Updates
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
Invested in BackerKit’s future during our Wefunder campaign
🧙
Group-Collab Leader
1 day ago
Project Update: Cards charged, check 'em, waiting begins
Good afternoon, gang!
So, despite the best efforts of back-end features and code to sabotage my plans, we did have successful charges late last week. Thank you to BackerKit staff for working through that, and hopefully things work as intended to save everyone some trouble next time.
All USA C3-only backers, non-EU international backers, preorders, and local pickups were charged for shipping and any addons. Your money will be going to cover the final installment of pins paid on delivery, as well as some samples...
That being said, we do have some failed charges. I have 10 of you guys in that group who didn't go through.
So, despite the best efforts of back-end features and code to sabotage my plans, we did have successful charges late last week. Thank you to BackerKit staff for working through that, and hopefully things work as intended to save everyone some trouble next time.
All USA C3-only backers, non-EU international backers, preorders, and local pickups were charged for shipping and any addons. Your money will be going to cover the final installment of pins paid on delivery, as well as some samples...
That being said, we do have some failed charges. I have 10 of you guys in that group who didn't go through.
Please check and make sure your credit card on-file is up to date. I can't ship pins unless postage gets covered.
Unpaid campaign backers had until May 12th to get their shit sorted. I'll be giving paid backers who are missing their balance until August 20th to pay their dues and claim their pins. Otherwise, thank you for your donation, I'll toss your pins to the local animal shelter to sell and cover animal care costs.
Did you back THE HYENA FAMILY? Are you in European Union Europe? Don't worry - you haven't been charged anything, and you don't need to worry. You will be on the hook closer to when pins arrive.
At this time, I am hoping and praying to any possible higher power that pins arrive this month. I am not counting on it but I am guessing late June or early July.
I caught a few issues at the factory before things shipped, which will save a lot of time and money in the long run, but it means some designs are being remade before the whole order goes out.
That's about it, for now. I appreciate you guys bearing with me, this week continues a streak of absolutely horrific luck and incidents happening outside of the HUSTLE. If you're waiting to hear back from me, please bump our email or DM and let me get back on top of things.
I hope to have something a little more fun to share next week. Take it easy, and enjoy a hopefully-mild early summer evening.
Did you back THE HYENA FAMILY? Are you in European Union Europe? Don't worry - you haven't been charged anything, and you don't need to worry. You will be on the hook closer to when pins arrive.
At this time, I am hoping and praying to any possible higher power that pins arrive this month. I am not counting on it but I am guessing late June or early July.
I caught a few issues at the factory before things shipped, which will save a lot of time and money in the long run, but it means some designs are being remade before the whole order goes out.
That's about it, for now. I appreciate you guys bearing with me, this week continues a streak of absolutely horrific luck and incidents happening outside of the HUSTLE. If you're waiting to hear back from me, please bump our email or DM and let me get back on top of things.
I hope to have something a little more fun to share next week. Take it easy, and enjoy a hopefully-mild early summer evening.
PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
Invested in BackerKit’s future during our Wefunder campaign
🧙
Group-Collab Leader
5 days ago
Project Update: Shipping charge delay - hang tight, have some more pins!
Good evening, gang!
Just a quick heads up - we are waiting out a potential back-end issue with BackerKit's segmented card charges. This means yesterday's announcement about Thursday charges is no longer accurate.
While this is a small change of plans, it shouldn't affect things too much. Make sure your card on file is accurate if you haven't already. You should still be expecting a charge before June 13th if you're in the categories listed here.
These pin pictures got dropped on BlueSky earlier, but if you're detoxing from the socials, let's toss 'em to you here, too. Most of these pins are final, sans their black epoxy background - you can see it on a few, like the duck toller, deer, and dalmatians, though!
Just a quick heads up - we are waiting out a potential back-end issue with BackerKit's segmented card charges. This means yesterday's announcement about Thursday charges is no longer accurate.
While this is a small change of plans, it shouldn't affect things too much. Make sure your card on file is accurate if you haven't already. You should still be expecting a charge before June 13th if you're in the categories listed here.
These pin pictures got dropped on BlueSky earlier, but if you're detoxing from the socials, let's toss 'em to you here, too. Most of these pins are final, sans their black epoxy background - you can see it on a few, like the duck toller, deer, and dalmatians, though!
Final note, I'll finally be closing pre-orders this Saturday (June 6th). If you missed out on CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS and any of these designs speak to you a little more as physical items, this is your last chance to get them at campaign price at campaign times.
C3 pins will not be available retail until everything's graded, backers get their pins, and inventory is set up. This could be as late as early September. If you want 'em, get em now!
C3 pins will not be available retail until everything's graded, backers get their pins, and inventory is set up. This could be as late as early September. If you want 'em, get em now!
PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
Invested in BackerKit’s future during our Wefunder campaign
🧙
Group-Collab Leader
7 days ago
Project Update: PENDING CHARGES - Check if it's for you!
Good evening, gang!
Quick, boring, text-heavy one.
