The original plan involved all sales of new Pandoras going through ED, who would then use the profits from those sales to fund outstanding preorders. This plan was made null and void once Craig asked to collect money for 1GHz Pandoras directly then purchase them at cost from ED (and AFAIK he never even did that much, ED sent him a batch of 70 which Craig somehow thought was a free gift).
By now I'm quite sure "somehow thought" was actually his
intentional misinterpretation of ED's plan, as he received the invoice multiple times when he was sent the 1GHz units (based on what ED said). Craig knew that he would get no profits according to ED's plan, so he deviced a plan of his own: raise the price of 1GHz as much as people would pay (first do some usual probing on
a forum thread (first post didn't have a price originally)), then ask ED for units that he would supposedly buy for production costs. But the thing is, he never intended to pay for those 1GHz units, as he just knew he can write them off as "free pandoras" from ED's plan! He also exploited ED's naiveness (once again) to get as many units as he can in one go before the supposed payment, and then ask for more until denied. The whole "I'll buy units for production costs" thing also served as a workaround to long wait time on pandoras that come naturally from wait on ED's profits to fund free pandoras according to ED's original plan.
This may sound as a conspiracy theory but if someone has better explanation of 1GHz fiasco, feel free to provide one. The assumption that he sees those 1GHz units as free ones is further supported by his attack
here and
here (of course he also "forgot" about the bought out parts too).
As for where the money went, no explanation was ever given so I can only assume they went somewhere "safe", Craig's relatives perhaps? Legal action could be useful to help finding out.
This conspiracy theory is something that looks very possibly what was really happened here.
Ok, let's talk about some facts.
1. Craig lied multiple times, intentionally.
2. Every time happened, those dishonest behaviors was about
timing /
money ...as I remember. And Time is Money, right? Oh, and about
guilt (always somebody else).
3. Because of that he lies and accused someone else for ruining business plans, we can't be sure does
any of those other people really got money in time etc.
What we could know and could reconstruct for sure?
1.
Total amount (approximately) of money he "spent on bad business decisions" of his
known projects (does he?). We could reconstruct
hundred thousands (millions?) he got for sure.
2.
Total amount (app.) of people he owe something - Pandoras, upgrades, ICP2, refundes...
at least few thousand people.
3.
Time-line of money flow, his business (+"accidents") going etc
When we put this numbers in time-line, it will show us an
annuals pattern of continuous sucking of money / goods.
It could be reconstructed in time that
mostly all lies he did, as a consequence, somehow made some goodness for him he got from his customers / business partners.
As I know,
there is no a real evidence that he really made any losses for him. As ED said (for his part of business story for difference between 150/550 preorders), he don't have a clue where that money gone.
I really don't care is he a drug addict, gambler, or a swindler... or just a bad business decision maker
He is a liar, he is doing it in purpose, for years, he took hundreds thousands $ from thousands of people that did not get what was agreed.
So please, could somebody start to count how much money he got until now, for sure?
My first goal is to prove that he is not
"poor guy that is falling down because of bad circumstances" (at least he has not to be), so that we forgive him hiss naughtiness.
Because, if "conspiracy theory" is even partly true, I think that his final act should be that he somehow convinces us to believe that he is the biggest looser in this story,
so that we do not prosecute him. But If he can prove at court that he is not just stealing money from people for his own goods, that will be best for all.
Right now, I can't be sure that some other "Ithic.com & Link", guiden by some other "Jacquelyn", is not starting some other KickStarter project. As his new project & his alter ego, of course.
