Behold the great huntress.
As you all know, this is Tuna. In addition to Tuna we have Oliver and Salem, who are both senior cats. We are a multiple litter box household. So when I saw Catson on Kickstarter, I decided to back it.
I considered pledging money for 2 Catsons, but I am naturally cautious, so I pledged for 1 Catson instead to the tune of $219 plus $60 shipping for a grand total of $279. The original shipping date was early February. Things got busy and I forgot about this until I received a nudge from Pledgebox.
Why do I need to pay $177 in shipping? I already paid $60.
So I go to the site and see this shipping update asking for extra money. And then I read the comments. And then I see this.
This is “Catson.” On Alibaba, a Chinese distribution site. Here is a link to one of them. There are several available.
From Kickstarter TOS:
Throughout the process, creators owe their backers a high standard of effort, honest communication, and a dedication to bringing the project to life. At the same time, backers must understand that they’re not buying something when they back a project—they’re helping to create something new, not ordering something that already exists. There may be changes or delays, and there’s a chance something could happen that prevents the creator from being able to finish the project as promised.
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use#section4
This is a clear case of fraud.
Update: someone pointed out that this could be the Chinese supplier selling a knock-off of the original design. That can be true. However, nowhere in that listing on Kickstarter it says that patent is pending, nor is there a patent for this litterbox registered in US. I looked. And another update, Kickstarter companies don’t always file patents.
We can debate this all day. Why don’t we go back to the point of this post instead, the part where all of the backers haven’t received the product or any communication explaining when it might arrive?
To summarize:
- Nobody received a Catson.
- Nobody has heard from Catson team since they sent demands for more money. Attempts to reach them on Facebook, Kickstarter, and other venues have failed.
- Numerous complaints have been made to Kickstarter by the backers of this project.
- No refunds have been issued by Catson.
- No refunds have been issued by Kickstarter.
- No refunds have been issued by banks, because the terms of Kickstarter make it difficult to obtain the refund.
How much trust do I have in the Kickstarter right now? Zero.
To be clear, this is not a cry for help. I don’t want you to go and bomb Kickstarter with this post, because that would be weaponizing our audience and we never want to do that. I mean it. But I do want you to be aware that Kickstarter will hold on to your money even if you are defrauded. And right now as of this morning, Catson has a new campaign on Indiegogo. They are truly shameless.
Here is a video of Tuna, because I don’t want to end the post on a sour note.
So many recommendations for the Litter Robot! I need to look into it. I have 3 cats and so tired of scooping. I have an automatic litter box and only one will use it and at that only when desperate. They all prefer traditional. Can anyone comment on transitioning to the Litter Robot? Or wrong thread since this is about Kickstarter?
I love Tuna 🙂
My recommendation to your readers is unless you know the person or the company don’t do Kickstarter or for that matter Gofundme for charitable causes. For example I love Home Free so I did their Kickstarter. They have been around for years and it was linked from their site (also) around for years to the Kickstarter . I also did this with a Game company and a exclusive from a TV show. Even if you think you know the company or person- buyer beware. Too many people lie shamelessly about who they are. I got 5 calls from grifters already today claiming to be every thing from Social Security, Amazon, my bank, a distant relative and a charity
So sorry to hear that you had a bad Kickstarter experience. I’ve backed several dozen board games or card games at this point. I’ve only not received a product from one Kickstarter campaign. The game was Carrotia by Mage Company. Backers are still incensed by the scam. Mage was evidently selling the game on their website for a while, but didn’t send the game to the backers. They also seemed to use the money from this campaign to finish earlier campaigns, in a Ponzi scheme manner. At least I only lost about $35, but that still irked.