So, we've worked out some of the back-end kinks for split segment, combined shipping, whatever. Legalese technical bullshit. It's almost time to cover payment 3/3 on CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS' production, which means grabbing the remaining campaign balance and tossing it in a HYSA to make a little buffer money back.
Layman's terms, we will be charging some backers for their addons + shipping this Thursday (6/4).
Quick, boring, text-heavy one.
So, we've worked out some of the back-end kinks for split segment, combined shipping, whatever. Legalese technical bullshit. It's almost time to cover payment 3/3 on CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS' production, which means grabbing the remaining campaign balance and tossing it in a HYSA to make a little buffer money back.
Layman's terms, we will be charging some backers for their addons + shipping this Thursday (6/4).
- USA backers who did NOT back The Hyena Family.
- Non-Europe international backers (Canada, Mexico, Australia) who did NOT back The Hyena Family.
- Local (NY) and Anthrocon pickup backers.
If this is you, you have a charge coming for your addons and shipping. Make sure your card on file is up to date. You got a little while to update your address, but, if that's not changing in the next month or two, make sure it's set too.
These backers are NOT being charged anything right now:
These backers are NOT being charged anything right now:
- USA backers who backed The Hyena Family and opted for combined shipping.
- European backers who backed The Hyena Family and opted for combined shipping.
- Custom and sponsor tier backers.
You guys'll be charged closer to when The Hyena Family items hit stateside, in case rates change again.
At this time, original campaign shipping estimates are accurate, plus about 50 cents per package. I price my BackerKit shipping to cover packaging, partially cover the average freebie yield, and a little bit of contingency for situations like 2026. Luckily, that worked out fairly well here, and we aren't looking to swing much higher.
Sorry there's nothing too fun in this one. We're still expecting pins in late this month, and I'm gonna follow the fulfillment plan from the last update 'till the universe shafts me again and I have to change it.
Look at this fucked up thing.
PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
Invested in BackerKit’s future during our Wefunder campaign
🧙
Group-Collab Leader
9 days ago
Project Update: FINISHED PIN PICTURES! + shipping schedule announced, combined shipping delay
Let's start today's update off with a question: would you still love me if I didn't have eyebrows?
"What if I was a worm" is too easy. Small unemployable adorable animal is too easy. This is a store full of Don Bluth loyalists, and at the HUSTLE, we know what really matters.
I, frankly, find anyone without outright caterpillars above the peepers absolutely irredeemable. Eyebrows are a sign of integrity, machismo, and a lot of other things I can't finish a joke with, because, frankly, this is a stupid bit and I just need to laugh about the fact that my factory forgot the fucking eyebrows on a pin that already had an approved mold and sample.
I saw this having my morning coffee on Thursday and the noise I made probably woke my neighbors up.
"What if I was a worm" is too easy. Small unemployable adorable animal is too easy. This is a store full of Don Bluth loyalists, and at the HUSTLE, we know what really matters.
I, frankly, find anyone without outright caterpillars above the peepers absolutely irredeemable. Eyebrows are a sign of integrity, machismo, and a lot of other things I can't finish a joke with, because, frankly, this is a stupid bit and I just need to laugh about the fact that my factory forgot the fucking eyebrows on a pin that already had an approved mold and sample.
I saw this having my morning coffee on Thursday and the noise I made probably woke my neighbors up.
There's a lot of questions and manufacturing steps to discuss how this could happen, and, frankly, I can't wrap my head around it. Other pin artists can squint at the whole ordeal, and they're welcome to, because I don't get it either.
It's over and done with, we're doing OK, and the factory has agreed to take the L and remake all of the shaved cockatiels. Happy ending, we're good, and I will be much stricter on QA before anything else actually goes out.
Here's some other pins with facial furnishings properly intact! Pins just need their final black background and they'll be ready to go.
It's over and done with, we're doing OK, and the factory has agreed to take the L and remake all of the shaved cockatiels. Happy ending, we're good, and I will be much stricter on QA before anything else actually goes out.
Here's some other pins with facial furnishings properly intact! Pins just need their final black background and they'll be ready to go.
We are nearing the end of production on C3. So, let's talk logistics.
Base shipping rates are being finalized. All remaining balances will be charged within the next 2 weeks.
Due to factory hijinks with C3, I cannot guarantee that pins will be going out within our original timeline. I am, out of immense caution, moving our estimate fulfillment for C3-only orders back to July 2026.
I understand this may be disappointing, but, don't worry, it gets worse.
I am honored to work with Henrieke Goorhuis on THE HYENA FAMILY and offering US fulfillment for her wonderful wildlife pins. However, mutual backers may be aware that she is also behind schedule due to some production headaches. Henrieke's production concerns are no fault of her own, but do still affect timelines. We are keeping our promise to make affordable combined shipping available for backers.
We're some of a good chunk of artists having issues with production this year, and while it's not uncommon, it still sucks for you guys.
There's a lot to discuss here, so, for the sake of clarity, I'll keep the jokes and paragraphs out.
I understand this may be disappointing, but, don't worry, it gets worse.
I am honored to work with Henrieke Goorhuis on THE HYENA FAMILY and offering US fulfillment for her wonderful wildlife pins. However, mutual backers may be aware that she is also behind schedule due to some production headaches. Henrieke's production concerns are no fault of her own, but do still affect timelines. We are keeping our promise to make affordable combined shipping available for backers.
