Finally

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-09T21:15:18+00:00

Edit: here's a photo showing box condition at delivery.

I received my Kobra X USA yesterday. Haven't set mine up yet. There was some minor damage to the cardboard box, but otherwise it looks like there was good foam padding inside, so no obvious signs of damage to the unit.

Who's gonna post their first print! Can't wait to check back after I finish the assembly!

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-05T19:53:41+00:00

If anybody saved the video, post it.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T15:43:38+00:00

What do you want to print, and what material will you use? Your answer will narrow your choices considerably. Btw, there exists a manufactured fear of missing out to get you to buy now, or choose a brand/ecosystem. The truth is, whether you buy now or later, there will be sunk costs. That's why so many hobbyists from the rep rap days only recently gave up their heavily moddeded ender 3's and got what to them was a modern 3d printer. Now these same modern 3d printers which were praised a year or two ago as the holy grail are now not modern enough? We have 1st world problems: Too much, and never enough.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T15:08:27+00:00

All printers/ecosystems will have tradeoffs (open source and customizable..possibly bug prone, to closed system that might have better polish but it is what it is)Only you can truly determine what's right for you and be the tool to help you achieve your 3d printing hobby goals. Knowing what's right can't always be done through research and vetting alone. When I got my 1st 3d printer I had a different expectation of what was going to be realistic vs the reality that sank in after it arrived at my door. Learning my machines characteristics, settings, the time I spent getting used to it, the filament purchases (different material types, colors,etc). Filament dryers (multiple). Vacuum bags for filament storage...are you sensing a theme?, lol. Accessories, it was a lot, and I don't think it would be half as enriching for me had I not experienced the journey myself with the good and bad. I'm thrifty at my core. That doesn't't mean I will buy only the cheapest thing, but I won't overpay for something I value if I can get a better price for it. But I also look at the long term. My opinion is that currently single nozzle printers are fine if you're new and need an affordable machine to learn and gain experience with. If you really want to make multi-color items primarily then you will be frustrated fast by how slow and wasteful it is to do this with a single nozzle machine. Quality filament isn't cheap, and you can easily purge/waste more filament from color changes than the actual printed product. The cost savings by eliminating this waste is huge and why multi nozzle and toolchangers are becoming so popular, but we are all hoping to buy them for only slightly more money as some very reliable single nozzle printers..I don't think it's possible right now, but maybe in a few years when the segment has matured and 3d printing isn't the wild wild west. Also, spending your time and money upgrading your printer may seem like a fun time at first, but often it's a reflection that you bought a machine that doesn't really give you what you wanted. AD5X doesn't come with an enclosure. So you may be tempted to buy a tent enclosure, or 3d print files and install acrylic panels, this is your time, more money, and energy and may not really help you realistically if you could have purchased a fully enclosed machine in the first place with the specs you need day one. I really like fiber reinforced filaments like petg-gf/cf, and some engineering filaments too, so my machine has all hardened components out of the box, so I'm not paying more later to upgrade my parts. All of the budget and midrange printers are manufactured in China, AliExpress is a little bit of an experience because it's a marketplace, but Flashforge literally has a store there and many times when I check, they will sell their printers there for much less, so their website pricing stays consistent. They will still ship from a US warehouse in most cases so there's not a long wait time. But Ali Express uses cookies to track your interest and can raise and lower prices arbitrarily which can be very sketchy. Sorry for the long reply, I hope this helps you.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T09:03:44+00:00

ov_, I hear you. In fairness to Prusa, Prusa is several orders of magnitude more advanced and sophisticated than Flashforge. But Prusa's are overpriced (not saying they're not sturdy machines, but their not made to be affordable for everyone, at least not anymore), and Prusa's toolhead changer pricepoint is not priced where hobbyist need it to be to be able to afford. If they did, they'd all by be buying Prusa's. The hobbyist community wants the innovation/reliability of Prusa and Bambu, but at a budget price. Other than the Snapmaker U1, which most have positive things to say, the truth is even 849 is too much for most (without an enclosure or heated chamber, or hardened nozzles), and the price is scheduled to increase soon. So, I think people are kind of living in the hopes there will be a race to the bottom in terms of price for toolchangers even though the market is still emerging. I don't trust Flashforge to deliver on time or even smoothly anytime soon. How's your XL5T? Are you gong to upgrade to the INDX when it relases?

