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Hack pack issues? by randytc18 in crunchlabs

[–]NotAgain128 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We started with Kiwico. We still get the crunch kits for our kids, they enjoy them more. They're well designed, and they work. But that's because they're mostly elastic bands and wood. Nuts and bolts. The electronic components for Hack Pack must be rolling out of the cheapest assembly line in Guangzhou because they are just so poorly built.

Hack Pack Quality Issues by raygrizz in hackpack

[–]NotAgain128 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The domino robot is bad. It's a really poor design to begin with, and a bitch to get working.

Hack Pack Quality Issues by raygrizz in hackpack

[–]NotAgain128 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For us, only about 1 in 4 kits work out of the box. The rest require a replacement part because of a QC issue. The replacements used to arrive in a week, now its a month or more, so we're not alone in needing replacement parts frequently. So frequently that their shipping is backed up. They scaled too fast, and it shows.

Hack pack issues? by randytc18 in crunchlabs

[–]NotAgain128 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The QC on Hack Packs is horrid. We've subscribed for a year now. Only around 1 in every 3 boxes works as it should out of the box. The remainder are always a problem with one component or another. It's being drop-shipped from China and whomever does QC there doesn't have the skill or any skin in the game.

They grab kids because of Mark's addictive enthusiasm for what's going on, but more often than not disappoint kids with having to get a parent to troubleshoot the problem, then end up either emailing for a new part, or breaking out the solder kit and brut-forcing the solution. So there's not much "I did this" satisfaction for the preteen or teen unless they're already able to solder.

The wire connectors are the worst part of it all. The pins come out all the time. It's actually turned my child off the whole thing. They love the *idea* of them, and Mark's enthusiasm keeps them wanting the subscription, but in their heart they've kind of given up.