If Amazon bought Kickstarter...

[Don Boyer]

Hey, I just had a thought - imagine Amazon purchasing Kickstarter?  Scary...

ADMIN NOTE: this topic sprang out of an idea expressed on another that was compelling enough to get a new topic of its own, where Kickstarter was being discussed in relation to a card project.  It was too good of a tangent to pass up!  -Don

[Rob Wright]

Hey, I just had a thought - imagine Amazon purchasing Kickstarter?  Scary...

Could make for an interesting scenario. KS not being a "store". Once the projects ended- Amazon could be the store. They could have a special KS section on Amazon.

Amazon could also integrate their shipping payment system into KS. That way project creators don't have to worry about adding the shipping into there projects (no more backers yelling at Jackson because they think international shipping is too high). Amazon could even do fulfillment for projects as well. That's what the company is built around. I'm surprised they haven't started the next "UPS/Fed EX"

Sorry to get of topic.....but you started it this time Don. I blame you.

[Don Boyer]

Hey, I just had a thought - imagine Amazon purchasing Kickstarter?  Scary...

Could make for an interesting scenario. KS not being a "store". Once the projects ended- Amazon could be the store. They could have a special KS section on Amazon.

Amazon could also integrate their shipping payment system into KS. That way project creators don't have to worry about adding the shipping into there projects (no more backers yelling at Jackson because they think international shipping is too high). Amazon could even do fulfillment for projects as well. That's what the company is built around. I'm surprised they haven't started the next "UPS/Fed EX"

Sorry to get of topic.....but you started it this time Don. I blame you.

Well, now it's on topic, because it's in a new topic!

I hadn't even considered the "Amazon as fulfillment center" aspect, but yeah, there'd be a lot of synergy there.  The big question would be whether Amazon could manage it with a light enough touch to keep ideas flowing and new projects coming, while at the same time providing the much-needed regulatory framework to keep project creators from becoming intentional or accidental rip-off artists...

[AlbinoDragon]

I think it would be a smart move for Amazon to purchase them because it would give them an easy way to integrate their fulfillment center into the equation. For smaller products it would be too expensive unless they provided a special project rate; $1 picking fees add up quickly when you have multiple add-ons.

Kickstarter is too cool for that though, I honestly can't see them selling to anyone. Which they should, they lucked out and I think their business side is a bit lost. It will only take one competitor that is able to catch enough market share to bring them down. It may take a couple years, but the way they mismanage their project creators, they'll have to change before the next big thing comes along.

[rjtomlinson1977]

I think KS is great as is... but for the average Joe KS isn't a household name. If Amazon bought it I think it could bring KS to a new level of mainstream. My hometown newspaper ran a front page article about my Global Urnest KS project and to this day people in my local area still ask me what KS is all about. They don't have a clue. Most people (that I know) think it's a scam. Obviously now that I've had four successful projects people are starting to realize the truth.

[Yashi]

There would probably be an tighter implementation of rules and policies. It would also be possibly be harder to scam people.

[rjtomlinson1977]

As long as ebay doesn't buy KS. They would put in a rating system. Which wouldn't be bad but not if it's done like ebay does. Ebay allows consumers to black mail the sellers... "I'll give you negative feedback if you don't refund my money and let me keep your product"