On another note, there’s an interesting story about a Kickstarter campaign that ultimately bankrupted the campaign creator–he underestimated the costs of the campaign and paid for it out of his own pocket. It’s an interesting rabbit hole of a read.
https://qz.com/94925/this-man-lost-his-house-because-his-kickstarter-was-too-successful/
I’ve played this game–it’s got interesting mechanics and the Kickstarter version was a lovely upgrade compared to the original. But there were other problems with the company that the Kickstarter campaign was only part of:
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/09/how-a-ceo-fiddled-while-beloved-board-game-glory-to-rome-crashed-and-burned/
Maybe someday I can find a copy of this game that doesn’t cost an arm or a leg…
Ive had several Kickstarters that never delivered or delivered so late you could buy a similar product at a big box store. KS is always a crapshoot unfortunately
Just a note on Counterfeits because it is a major issue. It is a current trend where inventors are approached by a third party that offers to help with the production end. They the get the specs and even if they make item for the original owner of the patent they sell them to the counterfeiters. Often these items are shipping before the owner ever sees a sample of the product. 60 minutes did a segment on it
Ouch! That is awful 🙁 I have backed 15 different Kickstarter puzzles (including my recent most favorite, Magic Puzzles) and always received the product but I’ve also never spent quite so much in one go. Very disappointing that Kickstarter didn’t refund you or help you seek any kind of recourse.
You probably have had other replies about this, but, this product reminds me of the litter robot. Only cheaper.
https://www.litter-robot.com/
It would be super-awesome if being smart kept you from being conned (by companies and, even worse, by people), but it has been my sad experience that this is not the case.
If it makes you feel any better, honest people are supposed to be some of the easiest to con because someone who doesn’t lie or cheat doesn’t move through the world expecting everyone they meet to be a liar or a cheat.
I’m very sorry this happened to you!
I’ve only backed a Kickstarter twice, both under $150 each, and have had moderate success both times. One took about 2.5 years to reach their goal and send me the product, but the product is great so no real complaints beyond my general impatience. The other came much faster, within a few months, but I found the product much less satisfactory. My biggest fear each time was that it was going to be a scam and I am so sorry it happened to ya’ll. 🙁
Good news is that Tuna is adorable in her tree surveying her land. She looks so proud and content being up in that tree 😀
Hey we bought 2 of these after looking at the over priced ones. They have worked great! Omega Paw VM-RA15-1-PR Premium Roll N Clean Plastic Self Cleaning Enclosed Cat Kitten Self Separating Litter Box, Forest Green https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08LW5RN5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1C0Q14V8YXFY4BSZG04Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
That’s why I go with CatGenie. I’ve owned one for 7 years and it’s worth it’s weight in gold. All I do is change the cartridge and occasionally add granules. It’s also about the same as what the price is for what you bought.
I can’t say enough good things about it.
Has my own issue with a product on kickstarter. Mine got delayed over and over again for two damn years. A bunch of us filed a class action lawsuit against the guy in California where he was based. Finally after three years some of us got what we paid for. My sympathies.
I also had a bad experience with Kickstarter with the Reviv weighted blanket. Apparently the people behind the team have had multiple different fundraisers on Kickstarter for all sorts of products that all failed. They of course blamed their failure on covid, despite the fact that it was over a year before the quarantine happened that we should have received our blankets. Kickstarter was useless. Their total lack of response really soured me from funding any other projects for a long time. I recently backed another project, this time for a video game project under a new studio founded by several of the employees that work on the Suikoden games. So far this new project has been wonderful, lots of communication and updates even knowing the actual product will be at least a year in the making. So it sucks how many fraudulent projects are out there, I hope people don’t give up backing completely, even if I wish Kickstarter did anything at all to prevent fraud and hold those “companies” accountable.
Big mood, Ilona & Gordon.
I saw this thing and I was like, “Nope, not again.”
I’m still “waiting” for my Footloose automatic and health tracking litterbox that I backed in 2018.
$379, last update from the creators apologizing for their slow updates…. in Sept. 2020.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petato/footloose-next-gen-automatic-and-health-tracking-c/description
Glad I didn’t buy two of these products that also have appeared on 3rd party Chinese sales sites.
Unfortunately for every positive Kickstarter experience there are a dozen bad ones.
Much love to Tuna the Glorious!
My niece has four cats and two dogs and a partner. She paid for a net from the gutters to the fence. Artificial lawn. They have the run of the back and sides of back yard. Net was to stop the cats leaving and the artificial lawn to stop one of her dogs from digging a big hole under the fence. Her Ragdoll cat use to sit in the hole. My niece is a cat person and her partner a dog person. They both love all their pets. Love, love their part German Shepherd. Most beautiful natured dog. Every one who meets him just loves him. I would steal him if I could. I have mad Jack Russel.
