• Kickstarter

Kickstarter

Is this your business?
Write a Review

Overview

Kickstarter has a rating of 1.6 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 19th among Crowd Funding sites.

  • Service
    51
  • Value
    51
  • Quality
    46
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
10
24
See all photos
How would you rate Kickstarter?
Top Positive Review

“Happy with our experience from the creator side!”

Karen O.
3/27/17

I see a lot of bad stories on here from the backer size but really that's a shame on the makers and not the platform itself. We were recently funded several months ago and came through on our promise to deliver for our backers. The Kickstarter support team was thorough in their vetting of our campaign and were pretty quick to respond to any questions or concerns we had. No real problems and we'll probably launch our next product with them again soon.

Top Critical Review

“Another BAD experience”

Tv Y.
5/7/24

Another BAD experience, but with good end. Kickstarter stopped comunication after clearly saw that procejt is scam. Honkong creator stopped comunicating, closed websites etc. Kickstarter does nothing, even marked project as sucsess. They see only money, not customers. Not even one project more. My lucky was that my bank has 120 day policy FROM date od delivery not from paying :) So they refund me and Kickstarter blocked my account - only good peoples are here, lol :D

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 beckyt6
16 reviews
43 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 18th, 2013

It's great when the project I help fund actually happens. I've help fund 24 projects. All of the projects I've helped fund have taken my money. Only one of those projects actually moved forward and delivered the reward. Like everything else, buyer beware.

Thumbnail of user thomasd133
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
January 15th, 2018

I have actually received the projects that I backed. But some of them are junk and Kickstarter says 'talk to manufacturer' and Manufacturer says 'Sorry you're not satisfied' and that's it. One advertised "three lamps" when it was one lamp with three shades. Total BUYER BEWARE!. My Misen knives, however are great. Won't use Kickstarter again.

Thumbnail of user johnb676
5 reviews
17 helpful votes
  • Send Message
August 21st, 2016

Approximately FIVE years waiting for an item I invested in. I have notified Kickstarter that I have NEVER received item. The first 2 request were greeted with a call they made to the "group" conducting it. The guys called me back with apologies and said they have a special run made for supporters... TWICE! Never recieved Anything.
Get back a response together that they NOW they don't have any record of the transaction. Again that is after THEY notified the merchant TWICE.
NOW they are lying because they don't want to follow through looking for transaction. But they have MY money. No accountability! Stall! Lies!.
Their brilliant technique is to lie/delay and than to punish you with requesting ALL necessary documentation.
I do think they are criminals. NEVER AGAIN! Its all bull$#*!!

Thumbnail of user toms892
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 23rd, 2019

I made a pledge on a project some time ago, and while I was waiting for it to be completed I realised I was no longer receiving update emails.

When I tried to login, my login email address was no longer recognised by the Kickstarter website. As such I can no longer receive the product that I backed.

I have raised this issue with kickstarter support, who requested (and received) all of the information about the pledge (date pledged, amazon transaction number, all my details etc) they then told me they can't help, and are no longer replying to my emails.

Kickstarter will effectively steal your pledge money and then refuse to reply to you, even if you have proof of your email address used to pledge and the transaction where you pledged. Whether this is through incompetence or maliciousness I'm not sure, but I will never use Kickstarter again, for fear that this will happen again.

Thumbnail of user earlw6
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
May 3rd, 2014

Lost $600 backing a project with a company with a proven history. After delays for over a year, the manager discontinued the project promising refunds that never materialized. Kickstarter was very complacent.

Thumbnail of user noxk1
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
November 12th, 2015

The truth is: it depends on if you are lucky and the project you are backing up is produced or if the project owner/company just runs of with the money.
No matter what, if kickstarter gets its 5% for successful funding, they don't give a sh*t.
So keep in mind, kickstarter is neither responsible nor willing to help you in case of problems or if your money is gone.
Conculsion: kickstarter is like gambling, but the odds are worse.

Thumbnail of user melissal9
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 28th, 2012

Kickstarter is great in theory especially if you want to promote a project, not follow through and keep the money. I funded a successful project $100.00 and the "artist" Kayla Oberlin raised over $5,000 and never followed through with the project. When I contacted Kickstarter several times over the year they told me to contact the "artist" directly. They offered no refund, or any penalty that I'm aware of to Kayla Oberlin for not following through with the project.

