Glad to see everyone else's comments. This project is a joke. If I knew any of the funds were going to cover anything but the picks, kits, pledge rewards, etc., I would not have backed this project. Is it just me or was it never specified that some (or all) of his living expenses would be paid for with project money?

Devin, I was working under the assumption that no one will be getting picks, and I at least want the practice kit.

Well the problem with sending out the kits early, to anyone that didn't pay the extra money to get them early, is it'l deplete already reduced funds. However I feel anyone that paid extra money to get their training kit early should have that promise granted. [For the record I am not one of those people] I don't think that many people actually did that.

I think that at this point Schuyler, should at the very least start sending out practice kits. Most of us have already bought or own lock picks, and we could at least practice with the kits if we got them.
If you do not own picks, you can get a cheap set here: http://www.knifezilla.com/catalog/lockpicks.html I recommend this one: http://www.knifezilla.com/catalog/lockpicksetecon17pc.shtml because you cannot beat the price, and it has a good variety for beginners.

Is it just me or does it really annoy you when Tyler announces himself in his videos as a professional lock picker- I was under the impression that a professional had to generate enough income from the said activity to support themself. The "sport" of lock picking is looked upon by some lock manufacturers as being on the fringes of criminal activity - Tyler was pitching the idea that he is an honest upright citizen who is assisting said manufacturers by pointing out vulnerabilities in there locks thereby enhancing security. Well that proved to be a pile of crap on both counts, count me in on any class action there is no way we are getting the promised high quality picks - he himself is even buying them from other manufacturers - what a wanker !

I completely agree with icecreampirate. If we had any real attempt at completion I would understand, but I saw barely an effort over two years. Can we class action lawsuit? I'd contribute more money just to bankrupt this swindler.

I'm a pretty patient guy, but I better see picks and a practice kit by September 24, 2012. If not, I'll be seeking reimbursement in full.

Oh, and if he didn't replace the car how is he getting around?

This may be unduely suspicious but just note that after the comment that he spent $3000+ to repair his car he then says he dumped it. I wonder if any of the project funding went to replace the car???

@Devin
It should represent how he chose to spend the funds. The fees are really irrelevant to the decisions he made. Maybe include both, percentage of backing amount, and percentage of received money?

Just a thought. Spreadsheet is appreciated regardless.

@Alex Trout

I would have assumed that he would spend some on living expenses given he quit his job. This is a project that should have taken at most a few months to complete. Had it been completed in a reasonable amount of time, it is entirely possible he could have managed his living expenses and gotten the project completed. Due to the amount of time it has taken though, paying for his living expenses have depleted the funds by an extraordinary amount... and I believe that the time it has taken is largely his fault. Looking back through the updates, there is a lot of time where he didn't work at all (his 2 month hiatus), was waiting to hear back from people, to get files etc. Time really is money, and he should have been doing everything he could possibly do to find someone to produce the picks, all day, every day. The thread on reddit talks about how he refused to consider China an option, based on a completely inaccurate cliche about product quality coming out of China. Schuyler should have been on the phone all the time talking to everyone he could. Backers here who have experience in manufacturing offered to help over and over again, and he never accepted. It looks to me like he contacted a few shops and not a lot more until recently when pressure really started mounting. He spent too much time travelling and doing workshops, where he actually used our money to buy lockpicks so he could conduct those workshops that had nothing to do with the project.

He should have had a clear timetable of how long he could pay for his living expenses and still leave enough to get the project done. I doesn't look like he did, and he has now lived on the funds so long that it is now impossible to complete it without further capital.

Not to mention, on top of all of the time waiting around and the 2 months he took off (and refused to explain), he took a vacation that we all paid for. I don't know about anyone else, but I haven't taken a vacation since I funded this project, and I know that I have spent way more time actually working than Schuyler has. The fact that he was vacationing on those funds is really unbelievable to me.

@IceCreamPirate
Fair enough, I separated out the fees, although I left the percentage as a percentage of the backing amount. Just personal preference really.

@Robert Gott

All very good points. As you've said, Schuyler only mentioned some expenses without saying how much they were... car insurance, untracked personal expenses, funding other projects, donating to make spaces, etc.

Combined with Devin's spreadsheet, where he deduces around $8,400 is left, there is likely less... how much is anyone's guess.

Here is what I don't get. If all of the expenses he has already reported are accurate, and the fees taken out are accurate, how does he have enough money to pay for his living expenses until next September without getting a job?

$8400 is likely not enough to finish the project to completion as it is... how could he possibly get the picks made if he spends an additional $12,800 (conservatively) between now and September?

@Devin

I don't think the fees should be included in project related expenditures. Fees should be separated out, and those totals (personal and project totals) should only include money that he actually received.

Otherwise, looks good!

I've published his CAD files here http://www.hackerbotlabs.com/...

I built upon what IceCreamPirate put together: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc...

Once he announced that he quit his job I too expected he would be living off the money. This isn't unreasonable if he's treating the project as his full time job. With that said the lack of updates and responses to direct communication about the project lead me to believe he is not treating it that way. As mentioned already the fact he directly said he was NOT living off the money is also very bad for his credibility.

