeff,

Any update on shipping for TJ? (at the $120 level)

Thanks!

Creator John Elleman on October 13, 2012

Hi Jeff,

Please give us an update.

Thank you.

John

Creator Charles Alvis on October 9, 2012

I had a dream about TJ last night and I decided to check out the comments. Can't wait to see my TJ.

Creator Sean O'Connell on October 6, 2012

Would love to see my TJ, any word on the plastic versions?

Creator Joshua Bloom on September 26, 2012

I've got my TJ and am getting started on a base with some sensors so he can react to co-workers without me around. Awesome work Jeff!

-josh

Creator Sean O'Connell on August 24, 2012

Need a progress report please.

Creator Shannon Pence on July 30, 2012

Still shipping mine by Aug 11?

Creator Sean O'Connell on July 26, 2012

Updates? I really would like to my my kit before Halloween.

Creator Sean O'Connell on July 15, 2012

Any shipping updates?

Creator Andrew S on July 13, 2012

has any one thought of making like a latex skin or anything for tj? I know i have but the only easy way i thing it could be done would be saran wrap tj and paint multiple layers of latex body paint. if any one has suggestions let me know.

Creator Bob Koutsky on June 10, 2012

Hello Jeff, any updates on the shipping date?

Creator Victor Reinoso on May 1, 2012

Tried using the upgrade store couple of times today but got forced out at payment time. Happened whether I used PayPal or credit card. Any advice on how to get through payment? You mentioned a password in your update but I was never prompted to enter it. Could that be the issue? Where do I enter it? Many thanks. Super excited about this project.