Digital Hydrometer Kickstarter

[konkers]

Just saw this new Kickstarter for a "low cost" digital hydrometer. Looks pretty neat! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/179 ... -and-winem

[Stinkfist]

Damn that thing is expensive....do you really not need to clean it between uses?

[konkers]

I'm pretty sure they mean you don't need to clean between samples. I expect you need to flush it with water if you're going to store it.

[Bugeater]

Hopefully there is an error on the Kickstarter page.

If you pledge $350, you can buy one for $350.
If you pledge $400, you can buy one for $400.
If you pledge $450, you can buy one for $450.

The more you give, the more you have to pay????

[theobrew]

Hopefully there is an error on the Kickstarter page.

If you pledge $350, you can buy one for $350.
If you pledge $400, you can buy one for $400.
If you pledge $450, you can buy one for $450.

The more you give, the more you have to pay????

I would assume the error is that rather than it being 149, 99, and 49 off retail that you get to purchase it for those amounts.

I still think that is poor business modeling because the discount is exactly what you paid into the kickstarter. Meaning to receive an edrometer you still will end up spending the 499 retail price. They even state that there are risks to investing as the company may never fully go into production meaning you will not be able to purchase one.

This means that there is 0 incentive to invest. I might as well not risk my money and buy one for 499 when they come out on the market if they come out at all. I also can wait to make sure the product works. I don't have in income to buy one no matter what, but I'm just pointing out that if they (1) can't even make a kickstarter page that is error free and (2) don't provide any early incentive I'm impressed they already have 10000 dollars.

[konkers]

Hopefully there is an error on the Kickstarter page.

If you pledge $350, you can buy one for $350.
If you pledge $400, you can buy one for $400.
If you pledge $450, you can buy one for $450.

The more you give, the more you have to pay????

The $350 you pledge IS the same $350 you buy the hydrometer.

[theobrew]

Hopefully there is an error on the Kickstarter page.

If you pledge $350, you can buy one for $350.
If you pledge $400, you can buy one for $400.
If you pledge $450, you can buy one for $450.

The more you give, the more you have to pay????

The $350 you pledge IS the same $350 you buy the hydrometer.

That still means the more you pledge the more you actually have to pay for the product. Also, the wording on the kickstarter doesn't make that clear, and in fact it seems to imply the opposite.

I'm all for helping out new businesses especially ones who are trying to help out homebrewers and craft brewers. I just smell something fishy here and think that it doesn't take too much effort to make sure a business investment pitch is clear and concise and when it isn't it throws red flags in my opinion.

[konkers]

That still means the more you pledge the more you actually have to pay for the product. Also, the wording on the kickstarter doesn't make that clear, and in fact it seems to imply the opposite.

I'm all for helping out new businesses especially ones who are trying to help out homebrewers and craft brewers. I just smell something fishy here and think that it doesn't take too much effort to make sure a business investment pitch is clear and concise and when it isn't it throws red flags in my opinion.

There's a limited number of pledges available at the first two tiers to encourage people to pledge early. That's pretty common on kickstarter and seems to work out well. I don't think it all that unclear. It does say "EARLY ADOPTER SPECIAL: Be the first 100 to invest in the eDrometer and receive one of the very first electronic hydrometers off the assembly line at $149.99 off the retail price of $499.99." Why anyone would pledge at a higher level (1 person did,) when there are cheaper tiers left is beyond me.