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Comment by kylec | Hacker News Reader

They're apparently switching pre-orders for the crowdfunded Lockitron to Lockitron Bolt (http://help.lockitron.com/article/95-whats-bolt-and-how-will...). This is disappointing because Lockitron Bolt is a different kind of product - instead of sitting on top of the deadbolt, you have to replace it instead. This makes it unsuitable for renters like me. It looks like I'll have to cancel my order.

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If you are willing to swap it out when you leave there shouldn't be a problem just because you rent. They have an option called Key Match mentioned on their website (didn't see it in the article) that allows you to match it to your existing key. They don't say whether you can later change to a different key or not, but you really shouldn't have a problem just because you rent.

Even with key match, this is a fundamentally different product.

With the original Lockitron, a renter could just install it wherever they were currently staying. With the Bolt, the renter has to get permission to install a new deadbolt and has to get a new key pattern each time.

yes, it's a fundamentally different product. and that should be a reminder why backing something on kickstarter is not the same as purchasing a product. You made a bet that they would send you the product you wanted. You lost that bet.

Agreed. Half the reason I've kept my pre-order was as a reminder.

Nope, not under Kickstarter rules. If a company offers items as rewards, it has a contractual obligation to provide those items.

do you have a link to that rule? i don't see it on their site, only this: https://www.kickstarter.com/rules

this:https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/kickstarter+basics#faq_...

and this: https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/kickstarter+basics#faq_...

all of which seem to pretty clearly say you might not get what you think you paid for.

https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use#section4

There's a bunch of soft language, but it ends with If they’re unable to satisfy the terms of this agreement, they may be subject to legal action by backers.

But as davefp already pointed out, Kickstarter isn't relevant here.

Lockitron wasn't funded on Kickstarter. They built their own self-hosted solution, called selfstarter: http://www.selfstarter.us/

I'm in this boat and Kickstarter was never involved. I placed a bog-standard pre-order through their web site.

There is a huge problem. Your landlord still needs access, and isn't very eager to keep track of 15 different locking systems across all his tenants when the keyed locks he installed work perfectly fine.

The August lock replaces only the inside part of the lock (so your apartment manager can still get in), and it's pretty decent. It does take a little too long for Bluetooth to detect the lock, but hopefully the wi-fi module coming out will make it more reliable.

wow they _still_ haven't shipped the original crowd funded one? after the third or fourth pushback, i cancelled my order and haven't even bothered to look.

They have, but not in nearly enough quantity to satisfy everybody, and apparently they decided they just can't realistically do it.

Is there a price difference, and will folks who pre-ordered get a refund?

There is a price difference - I preordered at $159 and the regular Lockitron preorder price was $179. The announced pricing for the Lockitron Bolt is $99. No idea how they'll handle the refunds though.

There is a price difference for people who switch from the previous crowdfunded Lockitron to the Bluetooth only Lock with no Bridge. The difference will be refunded when we start shipping. More details in the Bolt FAQ: http://help.lockitron.com/article/95-whats-bolt-and-how-will...

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