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Katherine Krug BetterBack on Kickstarter BetterBack project on Kickstarter not new ripoff of existing Nadachair product(s) Internet
I was asked by a friend for some advice and opinion on a project on Kickstarter that she wanted to possibly back. I did some research and advised my friend to be cautious, and perhaps think again about backing BetterBack project at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1123408990/betterback-perfect-posture-effortlessly as of 2015 May 7th
This is due to the following reasons. While Kickstarter stresses that their platform is for new products that do not currently exist, the BetterBack project appears to be a copy and facsimile of an existing product called Nadachair, apparently in the marketplace for the past 30 years. BetterBack seems to duplicate exactly what Nadachair does both in design and function.
To suggest BetterBack is a new product does not appear to be correct and misleading. One can look at the following websites to see the Nadachair where one could easily compare and contrast to see the amazing similarities.
http://www.nadachair.com
http://thechairyouwear.ca
http://www.loveatfirstsit.com
http://www.backsavers.co.uk
http://www.betterback.co.nz
Kickstarter’s cofounder Mr Yanchey Strickler was on "CBS This Morning" in the US recently being interviewed for a story, “What happens to Kickstarter projects that fizzle?” This is now available at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/what-happens-to-kickstarter-projects-that-fizzle/
Mr Strickler stresses "supporting the creation of something new".
If a fundamental tenet of Kickstarter is to support something new, one could argue that the BetterBack project is really not new. Perhaps, new to the backers that have not done any due diligence. For one who has done due diligence, they will have found that this product is essentially the invention that has been currently marketed worldwide, and distributed under the name of NadaChair for some 30-years.
One can actually find the product promised already in the marketplace. For example, one can go to Amazon, type Nadachair where one could see numerous versions of the Nadachair product with, for the most part, very positive reviews.
A Google search ( “Katherine krug” nadachair) on April 29, 2014 of the BetterBack's creator Katherine Krug and NadaChair, yielded a link to her reviewing the NadaChair product on Sept 3, 1914 reviewing the product name Dr Toso’s Back Rx by Nada Chair as “uncomfortable to wear. Do like the way it folds into a portable carrying device."
Curiously, today, Ms Krug's review is not available although a mention of it stil exists at
http://tinyurl.com/nndjmvb
Kickstarter is supposed to provide a system deserving of our trust. And to provide a safe and trusted platform where people are honest. The fact that the creator has omitted material information to fully disclose the prior existence of a product that is essentially the same, perhaps with a minor addition or variation seems lacking in open and honest communication.
The argument that Nadachair has been ripped off appears to me a reasonable conclusion.
Personally, I would not back BetterBack. Others, at their peril. Buyers beware!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Additional comments
#2Author of original report
Fri, May 08, 2015
Correction of a few typos in yesterday's report regarding dates:
The dates now cited are correct, whereas the typos earlier were 2014 and 1914 respectively from yesterday's report:
Google search ( “Katherine krug” nadachair) on April 29, 2015 of the BetterBack's creator Katherine Krug and NadaChair, yielded a link to her reviewing the NadaChair product on Sept 3, 2014 reviewing the product name Dr Toso’s Back Rx by Nada Chair as “uncomfortable to wear. Do like the way it folds into a portable carrying device."
As an update to yesterday's report with some additional research, please find the following statements which might be helpful to not be misrepresented:
Reviewing the numerous comments on the Kickstarter page for the BetterBack project at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1123408990/betterback-perfect-posture-effortlessly/comments, there have been queries by potential backers about the Nadachair, and how the BetterBack seems to be quite similar.
Katherine Krug spins a yarn that really does not address the question that she has used Nadachair as a concept, both as a design and function, to take advantage of the fact that a Nadachair’s patent has expired, and to put it on Kickstarter to raise funds now close to $850,000.
If BetterBack was not a knockoff of Nadachair, why does Katherine Krug not suggest potential backers to go the the Nadachair website to see for themselves? Why does she not put both products together side by side to make it clear? Her main complaint is that she found it uncomfortable with the knees. Is that the rational to use someone else’s hard work and investment? There is no evidence presented of her contacting Nadachair. Apparently, on Amazon, there are many who have found the Nadachair quite comfortable. She certainly makes a meal of the knee pads. No one product is perfect for everyone.
One of the comments by Nicole on April 30, 2015 on the BetterBack Kickstarter page states “ This is one of the most cynical scams I have ever seen on Kickstarter, the @creator claims to invent the product but apparently the exact same product has been in the market for over two decades (Nada chair). Even worse is that the creator also used the name from one of the these distributors of the original product http://www.betterback.co.nz/ Shame on you”.
It is clear that Katherine Krug has used the Nadachair product by her own statements and has reviewed it on Amazon on Sept 3, 2014, now removed. Shortly afterwards on November 7, getbetterback.com was registered, http://whois.domaintools.com/getbetterback.com
Apparently, one might find it reasonable to conclude, after doing research, and realizing that the Nadachair patent has expired, that it was a good idea to copy the design and function of the Nadachair to raise funds, and to provide a useful product. However, most of her backers do not really appreciate the similarities of her alleged invention. When queried in the comments, she replies that BetterBack is not an exact copy.
As previously mentioned in yesterday’s report, one can review the websites where the Nadachair is available to be viewed. The old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”.
One can google Nadachair. After the results appear, click on images for a plethora of visual images of the Nada Chair.
Kickstarter clearly has a role to play in this matter, as it appears they do not live up to their terms where they insist that a product be new, offering a trusted platform where people can back it to place it into the marketplace. An online search of Kickstarter yields many complaints about Kickstarter, where they they do not respond to customers complaints, and even has gotten an “F” from the Better Business Bureau. Clearly Kickstarter has a financial incentive, to see their creators successful in raising money since Kickstarter derives fees from the amounts pledged.
“Consumers need to be aware that crowdfunding is not without risk,”Robert Ferguson, Washington State Attorney General
http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanRogers/20150309/238279/Understanding_Your_Kickstarter_Liabilities.php
While Kickstarter has been very useful as a platform for many, it has been pointed out that crowdfunding carries some risk. An example has been reported in the article at http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2013/08/21221-kickstarter-lawsuits-f-bbb-better-business-bureau/
Kickstarter has an Integrity Team, but appears to have not responded to various complaints as mentioned in the referenced article.
It will be determined in due course, whether backers are being misled by less than honest communication. Perhaps, there potentially could be a class action lawsuit by those feeling misled by the BetterBack representations?
This Kickstarter project does point out a problem with Kickstarter, allowing something that is not new, being represented as new, and Kickstarter to date, not enforcing its own policy.
Again, one might reasonable conclude that Kickstarter’s financial interest might be a significant factor for allowing BetterBack’s representations to be online.
Buyers beware. Do you research!