Quick update!
14 days ago
– Thu, Nov 07, 2024 at 12:31:41 PM
Hi backers!
Just a quick note on where things stand. WJPC should be finished with the print run and has received the tuck boxes from Studio Pression and assembly should be imminent. We hope to have an estimated arrival date for when the decks reach Gambers Warehouse soon. We’re in the home stretch now!
In the meantime I’m offering all Beetle Backs backers a special 15% off coupon on TheGentlemanWake.com to show my appreciation for your patience! Use promo code: Grateful
Production Update September!
3 months ago
– Fri, Sep 06, 2024 at 10:42:34 AM
A quick word from TGW
Just wanted to first say that we apologize for any radio silence the last two months--we were fast at work getting the Goldsmith Decks fulfilled to all the customers who preordered that amazing set! We did this while waiting for our turn in queue with WJPC on Beetle Backs.
Beetle Backs digital proofs have been approved! And we are solidly in the queue for production. Please note that WJPC has had a large influx of business/orders since Cartamundi announced their departure/hiatus from the custom playing card printing world. Things should hopefully still be on track for our January 2025 delivery estimates!
The Goldsmith decks are available and READY to SHIP NOW!
The amazing Goldsmith decks, by Kevin Cantrell Studio, are finally in the hands of collectors and here are just a few reveiws:
"⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Outstanding quality. Superior design. Exquisite presentation. More than thrilled with this set. A real treasure."
"⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Cards are amazing! The gilding and foiling are top notch! Thank you."
"⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Beautiful! Best way I've seen to display decks with a dealer coin. Everything is superb quality and I honestly couldn't be happier. Thanks so much for all your hard work to make these spectacular."
"⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ This set came out better than I could have ever expected, the foiling work on these, as well as the clarity of print is exceptional."
Get yours now at TheGentlemanWake.com. They are ready for IMMEDIATE shipping!
Update to VAT situation
6 months ago
– Mon, May 27, 2024 at 03:51:24 PM
Hi all,
I received some advice from fellow creators and have decided to remove the VAT charges from Backerkit. I cannot guarantee that local postal services/delivery services will not require VAT on delivery, however this is the best bet to make the most folks happy.
The Beetle Backs MAY 2024 Update
6 months ago
– Thu, May 23, 2024 at 09:53:40 AM
Hello Backers!
Hope all of you are having a wonderful beginning of summer. We're back with a new update on the status of The Beetle Backs. As you all know this campaign has been fraught with a few difficult challenges from the onset--the biggest one being the delay in production due to Cartamundi's indefinite closure of custom playing cards production. This unforeseen complication caused the production to be moved to China's WJPC which has introduced a slew of additional logistical challenges as we navigate the importation of the Tuck Boxes (still being printed by Studio Pression in France) into China for production of the final decks. Additionally issues with our previous Germany-based fulfillment center--in addition to the decks now being produced outside of the EU--have made EU friendly fulfillment a near impossible challenge. More on this in a bit.
Surveys Imminent!
The Beetle Backs surveys are ready and should be going out to all backers soon with a select few being part of the smoke test. If you are a backer you should receive an email with instructions and a link to fill out your survey for confirming your address and add-ons as well as adding any additional items--all while supplies last.
Before the Surveys go out however there's a smoke test where 5% of backers are sent the survey pre-emptively to the launch in order to discover and iron out any potential issues or concerns with the Backerkit. If you receive your survey this week be sure to take a look and fill it out as it will help us make sure things are working well!
Pre-order Store Going Live!
If you missed the campaign and want to secure your Beetle Backs decks then you'll want to place your orders on the Beetle Backs pre-order store which will be going live as this update goes out.
EU Backers, VAT and Shipping
The largest challenge we face is now the fulfillment side. The Decks will now be fulfilled from the USA (Gambler's Warehouse) which will represent some inconvenience for EU backers. This decision was made because (1) the decks are no longer being produced in the EU and (2) our Germany based fulfillment partner has encountered some troubling issues (prolonged lack of communication) that were well documented by other creators. Rather than leave important aspects of the campaign to chance we are instead moving fulfillment to the USA. The biggest ramification of this move is that the cost of both shipping the finished products to the USA from China (rather than just from Belgium to Germany) and the cost of shipping the decks to backers worldwide is now much higher. The bulk shipping is, of course, a campaign issue and we will assume the additional costs involved in shipping the production quantities to the USA. Customers will also not be asked to pay any additional shipping charges related to their pledges. HOWEVER, because we no longer have a EU fulfillment partner and because the decks are being produced outside of the EU we can no longer offer EU-friendly shipping which means VAT, VAT Shipping and Duties (as applicable) will need to be paid for and those charges will be reflected in the surveys. We wish this was not the case, obviously. Although the Beetle Backs was a success, it was not the resounding success that we'd enjoyed in previous campaigns, and therefore the campaign simply cannot afford to pay these new VAT fees out of pocket. Ultimately our goal is to get backers the products they pledged for--and we remain steadfast in our resolve to achieve this, but we must do so in accordance with regulations.
Valuable Lessons, Hard Lessons
Even though this is our 4th TGW campaign (our 6th including the Wyrmwood collab campaigns) we are still learning tough and valuable lessons. The market is continually changing as we strive to understand what backers want and what's possible. Moving forward we will no longer be collecting shipping fees up front, nor making any conclusions regarding duties or taxes. The instability of worldwide manufacturing and shipping make this a nearly impossible task. Instead we will offer estimated shipping fees during the campaign and collect actual shipping during the survey portion of the campaign. These changes will be in effect for upcoming campaigns like the Parlour V collection (with Stockholm17), Sanctuary and Villa Beluno (with Kevin Cantrell) and The Grave Witness (With Russ Gray).
This month we have two special interview episodes starting with youtuber/magician/kickstarter creator Pigcake (Sunday 5/26 at 8pm eastern) and then on Friday 5/31 at 6pm eastern we chat with Anthony Holt of Jocu Playing Cards about their projects past, present and future! We will also have some giveaways.
Best,
TGW