Thanks for the heads up. I have supported Kickstarter several times with no problems, but I will be much more hesitant and careful now.
I love Tuna, what a glorious kitty.
Tuna in a tree. Out of context that sounds really funny ????
Too bad about the catson, it actually looks like a nice idea overall. I hate fraudsters.
Oh, that sucks !
I’ve been on a bunch of successful Kickstarters (e.g. Peak Design/Crua Modus/photography gear), but also a few unsuccessful (e.g. Lily) and some between yay-and-nay (e.g. Apricoat). It’s a toss up.
If there’s some company (like PD) that has had several successful Kickstarters I have very little qualms about it. If it’s something new I’ll definitely be checking if I can “throw away” the money and just write it off as soon as it’s withdrawn. If I can’t loose the money I won’t, if it sounds plausible….I will.
So far I’ve luckily been supporting a lot more successes than failures !
Still sucks when it falls through though ! But as the great philosofer Forrest Gump said “It happens” 🙂
Try a Litter Robot, I’ve had one for 6+ years and love it. Theynhave great costumer service as well!!
I feel your pain, I lost 300$ on super dungeon explorer legends kick starter, and that one was from an established company. Going on year 4 and they are still saying it is in the works.
The best litter is horse shaving pellets! We use a square litterbox with the entrance in the top. I was able to find plastic bags the exactly fit the box. I put down 4 inches of litter and throw away the whole thing in 3 days. No scooping! Just throw the whole bag away, put in a new bag, and fill with litter again. The horse shaving pellets are cheap, less than $4 per 25lb bag. I have been doing this for 5 years and would never go back to regular litter.
So the most important question out of this : did Tuna needed help ? Was she stuck in the tree ? Is she fine now ?
😀
I don’t know where to post this: a liger exists: fb.watch/4u4LJOwyxQ/ – Curran was likely bigger but just wanted you to see this (in the case you haven’t already)
Let me introduce you my husband and the kickass drone that was never delivered…
Kickstarter, where everything sounds too good to be true, TRUTH!
I have backed a few projects on kickstarters, mostly board and card games that were inexpensive, and one indie move that was produced.
The good news is that I received all the games I backed. The bad news is I have never found anyone to play them with me. I also haven’t managed to see the movie yet, but I did get a free ebook.
Sorry you had a bad experience.
Cats, in eyeballs.
I’ve been trying really hard to not order anything made in China lately. It’s frighteningly hard. My favorite paddock boots by Ariat? China. All reasonably priced dog beds? China. AND it turns out that China doesn’t bother to use nontoxic foam to stuff their dog beds— not good when you own a breed horrifically prone to cancer (ie dobies) and are paranoid about it. You’ve got to search hard and pay way more for made in USA. Sigh.
I’m so sorry you were scamed, thanks for showing us the names and people involved though. And Tuna is an absolute queen amongst cats, so majestic, reigning over that tree. Always love seeing the pets <3
That is one humongous Tuna! ;-0
We have three maine coons, they create much poop ????.
After years of clearing out trays we bought a Litter Robot and its fantastic. All three use it so we don’t have to have multiple trays. Its pricey but the customer service is good and its been going strong for 5 years now.
Also got a Petkit last year as its a bit more modern looking, and we thought it might be easier for older cat to get in and out of its also been really good (and older cat could care less it turns out)
Maybe one of these could work for you ?
Many years lurker, first time posting – the joy of not scooping cat poop has forced me to comment!! ????
Tuna looks very happy and peaceful up there!
I ordered two outdoor chairs seven months ago. I have tried countless times to track them and the company. First there was shipped and delivered response. Nope! Then there was leave a message response. Now there is nothing. They have evaporated. It totally turns me off of ordering from the internet unless the site is very established. And I do feel stupid for the lose of the money. There isn’t a lot of it to begin with. So no more purchases for me unless it’s a site that I know.
And I too love how supportive you are to each other.
Its absurd how might thought and money cat owners put into another creature’s poop. I try at least 1 new thing a year figuring out the best process for dealing with it….It sucks that automatic boxes are so expensive and seem to only last a a year IF THAT. Even if I was willing to pay $600-$1000.00 for a flushing cat toilet I have 1 cat who hates being enclosed while he does his business.
first comment ever (!) A moment of fan girldom.
