How does BackerKit crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding is a collaborative way to bring ideas and projects to life. Project creators post their idea for a project, and backers pledge money to make the project possible. Backers get behind the scenes access and backer-only rewards, which can include exclusive products, special pricing, creative input, content, and more.
To become a backer, select a pledge level that features the reward(s) you would like to receive when the project is successfully completed and make your contribution.
All-or-nothing crowdfunding model: The creator sets a funding goal and a deadline to raise funds. If the project does not meet the goal by the deadline, backers credit cards are not charged and no money changes hands.
Crowdfunding projects can happen at various stages of the creative process. Make sure to check the estimated timeline of when rewards will be delivered. Project creators will keep you updated on the progress toward completion and delivery of your rewards.
Backing a crowdfunding campaign is not the same as purchasing an item from a store. When you back a campaign you are supporting the creation of something new. Rewards are almost always delivered, but are not guaranteed.
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:51
When will I be charged for my pledge?
Your payment method will not be charged right away. You will be charged for the amount of your pledge when the campaign ends and the project reaches its funding goal. You will not be charged if the campaign does not reach its funding goal.
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:52
What happens after the campaign is over?
The Creator will send out a survey that will ask you for more information about your pledge, your shipping information, additional items you may want to add to your pledge, and collect shipping fees if applicable.
The survey will be sent to the email address we have on file with your pledge.
Any additional payment will be charged when you complete your survey and confirm your order.
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:52
Where are you located?
We are in the Portland Oregon area of the Pacific Northwest.
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:53
Do you ship worldwide?
We will ship anywhere USPS will deliver, including other countries.
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:53
How do I find out what projects I’ve pledged to?
Check out this help doc on how to locate your pledges for Pintopia 2024: https://help.backerkit.com/article/824-how-do-i-find-out-what-projects-i-ve-pledged-to
Last updated: January 15, 2025 15:54
Will there be a Pre-Order store once the campaign is over?
Yes! If you missed out on the initial campaign, a pre-order store will be opened before the end of February to give you another chance to order.
Last updated: February 18, 2025 16:46
What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.
Backer Responsibility
As a backer you are responsible for completing your survey and paying shipping fees within a timely manner, to receive your rewards. As creators we are only able to communicate with backers through project updates and reminder emails (email correspondence will be sent to the email on file for your pledge). As a backer it is your responsibility to check and read project updates, and to check for survey emails. If you fail to stay updated and do not complete your survey, you could forfeit your rewards. (Read more about reward forfeiture below)
Manufacturing
I'll be using trusted manufacturers that I've worked with before, but occasionally things happen and there are minor delays in manufacturing.
I will always be upfront with backers along the way. I will disclose any setbacks, delays, and any other pertinent updates.
It's important to understand that this is a crowdfunded campaign. Crowdfunded campaigns are often subject to delays due to unforeseen circumstances. Please also understand that money pledged to a crowdfunded campaign is a donation or investment. This is not an online store and you will not immediately receive your rewards after pledging.
Please note that minor changes may occur in production, and that the images presented here are my mock up designs. There is a possibility of slight changes in color and size in the physical item.
Pin Grades
We offer two grades of pins, First Grade, and B Grade. First Grade pins are the only pins offered in crowdfunded campaigns. Our pins are handmade and may have minor cosmetic imperfections.
Examples of First Grade imperfections are as follows, but not limited to:
- Small buff marks, scuffs, or scratches on metal/enamel
- Small specks, pores, or bubbles anywhere on the pin
- Slightly low or uneven fills
- Slightly misaligned soldered details (for pins with double layers)
- Slight variations in the distribution of glitter
We want to make you aware that these First Grade pins may have small imperfections, but 99% of the time, these imperfections are non-existent or not noticeable.
An important note about color and size.
It is crucial to understand that while we have made pins before, the pins in this campaign have not yet been manufactured. The designs you see on this page are mockups, which means the final product may vary in color and size. From our experience, the majority of our pins turn out looking like the mockup design.
Different computers, phones, and other devices have different screen settings which means coloration may vary between screens. We use a Pantone Solid Coated book to choose the colors for our designs. The manufacturers use those Pantone numbers to know which colors to mix and apply where, however, looking at a Pantone swatch on paper, is different than looking at a Pantone color in enamel.
Each mockup has a rough estimate of what the size will be. Our sizes are either specifying the general height or width of the pin. The actual size of the physical product may vary.
Glitters, translucent enamel, sand blasted enamel, pearl enamel, and metal plating colors may vary on the physical product.
Refunds or Exchanges
After the campaign has ended, you will have ample time to make your design selections in your BackerKit survey. You will be notified before surveys are locked down and any add-ons are charged. Once your order is locked down, we have a no refunds or exchanges policy. The only time we will issue a refund or replacement, is in extenuating circumstances, or if your pin arrives damaged (please read the section on pin grades to determine if your pin is damaged). If you believe your pin was damaged in transit, please reach out to us immediately and attach photos of the damaged pin.
Forfeiture of Rewards
Once project shipping is completed backers will be notified via a campaign update. This campaign update with have a final survey completion date. If your survey is not completed, and your shipping costs not paid by the completion date, you will forfeit your pledge payment and rewards. We will not fulfill forfeited rewards and pledge levels after the completion date
Lost or never received packages - Forfeiture of rewards
We make every attempt to get your package from our facility to your home. Packages for this campaign will come with a tracking number. Regardless of tracking numbers, sometimes packages are lost in the mail. We will notify backers with an update when the project is near completion. If you have not received your package by the completion of the shipping process, you will have an extended period of time to contact us about a missing package. If you do not contact us within that extended period of time about a lost or never received package, you will forfeit your rewards and we will not provide a refund or re-ship your rewards.
Rubber Backs vs. Locking Backs
Each pin from our campaign will come with rubber backs, but we highly recommend purchasing locking backs. If you choose to adhere your pin to a jacket, bag, or other item, with a rubber back, and it falls off, we will not replace the missing pin. We do offer locking backs through our add-ons section in your survey.