Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
TL;DR Indiegogo rolled out its bold redesign last week, and it broke several things across the site.
Users were unable to log in, creators lost their pre-launch efforts, and order numbers were shuffled.
Existing campaigns also saw prices increase mid-campaign as exchange rates were recalculated.
Indiegogo is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms, hosting everything from Android gaming handhelds to creepy AI pets. However, a recent change has significantly impacted the public image of the platform, affecting both buyers and creators.
Earlier this year, Indiegogo was purchased by the board game crowdfunding platform Gamefound. At the time, it was announced that the two would remain independent but have new integrations. For example, login credentials would be shared across both sites, and Indiegogo would soon switch to Gamefound’s “proven technology” on its website.
That switch finally happened last week, but it was anything but smooth. Some creators lost their pre-launch signups, which are critical to building enough momentum to fund a campaign. Others found their entire campaigns missing, forcing them to rewrite everything and start from square one. Off-site promotions on social media were also broken, since the platform’s shortlink system was redirecting existing links to a 404 page. This also invalidated QR codes printed on physical material.
Broken links, deleted email lists, changed pricing, and deleted campaigns have plagued the rollout.
Larger creators were also affected. AYANEO initially announced crowdfunding for the Pocket AIR Mini would start on October 14, but it was later pushed to October 17. Indiegogo was set to go down on October 16 while the platform switched to Gamefound’s tech, which likely explains the logic behind the delay.
However, many users were unable to log into their accounts in the days following the switch. This limited precious early orders, which again, can make or break a campaign. For buyers, early orders typically come with the largest discounts and priority in the shipping queue.
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