• Kickstarter

Kickstarter

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Overview

Kickstarter has a rating of 1.43 stars from 209 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Kickstarter most frequently mention customer service, project creators, and great idea problems. Kickstarter ranks 24th among Crowd Funding sites.

  • Service
    50
  • Value
    50
  • Quality
    45
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 7.1%
Positive
2
Neutral
0
Negative
26
24
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

  • I am shocked by the amount of reviewers complaining that the project they backed was delayed.
  • About 90% of the projects that were backed have been fulfilled in the time frame that the project promised.

Critical highlights

  • THEY REJECTED MY IDEA, AND INSTEAD NOW I FIND THAT THEY STOLE IT AND ARE MAKING MONEY OFF OF MY IDEA!
  • Recently, about a year ago, like many aspiring filmmakers, I went onto Kickstarter to help fund one of my film projects.
How would you rate Kickstarter?
Top Positive Review

“My first funding!”

John R.
4/15/23

I've funded Loona, the pet bot and everything happened as expected. Now my 5y daughter has a new robot friend. We are still waiting for the charging dock. The site is very transparent and straight forward.

Top Critical Review

“Kickstarter is made for scammers”

Nonya B.
1/16/24

I supported urban toy lab and they lied stating they didn't use toxic materials yet said shipments were made because it was too toxic🤦‍ They stopped giving updates, ignored hundreds of comments on their page requesting updates and Kickstarter does absolutely nothing for people supporting these sellers. Kickstarter has made it so easy for any scam to come along, take your money and run. Kickstarter needs to be shut down or they need to do things differently where both parties are protected.

Reviews (209)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

project (97) money (64) projects (68) customer service (9) customer support (5) great idea (8) email address (3) credit card (5) time frame (3) web site (2)
Thumbnail of user nonyab41
3 reviews
6 helpful votes
January 16th, 2024

I supported urban toy lab and they lied stating they didn't use toxic materials yet said shipments were made because it was too toxic🤦‍ They stopped giving updates, ignored hundreds of comments on their page requesting updates and Kickstarter does absolutely nothing for people supporting these sellers. Kickstarter has made it so easy for any scam to come along, take your money and run. Kickstarter needs to be shut down or they need to do things differently where both parties are protected.

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user matthias
1 review
1 helpful vote
February 16th, 2024

Kickstarter doesn't react to messages about the scam project "Conga AI Mown Roboter". They hide behind their terms and conditions. They should be held accountable for all the scams. No excuses.

Products used:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/conga/conga-an-ai-powered-autonomous-robotic-lawn-mower/comments

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user maha.eq
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 14th, 2024

Most of the projects are from China, a large part does not communicate after the selection of finance and basic information. I'm guessing that a combination of AI and forethought can generate projects and documentation that look like they work. Kickstarter only selects the frills and does not decide if the projects work. A platform like this is dead.

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Thumbnail of user dennisb1697
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 7th, 2024

Of 45 projects i backed over 50% never arrived.

Over 20% was crappy product. For the remaining 30% it doesnt make sense. Use it and lose it (your money)

Tip for consumers:
It used to be ok. Now its really rubbish

Products used:
Some arrived, of those most where crappy

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user miladz4
3 reviews
12 helpful votes
June 1st, 2021

I'm writing this after backing over 100 projects on Kickstarter. Let me start by saying I love the idea that people come together and help an idea become reality without the help of big banks and all the ups and downs of it. This company was one of the early pioneers of this genius concept. Do your due diligence and make sure the person/company is up to their claims and they have things like guaranteed shipping, refund period and warranty for some specific time period. There have been companies like fluxbag by Jens Thiel which is a true stand up guy and even after his partner betraying him and taking all the money and him having to declare bankruptcy, he still is trying to deliver what he promised back in 2019 even years later. He is building the products slowly from money out of his pocket when many companies take your money and run and leave you with nothing. So always read the comment section and their production projections and their reputation. A google search goes a long way so do your homework properly.

Tip for consumers:
Check everything twice before backing. Read comments and don’t forget a google search!!

Products used:
Many products such as electronics, tech gadgets and house products.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user johnr3945
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
April 15th, 2023

I've funded Loona, the pet bot and everything happened as expected. Now my 5y daughter has a new robot friend. We are still waiting for the charging dock. The site is very transparent and straight forward.

