uKeg 64 Delivery Update & uKeg 128 Status Report
Hello Backers! Latest updated here for you:
Can you tell us when Backers will be receiving uKegs and when?
Every couple of weeks we will post the range of Backer rewards that are being shipped out from our warehouse.
Below are the backer rewards that will have been packaged and shipped by the end of the week of January 22, 2016. The rewards that have been shipped pertain only to stainless steel uKeg 64’s.
- Backers up to #1800: With single uKeg 64 stainless steel rewards
- Backers up to #1300 who selected pickup option. If you selected “pick-up” you will be contacted by email
- Backers up to #1800: With “Reseller 12-Pack”
- New>>> Backers up to #900 with uKeg 64 stainless steel rewards + other items
If all continues as planned, we hope to fulfill all backers who pledged for uKeg 64 stainless steel rewards by the end of February. This week we’ll be focusing on fulfilling backers who selected multiple rewards along with uKegs, such as gift packs, pro-packs and other items. These are fulfilled by us directly here in Portland.
What about copper-plated uKeg 64's?
The next container of uKeg 64s scheduled to ship will contain about 200 copper units. The remainder the copper units will arrive after Chinese New Year. If all goes as planned, we expect to fulfill all copper uKeg 64 rewards in April.
We have shipped about 10 copper uKeg 64’s so far. Backers who received these initial copper uKegs are enjoying them and say they look great! This is great feedback since the idea for a copper-plated version originally came from one of our early backers. We should note that it took us a while to find the right copper plating supplier.
What about the uKeg 128? Projected delivery is June/July
As stated previously, the initial build of uKeg 128’s is projected to start after the Chinese New Year, after all uKeg 64 rewards are produced. We previously targeted a delivery date of late spring, and we want to avoid over-promising. Based on our latest information, if things continue to go well our new projected delivery date is June/July.
The uKeg 128 bottle development is progressing well. The neck form has been completed, and the next step is to qualify a completed vacuum bottle using both the inner and outer shells. We hoped to receive a completed uKeg 128 production sample in early February, before Chinese New Year, and we’re still hopeful, but that may come afterwards. All other components are the same, except for a slightly longer sight tube and sight guard, and a slightly wider handle. Once the completed uKeg 128 is approved, we’ll do a pilot production run of 200 units. Full production is planned for April and May, with rewards projected to arrive in June or July. For those of us that don't have a problem keeping 64 oz of beer "fresh", we're all looking forward to the 128!
My uKeg arrived and I need help or have a service-related issue. What should I do?
Please be sure to visit the How-To-Use page on our website: http://www.growlerwerks.com/pages/howto
There you will find instructions for quick-start and cleaning, a short how-to-use video, and more information about using the regulator cap. As a reminder, the “VPR” regulator cap automatically maintains pressure, so you don’t need to turn off the selector dial, unless needed to remove the cap. Our automatic design keeps your beer fresh and carbonated just the way you like it, until the next time you’re ready to drink it.
We are working to ensure quality rate remains high. Some issues that have occurred on a small quantity of delivered rewards:
- Gooseneck weld, potential pin hole leaks
- Sight tube weld, potential weakness causing cracks
- Issues with using the regulator cap or CO2 loss
These issues have been resolved, however, if you have received a uKeg that has any problems, please email us at service@growlerwerks.com and we’ll help you.
Do you have additional needs or questions?
As a reminder we have set up separate emails to improve your customer service experience, response time, and better address specific issues.
- For Kickstarter Questions you can email: kickstarter@growlerwerks.com
- For Product Questions and Service email: service@growlerwerks.com
- For other inquiries email: info@growlerwerks.com
Cheers!
The GrowlerWerks Team
CYNTHIA ROSSA am March 1, 2016
According To my backer number I was Tohave recieved my order May,2015.I still have not recieved my order or information on my order.Can you help me?
Leslie Sweeney am February 1, 2016
Click the Shop Now button above and take a look at what the copper clad ukegs which were originally promoted looked like. They definitely don't resemble the ugly pink ducklings pictured above.
Of course with backer number 6755 (November 2014, 15 months ago) the likelihood of me seeing anything ugly or not up close and personal this year is minuscule.
Guto Versiani am February 1, 2016
Hi! I'm backer number 86, from Brazil, and still haven't received my uKeg. When is it going to be sent?