Additionally as soon as it became evident that the project was likely to take longer than he would reasonably be expected to live off of the PROFIT produced by this project he should have went back to work. My best guess is he's got at most $8,000 left from the original funds.

I also agree that i'm sure he knows he has fumbled this badly and my hope is that he will prove to us that he's trying to correct the ship. The only way to do this is with frequent updates, much improved communication and fulfilling promises that were made. I seem to recall some people sending him extra money to cover shipping the practice kits early. I haven't heard confirmation from anyone that they have received theirs. They should be shipped immediately. The plans that have been promised should also be released. This costs him nothing and would be a huge step in the right direction. It goes without saying that any travel that doesn't produce a profit for him should be halted.

I would also like to see the picks pre-order pages go offline. Accepting additional pre-orders, via credit card, is just increasing the likelihood of legal repercussions. Once the first lawsuit hits none of us stand a chance of getting anything. It'll be bankruptcy for him and we'll all be out of luck. It's not good for anyone.

I'm hopeful that he's going to try to make things right, but I'm going to remain very skeptical until I actually see evidence of this.

In regards to the future of this project, I am curious whether there are even enough funds to tickle completion. The amount of funds that Schulyer alludes to being available to complete and ship the kits stands at $15,457. The true number is lower than that, though the amount is unknown as Schuyler has only hinted at some of the expenses. He mentions but does not quantify the cost of his auto insurance, and he notes the un-tracked personal expenses. In addition, at least one backer has had his funds returned, and I assume that # is sure to grow.
Schuyler mentions that he has 1/3 to 1/2 of the packaging materials purchased. Those will still need postage applied, and the remaining need to be acquired. If Schulyer goes with the smallest flat rate box option from the USPS, he is looking at $5906.25 in shipping, with no additional packaging purchases (this assumes 1125 units shipping: 1159 original backers less 1 refund less 33 digital media only orders). This total is very conservative, the high $$ backers kits will require a far higher packaging/shipping amount.
Without knowing the un-quantified expenses that Schuyler mentions, or the true cost of shipping, he is left with less than $10,000 to produce more than 17,000 picks, (under $0.60 per pick) while still paying for his living expenses.
Schuyler, you are going to need to get a job in order to self fund the completion of the project.

I can speak only for myself, but I thought it was crystal clear from the beginning that he would be using some of the money to live off of. Perhaps I got the idea incorrectly, and reality just happened to jive with my errant expectation, but that was certainly not a surprise to me.

With that said, I'm certainly not thrilled with how this has panned out. I'm not concerned about the money, or even the length of time since the project was funded, but I am extremely disappointing by the lack of updates/communication.

At this point I also have no idea what shipping address I originally gave and even if it's the correct address I'll likely need to change it given the length of time between now and when the picks are likely to ship. I'm hoping Schuyler will address these logistical issues sooner than later, or at least acknowledge that they exist and will need to be dealt with prior to shipping.

In response to JeromeJello, who asked for info re AG contact in Mass. You can fill a complaint on line. However, mine was handled by Allyson Fiorello of the AG's Public Inquiry & Assistance Center. Her number is (617) 963-2478. I have suggested to her that the different complaints that have been filed with the AG's office be coordinated and that they should look into fraud and conversion charges. I am pleased to see so many who were as shocked as I to find that there were not only a few minor misappropriations of money but gross ones. Plus just the idea of this guy sitting around while waiting on work to be done by others over the months and living off the funds made available for the project is repulsive. I think his public image needs to be updated by communication to "Hack Manhattan" see Aaron L'Heureux comment a little further down on this list for the NY library workshow addresses. This not "chump" change. Well over 60% of the funds spent by Mr. Towne are for expenses not related to producing the lock-picks we pre-ordered.

Thanks for the spread sheet icecreappirate, it helps to visualize. I am also both saddened and appalled by how the money was spent, but at least we know there is some left to actually make picks......glass half full and all that...

Unbelievable. This guy is actually living off our money! I will be pursuing this legally if I don't have picks in hand very soon. I seriously can't believe that Mr. Towne has the balls to tell us he is unemployed and actually has been living off our money and despite numerous complaints intends to continue to do so for the next nine months. Our money was intended to pay for the production of picks, not to pay for computers, living expenses, and travel. The more I type the more angry I get. Send picks soon if you want to stay out of court. It is really sad that you have done so much damage to your reputation this way.

@Bailey Center - can you please share with us how to contact the AG to move forward with getting our monies back should we choose that path.

Massive disappointment. I hope Schuyler understands he will never be able to get any backing through Kickstarter in the future. I can only imagine what his reputation is like among fellow locksporters aware of this Titanic of a project.

Oh also this: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2824842179/efbnen

You, sir, are a fraudulent businessman. There is a code of ethics in the sport that you compete in, but not in the way you handle yourself in the business of the sport. It took a complaint to and response from the Office of the Attorney General of MA to actually get an update from you, and this is what you come back with? A detail of how we supporters have underwritten your living expenses? Did the TV work to helping with the process? If you purchased a computer, perhaps you could have used it to keep us updated? I find it hard to trust that anything fruitful will come from this project except a learning experience for you, and I didn't sign up for that.

