Hello Puzzle Bomb fam!
We're getting super close to the launch of Bumfuzzled subscriptions in February, so it's time to spill the beans on the details! But first, backing up a bit, a little on why we're pivoting to subscriptions.
Why a Subscription Service?
A few big reasons!
Reason #1: Convenience - While it's been effective, let's face it; crowdfunding is anything but convenient. I appreciate all of you that slogged through it with us, but it's time to make it far easier!
With crowdfunding, you have to get word of the launch (every time, I'd get emails at the end from folks who missed it). Then, you have to make the pledge, requiring an account on the crowdfunding platform, Then, you have to wait, Then, you have to catch the pledge manager phase and complete that process. It's a bunch of steps that technically work, but with a lot of friction; too much work to simply buy some puzzles.
With subscriptions, you make a one-time transaction, and everything is automatic from there. If you want our puzzles, you've got them with minimal attention and effort.
Reason #2: Stability - If you've been with us for a long time, you've seen how up and down these crowdfunding campaigns have been. One will fund for $80,000, and the next will fund for $40,000. It makes it really tough to judge our production runs and cash flow.
In contrast, subscriptions are very predictable, and they're like a snowball that builds over time rather than behaving erratically. They also give us more reliability in projecting and gauging my production runs, giving me more time and energy to be creative rather than fussing over finances and logistics.
Reason #3: Fun & Surprise! - Our family has a few subscription boxes for our kids. It's just plain exciting for them when that box comes each month with a new surprise craft or project. Why should kids have all the fun!? :D
Subscriptions create that wonderful element where we set it and forget it until we're wonderfully surprised by a package in the mail. It's your birthday every month!
So How Does It Work?
(Note: The following functionality is for our US-based customers. I'll explain at the end how we'll continue to serve folks who live elsewhere.)
Instead of our traditional flow of three puzzle releases announced and released once a quarter, we'll now give one new puzzle the full spotlight each month, retiring it at the end of the month. When you view the puzzle on our website, you'll see buy options like this, starting with the February puzzle release (minor puzzle spoiler!):
I'm not quite done with the set-up, but you'll have the following options:
1) Bumfuzzled Monthly - You'll receive the first puzzle for just $1, and then receive a new puzzle every month for $49/month. Additionally, you get:
- Free shipping!
- A yearly surprise puzzle gift. Warning: it's going to be something really cool. I have a lot of ideas that don't fit either the Bumfuzzled or Party in the Back series, and this will be my way of getting to be creative in those areas without diluting the brand.
I won't make the surprise puzzle exclusive to subscribers, but I have this year's already designed, and I'll likely be retailing it for $99, so it's rather significant, and you'll get it for free!
2) Less Frequent Bumfuzzleds - The screen shot shows a quarterly option, and I'll also be adding a bi-monthly option. While most of you reading this are much more interested in the monthly option, this is for folks with lower budgets, or who find a puzzle every month to be too overwhelming.
These tiers will be $59/puzzle. Similar to the monthly folks, the first puzzle is $1 and shipping is free. However, these subscriptions don't come with the yearly surprise puzzle gift.
A question I know I'll get: "If I do a quarterly or bi-monthly Bumfuzzled subscription, can I choose the puzzle I want for that quarter/bi-monthly period?" Since subscriptions are highly automated, and there's no mechanism to know your preference, the answer is "no" on this. So, for example, if you choose quarterly, you'll receive the January, April, July, and October releases. I wish I could offer the choice, but it would add a lot of complication and defeat the benefit of automated subscriptions.
What If I Don't Live in the US?
Due to technical limitations and wanting to keep the offer on the website as easy to understand and uncluttered as possible, I unfortunately don't have a good solution to automate subscriptions outside the US.
However, I know where y'all live, and will contact you once per quarter with a similar offer for a 3-pack of that quarter's puzzles at a discounted rate, orderable from the website. I'll also get you the free surprise puzzle in the quarter it's released!
As a consolation for the less slick functionality, I'm mulling over offering you all three puzzles at the outset of each group of three puzzles. So, you'll get the revealed puzzle for the quarter, plus two mysteries, getting you some of the effect of the subscription, as well as the benefit of two of the puzzles earlier than US folks.
In the end, while not quite as convenient, it should still be less friction than crowdfunding, and I can ship orders direct duties paid so you don't have to deal with that hassle.
Excited for February!
I'm so excited to be on this journey with you all as we provide you these monthly doses of joy, satisfaction, and relaxation!
Love and blessings,
Chad and the Krizan family, aka Puzzle Bomb
20 comments
Hi Joscelyn,
So glad you’re excited, and thanks so much for your support!
While I’m still learning some of this new system myself as we launch it, there should be a monthly billing reminder, which will give you the opportunity to add puzzles to that month’s shipment.
However, launching this tool has been like eating an elephant, so I’ve been solving problems bit by bit. I’m confident that the monthly billing and shipping are a well-oiled machine, but I haven’t taken the bite of testing the add-on functionality for myself yet!
Thanks,
Chad
Super excited to sign up for a subscription. Now I don’t have to rely on epic self control not to do all three puzzles at once.
If we wanted to occasionally purchase extra puzzles as gifts, or to round out our collections, is there going to be a way to add to our monthly shipments the way we could when ordering on Gamefound (or from you), or do we just do those as separate purchases?
Also, am I imagining things or did some puzzles lose their legendary status?
Michael, I’ll be working on the international solution later this week, and emailing all international customers when it’s ready. Basically, I’ll create a page listing a three-puzzle bundle, only letting international folks know about it. Keep your eyes peeled!
It’s live! For international backers, will there be a separate store entry? As for now it says all US-only.
I’ll be getting a monthly subscription and am thrilled to! :) But, if I were thinking of the quarterly instead… I wouldn’t want it to be that I didn’t get to choose the puzzle I’d be interested in. That doesn’t sound great that way. I get how it might be better on managing your stock, but it wouldn’t hit right as a customer. My two cents.
Hey Sophie,
Great questions!
I always want everything to be as customer-friendly as possible, so I didn’t put any minimum commitment to subscriptions. Technically, someone could subscribe, receive the first puzzle for $1, and then immediately cancel. You can also pause/restart at any time.
Same quality as always going forward! I’ve been releasing 12 Bumfuzzleds per year as-is. The only thing changing is a switch to a new one-a-month cadence vs. the current three released on a quarterly basis. I’d never sacrifice quality for the sake of quantity!
Hi,
Is this something that can be cancelled any time or paused/restarted. I want to support, but sometimes life happens!
Also, will the puzzles be a similar quality and challenge to the existing lineup – not simplified to allow a monthly release?
Also, so impressed at your free puzzle giving for those in need!
Thank you
Super excited about this. Thanks for literally making the world a more fanciful and colorful place.
Wow. I was a little worried with the idea of a subscription—change is scary—but this sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to sign on!
Ben, Michael, and all other international folks,
I’m mulling the idea of offering you all the entire set of three puzzles at the outset of the quarter, as I produce my puzzles quarterly and will have them all in stock. So, you don’t get the slick interface like US folks do, but as compensation, you get two of the puzzles (as a mystery at the time of purchase) earlier than US folks.
I’ll edit the post to reflect this, as I’m 99% sure it’s implementable.