Thumbnail of user dg41
1 review
8 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 21st, 2014

I love the concept of crowdfunding and have pledged money on several projects. BUT, I've now been scammed on two Kickstarter projects I've backed losing about $100 in the process. Kickstarter actively promotes projects with "staff picks" which would lead you to believe they've properly vetted the project and creator. Kickstarter is more than happy to collect their fees, which are never refunded, despite no product ever being delivered. If you have a concern all you'll get from Kickstarter is some legalese which states that the dispute is between you and the creator. Interestingly, Kickstarter won't divulge any information regarding any creator so you can't get ahold of them. Stay away from Kickstarter!

Thumbnail of user stevel10
3 reviews
6 helpful votes
  • Send Message
August 16th, 2011

Our band Splitface Legend just launched it's own Kickstarter campaign a few days ago. It's still too early to tell if it will be successful but, we'll be glad to keep you posted.

Here's the link incase you are a fan of Indie-Rock and want to help make our CD a reality. (sorry for the shameless plug)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/splitfacelegend/splitface-legend-is-recording-tools-of-the-trade-c?ref=live

Thx.

Thumbnail of user mradjuster
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
May 24th, 2023

These people are very biased and I believe not very inclusive of all walks of people. I am a veteran and own a brewery and they turned me down after trying to upgrade our brewery to make it better. Maybe I should have told them im LGBT or binary or another color. Eitherway, I hope they fail and acknowledge their failures to real people with real ambitions.

Tip for consumers:
Not veteran friendly or helpful

Products used:
NONE

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user alexs1438
3 reviews
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
May 26th, 2023

I backed a project from Watermelon games called Paprium which was supposed to be a fund raise for Watermelon games to port Paprium to the consales. I ordered 3 collectors editions and a specialized joystick. Fast forward a year later past the deadline which was at December 2022 I still never received it. I tried disputing the charge, but Kickstarter "validated" it while pretending they are a "legitimate" business. Worse is that a tweet was made on December 25th which I never noticed at the time, but a backer on Facebook saved it prior to the tweet being deleted. It showed that the developers were admitting to their backers that the project was a scam(see photos for details). This site should be seized by the FBI.

Tip for consumers:
This site and it's owner belong in prison. Now

Products used:
None. I never received what I ordered!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user pinkp13
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 28th, 2015

Kickstarter gets 5% of every transaction on the site, so they (and those who reached their funding goals) are probably the only ones happy.

This video from The Onion (news parody site) hits the nail on the head:
http://www.theonion.com/video/internet-scam-alert-most-kickstarter-projects-just-*******

It is in the best interest of those raising funds to have a great looking page and words to entice investment. Once the funds are raised, Kickstarter considers the project a "success" and YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN if you are dealing with someone dishonest! Legal recourse is hard because it is difficult to prove intent.

The good news is, the FTC is coming after Kickstarter scammers, as evidenced by this article:
http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/06/feds-take-first-action-against-a-failed-kickstarter-with-112k-judgment/

Stay away!

Thumbnail of user thea94
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
August 2nd, 2014

Completely unethical business that will not act against even the most dishonest/deceitful project creators. The only things that ever do get pulled are ones that cause a PR $#*!storm - irrespective of whether the project actually violates ToS. Otherwise, they refuse to act even in case of clear ToS violations.

Will not censure project even creators that have repeatedly scammed backers by delivering product not of the promised quality and way late.

Would deserve a -5 star rating.

Thumbnail of user larryl24
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 4th, 2017

I was a backer for the Trunskster which is a fraud. Kickstarter are no help and do not want to help. They are happy to take the money but do not want to vet the outfits. They are a part of it and should take up their act.

Thumbnail of user richardd3217
1 review
5 helpful votes
  • Send Message
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 guntisk1
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
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

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user dm40
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 1st, 2012

Some of these comments are so 'poor me, wahh, i spilled my milk, mommy-do-it-for-me' that it just makes me sick.

