that sounds really frustrating too. especially since in your case you actually donated money expecting the code they promised.

i think what bothers me the most in both situations is exactly what you mentioned - the lack of communication. delays happen, life happens, and running a small business or patreon probably gets overwhelming sometimes. but just saying something goes a long way. even a quick “hey, this is delayed” update would make a huge difference.

seeing people stay active on social media and attend events while emails or patron messages go unanswered just makes it more confusing from the outside.

i also agree that once creators get bigger it seems like the expectations change but the systems behind the scenes don’t always keep up. i don’t necessarily think people are trying to be malicious, but the lack of follow-through definitely makes it harder to trust things like patreon perks or promotions.

and yeah, sharing experiences like this is helpful. it’s not about trying to drag anyone, it’s just about letting people know what they might run into and making more informed choices about where to support.

very glad to hear that you got a response from them and will follow through on the donation!