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perks [2016/05/14 13:54] – Updates w/shipping Kickstarter patches Carlos Pedrazaperks [2018/03/16 17:53] (current) – Carlos Pedraza
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 ====== What's Up With the Perks? ====== ====== What's Up With the Perks? ======
 {{TOC}} {{TOC}}
 +
 +<WRAP>
 +//**__ __**// <wrap lo>**By [[user>cpedraza|Carlos Pedraza]]**</wrap>
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +<wrap lo>//See also: [[ares_digital_update|Axanar Scrambles to Ship Perks]]//, //[[terry_mcintosh|Terry McIntosh Resigns]]// and //[[new_ares_digital|Axanar Launches New Fulfillment Platform]]//</wrap>
  
 //Amid reports from donors of unfulfilled perks from the Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns,// **AxaMonitor** //examined [[Axanar Productions]]' fulfillment efforts and spending — and discovered clues about heretofore undisclosed income from its other revenue streams.// //Amid reports from donors of unfulfilled perks from the Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns,// **AxaMonitor** //examined [[Axanar Productions]]' fulfillment efforts and spending — and discovered clues about heretofore undisclosed income from its other revenue streams.//
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 --> Prelude Kickstarter Rewards# --> Prelude Kickstarter Rewards#
 <WRAP center round todo> <WRAP center round todo>
-**About the Prelude Data** The analysis in this section is based on the spreadsheet image labeled //Prelude to Axanar Income and Expenses// on pages 5-6 of the Annual Report. The data has been transcribed into the {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} Excel spreadsheet.+<wrap lo>**About the Prelude Data** The analysis in this section is based on the spreadsheet image labeled //Prelude to Axanar Income and Expenses// on pages 5-6 of the Annual Report. The data has been transcribed into the {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} Excel spreadsheet.</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
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 --> Axanar Kickstarter Rewards# --> Axanar Kickstarter Rewards#
 <WRAP center round todo> <WRAP center round todo>
-**About the Axanar Kickstarter Data** The analysis in this section is based on the chart in the //Axanar Kickstarter// section on pages 9-10 of the Annual Report. The data has been transcribed into the {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} Excel spreadsheet.+<wrap lo>**About the Axanar Kickstarter Data** The analysis in this section is based on the chart in the //Axanar Kickstarter// section on pages 9-10 of the Annual Report. The data has been transcribed into the {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} Excel spreadsheet.</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
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 ==== Reported Spending ==== ==== Reported Spending ====
 <WRAP round todo> <WRAP round todo>
-**About the Axanar Data** The analysis in this section is based on the figures presented on pages 7-10 of the [[Annual Report]] and from the [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter]] campaign page. The data has been transcribed into two Excel spreadsheets: \\+<wrap lo>**About the Axanar Data** The analysis in this section is based on the figures presented on pages 7-10 of the [[Annual Report]] and from the [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter]] campaign page. The data has been transcribed into two Excel spreadsheets: \\
 • {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} \\ • {{:axanar_financials.xlsx|Axanar Financials}} \\
-• {{::kickstarter_rewards.xlsx|Kickstarter Rewards}}+• {{::kickstarter_rewards.xlsx|Kickstarter Rewards}}</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
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 Those expenses seem to indicate underspending of what had been allocated for rewards, according to the Kickstarter page, which pegged that spending at 10 percent of the amount raised.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|"Kickstarter Financial Basics" section of Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 5/2/16.)) Here's the trouble with those expenses: Those expenses seem to indicate underspending of what had been allocated for rewards, according to the Kickstarter page, which pegged that spending at 10 percent of the amount raised.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|"Kickstarter Financial Basics" section of Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 5/2/16.)) Here's the trouble with those expenses:
 +
 +<WRAP right round important 50%>
 +[{{ :patches-shipped.jpg?direct&150|Kickstarter patches began shipping.}}]
 +<wrap lo><wrap em>UPDATE</wrap> On October 7, 2016, Axanar's fulfillment director, Diana Kingsbury, notified donors that, two years later,  patches promised to Kickstarter backers were finally beginning to ship.</wrap>
 +</WRAP>
  