We're some of a good chunk of artists having issues with production this year, and while it's not uncommon, it still sucks for you guys.
There's a lot to discuss here, so, for the sake of clarity, I'll keep the jokes and paragraphs out.
- All remaining balances (shipping and addons) will be charged at some point between May 30 and June 13th. Postage rates have stabilized enough that I am comfortable doing this. We are looking at a base rate of $7 US shipping, $15 international (non-EU). More pins, higher cost as always, excluding wholesale and custom tiers. Please keep tabs on THE HYENA FAMILY for EU rates - C3 is being fulfilled for European customers natively.
- THE HYENA FAMILY combined orders will be charged later. If you opted for combined US or non-EU shipping, you will be charged the base rate ($7+) and any addon costs during the charge window above. Plus, a $2-3 service fee to cover getting your hyenas across the pond to your door. You will be charged this LATER when HYENA FAMILY items arrive.
- Sponsor and custom pin orders have 1st grading priority and will go out ASAP. Shipping is covered in the cost of these tiers and any HYENA FAMILY pins will be sent separately at my expense.
- Anthrocon pickup orders will be getting 2nd grading priority. Please email me if you are interested in AC pickup ASAP @ [email protected] so I can add you to a priority list. Any HYENA FAMILY pins will be sent separately at my expense.
- Local (actual local) pickup is included in priority, due to summer event availability. I will be keeping local customers informed privately about dates and locations. There will be safe public pickups at events in Orchard Park (late June) and Gates, NY (post-Anthrocon). Single pickups are available at certain monthly dates in Cheektogawa, NY. If you have questions or are not reachable thru my usual local haunts, please contact me at [email protected]
- THE HYENA FAMILY combined packages will be withheld until stock arrives. If you do not want to wait, you will be on the hook for US shipping + any EU costs owed to Henrieke. You can contact me at [email protected] to let me know you want things separated.
I know that's a lot to digest, but it's gotta go somewhere for posterity.
For now? Be ready for pending card charges, check your payment method on file, and be ready to pay $7+ and whatever else you added on. You'll get another update before it happens for real.
So far, thank you for being here, and I hope things go smoothly from here.
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
Invested in BackerKit’s future during our Wefunder campaign
🧙
Group-Collab Leader
24 days ago
Project Update: PIN SNEAK PEEKS + fulfillment and charge timeline
Good evening, gang!
We have (naked) pin photos!
I got some pictures from my factory of CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS' pins in their larval stage.
I love the process of enamel pin making, and I think it's something you should understand if you're collecting the things. I think it's especially vital to know this stuff if you're making pins - knowing the process is knowing limitations.
Pins have their molds cut on CNC machines, from vector artworks. These molds then get used to make aluminum alloy blanks. That's the point we're at right now - blanks, no colors, no plating yet.
Blanks will then have each of their empty shapes filled with enamel paint by hand - then, after fill, they get electroplated. These specific pins have the process reversed - they get plated, rubbed with a darkening agent for that old-pin charm, and then finally filled with paint.
At this stage, freshly cast, they kind of look like arcade tokens. Neat.
We have (naked) pin photos!
I got some pictures from my factory of CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS' pins in their larval stage.
I love the process of enamel pin making, and I think it's something you should understand if you're collecting the things. I think it's especially vital to know this stuff if you're making pins - knowing the process is knowing limitations.
Pins have their molds cut on CNC machines, from vector artworks. These molds then get used to make aluminum alloy blanks. That's the point we're at right now - blanks, no colors, no plating yet.
Blanks will then have each of their empty shapes filled with enamel paint by hand - then, after fill, they get electroplated. These specific pins have the process reversed - they get plated, rubbed with a darkening agent for that old-pin charm, and then finally filled with paint.
At this stage, freshly cast, they kind of look like arcade tokens. Neat.
With this many pins, I'm going to safely assume we're still about a month out for production, and potentially a little bit more for freight delivery.
I'm holding my breath on Anthrocon local pickup, and I'll keep you guys posted on it.
There's no date in mind for shipping just yet. I need pins to be in before I can make that call, and see if shipping rates will rise or fall dramatically between now and then.
However, be aware that we're over the halfway point for CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS' production period. I'll need to have some late-game talks with Henrieke about shipping, combined shipping rates, and when to charge you guys for shipping and addons. Nothing is easy, fun, or affordable right now. So it's important we do what we can to make it as painless as we can manage.
It's a good time to double check that your card on file is up to date. Don't worry, though - we aren't charging yet!
Other than that, stickers are sorted per-backer, pin backs are counted out and set, and we're waiting on pins to hit the states. Grading will likely take a couple weeks (or shorter, with coerced labor and Costco pizza), then fulfillment can start.
If you missed C3, you can still place a preorder UNTIL STOCK ARRIVES. Check what's here, and snag pins at campaign prices.
I'm hoping to have a few more process pictures to show you guys next. You'll learn the technical guts of this hobby whether you like it or not.
Let's check in next time something happens.
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