Mike Maddox am February 1, 2016
My backer number is in the 9,000's. I ordered 2 stainless steel 64's and a copper 128. Will the 64's be shipped out when you get to my backer number, or do I have to wait until the 128's are made to receive anything? Thanks.
Tim Popham am January 30, 2016
Finally got my return label to send my growler (or should I say fountain) back for repairs. Mine was leaking from everyone of the trouble spots they have posted about. I am a little worried about sending it back, hopefully I will see it again and it will be fixed. I'm in Connecticut so it's a long trip back to Portland do to arrive back there on 2/5.
Stephen Henderschedt am January 28, 2016
Backer number 358. But made the unfortunately decision to get a 128. Should have said they would be pushed to the back of the manufacturing line and I would have bought 2 64s.
I was just wondering when spring officially ended so I could plan on receiving my 128 by then. Now looks like July or later. So much for backing early.
Any way we can get our backer number in relation to those who ordered 128? Am I the first one to get a 128? Or am I in the mid hundreds? I certainly can't be beyond #358
Nick D. Benson am January 26, 2016
Just read the update. Since I pledged for this for my stepson got married, quit his job, and has been to about 7 countries in the Pacific and Asia.
By the time the 128 finally arrives, he and his bride will be back in the US.
I really think KS should re-author some of its guidelines.
I've slowed down my KS pledges considerably this past year.
Tim Popham am January 26, 2016
Did anyone else get an email from Growlerwerks for a uKeg user survey with a chance to win a $75 Amazon GC? Probably not the best time to send it to me based on my sucks and is leaking from every joint and they haven't responded to my email I sent Saturday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch…
Great quality control GW has...
Greg O am January 26, 2016
Yes, Alfredo, thank you. I'm going to quote you and cross-post in the main comments section.
Bjørn am January 26, 2016
Wow, so Facebook, the land of censorship is where you get the truth`- oh the irony...! Thanks for forwarding to those of us not active on Facebook.
Alfredo Varela Jr am January 26, 2016
well, yet again they tell more to people on fb who they hope aren't all ks backers...they said this just hours ago:
GrowlerWerks Factories are pretty much shut down now and will stay unproductive until the beginning of March. Engineering staff is there and we continue to work on quality issues with them, but the production workers have all left by now.
our update says nothing about this. they never said that it will be 6 weeks until production starts again and they did not confirm that all ss orders would be filled before march as previously stated. wonder why it's so easy to reply to an fb comment with this information but not include it on a ks update....they should already know if they have enough to send them all out by the end of February since no more are being made
David Timpe (Not a CGC/Lima Fan) am January 25, 2016
I'm 1591 and am hopeful my 64 arrives soon but I'm not holding my breath and will believe it when it arrives - and works.
If the copper pictured in the email is what you're going to deliver please don't fill my copper order with it. Just send me another stainless and we'll call it even.
Kevin Allen am January 25, 2016
I really don't see how you can fulfill the Stainless 64's by the end of February if you are only making 150 a week. I won't whine this time (as others have stated) but I simply don't think I'm actually going to see mine before spring.
Tim Popham am January 25, 2016
Well I temporarily fixed my cap leaking by carefully putting it back together making sure the o ring stayed in place and now I have this, fortunately I filled it with water to test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch…
Waiting for replies to my emails but I want them to replace all these leaking parts. How long before I will get a reply to the service emails??
David B. am January 25, 2016
Week of January 11th was backers up to #1500, this week it is backers up to #1800. With this speed of 300 backers per two weeks, I can expect my uKegs to ship, as I am a backer in the low 9000s, in about 48 and a half weeks, so in about 340 days, ABOUT TWO MONTHS LONGER THAN IT WOULD TAKE FOR A BABY TO BE CONCEIVED AND BORN. So maybe just maybe if there are no more delays I can hope to get the products I paid well over a year ago in time for the next New Year, so about a year and a half delay in the initial May 2015 promised shipping date.
So yeah, less than thrilled by these "updates".
And to Tom Anderson and others like him below, I don't know if you are just ignorant or in some kind of relation with this company to post such comments, but in reply: I wish I did purchase on Amazon as would not only have not had to prepay two years in advance for my order but also I would have already received my uKegs a long long time ago; and if you think that a company getting funded here should act in such a way I don't think you know what KickStarter is all about. Unless of course you think that for a backer KickStarter is like betting on a horse, where they either save 30 odd dollars or loose their 100, in which case I can see why you think no one should be bothered or complaining about the situation.