Thanks for the info Bailey, I happily live in MA and have filed a complaint with the AG's office now as well.

I put together a spreadsheet based on Schuyler's post showing how the money was spent.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc...

Thoughts?

Schuyler, where the money is spent updates is actually worse! Just post updates on what you are doing to complete the project would be better PR. A hard working artist working against the odds is more favourable than one who pays for family holidays, laptops and a new tv????

I know you are trying your best' it's your first prioject, but show you are still committed and working towards yours original goal instead of posts on how you enjoyed spending everyone's money on other things.

Let's start again, post the designs you have, the manufacturing process, pics of those mum. Made pouches, ignite the passion we all had for your project again. If you can't deliver the picks, how about some videos on how to make our own, fom the expert?

To be clear that was in October......

Yeah I really want the practice kit too. I contacted him and he said he would mail it to me, but after a month of not receiving it I tried contacting him again and he never responded, also still no kit.....

Can I just be sent the practice kit? I don't even want the picks anymore. Just having the practice locks would be better than nothing.

to be honest I don't care how the money was spent, I want to know what he is doing to continue making the picks.

Well I am Canadian, so I am not sure who I could really complain to under the circumstances, and honestly I would rather have picks and practice locks than a refund.

I just received a call from a person claiming to be at the Office of the Attorney General in Cambridge, (Jan 26th), which confirmed the information posted by Bailey Center, Schuyler is said to be readying a post on Feb 1st that is supposed outline the spending of funds.

Well, I received a refund! It was facilitated by the Office of the Attorney General in Massachusetts. Part of the agreement was that he was provide "... a letter documenting Mr. Townes's use of funds and the production of the product." There was a note with the refund check from Schuyler in which he says "On February 1 I will update the blog for my Kickstarter project with a rundown of how maney was spent over the course of this project."

Sigh, I check this everyday in the hopes that Schuyler posts an update......

Shawn I am in the same boat. I have sent 2 emails and one kickstarter message over the course of three months and haven't gotten any response. In contrast my other backed projects responded in less than 12 hours.

I don't want to join on the negative brigade, but that isn't an encouraging sign. I am considering writing a letter to O'Reilly to make sure they are aware of their latest authors recent lack of accountability.

Schuyler - I have recently moved. What is the best way to get you my new address?

Hey guys, I am not going to defend Schuler, as I am sorely disappointing in the lack of communication. However, the hostility is not helping. Would you want to come in here and post after reading all the negative responses? Cause I wouldn't. Lets try and be supportive and hopeful, but prepared for the worst. Venting and anger is not going to help matters, nor will it make anyone want to help you.

You guys aware that the workshop was on Saturday Jan 15, 2011, right?? This is 2012

"This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 13, 2011."

Sheesh, guess I could've scrolled down slightly before posting that comment.

Related:

http://a.wholelottanothing.org/2012/01/lessons-for-kickstarter-creators-from-the-worst-project-i-ever-funded-on-kickstarter.html

@r-ice

Somehow the comment I wrote before about that didn't get posted. I was less than amused when I saw he was doing a workshop, and yet hadn't provided an update in the "days after christmas" like he said he would. At this point, that is exactly the kind of thing I expect, unfortunately.

@Eg

Literally just signed on to post the link to that article. So many similarities, I was in awe. This line especially: "The epic update #24 starts by splitting hairs over the difference between 'buying' something from Kickstarter versus "investing" in an idea on Kickstarter."

I am surprised how willing backers here are willing to make this argument for Schuyler. It has absolutely no merit, and it is insulting to those who actually followed what Schuyler was saying, specifically describing it as a pre-order and promising to deliver the product.

Schuyler, please heed this advice:

"Overall, I think this project (as well as any future projects from any creators) could have gone well if the creators did a better job with communication, stayed attentive on comments, didn't talk down or talk back to backers so much, and helped set expectations accurately and early on to prevent the feeling of being ripped off at the end of a long project."

Ahh if only this article existed before backing this failure Schuyler Towne.

http://a.wholelottanothing.org/2012/01/lessons-for-kickstarter-creators-from-the-worst-project-i-ever-funded-on-kickstarter.html

Lesson Learned. Spread the word fellow backers.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cindy/a-locksport-workshop-with-schuyler-towne...

seriously he had time for a locksport workshop but not enough time for a quick update here?

@JohnNaughton

The templates he sent out were extremely low quality. In the later updates, he talks about how those templates were nowhere near shop ready, and later had to have them redone multiple times by different people until a shop would accept them... which was obvious as soon as I downloaded them. They are amateur templates. Why hasn't he sent out the new, professionally made templates? No idea... but to act like what he delivered before were sufficient to fulfill that bonus to backers is wrong.

I'm actually still waiting for my picks and really looking forward to get them. Schyler, please get the picks done and send them out.

You can do it!
//A not so picky Swede