Good afternoon, criminals!
So, this will probably be the last update on BIRD CRIMES - I'm gonna be closing the project shortly. We're going to close on a neutral, maybe kind...
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Ken Fiskorne
9 months ago
Retail stock listed + UK and replacement orders
Good afternoon, jailbirds!
Barring any emergencies, or any major, currently-undiscovered issue with stock, this will be the last time you hear from BIRD CRIMES.
All rema...
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Ken Fiskorne
10 months ago
We're pretty much done!
Good evening, jailbirds!
So, in the shortest terms possible: we are pretty much done with fulfillment.
All cross-collab backers should have a shipping notification and trackin...
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Ken Fiskorne
10 months ago
Fulfillment has started
Good afternoon, jailbirds!
This is more of a process update, whatever you want to call it.
We're hard at work getting BIRD CRIMES and collab orders out this weekend. Currently...
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Ken Fiskorne
10 months ago
proof of life
Pins are officially in hand.
Well, they're in Corvi's hands. Which is, you know, probably better.
I'll see you guys this weekend.
Take it easy, and thank you as always.
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Ken Fiskorne
10 months ago
Re: Fulfillment delay
Hi gang!
Do you remember, yesterday, when I said, in the comments "unless there's a miracle, we will not be fulfilling this weekend?"
Well, just as I was winding stuff down ye...
So, this will probably be the last update on BIRD CRIMES - I'm gonna be closing the project shortly. We're going to close on a neutral, maybe kind of bad, note.
The gist here: if you were a UK backer, you will not be receiving any campaign rewards from BIRD CRIMES, and you are getting instructions on how to get a full refund.
We took, what we hoped, were logical steps to try and accommodate UK backers through the United Kingdom's restrictive, convoluted VAT laws. This was through a placeholder $1 tier, which would then allow you to place an order thru Etsy.
It's been a year, and I'm giving up.
Several things happened during BIRD CRIMES and BACKYARD BIRDS fulfillment that, unfortunately, have led me to call it quits dealing with UK backers.
BackerKit handles "digital" (placeholder) tiers in a certain way on the back end. Due to how me and Corviforms handled UK backers, we were not aware of who was a cross-collab backer with combined shipping, and who wasn't. This meant Backyard Birds' stuff went out before we caught the problem, and missed our initial shipping round... and cheaper postage for both us, and you.
Packing and shipping problems with BIRD CRIMES mean several popular pins (especially the greencheek conure, and our freebie crow) had D-grade, or completely unusable, stock. We didn't have enough to fulfill UK orders, and had to order replacements. This means things got delayed even further.
There isn't clear messaging on VAT taxes and tax IDs anywhere on UK government sites. Calling VAT offices and talking to artists who work with the UK did not lead me to any other answers. About five months after US orders went out, I had concerns that packages would be seized or destroyed due to how old the orders and paid VAT were: up until a month ago, I still got mixed answers from UK parties about what would need to happen to get stuff into the country.
America's government and shipping has gone to shit, and even if the UK warms up to my products, I worry that stuff won't even make it out of my state with this postal service.
Etsy's refund period thru their site ends after 180 days, and I've been trying to get to them to waive this and let me pay everyone back en masse. Etsy is Etsy (there's a reason I don't use them for my shop anymore, just for VAT!) and they are not budging on it.
These were factors with the campaign, manufacturing, and logistics. But, full HUSTLE honesty, we had some serious communication and conduct problems with some UK people that soured me to trying to work this problem out.
I've been chipping away at arguing with the UK VAT office and Etsy trying to work this out, between an emergency move, other projects, and trying to pay bills and other costs. I try to be as transparent as possible about this stuff, because it does ultimately affect you and the products you paid me for. But, it hasn't been my top priority, and unfortunately, since nothing was really happening, I didn't post much about it. I apologize for this.
However, I gotta say: I am not in any rush to get my shop up for UK backers or buyers at any point in the future. UK backing will not be an option on further KEN'S PIN HUSTLE projects.