Products used:
Loona Pet Bot

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user alejandros200
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
February 15th, 2024

Every time more and more projects are fully backed but the creators just run away with all the money not fullfilling the project. I don't recommend to risk money in kickstarter, just wait to the product to become real and buy it once is is the market. I'm not going to waste moey in Kickstarter never again.

Products used:
The backers didn't received any product, the creator run away with all the money.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user radixusn
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 15th, 2023

You must try it once as it is a very good restaurant. Service is excellent and atmosphere as well. Staff was very polite and humble.

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user ethanc135
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
December 22nd, 2020

I bought a new smart suitcase from a company in kickstarter and I have now used it for over 1 year.

It has a charger for my devices in a battery I charge at home and it also have a tracker.

Best feature is all the organiser rooms and I have to say the process through kickstarter was smooth.

It was actually so good I plan to start my own kickstarter campaign.

Thumbnail of user uclagrad.brad
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 1st, 2024

I backed the Kickstarter AirCard campaign in July 2023; they gave me a promised ship date of late August. When I contacted Rolling Square on August 25,2023 for an expected ship date, David at Rolling Square Customer service replied, "we are actively working towards providing a more specific shipping date." That was a red flag for me so I canceled the transaction and David acknowledged in writing my cancellation and said he would get a refund issued in "a few days."

I waited. No refund. So I disputed the Mastercard charge with my bank to get my money refunded.

On September 8th, David wrote, "due to the dispute that was opened for your pledge, we are unable to process a refund directly at this time. However, we have taken the necessary steps by contacting Kickstarter to request a full refund of your pledge amount on your behalf."

Not only didn't Rolling Square or Kickstarter refund the money they agreed to in writing back in August, they only replied to the credit card dispute I initiated by stating that it was an authorized charged. Of course, Kickstarter said nothing to about the fact that I canceled the sale on August 25th when they couldn't give me a ship date or that they promised me a refund in just a few days. Way to honor your word and stonewall your customer service.

After my bank received a response from Kickstarter they allowed me to send them all the emails I had from David at Rolling Square who acknowledged in writing that I canceled the sale on August 25th also promising me a full refund.

It took months to get a refund for an order that Kickstarter acknowledged I cancelled before shipment. And my refund only happened because I charged the order to my credit card and I proved to my bank the facts of my dispute. What a hassle!

Obviously I won't trust Kickstarter or Rolling Square to honor their commitments so I will never do business with either again.

Products used:
None.

Thumbnail of user richardd3217
1 review
5 helpful votes
October 17th, 2023

Kickstarter will allow liars and thieves to post phoney products, they absolutely do not care if you ever get your products, they only care about their commissions.
This is an absolute scam of a site

Tip for consumers:
Kickstarter is a scam, they allow phoney companies to post projects and then they take a commission.
They 100% do not care if the backers get robbed

Products used:
None, never received

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user chanman1966
1 review
2 helpful votes
December 6th, 2023

Kickstarter has no complaints department. They state upfront that you are backing a project; if the project is "successfully funded" your pledge is non-refundable. If the developer then disappears with your money, it's nobody's fault but your own for believing them, and Kickstarter approves of this. I lost $229 to a fraudulent campaign. I disputed the charge with my credit card company, they investigated and came to the conclusion that Kickstarter is ok with your lost money and it's your own fault for giving your money to the fraudulent campaign. Why is Kickstarted OK with this? Because they got a 5% cut on all the money that the fraudulent campaign stole.

Tip for consumers:
There were some fun projects that I had funded in the past. This last scam has turned me off completely to the site and I will never again look for any projects to fund on Kickstarter.

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user tailoredbusinesssystems
1 review
7 helpful votes
April 24th, 2023

I have been a contributor to quite a few projects over the years with Kickstarter but as of late I do not feel safe investing on the platform. It does not seem like they are properly vetting some of the projects or following up on customer complaints of fraud to where I now I am hesitant. I have stopped looking at Kickstarter at this time and I am just crossing my fingers that my remaining investments follow through. Fool me twice...

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user timothyb1680
1 review
4 helpful votes
October 25th, 2023

Kickstarter takes zero responsibility for their customers being ripped off. I wrote five times to get help. I bought 2 units for our Navy Veterans with PTSD Suicide Prevention boat restoration project Facebook.com/NavyDayzTim

Products used:
Nothing. As it was never sent. Seeair stole over $750000 and Kickstarter dies nothing to protect me. I am a Disabled Navy Veteran Diver with PTSD.

