I've got a tracking number for the pins and a couple of photos! My backup-quickly-becoming-my-main manu really pulled through and got this order sorted for us :)
I should have these in-hand in a couple weeks. I'll take some better photos for everyone then.
Our updated timeline has these being fully fulfilled this fall. We're deep into Pride season right now, so we're at an event literally every weekend until mid August. Since production was pushed back, we missed the window where we could devote most of our time to fulfillment. T_T So whoever isn't staffing the pride booth will be slowly hand assembling each pin set.
I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. I'm excited to get these out to you all.
If you need to reach out for any reason, we can be reached at admin/@/arledgecomics.com
I'm here with a little bit of an unfortunate update.
TL;DR - After months of back and forth, preparing for this order, and after busting my ass to get order counts and getting everything ready for production, my manu turned around and said "we can't do this order" the very moment I asked for an invoice. My backup (and quickly becoming main) manu has confirmed their factory can do the order and has accepted payment, so pins are in production as of this morning. Pins will be delayed, but they're coming!
For those wanting the full story, with screen caps for transparency -
I initiated this order back in January. After an unfortunate experience years ago, I'd made it a personal rule that I don't crowdfund pins without finalized proofs from my manu. So I started real early: January 16.
OG artwork is peak, right?
As you can see, at my first contact, I made sure they were aware this was going to be an order with customizations. This hasn't been an issue in the past! I've done multiple sets of Pride pins, and I've ordered as little as 3 of a colorway previously.
Some minor updates to the designs, and Feb 6, I'm asking for colorways (like you see on the campaign page!) making it clear that this set is going to be customized and in multiple colors.
And on April 15, I put in the order -
My rep did not reject the order here! 5 days later, we're finishing minor edits to ensure accuracy.
I got updated proofs for the order and approved them, asking to be invoiced.
Friday - after months of back and forth on this project - I'm told the factory just cannot do the order.
This factory/manu advertises that they do not have a minimum order quantity. That's why I've been using them for my pride sets for years! But this past week I learned that I can order 1 pin. But I can't order 1 pin 100 times I guess? I wrote back, requesting an explanation - haven't heard back yet. But I also sent the order to my backup manu - who is quickly becoming my main manu.
The invoice came in early this morning and was paid this morning as well.
This all being said, I'm so very sorry that we're going to miss the mark on delivering before Pride. We've got a two week set back here, (the artwork is already created in manu #1's system, but needs to be created by manu #2 now) so instead of me shipping pins at the end of the month, it's very likely I'll be receiving pins at the end of the month.
I hope sharing this instills some confidence that I'm working diligently to get these pins produced and into your hands as soon as possible.
Just providing an update to let y'all know that I will be locking surveys Monday morning (approximately 7am PST). So if you have changes to make or haven't filled out your survey yet, this is your warning to do so. This will not lock your address, so no worries if you need to update that in the next couple weeks.
There are still seven (7) backers who have not filled out their surveys. If you're one of these seven, I've sent you an email asking you fill out your survey, and I'll be sending follow up emails on Monday.
I am sending the order to my manu Wednesday, April 15th. (Giving myself two days to document all the customization requests and put the order together.)
If you do not fill out your survey before I send the order to my manu, I'm sorry, but you will forfeit any customization options.
If you fill out your survey late, I will substitute any customized sets with sets of my choosing. I am not over ordering pins for sale due to the mass amount of pins I'd need for different pride sets. I am ordering extra gold plated black glitter, and extra rainbow sets. So if you backed for a monochrome moon, and you don't want black on gold, fill out your survey. If you backed for pride moons (especially dual pride moons), please fill out your survey. Pride moon orders will be substituted with rainbow moons of my choosing on late submissions.
I know I sound like I'm beating a dead point here, but I am committed to getting these pins delivered by June. Placing the order this week means I can anticipate having pins in-hand mid May. Giving me two weeks to grade, assemble, and ship. This is a TIGHT turn around, and I cannot grant extensions on reward surveys.
Thank you for an incredible campaign! I've been spitballing modular pronoun pins for literal years and I'm so glad to be able to provide customized sets like these.
I sent the pledge manager to review this morning. Once that's approved, I'll make it live for everyone. Please do not delay in filling out your pledge manager. Because these are customized sets, I will not be over-ordering for sale in markets/conventions. For sale, I will only be ordering gold/black monochrome sets and gold/rainbow (possibly pastel as well).
If you do not fill out your pledge manager - I don't know what you want or where to ship it. So you will not be receiving pins.
If you fill out your pledge manager late - Please note that funds are used for production, so refunds will not be issued. If you fill out your pledge survey after I've placed the order, then I may be forced to substitute your custom set with a set of my choosing.