Please don't ask me for free stuff in your order during the campaign. Please don't roll up into my email every week when updates about the UK system are active. Please do not blow up my Telegram DMs assuming I'm trying to fleece you when I am posting on both social media and Backerkit project updates about the fact I am spending all of my free time getting my car un-stolen with insurance and getting moved out with a police escort.
I have been refunding UK backers who request it outright, and about three of you were awesome in asking. "No refunds" always has an exception when stuff hasn't gone out after a year: if this happens in the future, location be damned, come talk to me.
If you don't like how your country is cutting off international trade, complain to them, not my shop DMs or my email. VAT and its workarounds are not my choice.
75% of you guys were awesome, you were accommodating of circumstances, probably more than you should have been. The other 25%... don't worry, you're still entitled to a refund.
If you are a UK backer, let's get you situated. You are going to get your full pledged amount thru Etsy back.
I'll be contacting all UK backers via their BackerKit email in the next two days with the full USD amount you are entitled to. I can't refund you directly through Etsy due to their 180 day deadline passing.
Please respond with an active, viable PayPal email that I can send this amount to.
If you do not receive this email, contact me at [email protected] with this information.
I'm sorry this didn't work out for UK backers. Thank you for backing and giving it a shot, but, it's time to admit defeat and get you guys back your money.
Barring any emergencies, or any major, currently-undiscovered issue with stock, this will be the last time you hear from BIRD CRIMES.
All remaining pin stock has been graded, sorted, and stocked in the KEN'S PIN HUSTLE store. A-grades (flawless retail pins), as well as B (slightly ugly) and D (functionally defective) pins are now available for purchase. If you missed out on the campaign, and want to grab a couple of these little guys, check them out!
Just for today (10/7/2024), all BIRD CRIMES pins are listed at the campaign price ($14 each). They'll go up to $15 at midnight tonight. This is my apology for this taking so damn long.
If you already checked out the B-grades listed earlier this week, and you didn't see what you wanted, check again! Unfortunately, with more sorting, comes some more rejects. There are now some cockatiels and cockatoos, when there weren't before. Kakapo B-grades sold out in the first round, and there's just under 10 more that I just put up for sale.
While we are officially wrapping things up, this doesn't mean they're over.
I am being made aware of some incomplete or mixed up orders. Just because this was a large campaign with a few hiccups, does not mean it's an excuse for errors. If you are missing an item, received a B-grade pin (with missing screen print or fills), received someone else's order, or had another problem with your order, reach out to me ASAP for a replacement.
Domestic orders do not need to return defectiveitems, or pay replacement shipping. However, international backers may be asked to cover the postage costs for replacement items.
Unfortunately, we have also had an extremely strange issue where BackerKit doubled up several pins. Please check your packing slips: if you got an extra pin, and it's reflected on your packing slip, I would like to hear from you. I'm trying to gather more than a couple cases of this to show BackerKit and see why it is happening. We have two backers where human error was not involved, and something went wrong in the system that told us to give you one or two more of a pin you got without charging you - or paying us.
This also happened with sticker sheets, but we caught it very early and everyone should have the right amount.
I will not ask you to return extra pins. In fact, for helping out, I'll toss you another $5 store credit.
With the exception of 2 US orders that got missed (and are going out within the next 2 days), the only BackerKit orders to go out now are UK. I have to individually do customs forms and some other technical stuff for you guys. It's a big undertaking, and I will need to find 5-6 hours to deal with the paperwork between job interviews and other obligations. Rest assured, UK - your stuff is coming!
If you are a UK customer, you will get an individual email that your items have shipped. I am hoping this will come within the next week.
For now, that's all! Thank you for your support on BIRD CRIMES... have I heard from you about GOLDEN AGE PARROTS yet? Remember: if you back any tier, as a BIRD CRIMES BACKER, there's a free pin waiting for you.
GOLDEN AGE PARROTS will be a week into funding tomorrow, and so, so close to its next stretch goal. I'd love to have your support, and make some more parrots for you!
So, in the shortest terms possible: we are pretty much done with fulfillment.
All cross-collab backers should have a shipping notification and tracking # thru their Backyard Birds pledge. I am checking if there is an efficient way to copy over 450 tracking numbers across projects, but if not, I will take the L on this project and write a gently worded request to Backerkit admin for next time.
