FAQ: Mini Museum 4: The Fourth Edition
For the most up-to-date information about the status of our project, check our project updates on Kickstarter!

What is the best way to contact Mini Museum?

Email is the best way to get in contact. Please use [email protected]

Emails sent to this address enter a ticket-tracking system which ensures that we will see your message. It also allows us to distribute the messages to multiple members of the Mini Museum team, which helps you get a faster response.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

International Duties and Customs

The shipping price for the Mini Museum does not include duties or taxes.

Backers will be responsible for all duties and taxes imposed on the import of the Mini Museum. The Mini Museum is an educational display and will be classified as such on import documentation. Most countries do not impose a customs charge for this type of item but VAT is a reality. You should check with your country’s borders and customs office website to review VAT.

Please note: If you refuse customs/tax/VAT charges, your Mini Museum will be returned to us. We can reship if this happens, but we will need to charge for shipping again.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Do you have an International distributor?

Not at this time. We know that VAT is a huge concern for many International backers. We’ve investigated a number of distributors, and so far every option we have encountered has resulted in a dramatic price increase for the Mini Museum. The $10 (USD) shipping for the Fourth Edition is currently our best option for sharing the cost of importing a Mini Museum, but we’re going to keep working on this!

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

How long will a Mini Museum last?

An Acrylic Mini Museum, if properly cared for, should last for generations, but it is not indestructible. We take great pains to protect each Mini Museum, and though rare it is possible that it may arrive with a few micro abrasions. Most abrasions are simple to remove, but we always recommend taking your Mini Museum to a professional jewelry repair shop for buffing and polishing. It is also very important that you never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions on your Mini Museum. You should only use Acrylic polishes.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Can I order more than one Mini Museum?

Early Bird pricing and the Space Shuttle Edition are limited to just one per backer, but you will have a chance to add additional regular price Mini Museums to your pledge during the post-campaign process.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Add-Ons and the Post-Campaign Process

When the campaign is over, you will receive an invite to provide your shipping address. At this time, you will also be able to purchase additional add-ons such as the solo Amazon River vial and other items to be revealed. As with past campaigns, we will be using BackerKit to manage pledges.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Shipping Methods and Rates

To ensure that your Mini Museum arrives safely, all Mini Museums ship using trackable FedEx, USPS Priority Mail, or USPS First Class service. Every package we send is insured against loss and/or theft.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Do you ship to APO/FPO addresses?

Yes! We use the US Postal Service to ship to members of the US Military and are proud to do so.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Is everything in the Mini Museum authentic? How did you obtain the specimens?

This is a great question, and one I would ask before purchasing myself.

First, specimens from the Mini Museum were acquired from a variety of sources. Some specimens I acquired directly from scientists or researchers in the field (ex. Raptor, Saber-Tooth Tiger). