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Its nice and depressing to see people from UK get their Commodore pledges.

Means US "should" be soon but at this point ill feel lucky if its before Christmas.

and yea, as a broken record, their communication is total crap. Would be nice as a weekly update to say how many they got out, or where most are shipping to...etc

Well they have mostly not been packing backer pledges as they have been busy fulfilling the multiple re-stocks to retail and sending out the next wave of retail releases. But they don't want people knowing that so they just lie in their backer updates.

that sounds fake but okay

Such things are scheduled far in advance, and people are still getting their stuff.

This isn't the same as a company going dark with no communication and no shipping, then quietly releasing to retail. I just got my tracking notice yesterday, for example. So the stuff is going out.

If you're going to brag about your tracking number, at least mention your pledge level. Are they shipping US commodore pledges yet?

(While we're at it I'd like to state this is the last gaming Kickstarter I think I'll ever back. No point in getting a discount on a product if it shows up so far in the future I've stopped caring about it, I have too many other projects going on already anyway)

If you're referring to my post, I mentioned my pledge level (Captain). I don't think anyone's trying to brag... just trying to share some info since there's so little coming from Hawk (obviously they're putting everything they can into shipping, but a quick status update would probably be very appreciated by all the backers still waiting).

My local Commodore friend here in Europe is pretty tilted about not having any word about his shipping yet.

I haven't received my commodore pledge yet either, so it is not just the US.

Also, I'd like to remind people of the fact that Kickstarter is not a store. If you back a Kickstarter, you do this knowing that there is a risk that the product may show up much later than promised or never at all.
In fact, delays happen for most Kickstarters. If you don't want that uncertainty, you should indeed probably not back Kickstarters but wait for retail instead.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
I haven't received my commodore pledge yet either, so it is not just the US.

Japan commodore pledge here. I expect I'll get it after everyone else unless there's some poor fellow in Vanuatu who got on board, too.

Also, I'd like to remind people of the fact that Kickstarter is not a store. If you back a Kickstarter, you do this knowing that there is a risk that the product may show up much later than promised or never at all.
In fact, delays happen for most Kickstarters. If you don't want that uncertainty, you should indeed probably not back Kickstarters but wait for retail instead.

I'm getting really sick of this argument. Being a Kickstarter does not excuse terrible service. Being a Kickstarter does not excuse promising one thing, not delivering, waiting a month, then promising another thing, not delivering, waiting a month, repeat ad nauseum. This kickstarter has been bungled.

It's also pointless and counter-productive to paint unhappy kickstarter backers as people who "don't want uncertainty". This doesn't have anything to do with uncertainty, this is bad for business. I backed DFC thinking it was a good game. I was hoping with my commodore pledge to get some multiple fleets assembled, introduce it to some Japanese gamers who don't follow English gaming news, and hopefully build a market for it over here. God knows the miniature gaming scene here needs some variety. Unfortunately, since Hawk Wargames missed the window of when I had enough free time away from work to get lots of painting done and since they apparently can't be bothered to take proper care of the customers who made this whole project possible, I'm rather disgusted by the whole thing now. They had an incredible opportunity and they blew it by not taking the details seriously.

 JOHIRA wrote:

Also, I'd like to remind people of the fact that Kickstarter is not a store. If you back a Kickstarter, you do this knowing that there is a risk that the product may show up much later than promised or never at all.
In fact, delays happen for most Kickstarters. If you don't want that uncertainty, you should indeed probably not back Kickstarters but wait for retail instead.

I'm getting really sick of this argument. Being a Kickstarter does not excuse terrible service. Being a Kickstarter does not excuse promising one thing, not delivering, waiting a month, then promising another thing, not delivering, waiting a month, repeat ad nauseum. This kickstarter has been bungled.

It's also pointless and counter-productive to paint unhappy kickstarter backers as people who "don't want uncertainty". This doesn't have anything to do with uncertainty, this is bad for business. I backed DFC thinking it was a good game. I was hoping with my commodore pledge to get some multiple fleets assembled, introduce it to some Japanese gamers who don't follow English gaming news, and hopefully build a market for it over here. God knows the miniature gaming scene here needs some variety. Unfortunately, since Hawk Wargames missed the window of when I had enough free time away from work to get lots of painting done and since they apparently can't be bothered to take proper care of the customers who made this whole project possible, I'm rather disgusted by the whole thing now. They had an incredible opportunity and they blew it by not taking the details seriously.

No, it doesn't excuse anything. But it is something that happens a lot with Kickstarters nonetheless and it has everything to do with uncertainty. It is easy to make promises on Kickstarter, but sometimes the realities of life make them hard to keep. A lot of companies tend to tell their estimates to the backers in order to provide them with information, but when those estimates have to be adjusted due to reality that angers the backers, even if the company can't really do anything about it. I guess the problem is companies (and backers) putting too much confidence in their estimation. Hawk at least is very guilty of that. It is not malice or incompetence, but rather overenthusiasm and overconfidence. No one can know the future, and that is something that should always be kept in mind with Kickstarter.
In general I think that it would help if companies would be more clear about the risks inherent to a Kickstarter project and that any given dates can only be rough estimates at best and that delays are to be expected. And in the case of Hawk, it would really help if they'd communicate more. Really Hawk, for God's sake, please tell us how the shipping is moving along and why it is taking so long. I am getting really annoyed at the lack of updates.
This is definitely a big smear on an otherwise great project and company.

The Hawk shipping practices have thoroughly turned me off from the company.

The original kickstarter is late, which I can understand. But, in the meantime, I changed addresses.

So, I emailed Hawk wargames in early October asking for a shipping address change. I got no response.

Two weeks later, I emailed them again. They said that:
- They don't know the shipping status of my order
- It is too late to change the address
- They couldn't tell me the carrier or tracking number (which would have been generated if a shipping order was placed, even if not shipped)
- And wished me good luck contacting the shipping company after the item shipped.

That's inexcusably bad service.

Furthermore, I don't know if I will actually get a tracking number when Hawk ships. There has been several times in the shipping window when the tracking numbers were not sent to the customer.

Which means, I am waiting for:
- A shipping notification which may or may not come, and I probably won't know about a notification error as Hawk doesn't tell people about them when they happen.
- When (if?) I get the shipping notification, I then to argue with the shipping company about an address change

Meanwhile, Hawk, which through the delayed shipping made this a problem, could have changed the address on their end.

In summary, the delayed shipping, total lack of updates, and multiple stories of everyone who joined post kick-starter getting their own games and building / playing with their ships...

I'm fed up with Hawk wargames. I'd like to buy more of the DFC in the next few years, but I don't want to reward a company with bad communication and customer service. And, shipping to retail outlets a month + before the kickstarter finishes shipping leaves a real bad taste in my mouth.

All good points.

The fact that its nearly Mid Nov and there's still lots of people in the UK not getting theirs makes me think maybe ill get mine next year being in the US. And I truly do believe that, with how busy the holidays will get shipping will be a nightmare.

I now know not to trust them, and wont ever back another one of their kickstarters, if they ever do another.

Good rules, great models, good values, but horrid, terrible way the company functions/runs. If I could honestly cancel my pledge I would. I could take that money, and go buy the same stuff I can already buy at retail save resin city pieces, which will be on sale soon anyways.

I hold GW in better light then Hawk as at least they deliver

 CalgarsPimpHand wrote:
If you're going to brag about your tracking number, at least mention your pledge level. Are they shipping US commodore pledges yet?

(While we're at it I'd like to state this is the last gaming Kickstarter I think I'll ever back. No point in getting a discount on a product if it shows up so far in the future I've stopped caring about it, I have too many other projects going on already anyway)

Based on what I've been seeing in the DFC Facebook group, the short answer to your question is yes (ie, there have been a number of folks based in the US posting in the FB group that they have received their Commodore pledges). There appears to be no rhyme or reason to the order in which the pledges are going out; region, country, and pledge level have little to do with the order in which backers are receiving their stuff.

I'm right there with you, though! Still eagerly awaiting a shipping notice for my Commodore pledge .


Automatically Appended Next Post:

str00dles1 wrote:
All good points.

The fact that its nearly Mid Nov and there's still lots of people in the UK not getting theirs makes me think maybe ill get mine next year being in the US. And I truly do believe that, with how busy the holidays will get shipping will be a nightmare.

I now know not to trust them, and wont ever back another one of their kickstarters, if they ever do another.

Good rules, great models, good values, but horrid, terrible way the company functions/runs. If I could honestly cancel my pledge I would. I could take that money, and go buy the same stuff I can already buy at retail save resin city pieces, which will be on sale soon anyways.

I hold GW in better light then Hawk as at least they deliver

Yeah, it is frustrating, especially since Hawk has not put out any updates since the 2nd. However, I'm still optimistic that I will get my stuff in the next week or two; there are plenty of folks here in the US that have been getting their stuff, so I don't see that in and of itself being a limiting factor. In the mean time, I'm just going to try to be patient. While I am anxious to get my hands on all my shiney new spaceship models, its not like I'm in any danger of running out of things to paint . As long as I can get my stuff in time to paint it up for a local event that is scheduled for the 28th of Jan, I will be happy. That may very well be my first chance to play the game, anyway.

For what it's worth I sincerely doubt Hawk would ever want to do another kickstarter after this.

It wouldn't surprise me if the next time we see Dave he has grey hair

Shipment notification received 6 minutes ago.

Commodore level in the US.

The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight! I got the shipping notice for my Commodore pledge today. For those wondering, I'm in the US, in the Washington DC area.

Just be ready that as soon as you get your notice the package arrives really quickly! I received the notice on the 10th saying it would ship on the 11th, and received it on the 14th. That's nuts, with a weekend in the middle too! Delivery was via UPS.

Unfortunately it's at my old address but I'll be picking it up from the folks there tomorrow

Still waiting... and I have EXACTLY the same problem as DrRansom.

Tried to change my adress after the lock on the pledge manager, same stuipd answer...

USA. Commodore pledge shipped Tuesday, arrived yesterday (UPS Express, one day air to the airport a few miles from my house). I wasn't home when they attempted delivery, so I have to go pick it up today.

I got the shipping notification for Commodore Level to Germany today ...

Well... Im crossing Fingers.

According to tracking I will have my Commodore pledge tomorrow.

4 business days between 'label created' and delivered from UK to US is holy crap fast.

I got my tracking notice today. Finally! So excited.

So at this point is there anyone left whose hasn't been shipped out?

Mine has not been shipped.

There are a lot of people who still haven't had their pledges shipped yet

I received a shipping notification but did not receive the delivery. Sort of stuck now as I'm getting no response from the delivery company or Hawk themselves.

Still awaiting my commodore pledge.

Not a peep from Hawk about my friend's Commodore pledge.

Also still in a waiting pattern on a Commodore here.