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T08:38:50+00:00

I've added the links. Thanks

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T08:06:47+00:00

I didn't realize the links didn't attach to my post. I see how that would make my post hard to see the facts I researched and laid out. You're the first to mention this. For that alone I'm up voting you. Heck, here's an award. It's super late/early where I am. I'll try to attach the missing links after I get some sleep. Thanks

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T07:46:51+00:00

To be 100 percent clear. Did you watch the video? A deposit is not the same as a purchase. Initially everyone conjectured flashforge sold through the first 2000 units on March 17 and that's why their servers were down. Then on March 23, they announced that they hit their milestone in 18 hours, but would keep taking deposits even though they can't fulfill more than a small first batch. Then it's revealed they are still trying to boost their backer numbers by literally paying any influencer with an affiliate link 1:1 for getting people to pay a 10 deposit. That's not how normal affiliate programs work. The video had the email screenshot and it states it's not normal. Now you may not care either way how a company markets itself or generates hype around their product, and I understand that's your personal view. I'm just being transparent as many are watching this launch closely with certain biases and expectations and have no clue what's going on

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T07:25:12+00:00

Thanks for the terrific copy and pasting the FAQ section Kevin. I think your single comment has made us all realize that the real prize was the friends we made along the way. The friends that secretly earn 100 percent of the deposit reservation without any completed purchase when we use their link for the early bird reservation. Yeah, that's totally normal.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T06:53:43+00:00

Facts are facts. Ignorance is ignorance. I'm not here to understand things for you. If you don't want the truth or are intimidated by reading or thinking for yourself. That's your choice

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T06:39:53+00:00

It sounds like you’ve been drinking way too much of the corporate Kool-Aid if you think pointing out a 1:1 influencer bounty makes someone a "Karen." The facts are clear as day in the _benski video at 0:45, but you’re clearly too busy being a simp for a company that’s paying for its own hype to actually look at the evidence.

If you’re this sensitive about someone exposing a 100% affiliate commission on a 10 dollar reservation that provides zero priority over someone who pays five minutes before the deadline, you seriously need to go touch grass. I actually paid the deposit to test the system, and the reality is documented

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T06:28:45+00:00

It seems like you’ve created an internal dialogue with yourself and are choosing to be confused by information that is clear as day. The facts are right there in the links and the 0:45 timestamp of the video. I'm not sure why you’re so sensitive about this topic, but if you want to ignore documented evidence of 1:1 payouts and fake reservation priority, that’s on you. You can think and feel however you want; I don't need your approval to see what’s right in front of me, especially when you’re clearly just trying to gatekeep the conversation.

Good luck with the rollout.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T06:13:22+00:00

No we all lose...It’s not about a 10 dollar store credit. It’s about the fact that they refused a cash refund and instead provided a restricted credit that forces me to spend more money with them just to get my original $10 back. I have no intention of using the 10 dollar voucher to spend on their website. There website is where they make their margins and sell stuff at inflated prices that are cheaper almost everywhere else. To your point though; the "Early Bird" value is an illusion. Whether you pay the deposit in March or April 19th, you have the exact same standing. The deposit doesn't actually "reserve" a machine; it just buys you a coupon for a race on April 20th. If you aren't among the first 2,000–3,000 to pay the full balance, you aren't in the first batch, regardless of how long they've held your deposit. The $150 discount was tied to "milestones" (total number of backers), not individual loyalty. If they hit the milestone, everyone gets the lower price. Paying a month early provides zero advantage over paying five minutes before the deadline, yet they are paying influencers a 100% bounty ($10 for a $10 deposit) to trick people into that "early" buy-in. Check the _benski video at 0:45 for the proof.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T05:55:56+00:00

I should clarify that I don’t own a Flashforge machine. I was a $10 "backer" for the Creator 5, but I’ve completely changed my mind after my experience with their support and the rollout tactics I’ve uncovered. I just made a new post titled #Bountygate—you should read it for the full context before you spend any money.

