The Grasshopper

[luckypucky]

From what I heard, this delay is due to them not being content with the new shirt clips for the pens. Extremely happy I never jumped on board and at this point, I really only watch to see what kind of crazy shit they'll spew every 15 days to keep the wolves at bay a little longer.

Actually that's the only reason I comeback the 1st and 15th now to see the list of reasons why they can't make the pen still and ship

 

[kindbeats]

Actually that's the only reason I comeback the 1st and 15th now to see the list of reasons why they can't make the pen still and ship

Same here, my friend. I don't even use flowers, but I do love a good story with constant plot twists.

 

[baltik]

It's troubling that there are no images of the pen body yet either, all the focus is on the clip but 0 mention of the heating element, the body, the main parts. Leaves them plenty more options to kick the can further down the road..

 

[kindbeats]

It's troubling that there are no images of the pen body yet either, all the focus is on the clip but 0 mention of the heating element, the body, the main parts. Leaves them plenty more options to kick the can further down the road..

Exactly what I was thinking. If it's taken them all of this time just to produce pics of an empty work space, a spring, and a still unfinished shirt clip, I can't even imagine how much the real hurdles will delay their progress. I just don't see how it could be ready to release anytime in the near future.

Then there's that whole making claims that are still impossible to pull off according to the laws of physics thing. Yeah...that.

 

[pakalolo]

Repeated mocking does not advance this discussion or contribute anything useful. Clearly some of you have never been involved in designing and building a complex product for market.

 

[fft]

Update could be better but its par for the course. I still believe that we'll get a product and it will be decent once we get it.

This isn't my first crowdfunding experience. I've done three kickstarter projects before. The first they just gave up after 9 months...the design didnt work and the project was way over budget. The second is a iPhone 4 wall dock / speaker that I backed in April 2011...with the old Apple connector. My last update was in August... three years later the user manual is now done and they are showing new prototype photos. The third was a cool cocktail vessel that a high end cocktail joint in Chicago was using and offering to the masses. These guys are pros and were already making the device in their machine shop and using the device every day in their bar. Still, even that was delayed several times and took nearly a year before I got it. Delays were primarily driven by scaling/manufacturing/vendor issues.

So with those experiences I backed these guys with eyes wide open. I'm in for the
"everything" Ti model at $250. This spring I decided to double down and get another basic stainless model for $99...thinking that the Ti models could take longer to deliver.

The manufacturing issues these guys are having look pretty typical. Vendors they have no experience with over-promising and then not delivering on time or to spec. A design with aggressive tolerances that worked fine with prototype parts now getting hit with tolerance build-up issues. This last one could be a big deal. But these guys are at a point where if they deliver a good product they will have a real company to build from. And they seem very motivated to get there despite presumably being way over budget at this point.

The thing to remember about crowdfunding campaigns is that you are paying for the education of the campaigners. The Grasshopper guys are learning on our dime. That's really the point of crowdfunding. If you didn't know this going in then you also paying for your own education too... next time you'll know what you're backing.

 

[Shrike]

In this era of "instant gratification", especially among younger people, crowdsourcing should only be considered by the true masochists' out there...

Those with patience...wait. Nothing else we can do. It will get made or it won't. It's an expensive lesson, but not too expensive (thankfully).

 

[grokit]

@fft: Dammit now I want a porthole and a waldok

 

[kindbeats]

Repeated mocking does not advance this discussion or contribute anything useful. Clearly some of you have never been involved in designing and building a complex product for market.

I actually have been involved with crowd funding before and with all due respect, the Grasshopper team misled a ton of people into believing that their product was way further along in development than it actually was. Showing videos of working prototypes is going to lead people to assume that the product is close to completion, which it clearly wasn't/isn't. Also, they are making claims that are literally impossible to achieve according to the current laws of physics and post bi-weekly updates that usually consist of nothing more than a photo and new excuses. Never once did I mock anybody for choosing to back this product, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't find the constant excuses from the Grasshopper team to be entertaining. I truly hope nobody took my posts personally. Like I said, people will always enjoy a good story with constant plot twists and this thread has that in spades.

 

[mephisto]

Since we aim towards positive vibes at FC, I am extremely happy to have been given the opportunity to help the great folks at Grasshopper with my funding. I am so disappointed in myself to actually expect to receive something in return for my contributions. I really am a selfish prick! I think I will grab my portable conduction device and pound my brain into empathetic bliss! I have been so self-centered with the prospect of this Grasshopper that I have forgotten that other folks have to earn a living too.....I hope someday to change my distorted view of the world (and crowdfunding) Gotta go, need to visit the FU thread for some repentance.

 

[lwien]

I wish I could have double liked that ^^^^^ !!!

Great word-crafting, mephisto.

"Pound my brain into empathetic bliss".

 

[mephisto]

Its portable, its stealthy, its cute and multi-colored, and then it shits in your hand.......

.......a fucking pocket clip???

 

[Caligula]

Its portable, its stealthy, its cute and multi-colored, and then it shits in your hand...

Grasshopper shit all over my hand? Gross.

 

[lwien]

Grasshopper shit all over my hand? Gross.

You don't want to make fun of the grasshopper:

 

[pakalolo]

I actually have been involved with crowd funding before and with all due respect, the Grasshopper team misled a ton of people into believing that their product was way further along in development than it actually was. Showing videos of working prototypes is going to lead people to assume that the product is close to completion, which it clearly wasn't/isn't. Also, they are making claims that are literally impossible to achieve according to the current laws of physics and post bi-weekly updates that usually consist of nothing more than a photo and new excuses. Never once did I mock anybody for choosing to back this product, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't find the constant excuses from the Grasshopper team to be entertaining. I truly hope nobody took my posts personally. Like I said, people will always enjoy a good story with constant plot twists and this thread has that in spades.