My goal is to have pins in your hands in time for Pride this June. So please understand the strictness here.
I will update again once surveys are live and again when I'm closing surveys. I'm hoping by overcommunicating we won't miss anyone (and I'll have my first 100% complete pledge manager. Maybe? Hopefully?)
Special note for those of you who got multiple sets: The pledge manager still got a little messy. Your selections are in order of selection type, not pin set. So you'll choose colors for set a, then colors for set b. Metal type for set a, then metal type for set b. I've tried my best to make this as clear as possible in the questions (asking for your first set or second set). If you have questions, please just reach out via email and we'll get it sorted.
That's all for now. Just a warning that the pledge manager is coming this week!
I've got a tracking number for the pins and a couple of photos! My backup-quickly-becoming-my-main manu really pulled through and got this order sorted for us :)
I should have these in-hand in a couple weeks. I'll take some better photos for everyone then.
Our updated timeline has these being fully fulfilled this fall. We're deep into Pride season right now, so we're at an event literally every weekend until mid August. Since production was pushed back, we missed the window where we could devote most of our time to fulfillment. T_T So whoever isn't staffing the pride booth will be slowly hand assembling each pin set.
I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. I'm excited to get these out to you all.
If you need to reach out for any reason, we can be reached at admin/@/arledgecomics.com
Has anyone had any luck changing their address when it requires additional shipping? I sent in my change request 12 days ago and haven't heard anything back.
I'm here with a little bit of an unfortunate update.
TL;DR - After months of back and forth, preparing for this order, and after busting my ass to get order counts and getting everything ready for production, my manu turned around and said "we can't do this order" the very moment I asked for an invoice. My backup (and quickly becoming main) manu has confirmed their factory can do the order and has accepted payment, so pins are in production as of this morning. Pins will be delayed, but they're coming!
For those wanting the full story, with screen caps for transparency -
I initiated this order back in January. After an unfortunate experience years ago, I'd made it a personal rule that I don't crowdfund pins without finalized proofs from my manu. So I started real early: January 16.
OG artwork is peak, right?
As you can see, at my first contact, I made sure they were aware this was going to be an order with customizations. This hasn't been an issue in the past! I've done multiple sets of Pride pins, and I've ordered as little as 3 of a colorway previously.
Some minor updates to the designs, and Feb 6, I'm asking for colorways (like you see on the campaign page!) making it clear that this set is going to be customized and in multiple colors.
And on April 15, I put in the order -
My rep did not reject the order here! 5 days later, we're finishing minor edits to ensure accuracy.
I got updated proofs for the order and approved them, asking to be invoiced.
Friday - after months of back and forth on this project - I'm told the factory just cannot do the order.
This factory/manu advertises that they do not have a minimum order quantity. That's why I've been using them for my pride sets for years! But this past week I learned that I can order 1 pin. But I can't order 1 pin 100 times I guess? I wrote back, requesting an explanation - haven't heard back yet. But I also sent the order to my backup manu - who is quickly becoming my main manu.
The invoice came in early this morning and was paid this morning as well.
This all being said, I'm so very sorry that we're going to miss the mark on delivering before Pride. We've got a two week set back here, (the artwork is already created in manu #1's system, but needs to be created by manu #2 now) so instead of me shipping pins at the end of the month, it's very likely I'll be receiving pins at the end of the month.
I hope sharing this instills some confidence that I'm working diligently to get these pins produced and into your hands as soon as possible.
Just providing an update to let y'all know that I will be locking surveys Monday morning (approximately 7am PST). So if you have changes to make or haven't filled out your survey yet, this is your warning to do so. This will not lock your address, so no worries if you need to update that in the next couple weeks.
There are still seven (7) backers who have not filled out their surveys. If you're one of these seven, I've sent you an email asking you fill out your survey, and I'll be sending follow up emails on Monday.
I am sending the order to my manu Wednesday, April 15th. (Giving myself two days to document all the customization requests and put the order together.)
If you do not fill out your survey before I send the order to my manu, I'm sorry, but you will forfeit any customization options.
If you fill out your survey late, I will substitute any customized sets with sets of my choosing. I am not over ordering pins for sale due to the mass amount of pins I'd need for different pride sets. I am ordering extra gold plated black glitter, and extra rainbow sets. So if you backed for a monochrome moon, and you don't want black on gold, fill out your survey. If you backed for pride moons (especially dual pride moons), please fill out your survey. Pride moon orders will be substituted with rainbow moons of my choosing on late submissions.
I know I sound like I'm beating a dead point here, but I am committed to getting these pins delivered by June. Placing the order this week means I can anticipate having pins in-hand mid May. Giving me two weeks to grade, assemble, and ship. This is a TIGHT turn around, and I cannot grant extensions on reward surveys.