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user karenk2958
1 review
6 helpful votes
February 23rd, 2023
Verified purchase

Kickstarter does NOT do any due diligence on the people posting projects, they do NOT care if you get robbed. They allow these scammers to withdraw 100% of the funds even if they are scammers so the site is a hotbed for repeat scammers posting phoney projects.
They only care about commissions and have no ethics whatsoever.
Attached is a photo from a recent scam, 3800 backers got robbed of 1.1 million dollars

Tip for consumers:
Do NOT back any projects as your money has no protection whatsoever

Products used:
none, I was robbed

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user russellc569
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 8th, 2023

Had multiple backing now of projects that just go MIA and stop updating or responding to backers. Once you realise they have your money and you won't be getting the product there is no area to report the scam to Kickstarter. Pf what I'm seeing from others here is if they have made contact that Kickstarter don't care anyway. I've stopped using them and definitely recommend to everyone else to do the same.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user rickc875
1 review
0 helpful votes
November 8th, 2023

That device is useless, complicated to use and has no creative criteria. There are better, more practical devices.

Thumbnail of user garrettw17
3 reviews
34 helpful votes
January 15th, 2018

I noticed a lot of these reviews are from the backer respective, really those complaints should probably be taken up with the company's launching those products and failing to fulfill. Speaking from a creator who's launched a product / used the platform. The overall experience was great and the tools provided useful. We didn't have to contact the team for any problems, so not direct experience dealing with the customer service team.

Thumbnail of user mr.m.long
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 13th, 2023

Never had any backed product show up. Company does nothing to support the customers. Avoid and wait for general sale.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user guntisk1
1 review
2 helpful votes
February 6th, 2023
Verified purchase

I've backed 8 campaigns in Kickstarter and 3 of them were shady cases - all backers incl.me lost their money. I posted them questions numerous times but nobody cared to answer neither campaign owners nor Kickstarter.
Definitely Kickstarter has to monitor the campaign and when something goes wrong should step in and clarify. No, they're just collecting money from campaigns and don't invest efforts to filter scammers. These are scam-cases just within last 6 months: CXBER, UGAST and SYINNO.

Products used:
Didn't receive a product

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user sebastiaanh10
1 review
4 helpful votes
May 28th, 2023

I've backed up my first project on Kickstarter. It appeared to be a scam. Money gone, but even worse, Kickstarter still allows that project for new backers. Of course Kickstarter gets a little money from each backer. Although that project has been reported multiple times, nobody at Kickstarter closes the project, or even responds from a human perspective (all you get is auto-replies).

Products used:
Nothing, nothing was sent at all!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user johnd6834
1 review
5 helpful votes
July 25th, 2022
Verified purchase

I like the idea of Kickstarter. I participated in many projects since 2017 (47 projects). 6 projects turned out to be a scam and never materialized. I didn't calculate the money I lost because of this and for me it weren't the most expensive ones that didn't get through. Nevertheless I think Kickstarter should find a system to keep more control over the money they collect and distribute to the producers. It seems too easy to create a scam product, collect the money and run. (I only added 4 photo's)

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Thumbnail of user adelutti
1 review
4 helpful votes
May 31st, 2023

F*ck you!
I have been scammed with project Dride 4k, 1.1 milion earned from about 3800 backers.
No control over the project from Kickstarted, every request closed without any reply.
They are a criminal association!

Products used:
Dashcam, never received

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user jessiev34
15 reviews
70 helpful votes
November 29th, 2020

I want to like them but I wish they did more to help go after projects that don't deliver. At least verify identities of project owners or something.
Many times projects have delivered, but sometimes I've paid over $200 for a project who didn't deliver and then went radio silent.
Kickstarter then does nothing serious to help.
You get burned once and you move on. Period.

Thumbnail of user mandymar438
1 review
6 helpful votes
May 10th, 2023

Several times I've tried Kickstarter, every time it's been fraud.

Kickstarter when informed of this ignore. They just want the money with zero service

Products used:
Twice used Kickstarter. Last was for conga mower. It was a scam. Kickstarter informed by numerous people, they don’t care

Service
Value
Quality

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About the business

Kickstarter is a leading crowd-funding platform for creative projects and products. Funded projects include films, video games, technology products, comic books and musical albums.

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1.4
209 reviews
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