Backerkit vs. Kickstarter Pledge Manager

[J-H]

Thoughts on the differences between these? The idea of having fewer tools to manage and fewer %s coming out is attractive, but I don't know if the KS PM will compete in terms of post-release marketing, advertising, etc., or which is better at handling sales tax collection & remittance.

 

[djotaku]

in my very limited experience as a backer it seems that backerkit expects that you have built in tax collection into your price while KS charges it after the fact

 

[J-H]

Wow, thanks. I didn't realize BK didn't handle taxes. That could have been an unpleasant surprise.

 

[Staffan]

in my very limited experience as a backer it seems that backerkit expects that you have built in tax collection into your price while KS charges it after the fact

That does not sound right. This is what they charged for my Gloomhaven 2e pledge:

Tax is clearly listed as its own items (one for the pledge itself and another for the tax on shipping).

 

[djotaku]

That does not sound right. This is what they charged for my Gloomhaven 2e pledge:
View attachment 439515
Tax is clearly listed as its own items (one for the pledge itself and another for the tax on shipping).

VAT implies Europe, no? I'm in the US. I'll have to take another look, but I only remember getting charged shipping on backerkit.

 

[Morrus]

As far as I'm aware, both platforms have tools for taxes/duties/etc. It's up to the creator whether they use them. Kickstarter's pledge manager has systems for VAT and US sales tax as well as a tariff manager for import or customs costs. Backerkit has similar tools. Not all creators will use these tools, so from a backer's POV your experience may vary from creator to creator.

 

[djotaku]

As far as I'm aware, both platforms have tools for taxes/duties/etc. It's up to the creator whether they use them. Kickstarter's pledge manager has systems for VAT and US sales tax as well as a tariff manager for import or customs costs. Backerkit has similar tools. Not all creators will use these tools, so from a backer's POV your experience may vary from creator to creator.

Figures. This is why I said in my first reply that in the ones where I didn't see taxes come out, it must already be figured into the pledge price since creator still owes taxes whether or not I see that. I know that in Cory Doctorow's most recent KS for Reverse Centaur, he was using KS for the first time for fulfillment and was caught off guard about the taxes and made a post about it. https://www.kickstarter.com/project...centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/posts/4711977

 

[Eyes of Nine]

IIRC, Backerkit allows for fulfillment of kickstarters, but kickstarter doesn't allow for fulfillment of other crowdfunding platforms.

BK also seems to handle add-ons better than KS.

 

[Morrus]

IIRC, Backerkit allows for fulfillment of kickstarters, but kickstarter doesn't allow for fulfillment of other crowdfunding platforms.

That’s because Backerkit started as a pledge manager for Kickstarter. It was much later it started doing crowdfunding in its own right.

 

[...m...]

...as a backer, kickstarter gets more eyeballs but backerkit offers much more backer engagement; horses for courses, i expect different project types may perform better on each platform...