 === No Perks Have Shipped === === No Perks Have Shipped ===
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 == Donor Complaints == == Donor Complaints ==
  
-Donor complaints about Kickstarter rewards not being delivered, while Donor Store merchandise appears to be constantly shipping, are what led to the analysis in this article. This comment by user Kelly Lincoln on Axanar's Kickstarter is typical:+Donor complaints about Kickstarter rewards not being delivered, while Donor Store merchandise appears to be constantly shipping, are what led to AxaMonitor's analysis of perk fulfillment. This comment by user Kelly Lincoln on Axanar's Kickstarter is typical: 
 + 
 +<WRAP right round important 50%> 
 +<wrap lo><wrap em>UPDATE</wrap> On September 9, 2016, Kingsbury announced a new software platform had come online to manage long-delayed shipments to donors. See: [[new_ares_digital|Axanar Launches New Fulfillment Platform]].</wrap> 
 +</WRAP>
  
 > You know since my first contribution to this kickstarter I have not received even one items initially promised. I stopped expecting to a long time ago but frankly it was a waste of my money. I am amazed though that they basically got away with taking the money from people and not fulfilling their promises.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/posts/1538576?cursor=12945338#comment-12945337|Kelly Lincoln comment on Kickstarter Update #83, "PATCHES… the Definitive Word"]], 4/5/16.)) > You know since my first contribution to this kickstarter I have not received even one items initially promised. I stopped expecting to a long time ago but frankly it was a waste of my money. I am amazed though that they basically got away with taking the money from people and not fulfilling their promises.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/posts/1538576?cursor=12945338#comment-12945337|Kelly Lincoln comment on Kickstarter Update #83, "PATCHES… the Definitive Word"]], 4/5/16.))
  
-<WRAP important> +Several days after initial publication of the **AxaMonitor** perks analysis, in his May 5, 2016, "Captain's Log," producer Alec Peters announced that continued delays by [[Ares Digital]] developer [[Terry McIntosh]] would no longer prevent shipping of Kickstarter backers' patches:
-**<wrap em>UPDATE</wrap>** After initial publication of this article, in his May 5, 2016, "Captain's Log," producer Alec Peters announced that continued delays by [[Ares Digital]] programmer [[Terry McIntosh]] would no longer prevent shipping of Kickstarter backers' patches:+
  
 > As to the patches from the first Kickstarter that have been sitting by Diana’s desk for 9 months while we have waited for Terry [McIntosh] to finish Ares Digital?  Well, we decided that if Ares Digital isn’t finished by the end of [May 2016], we will either use BackerKit or use Kickstarter directly to generate the labels to ship these out.  I am sure you would all like those patches, and I am VERY tired of them not being sent out.  So we will get these to you shortly!(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-may-5th-2016/|Alec Peters, "Captain's Log – May 5, 2016,"]] Axanar website, 5/5/16.)) > As to the patches from the first Kickstarter that have been sitting by Diana’s desk for 9 months while we have waited for Terry [McIntosh] to finish Ares Digital?  Well, we decided that if Ares Digital isn’t finished by the end of [May 2016], we will either use BackerKit or use Kickstarter directly to generate the labels to ship these out.  I am sure you would all like those patches, and I am VERY tired of them not being sent out.  So we will get these to you shortly!(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-may-5th-2016/|Alec Peters, "Captain's Log – May 5, 2016,"]] Axanar website, 5/5/16.))
 +
 +<WRAP box 500px>
 +{{http://i0.wp.com/www.axanarproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/New-Patches.jpg?475|}} \\
 +<wrap lo>**PATCHES** The languishing Kickstarter backers' patches are the first four pictured above. The fifth is from the Axanar Indiegogo and the Starfleet Disaster Response was available for Axanar's "special events."</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-[{{http://i0.wp.com/www.axanarproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/New-Patches.jpg?475|**PATCHES** The languishing Kickstarter backers' patches are the first four pictured above. The fifth is from the Axanar Indiegogo and the Starfleet Disaster Response was available for Axanar's "special events."}}]+== Failure to Ship == 
 + 
 +In a May 27, 2016, blog post, Axanar spokesman Mike Bawden admitted to the problem in shipping available rewards to Kickstarter backers: 
 + 
 +> The timing, the sense of urgency, and the delivery of perks to a backer is a top priority. That’s why we’re so focused on getting this thing working at Axanar. We have GOT to get this problem solved.(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/fan-film-friday-the-realities-of-crowd-funding-part-4/|Alec Peters, quoted in "Fan Film Friday — The Realities of Crowd-Funding, Part 4," by Jonathan Lane]], 5/27/16.)) 
 + 
 +{{section>terry mcintosh#Lead Developer Resigns Amid Fulfillment Problems}}
  
