In the IC, he did address why he is taking this all on himself rather than let SP deal with it:
Click here for a link to that response
For others that don't want to go to another thread:
Yes, there's a very specific reason. I have always loved creating something. While i may not be the one cutting the keys, injecting the plastic, or making the dyes, the sense of accomplishment and reward of loving something enough to bring it to reality is my drug of choice. In fact i'm making a career out of it as an industrial designer.
Sure I could do it the easy way, but wheres the soul? When this things all said and done, ill be able to call this keyset mine. That's why I'm choosing to do it the hard way, and thats why im doing this project as a break even affair.
Personally, I don't see how doing the logistics of the sale part makes it any more "his" than being the actual designer (which he is). If he was actually doing the plastic injection molding himself, I could understand wanting to do the ENTIRE process himself. I mean, all that's happening now is that he's taking the money, sending the money to SP, receiving the order, and then having to send the order out himself. From my understanding, this used to be the norm only because there weren't any other options in place. Now, between Massdrop and PMK, there are options that not only protect the consumer, but protect the creator as well. Again, just my opinion.
As I already stated, I don't feel like he's going to just run off with our money. But, what happens if issues come up? So much could go wrong: manufacturing errors, shipping errors, unforeseen costs, payment errors, and so on. Hell, what happens if he's hit by a bus (it's always a bus in these scenarios, for some reason)? Where does that leave everyone that's already sent in money? I just really feel that the risk of any problems that could occur outweigh the benefits - none of which actually benefit the consumer.
Sorry, I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I really think you should rethink the GB format. I'd like to see this set do well, and I just don't think it will, if sold like this.
My intention with this reply is not to call into question hippo008's integrity, sincerity, or honesty. I don't know him/her and have never had any dealings with this person. I've decided to purchase a small kit (Color Kit / Mod) and wish the best for this group buy and hope it will succeed.
That being said, YabosMcGee voiced some very valid concerns and it's good that these questions are being asked and discussed. There are risks with any group buy, but often times these don't get discussed. I commented on livingspeedbump's recent thread about group buys outlining
my thoughts and although I personally prefer the self-run individual group buy,
it is the riskiest.
As a buyer, you are entrusting an individual to handle a large sum of money, conduct a large transaction with the manufacturer and then process one large delivery into individual orders and ship them timely. That is a lot of responsibly for just one person. I'm not saying that hippo008 isn't up for the task, but with only 51 posts and no real history with the community there isn't a lot of information to make an informed decision.
Past performance is no indicator of future success. We've seen very well respected members run poor/failed group buys over the past few years, but it's important to be aware that this is hippo008's first rodeo.
I'm only purchasing the Color Kit / Mod kit so my risk is relatively low, but his level of transparency during the initial phases will be a key indicator for me if I will actually buy the kit. Communication is one of the easiest aspects of any group buy.
Again, I'm not calling into question hippo008's integrity.
There is risk with any group buy so it's important to be aware of what the risks are and make an informed decision of where to put your money.