And all this talk about technical difficulties in the complexity of the product, what a load of BS, seriously. I have backed projects here that have had products much much more complex than this, from routers, cnc mills, to 3d printers, truly technologically complex devices with lots or R&D and testing and development, and none of those companies had such delays. A month, maybe two, but not two bloody years! All of them had been developing new products from scratch, all of them worked with factories abroad, also in China, and somehow they all managed to keep their promises to their backers, before serving and selling to third parties. But perhaps the difference is that all those project were led and managed by people with a professional attitude, who really did prepare a business plan, and who took their backers seriously.
Simply *can't wait* for the next "update".
Josh Stelter am January 25, 2016
Looks like a hammered copper kettle, was the description. Delays are one thing, this isn't what I paid for. What gives?
Tom Anderson
Superbacker
am January 25, 2016
Thanks for the update! Many of the commenters below don't seem to understand what KickStarter is all about. This is not Amazon!
Martin Pechanec am January 25, 2016
@Eric and John: Not only what was advertised, but also what GW posted in their uKeg Production and Delivery Update #9 from November 18, 2015. There is a lineup of Cu64's with the original color as presented during the campaign. They looked really good back in November. I backed copper only after I saw a sample in person during the 2014 Holiday Ale festival in Portland, where they were present during all days and finished the campaign there. I do not doubt that the finish is copper, but it is a matte finish. There are many ways to copper plate, and the old supplier seems to provide more desirably looking finish that the new one after the recent copper plating supplier switch as mentioned in one of the the previous updates. I would respectfully urge GW to reconsider and make sure that the final copper plating finish looks as was originally presented.
Hoakster am January 25, 2016
I know its no consolation (I'm backer number 3K+ for 2-pack of 64's), but my buddy backed the "coolest cooler" project and is having the same problems. Communication issues, missed deadlines, manufacturing delays, the whole bit (check out their comments section). I still remember a year ago when we were bragging at each other who backed the coolest Kickstarter campaign and who would get their product first...Jury's still out....
Max Kushnerchuk am January 25, 2016
Thank you! I appreciate the updates! There is a lot of sad and whiny people out there.
teraflx am January 25, 2016
I do agree that the above photo of the copper looks far from what was advertised... https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0783/6291/products/Ukeg-64-cu_HERO_cart.jpg…
John Katzman am January 25, 2016
Are you kidding me?! That is not the picture we received for the Cu64 that we backed! That finish looks awful, dull, flat and not Copper! Looks like you went to FoxCon and took the iPhone Rose Gold. Go look at your own photo you have posted in the campaign, those are WORLDS apart in color, finish, and quality. BTW, I saved those pictures so good luck trying to say otherwise.
I will not accept that version of a Cu64, that's a bait and switch, plain and simple. I don't care how long it takes at this point, because that is absolutely not what I backed. Change the plating, put a high gloss finish on it and make it look like copper and the picture you sold us on.
Just when I thought you couldn't disappoint anymore, you go and completely ruin it all. You're a joke of a company and now you're trying to deceive us more. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about the color and finish, also the pictures that you sold us on.
Couple options:
1.Change the color and finish to match what you sold us
2. Refund us some money and scrap the Cu64 all together, send us SS instead.
3. Refund all money and cancel our order
I just don't understand how you keep on messing up?! Are you all alcoholics? Are you all low functioning?
Mike Woslager am January 25, 2016
From what I see you have made very little progress in the past 2 weeks. I was told in November by Lauren that I should have mine by the end of December.........Blah Blah Blah. Lies and more lies. Cut the crap and just lay it all out on the line. It doesn't look like you are even 25% of the way of fulfilling your backers and you are promising the moon, if the Chinese New Year doesn't get in your way.
Tim becvar am January 25, 2016
If expected target for 128's is June/July, when is the expected target date of the copper plated 128's? maybe if I am lucky i will get mine by Christmas this year.
Jay Peery am January 25, 2016
Like others here, I have zero faith I will ever see anything from this. Why is all of the onus on the backers to contact GrowlerWerks to find out when we'll get our product? We should all at the very least receive an email outlining what we backed, what our ranking is within that, confirmation of our shipping address and a date by which we can expect to see our reward. If it's true that these are being sold to retailers by GrowlerWerks, then I consider that to be a gross breach of business ethics and very poor judgement the part of the GrowlerWerks management team. Kickstarter has completely passed the buck on this as well. I consider them to be complicit with GrowlerWerks in making a mockery of my good will and that of the others who backed this gong show.