Thank you. I might have over the years reread the entire Kate Daniels and Innkeeper series at least five times.
I know the jokes are coming and I laugh. Every time. I love the love story between Kate and Curran; Jim and Dali; Dina and Sean etc., etc. You get the drift.
Only one of thousands of fans, but still. Your stories have helped me through some pretty rocky times and I am so grateful!
Take the very best care.
In the last few years I had used wood pellets made for pellet stoves as kitty litter. Cheaper and healthier for the cats and humans and smelled way better as it started deteriorating into saw dust by use of cats. Also very easy to scoop poop and flush. Easier to dispose of the used saw dust too. Just put into green recycling bin.
I’ve also thought that if I was an engineer or builder I would install/design a flat flushable porcelain square on the floor either in a downstairs bathroom or a separate room to be used as a cat and or pet bathroom.
People like that is why we can’t have cool things… Sorry.
I am sorry you get scammed. That really stinks! (Ha) On another note, we have a cat named Tuna too. Well, her real name is Luna but we all call her Tuna. She’s a black cat and is a little crazy. We also have a Maine coon called Norman after Norman Bates since he is pretty crazy too.
Thank you for the video. I read your blog, but this is the first time I have ever watched a video and listened to your voice!! I love that now I will “hear” you as I read, not the imagined voice I had before
I, too, got scammed with this Kickstarter Catsom ‘project’. FOUR Catsoms – so I am feeling especially foolish! I’d bought two for myself and two for my elderly dad. Kickstarter will not refund the money and while my credit card did initially refund it, they reversed the charge once Kickstarter fought it. I’ll never support another project on Kickstarter again – once bitten, twice shy.
Absolutely LOVE your books and buy every single one! 🙂
Thank you for adding joy to the world!
I bought 3 litter robots and while wincing at the initial financial hit, I very much enjoy not scooping poop – mostly. I have a grumpy grandma 10-year old Bengal that refuses to use it and so I keep two regular litter boxes for her. The young whippersnappers (2-year old Bengal females) are completely fine with using the litter robots. Win-win! 🙂
Yeah, I like Kickstarter, and I’ve backed a ton of stuff (mostly boardgames and books,) but it’s definitely a “buyer beware” situation. Out of over 100 projects (single no-kids) I think 8 have turned up snake-eyes? Mostly due to the creators mismanagement and failure to plan, but one of those was a straight-up scam.
I’ve found the best way to go about it is to research the project creators. Have they successfully put out other projects in the past? Has the team making it got a CV in the same field? If they haven’t got a proven track record, have they got a well-laid out plan, beyond money=?=profit!!! Are they modest enough with the proposal that it sounds like something they can get done? In the end, it’s always at least a little bit of a gamble, and you have to remember that going in.
Hmmm, I can’t help but wonder now if the “Amicat” Best automated cat litter box Ad on Facebook is a related scam. It’s through the Indiegogo. So far, it’s raised $1,423,799 on the FB platform & $670,793 on 11 Jun 2020 on another platform. Same concept as the Catson.. I’ve been inundated by the ad over the past week. Kind of repulsed since, WHO would ever put a litter box in the living room next to a sofa? Ick!
Move a litter box to designated toilet and let them get used to it there then move onto the toilet
I love that you talk to your cat. You know there are people who don’t talk to pets? It’s so weird. Like… what is even the point to having a pet then??
I had the same thing happen to me on kickstarter with a different product. I advise everyone who will listen that website is full of fraud! There is nothing, NOTHING to hold anyone accountable.
I am a backer of this project as well. All attempts to contact KickStarter or the creator have met with zero feedback.
The backing cost and shipping were not small beans to begin with. What the creator is pulling now is pure fraud/extortion. The risk of buying into a kickstarted is clear, but I figure I am betting that the contributor can pull it off.
I did not consider the a project is fraudulent before it even starts. I trusted KickStarter to do basic due diligence. – as in check if the product isn’t just a glorified sell of an Asian knockoff with no US patent and lots of images to steal to develop the campaign story which they never intend to deliver.
Really feel disenchanted from crowdfunding project and I will do my own due diligence before a contribute to any future campaign.