Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Tweetydabirdie t1_iy0lgp5 wrote

Reply to comment by hiszpanskiinkwizytor in Problem with group buys by hiszpanskiinkwizytor

And that’s your issue right there. In a GB you aren’t buying a product the same way you are buying an iPhone or a smoked ham.

You are instead funding the production of the end product as a (small) partner in the endeavor. Meaning you get to take part in all the ups and downs of it, that the sellers of a product goes though. You aren’t buying an already manufactured product sitting on a shelf. And you knew that quite well walking into it.

So, adjust your expectations accordingly, and the problem is solved.

4

hiszpanskiinkwizytor OP t1_iy0ohqb wrote

I am not a partner, what are you even saying :D:D:D Nobody is. I would be a partner if I had a share if the profit and instead I am a client that takes a huge risk and a GB promoter is a person who takes all of the money (and of course puts work in design and "communication").
It's a mean thing to say to adjust my expectations. I won't ever settle for substandard.

−2

Tweetydabirdie t1_iy0qcts wrote

Well, call it something else if you prefer, and can find the ‘right’ word. What you a purchasing is a part of a production slot.

Yes, you are effectively taking part in the profit. Most things in a GB would have a much higher price unles it met a MOQ which requires either the GB or a full financing from a single backer taking all the risk and all the profit. Then it would still likely cost more, as that would in-fact be the profit for that backer.

Sure the designer/runner takes more of the profit on paper, but most of them do not accurately count their actual worked hours and if they did, the GB would in many cases be a net loss for them.

2

hiszpanskiinkwizytor OP t1_iy0raxx wrote

I would still like to know what's the percentage of the profit. What is the average income from a group buy, per keyboard? Do you know if any runner gave any post-mortem or post-success summary with values? I have a feeling that the only way of knowing how much you can profit is to run a GB by your own.

1

Tweetydabirdie t1_iy2jewf wrote

Well, I haven’t run any GB’s since I myself have a few bad experiences participating. And don’t worry I will participate again, I just don’t want that responsibility that way.

I am however considering kickstarter/indiegogo for some projects as it’s a bit more ‘regulated’ and have done so for other unrelated projects, and I can tell you from that experience trying to make a budget, guess at half the costs, and get the price of the end product to a sane level that people can accept, set a timeline that won’t kill you from overworking yourself, that the overall profit if you actually count your hours as an employee or as a business owner would, it’s 100% guaranteed to be a loosing endeavor.

The ‘real’ profit is in you yourself getting whatever it is you funding most of the time. And I think that applies to a lot of GB runners.

There have been a few GB runners posting numbers in the past, and without remembering any specifics, the over all image is the same. At best they got the profit to cover their hours and perhaps a little on the top, most often not. Feel free to find the numbers and dispute me though, as it was a while back.

3