Kickstarter do seem like the wild wild west. Abuse can happen creator and pledger side and don't seem the kick starter people are interested or more probably simply don't know how to solve that gap.

Hopefully most pledgers were honest, as I suspect the average pledger intend on giving what they pledge with good intentions just as most project creators are probably good folks just trying to make a project and will deliver on their promise to the best of their abilities. But like anything, enter those shady few. Although rare, like a plane crash, when it happens, it strikes fear into the system.

A backer can whelch on their end, and nothing the pledger can do about it and the pledger can welch on their end and not much the project creator can do about it. Although, it have to suck for a project creator to have money lined up, stretch goals, and then find out some of the funds have been recalled just as much as pedgers may find it sucking when a project creator either quit and or cant meet deadlines or run off. Years with no word, project creator pocket the money, say "tough break kid, thanks for the donation" and off to another project with new identity. And by the time the pledger realize they been had, years goby because they didn't want to seem pushy in the years prior due to "MMOs take years to make so wait" stuff.

But again, I think most pledgers and creators are honest folks that plan on keeping their word. I think most people that pulled their funds for CoT probably did so way before the kick starter campaign ended so there wouldn't be any issues. But that is just a guess.

Lin Chiao Feng wrote:

Given that this thing doesn't ship for years, it'll be hard for the thief to get a chargeback by then.

well... not really. They could simply say that the goods were never delivered. It's actually one of the easiest ways to do a chargeback. And after a few years, is plenty time to show that lot of time was given to receive the goods especially to a bank that don't look into the matter and realize it's supposed to take years. Especially with delays that may happen. Kind of a quick way to say "hey you're late, I want my money back." Many people use that method in situations of "no refund" cases.

It will be harder for the merchant because by then the funds may already have been spent. And if a merchant get too many, they may be charged heavily for each chargeback.

But hopefully the CoT team wont have to deal with any or too many of those. While they may have think they made it clear as Rolls-Royce glass that delays may happen, some may have missed the memo and get antsy if delay happens and start chargeback thing, especially if the volunteers gets busy and forget to update about the delay or delay updating about the delay.

This is assuming the consumer keeps records which with these days of electronic transactions is dead simple.

But since the subject is up, there is word that a few backers already plan on doing a chargeback thing if the reward product that have have promised is late even by one day. Not sure how serious they are and it might just be donator jitters.

There is, because in this case, if the names were "leaked" then that could be viewed as a breach of privacy...

I hope that MWM would *love* a court case brought against them for leaking personal data. There are other routes to go, without having to resort to vigilantism