I hate the phrase "with all due respect" because it usually means that what follows is not respectful. It's pretty much "no offense but" in a nicer dress.

The thread is not here for your entertainment. If you have nothing to add—and I couldn't see anything in your posts that added to the discussion—then don't post. From the rules:

• Put some effort into your posting. Before creating a thread or posting a reply, please ask yourself: Am I making a thread which is either funny, informative, or interesting? Does my reply offer any significant advice or help contribute to the conversation?

 

[lwien]

• Put some effort into your posting. Before creating a thread or posting a reply, please ask yourself: Am I making a thread which is either funny, informative, or interesting? Does my reply offer any significant advice or help contribute to the conversation?

I have a strange feeling that the "either funny" clause has saved my ass more than once, eh?

(but this post is neither funny, informative or interesting, so I may be fucked....)

 

[luckypucky]

I actually have been involved with crowd funding before and with all due respect, the Grasshopper team misled a ton of people into believing that their product was way further along in development than it actually was. Showing videos of working prototypes is going to lead people to assume that the product is close to completion, which it clearly wasn't/isn't. Also, they are making claims that are literally impossible to achieve according to the current laws of physics and post bi-weekly updates that usually consist of nothing more than a photo and new excuses. Never once did I mock anybody for choosing to back this product, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't find the constant excuses from the Grasshopper team to be entertaining. I truly hope nobody took my posts personally. Like I said, people will always enjoy a good story with constant plot twists and this thread has that in spades.

Agreed

 

[pakalolo]

Agreed

You should always read to the end of a thread before replying. Your post breaks the rule I was talking about. It is exactly the kind of post we don't want, not just because you agreed with a defense of rule-breaking but also because you should have used the Like button instead—speaking of which, liking rule-breaking posts is not a good idea.

 

[lwien]

....speaking of which, liking rule-breaking posts is not a good idea.

Guilt by association?

 

[fft]

This might be a good time to point out how truly excellent last week's South Park episode was. In addition to completely skewering the NFL/Redskins, they took a great shot at Kickstarter and crowdfunding. Its really drives home how much of a scam crowdfunding can be in general. The "backer" gets no stake in the business and no guarantee that they'll get a real product when its all over. Its a great way to raise money if you can do it...

I completely agree that these crowdfunded products get marketed like they are a done deal when they are nowhere close. What especially bugs me are the bloggers like these guys who add fuel to the fire by forgetting to mention that these things are completely speculative.

I guess I blame the Grasshopper guys less for overstating how close they were to a finished product, although they are definitely culpable. Yes they probably oversold how ready they were, but in the real world everyone does this. Certainly their vendors did it to them. And quite a bit of the overselling is simply "not knowing what you don't know" on their part.

On the other hand, crowdfunding provided the Grasshopper guys with an opportunity to do something they never could do otherwise...especially given the product. I want to see a product too (actually I'm dying to get one of these in my hands), but I also backed these guys because I just liked the idea of seeing talented, enterprising, young engineers choose a career building vapes for a living. I'm still hoping they make it and if I ever get to Boulder I will not hesitate to look them up for a free "plant tour."

 

[Caligula]

^^LOOOOOOOOOOOL^^ (TLDR Im LOLing at the 1st pic)

 

[GanjaAroma]

I've been waiting forever for this thing.
This was the first portable vape that caught my interest and had me looking into more and more and finally discover FC

 

[kindbeats]

I hate the phrase "with all due respect" because it usually means that what follows is not respectful. It's pretty much "no offense but" in a nicer dress.

The thread is not here for your entertainment. If you have nothing to add—and I couldn't see anything in your posts that added to the discussion—then don't post. From the rules:

• Put some effort into your posting. Before creating a thread or posting a reply, please ask yourself: Am I making a thread which is either funny, informative, or interesting? Does my reply offer any significant advice or help contribute to the conversation?

But I never followed the phrase "with all due respect" up with any disrespectful comments. I simply relayed the latest information provided by the Grasshopper team on their blog and then gave my honest thoughts on the matter. I am aware that this discussion thread does not exist for my entertainment, but that doesn't mean that I and others aren't allowed to find it entertaining. There have been tons of jokes and quality memes about the delays posted throughout this thread that we've all laughed at and had a good time with. None of them contributed any significant advice or helped contribute to the conversation, but they did inject some fun and humor into a thread that's been plagued with nothing but bad news, setbacks, and frustration. Hell, I've even had a laugh or two with a few mods pertaining to this thread. I promise to respect your wishes as a moderator however, and will refrain from posting along those lines again.

 

[Scott A]

Wow they sure are having a whole lot of trouble with a pen clip. To be honest if thats all that is really holding this up, and they make it sound that way with their "narrowly disrupted" speak, I would just take mine with no pen clip. I was probably gonna break it off (like ive done with every other pen clip in my life) anyways.

 

[fft]

Wow they sure are having a whole lot of trouble with a pen clip. To be honest if thats all that is really holding this up, and they make it sound that way with their "narrowly disrupted" speak, I would just take mine with no pen clip. I was probably gonna break it off (like ive done with every other pen clip in my life) anyways.

Not sure if I'm looking at it right but that pen clip looks like it doubles as part of the temp control. So the spec is probably much tighter than your ordinary pen clip would have to be.

Makes me wonder how that's going to hold up for people that actually use it as a clip. Looks like a design change candidate for v2 if/when that comes along.