I supported the RAFM Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Miniatures Kickstarter all the way back in January 2014. I didn't have a need for too many mythos critters, so I pledged for the new character minis based on Masks of Nyarlathotep with an added shoggoth for good measure.
Two years later, I've heard the whole range of horror stories of sculptors taking funds without producing, cost overruns, and the weak Canadian dollar and Canada Post shipping increases. To be expected, once everything was cobbled together, I expected the Module Collector pledges to get shipped out first. This makes sense for a packng standpoint, and through previous communications I thought that they got them handled. All that was left were us weird guys who just wanted characters, or just wanted monsters, or wanted the add-on Mother Hydra pieces that were continuing to be a problem for them. Heck, for the longest time, I still considered the minimal delay by Reaper for their Bones II Kickstarter for their non-core pledges to be a more cardinal sin than the much longer RAFM delay.
Months later I'm still waiting. I knew there were problems when they promised to get as much out as possible and the RAFM 30% sale popped up.
Finally, this appeared in my email today.
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At this point we have worked through to the point were we have about 125 people left to ship. We have all the product packaged and ready to ship for these orders. We got the final 90 Mother Hydra pieces cast and packaged no problem. However, we have long ago run out of money for this Kickstarter. As you can imagine with the sculpting issues we had, the resin sculpts coming in over priced, the extra metal required and the change in the dollar and shipping prices since we ran this kickstarter the money is long gone.
We are not complaining.
We will certainly ship everyone of you all the parcels you deserve. That is the deal we made and we honor our word. However, at this point in time we are shipping your orders based on the money that we can pull out of our cash flow, or any extra money we have. This makes the process slow and we know you have been waiting a very long time for your goods.
So we wish to propose an offer to those supporters left who have not received there goods. Basically the cost for shipping a box to the USA is $15. Overseas it is about $25 to Europe and $50 to Australia. We know these numbers because we have already shipped boxes of the same relative size to these locals. So here is our offer.
Anyone wishing to have their product shipped within the next two weeks can pay for your shipping. If you pay for your own shipping we will send you an extra package of 2922 Deep Ones (which is the three deep ones pictured below). We have this product made and ready to go with your order. We can ship ASAP no problem if you take this deal.
If you wish to take us up on this offer just send the proper amount of money thru Paypal to brock @ rafm.com. Put a note on the payment as to what it is for (The COC Kickstarter Shipping) and your name and address and your KS id or name if it is different.
As stated, you do not have to take us up on this offer and we will definitely ship your package. It may just take some time for us to be able to ship. We make this offer as a way to get this product to you sooner. Again thanks for your support and patience.
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As was discussed during Chaosium's 7th Edition fiasco, many of the vocal critics only wished for a full humbling admission to the problems and even an offer to pay for shipping (which was included in the pledge amount.) With RAFM, shipping was $10 extra on my level, but I'm still pondering the extra $15 just so I can have Jack Brady on the table when my investigators run into him next session (late April I'm assuming). Fifteen dollars might be worth ending the only Kickstarter nightmare I made a valid pledge on (There have been a few that I pledged a dollar just to have a front row seat to the chaos.) And I always need more Deep Ones.
I should make up my mind before the end of this week, but I'm doubly certain that I'm avoiding any future RAFM crowdsourcing, and probably any mail order from them as well.
Two years later, I've heard the whole range of horror stories of sculptors taking funds without producing, cost overruns, and the weak Canadian dollar and Canada Post shipping increases. To be expected, once everything was cobbled together, I expected the Module Collector pledges to get shipped out first. This makes sense for a packng standpoint, and through previous communications I thought that they got them handled. All that was left were us weird guys who just wanted characters, or just wanted monsters, or wanted the add-on Mother Hydra pieces that were continuing to be a problem for them. Heck, for the longest time, I still considered the minimal delay by Reaper for their Bones II Kickstarter for their non-core pledges to be a more cardinal sin than the much longer RAFM delay.
Months later I'm still waiting. I knew there were problems when they promised to get as much out as possible and the RAFM 30% sale popped up.
Finally, this appeared in my email today.
**************************************************************************
IMPORTANT OFFER Please read!
We are not complaining.
We will certainly ship everyone of you all the parcels you deserve. That is the deal we made and we honor our word. However, at this point in time we are shipping your orders based on the money that we can pull out of our cash flow, or any extra money we have. This makes the process slow and we know you have been waiting a very long time for your goods.
So we wish to propose an offer to those supporters left who have not received there goods. Basically the cost for shipping a box to the USA is $15. Overseas it is about $25 to Europe and $50 to Australia. We know these numbers because we have already shipped boxes of the same relative size to these locals. So here is our offer.
Anyone wishing to have their product shipped within the next two weeks can pay for your shipping. If you pay for your own shipping we will send you an extra package of 2922 Deep Ones (which is the three deep ones pictured below). We have this product made and ready to go with your order. We can ship ASAP no problem if you take this deal.
If you wish to take us up on this offer just send the proper amount of money thru Paypal to brock @ rafm.com. Put a note on the payment as to what it is for (The COC Kickstarter Shipping) and your name and address and your KS id or name if it is different.
As stated, you do not have to take us up on this offer and we will definitely ship your package. It may just take some time for us to be able to ship. We make this offer as a way to get this product to you sooner. Again thanks for your support and patience.
********************************************************************************
As was discussed during Chaosium's 7th Edition fiasco, many of the vocal critics only wished for a full humbling admission to the problems and even an offer to pay for shipping (which was included in the pledge amount.) With RAFM, shipping was $10 extra on my level, but I'm still pondering the extra $15 just so I can have Jack Brady on the table when my investigators run into him next session (late April I'm assuming). Fifteen dollars might be worth ending the only Kickstarter nightmare I made a valid pledge on (There have been a few that I pledged a dollar just to have a front row seat to the chaos.) And I always need more Deep Ones.
I should make up my mind before the end of this week, but I'm doubly certain that I'm avoiding any future RAFM crowdsourcing, and probably any mail order from them as well.
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