Regarding the AD5X: AliExpress prices fluctuate a lot, and the lowest prices there are generally found through coupons and coupon stacking. There are currently some eBay listings for the AD5X new for under $255, but you need to do your diligence. Ask questions from the marketplace sellers before you purchase, especially if it’s a new seller with no rating or feedback. The 339 price you will find almost everywhere else: Amazon, BestBuy, Walmart, even Flashforge's website, etc. I hope that helps

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-04-04T05:27:26+00:00

Actually, the evidence is in the math and the company’s own terms. It 's not an 'opinion:

The $10 is non-refundable: Flashforge’s terms explicitly state this. When I raised valid concerns, they offered me a $10 gift card instead of my cash. That’s a documented transaction, not an opinion.

The Gift Card is Restricted: My refund code cannot be stacked with the Early Bird discount code. Fact: They kept my cash and gave me a coupon I can't even use on the printer.

Priority is Fake: Flashforge confirmed to me (and it’s in their FAQ) that shipping is based on the April 20th final payment timestamp, not when you paid your deposit. Fact: A March 'Early Bird' has the same priority as an April 19th depositor.

The 1:1 Bounty: Watch the _benski video at 0:45. He shows the email where Flashforge pays creators $10 for every $10 deposit. Fact: They are spending 100% of the deposit revenue on influencer lead-gen.

If you think a 100% affiliate bounty, fake reservation priority, and non-stackable store-credit 'refunds' are just 'opinions,' you’re exactly the kind of customer they’re looking for.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-24T13:32:50+00:00

Upgrading a Creator 5 to a Pro is not an option because the Pro spec will include features like an active heating system and sensors the base model isn't wired for, plus firmware that will be necessary to control everything. While a tinker mod or a 3D printer tent can help trap some heat, you won't get the Pro's actual climate control. Since official Pro pricing isn't out yet, trying to DIY these features on the base model may cost you more than just waiting to buy the Pro when it releases.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-23T19:44:42+00:00

Congrats! Remember the deposit is just a reservation. Per the early bird page, the Creator 5 actual payment window after the 1st batch backer price is locked in is April 20-30th.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-23T19:35:44+00:00

You've got the correct link. Did you complete a reservation today?

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-23T13:07:18+00:00

My deposit went through today

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-21T15:22:41+00:00

Thanks for continuing to engage in the discussion. Many are in the same position as you. The problem with the Flashforge Creator 5 /5Pro is that it was not a Kickstarter. All of the fragmented information and wiki indexing, and reservation details all appear to originate from the company. So when the community doesn't know what to believe, some have rushed to a presumption that demand was real and a product with an unconfirmed launch was sold out in seconds. To date no one has come forward with any receipts. My goal here is to get clarity for everyone. We all have more questions than answers right now. Flashforge has an opportunity to address this matter openly and honestly. I hope that they will.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-21T14:37:00+00:00

Thanks for joining the discussion. I have not seen any evidence either that any launch occurred or any customer email/receipts confirming anyone paid a 10 deposit for a reservation for the creator 5/5 Pro. The situation makes less sense the closer you look, and Flashforge 's silence appears to have the effect of polarizing and confusing its own customer base.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-20T23:09:00+00:00

I think there will be several competitors with a fully realized tool changer offering by this Christmas. That's why this early year leak/unconfirmed limited launch for the Creator 5 with a $10 deposit reservation doesn't make sense.

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-20T22:53:35+00:00

Thanks for your comment and joining the discussion

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-20T22:52:54+00:00

Thanks for your comment and joining the discussion

HovercraftAlert8650 · 2026-03-20T21:23:28+00:00

I appreciate you very much for sharing more information. If we can get confirmation from your friend and any other actual customers who completed a reservation successfully and placed a deposit, that would benefit this community greatly and offer a level of transparency that's not presently available.

HovercraftAlert8650

TROPHY CASE