Kickstarter has provided a platform and they have 'their' ideas about how to run 'their' business. It's THEIR's you selfish, cry-me-a-river little brats. If you don't like 'their' platform and what 'THEY' provided then man up/woman up, whatever, and create 'your-own' friggin' platform.

When did America become so socialistic in mindset that everyone thinks that everything should revolve around them? And that if I make something, that I should or have to change it for you?

Pull up your pants and do what you need to do to be successful or go to another country for your handouts.

FYI, I have a campaign in the approval process that I worked 8 weeks on and I think it should get approved but if it doesn't I'll know why and try again.

Thumbnail of user jh1281
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 28th, 2023

I originally thought that Kickstarter was a great idea, that was until the last 2 projects that I paid over $1,000 USD have disappeared into thin air with no updates in over 1 year. NO HELP whatsoever from Kickstarter! The business model is flawed. There should be an ESCROW set up to capture undelivered promises.

Thumbnail of user adelutti
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
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 jasonp42
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
October 23rd, 2014

Ridiculous. Go to Indeogogo or somehwere else, but not here. I proposed a project that was unique in re purposing used paper for notepads and stationary, yet was rejected with no reason(s) provided even after numerous emails to their corporate office. Yet, I see other projects that simply don't make sense and have smaller impacts, such as funding a icecream truck being approved; WTF.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user rajp39
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 24th, 2018

Kiskstarter once rejected my project on the ground it should cover only ceretain sectors (e. G education), the upon resubmission after modifying the project, rejected again saying, consult rule book (no body mentioned which rule in the book is being violated). No customer support, no phone, no chat line ( it s like saying just get lost). Ok you guys lost a decent opportunity, where I have over 300,000 strong target mailing list, who would have loved to contribute.

Raj Popli
www.intlkrma.io

Thumbnail of user dennisb1697
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
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 hanm15
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
January 13th, 2023
Verified purchase

I've pledged for a backpack on Kickstarter in 2021, Magiik by Niidaye.
They delivered a small portion of the backers bags, some of them breaking apart, but a huge portion of the backers including me didn't get any shipping information.

Since then Niidaye fell silent and took down their website and contact information.
After trying to contact them and Kickstarter several times, what i learnt is that Kickstarter wouldn't do anything because a few of the backers received a bag, as falling apart as some costumers reviewed.

Apparently 1 year before that Niidaye ran the exact same scam and Kickstarter just let them start a second project without delivering the last one.

If you get scammed on Kickstarter, nobody got your back. Use another website.

Tip for consumers:
do not use this service, it's nice when it works. but when it doesn't, you'd have better luck winning the lottery and making your own product, than get any form of help from Kickstarter.

Products used:
didn't receive the product.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user davids1967
8 reviews
19 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 25th, 2019

Disappointed with Scamstarter replies of asking me to email the Creators of Sehen when they don't respond to my emails 3 times.
Poor form from Kickscamstarter to encourage the scammers in not providing the finished products.
I won't back any more of this Kickscamstarter projects anymore.
Lesson learned.
All they are interested is 5% profits and stuff everyone who backed the failed or scammed projects.

Thumbnail of user bencen1
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 23rd, 2021
Verified purchase

Avoid! Any "Creator" can scam you into purchasing something and Kickstarter "cannot" do anything about that. They are just pointing fingers at the creator, saying contact them. WTF? They just ignore every attempt if they wanted to! You can't even ask for a chargeback from your bank, because the money is going through KS and they just decline it. Perfect example of a scam: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adjustabot/fully-automatic-sit-stand-desk-with-power-hub?ref=profile_backed Kickstarter earned about 30.000$ (5% of 600k) on it without lifting a finger.

Tip for consumers:
AVOID!

Products used:
Wanted a desk, never arrived.

Service
Value
Quality

Sitejabber for Business

Gain trust and grow your business with customer reviews.

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.

How do I know I can trust these reviews about Kickstarter?

  • Sitejabber’s mission is to increase online transparency for buyers and businesses
  • Sitejabber has helped over 200M buyers make better purchasing decisions online
  • Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
Have a question about Kickstarter?

Is this your business?

Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and manage your listing.

Claim Your Business