NatQ am January 25, 2016
Yet again a complete disappointment. How are you manufacturing so little product? Is it because you're using the other half of the products as a slush fund to keep your profit margin? I'm just going to end up selling this thing because as I said in your last update and to you in an email and message I want my money back because I no longer drink beer. It's been a year and a half. There are probably some of us that within that time frame can no longer drink beer. I regret giving you any money. You're a horrible pathetic group of people with no care for those who put money in your pocket.
Terrence Sullivan am January 25, 2016
Yet another disappointing, and frustrating, update. "UKeg 128... rewards projected to arrive in June or July.". First of all, let's just cut to the chase and say (optimistically) JULY. And of course I'm sure this means arrival at Growlerwerks, and not delivery to the hands of the backer. I'm Backer number 2,635. Terrible, terrible Project Management leading to a BIG lack of faith from this Backer.
Peter Montgomery am January 25, 2016
How about putting a real date on the updates, not Chinese New Year, which seems to be a deft effort at obfuscating the later and later dates of delivery.
I haven't read the other comments, but mine is...it does not seem that this business was naive and ill prepared to enter a complicated venture, should have only offered one product with a few upgrades, and continue to be overoptimistic with their later and later delivery dates. Also, it would seem, with all the traveling, cultural differences and engineering problems, it may prove to be a fool's errand to conduct business in China rather than in the US.
So, Kickstarter and Growlerwerks, so far a FAIL.
Niels R. am January 25, 2016
Auch... Backer 10,100 with 2x 12 uKegs on order. I hope I will be able to start selling them in my shop by the summer, but I'm not very confident anymore.
Bjørn am January 25, 2016
Sigh, just as things started to look slightly better.. What is the reason for the current delay, your last detailed shipping schedule said you'd receive 11500 uKeg64s by mid January; now you're confirming production will continue after Chinese new year.
Going from "still ramping up production" to a two-three months delay is fairly significant..
Brian McIlvaine am January 25, 2016
@alfredo I was worried about the sudden drop off as well. But if you look at the date given on the last update "end of the week of the 11th" which would be the 17th and this update "end of the week of the 22nd" which would be the 24th, this update only actually covers 1 week of progress because the last one covered an extra week.
Rob Bright am January 25, 2016
thanks for the update but "if all goes to plan"...
Let's be honest, none of it has gone to plan so far has it?
When are the factories going to close for NY? The official date for NY is 8th Feb but when do the factories close down?
How many uKegs will be made before then?
How long is the delay going to be?
When will the production start up again?
How many bulk buyers are left to fulfil?
Perhaps answer some of these questions to help us understand more the problem you're facing.
Jason am January 25, 2016
@Chris Bodan - Click on the view pledge link, at the bottom of the page is your backer number. For example, mine is 3,006 of 10,293.
Chris Bogdan am January 25, 2016
I see from reading comments that I am not the only one being ignored by growlerworks. They said they hired 2 staff members just to deal with our questions but they can't even acknowledge that they have even received our emails. I'm growing increasingly frustrated with this whole experience. These updates don't mean anything unless you can tell us what our backer #s are.
Alfredo Varela Jr am January 25, 2016
Well, that was pretty anti-climactic. The backer numbers have barely been adjusted and yet again, they only tell you what has already shipped with no mention of what is shipping in the next two weeks. I'm mostly certain my stainless steel unit will arrive and hopefully have none of the issues being reported. The copper unit, however, looks disappointing. The image looks pink and dull. I realize copper can look like that but I was sold on an image of a polished copper colored growler and the picture above does not resemble what I had in mind. Oh well, it's not like this project can let me down much more.
Matthew Shiner am January 25, 2016
It does no good to provide email address for us to use when you do not respond after months. I am really trying to grant you all good intentions but dang you are making it difficult. Using $1.5 M of our funds for what will be almost 2 years? I tried to request a reasonable request for the significant delay and hope you can accommodate it. I hope this is worth the wait.
Steve Nadeau am January 25, 2016
so now I am to expect my 128, being number 9128 on the list, sometime next Thanksgiving? for waiting this long you should give a complementary 64 and 6 cartridges for both sizes along with the original 128 orders
Nic Gibbens am January 24, 2016
So. So. Bored of this. Genuinely the most disappointing Kickstarter ever. I now have zero faith in actually getting my 128 even though I ordered it at the same time as all the 64s which are now finally moving.