 === What Can't be Shipped === === What Can't be Shipped ===
 {{ :view-charts.png?nolink|Rotate mobile device to best view charts}} {{ :view-charts.png?nolink|Rotate mobile device to best view charts}}
 <WRAP todo 70%> <WRAP todo 70%>
-The charts below are derived from the Axanar [[Annual Report]] and from publicly available data on the Kickstarter platform.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/1/16.))+<wrap lo>The charts below are derived from the Axanar [[Annual Report]] and from publicly available data on the Kickstarter platform.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/1/16.))</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
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 Since Kingsbury's blog reports no Axanar crowdfunding campaign perks had yet shipped by that date, it's more likely that the merchandise Bawden saw moving was instead purchases made through the Ares Digital Donor Store. Considering Peters' refusal to account for these proceeds(([[https://youtu.be/ZcPjJKzRdK4|YouTube: TrekZone Spotlight — Axanar Part One]], interview with Alec Peters, released 4/3/16.)), the most logical conclusion remaining is that the perks reported as expenses in Axanar's Annual Report have been conflated with merchandise purchased through the Donor Store. Since Kingsbury's blog reports no Axanar crowdfunding campaign perks had yet shipped by that date, it's more likely that the merchandise Bawden saw moving was instead purchases made through the Ares Digital Donor Store. Considering Peters' refusal to account for these proceeds(([[https://youtu.be/ZcPjJKzRdK4|YouTube: TrekZone Spotlight — Axanar Part One]], interview with Alec Peters, released 4/3/16.)), the most logical conclusion remaining is that the perks reported as expenses in Axanar's Annual Report have been conflated with merchandise purchased through the Donor Store.
  
-<WRAP round info> +<WRAP right round info 50%> 
-The following section, **Tallying Up**, features opinion or informed supposition.+<wrap lo>This section, **Tallying Up**, features opinion or informed supposition.</wrap>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
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 Back-of-an-envelope figuring suggests the revenue for those 15 months may have been at least twice that — $74,516.60. Of course, that number is purely speculative without knowing what kind of profit margin Ares Digital builds into the final price charged to Donor Store customers. Back-of-an-envelope figuring suggests the revenue for those 15 months may have been at least twice that — $74,516.60. Of course, that number is purely speculative without knowing what kind of profit margin Ares Digital builds into the final price charged to Donor Store customers.
  
-Projecting that average $5,000-a-month revenue (a possibly conservative estimate since Axanar's notoriety has increased in the wake of the [[lawsuit]]) from August 2015-April 2015, brings in an additional $45,000, for a total of $119,516 above what Axanar has publicly reported as its income. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}+Projecting that average $5,000-a-month revenue (a possibly conservative estimate since Axanar's notoriety has increased in the wake of the [[lawsuit]]) from August 2014-April 2015, brings in an additional $45,000, for a total of $119,516 above what Axanar has publicly reported as its income. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}
  
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 **Keywords** {{tag>crowdfunding commercial merchandise}} **Keywords** {{tag>crowdfunding commercial merchandise}}