The “purchase-type” crowdfunding market, which offers new products and services in return for financial support, is expanding rapidly.
On the other hand, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan is calling attention on its website, etc., as there are a series of consultations and complaints to the counter that the products in return have not arrived.
Crowdfunding that calls for approval of the project on the Internet etc. and solicits funds.
In Japan, since the Great East Japan Earthquake, it has been used for various projects such as regional revitalization and new product development, and it is becoming more widespread as the number of companies struggling to raise funds due to the influence of the new corona is increasing.
Among them, crowdfunding called "purchase type" is spreading recently.
The "purchase type" provides products and services developed in the project in return for the support, and individuals and venture companies with little money can collect funds without taking a big risk. I can do it.
In addition, for those who pay money, it is possible to support the development of products that are not yet on the market, as if it were shopping, and you can expect attractive returns.
According to the industry group "Japan Crowdfunding Association", the market size of purchase-type crowdfunding is expanding rapidly to 16.9 billion yen in 2019 and 50.1 billion yen in 2020.
On the other hand, as it becomes more widespread, consultations and complaints are being received at the national counter.
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, at least 120 consultations and complaints about crowdfunding have been received in the six months to last month, but more than half of them
▼ Reward items do not arrive on time It means that there are consultations and complaints about the "purchase type", such as ▼
repeated postponement of shipping
, ▼ delivery of a
return item different from what was expected
.
In addition to cases where there is a problem with the project itself, there are cases where there is a lack of explanation about the difference between purchase-type crowdfunding and general buying and selling, and there are cases where the supporter's understanding is insufficient.
This month, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan will post new information on its homepage that introduces trouble cases of purchase-type crowdfunding, etc., and check the explanation of the project and the rules of the operating company before providing support. We are calling for consultation with each consumer service center.
People who supported the development of AI robots Shipment postponement was repeated many times ...
In May, an anxiety-raising post from a person who paid for a purchase-type crowdfunding project was sent to the NHK information service "News Post".
In the summer of 2020, a man in his thirties in Chiba Prefecture, who posted a post, transferred more than 40,000 yen to purchase-type crowdfunding to support the development of pet-type AI robots.
The AI robot is being developed by a venture company in Tokyo, and has a fluffy and cute "healing" design.
It is said that the "personality" of the robot will change depending on how people are treated, and the man was thinking of giving it to his mother, who had just lost his family and was depressed.
An AI robot that was supposed to arrive around last spring.
However, due to reasons such as "delay in parts procurement due to the impact of the new corona" and "impact of lockdown in overseas cities", shipping has been postponed five times so far.
Companies often emailed me saying, "Development is in the final stages," but sometimes the information wasn't updated once a month, and men became worried.
The man posted to NHK, "I thought it was unavoidable at first because I sometimes fail, but as the postponement was repeated many times, I was wondering if I was really making it." I talked about the process of sending.
According to reporters, the crowdfunding website also contained anger from people who paid for the robots not reaching them, and voices asking for refunds.
The man said, "I don't buy mass-produced products, so I understand that there is no guarantee that they will arrive, but as a payer, I still want them to come."
Development company “I should have tried to tell more to the supporters”
Mr. Kiyohiko Yamanaka, a representative of a Tokyo venture company that is promoting the project, responded to an interview at a development base facility in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, regarding delays in shipping AI robots and voices of anxiety heard from supporters.
According to Mr. Yamanaka, the project's AI robot received high praise at the world's largest technology trade fair held last year.
However, the competitiveness in the market is still unknown, and the venture company chose to proceed with development by raising funds by crowdfunding because it is "a high hurdle" to receive a loan from a financial institution.
So far, about 90 million yen has been raised from about 1800 supporters.
Due to the global shortage of semiconductors, the impact of Korona-ka on manufacturing and distribution, and the final inspection to verify quality, improvements were found, so the delayed shipping schedule has been further delayed and is now This means that we are working toward shipping in September.
Mr. Yamanaka said that the schedule was delayed and that there was a lack of explanation to the supporters regarding the subsequent response. I regret that I should have made an effort to convey it, and I think I was expected to keep the schedule. I am very sorry for the delay in shipping, and I am moving to deliver the robot to the supporter as soon as possible. I'm doing it. "
Lawyer familiar with online commerce "Communication is important"
Yasunori Kimura, a lawyer who is familiar with online commerce, pointed out that purchase-type crowdfunding is more likely to cause trouble than donation-type crowdfunding that does not assume returns. It is important not to write that you cannot promise to achieve it. It is important to specify the possibility that you cannot achieve it. When a situation occurs where you cannot deliver the product etc., report it in a form that is easy for the recipient. It is important to communicate by carefully checking the contents of the recruitment and asking questions if there are any questions. "
On the other hand, regarding the state of laws and regulations, "Crowdfunding itself is important to society, it is not desirable to add too much regulation, and while creating rules and guidelines to some extent, we will maintain a place where we can trade freely. I think it's good. "
Efforts to prevent troubles and improve reliability
A crowdfunding operating company called a "platformer" is embarking on strengthening measures to prevent troubles and improve reliability.
We have received inquiries from supporters such as "CAMPFIRE" in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, a major platformer in Japan, who has not received a gift for a "purchase-type" project or has a problem.
At this company, we are strengthening the preliminary examination with the addition of lawyers, etc., such as the feasibility of the projects we handle and whether the laws and regulations are complied with.
In addition, if the gift is not delivered to the supporter, we are also making our own efforts to compensate up to 80% of the support money.
Masaya Suzuki, General Manager of the CAMPFIRE Business Legal Department, said, "I want to strengthen the screening standards and promote information disclosure that can provide support with greater peace of mind. , I would like to convey it along with our corporate philosophy of as much as 1 yen. "
Purchase-type crowdfunding and “legal regulations”
Purchasing crowdfunding is legally positioned as "mail order" as stipulated by the Japan Act of Specified Commercial Transactions.
The project implementer is obliged to clearly indicate when to deliver the product on the Internet homepage, etc., and it is prohibited to make advertisements that are significantly different from the facts.
On the other hand, in the case of purchase-type crowdfunding, unlike general transactions that sell products that have already been completed, there is uncertainty about the success or failure of the project.
There is no law that regulates the content of the project itself, and Yasunori Kimura, a lawyer who is familiar with online commerce, said, "If there is a possibility that the project will fail, it is necessary to make a rule that requires that it be clearly stated. I point out.