Packages are leaving Corviforms' shipping address 50 at a time, and according to my VIP chat, a few of you already have your stuff. Awesome! You should expect to see your items in the next week or two.
When you get yours, post your haul and tag me on Twitter @kenspinhustle, or on bluesky @ the same handle. Bonus points if you take pictures of your own bird criminals giving their opinions on my pins. Hold them up to your cockatiel. See what happens. Just for fun.
Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you are missing any items from your BIRD CRIMES pledge. Likewise, if any of your Backyard Birds missed their flight, hit up Corviforms thru [email protected]. If you are a domestic customer, and do not get your items within 2 weeks, please reach out to me and I'll sniff out what went wrong.
Non-cross collab backers will be getting shipping notifications this week. Your stuff has been shipped, it was just purchased separately. Some of you should have tracking already, but I have to manually add a few of you who needed insurance, had additional items, or are not in the USA. Keep an eye out for these - hell, you might get your stuff before I get to update your tracking!
UK backers will start fulfillment late this week. Since you already have your Backyard Birds items (if you are cross collab), you will get your BIRD CRIMES rewards after I catch my breath a little. Your final update for this project will be when I shoot all the birds across the pond in a bottle rocket, ready to commit knife crimes and put seasoning on food. Heinous.
I am dealing with some things behind the scenes, but my main focus for this week (other than giving puppy eyes to landlords and sending meatspin to credit score scammers on Facebook marketplace) is getting BIRD CRIMES stuff on the HUSTLE.
All purchaseable pins will be up at the promised retail rate ($15 each). I'll be nice to you guys, and give you a flash sale to get them for the campaign rate - or, get the full set for a substantial discount - on the first day. Keep an eye out for this announcement.
Mugshot stickers have been available for a bit, but they will be recounted and listed too. The 4" sticker sheets from the campaign will also be up for grabs!
There are a decent number of b-grades that will be listed. This is my first time playing with screenprint, and, unfortunately, the results weren't really my favorite. We've got a few ugly ducklings in this batch of birds, ranging from illegible text, missing fills, or surface scuffs. There's also a couple of bent posts and missing backings, which will be discounted a little bit harder because they have functional defects - these guys are suited for pin boards, but not daily wear.
B-grade crows and blue jays will also be available for purchase - this is your last chance to get these pins if you did not qualify for them during the campaign! If you ever want them after this, you'll need to email me, personally. And that's awkward, because I might say no and then you'll want to die of embarrassment. Just buy the B-grades, man. They're not THAT bad.
Anyways, I'm launching GOLDEN AGE PARROTS in 5 days.
Happy hump day, thanks for reading, and thank you for making BIRD CRIMES happen.
I hope to see you at the GOLDEN AGE PARROTS launch!
This is more of a process update, whatever you want to call it.
We're hard at work getting BIRD CRIMES and collab orders out this weekend. Currently, pins are graded and placed on backing cards. Today, we're getting orders packed up and set to go.
We're playing things by ear, but ideally, we'd like every order out and ready to go by Monday afternoon. You might not see your package moving in tracking by then - with almost 500 of you, it'll take a while for the post office to scan everyone in.
Retail CRIMES pins should be counted and in-stock on the HUSTLE some time within the next two weeks. Keep an eye out for an initial sale.
Pins are handmade items, so there's always some room for error. There's a good number of B-grades for each design, which have been removed from stock due to fill, screenprint errors, or scuffs. They'll be up for sale on the HUSTLE with the rest of stock. One last thing: we have a few people who have one campaign paid, and not the other, as well as some people who had a shipping charge fail. We'll be reaching out individually to you, to see if we can get your stuff sorted out. We can't send out your rewards otherwise.
Do us a favor, take a few minutes, check your survey status and make sure everything's good.
If you catch a problem before us, email me at [email protected] to get things going.
If your stuff is shipped successfully, you'll get a notification in the next week. If not, please check for an email about what we're missing from you.
That's all for now. Me, Corvi, and our helpers thank you for your support. Back to the dungeon I go.
