Hey backers,

It's been a while since I've posted an AOS update, so I'm here with a project update. The original expected date to begin shipping was mid to late March 2024, but it's looking like I need to push that back to late April 2024.

I was sick...very sick

I was a vendor at an Anime convention from January 5th-8th, and the original plan was to place the AOS order after that convention. Unfortunately, at that convention my partner contracted covid and I picked up a cold. I was sick with cold symptoms for about 4 days, and started to feel better on the 5th day. I took six covid tests for the first six days I was sick and they were all negative. On the 6th day I started feeling very sick again, this time with flu symptoms. I tested again on the 11th day of being sick and it was positive for covid. I am pretty sure I had a cold and then contracted covid from my partner. We did quarantine but still we live in the same house. I either had a cold and then covid, or maybe it was covid the whole time and it just didn't show up on a test until the 11th day. Either way, I was very sick for two and half weeks. It wasn't like sit on the couch and do some work kind of sick, it was more like lay in bed and almost go to the ER on a few occasions sick. Needless to say, I did not get any work done, which means I did not put in the order. I should mention that I am now better and back to work. 

Why the delay?

I know ordering pins seems like a simple task...look at the order counts, send the files to the manufacturer with the counts, and order the pins. However, ordering a large quantity of pins for a project like this is more complicated and takes a bit more time. It takes extensive hours of planning, counting inventory, making spreadsheets, and sending everything to multiple manufactures. Once the manufacturers get back to me it takes a few days to comb through every single detail in their quote to ensure all the correct details, quantities, measurements, and manufacturing processes are correct.

Aside from being sick which delayed fulfillment by two weeks, the Chinese New Year takes place in February and the factories are closed for two weeks. Combine being sick and the holiday break at the factory, and that pushed fulfillment back by a month.

Some add-on designs are being cancelled and if you ordered them you will receive a refund.

While I was doing inventory there were a couple of add-on pins where not enough people ordered them to warrant ordering a batch from the manufacturer. Every time I order a batch from the manufacturer the minimum order quantity is 50 pins, so if only 1-3 pins are ordered it's just not enough to justify ordering the whole lot. Keep in mind I'm only talking about add-on pins, and this does not include any of the designs that are a part of the main campaign. Below are the pins that were cancelled and refunded:
- PS5 Controller Pin - Pink
- Switch Pin - Pink and Blue
- Take Your Meds - Rainbow and Gold
- Take Your Meds - Silver

If you ordered any of those pins they will be removed from your order and you will receive a refund.

Surveys
There are still about 50 backers who have not completed their survey. If you need to complete your survey or review your survey, please search your email for a survey email from BackerKit. If you are umable to find email correspondence about your survey from Backerkit, you can email me at [email protected] and I can look into your survey and help you locate it. 

Thank you again for all your support and patience! If you have any other questions please email me at [email protected]. 

Cheers,
Liz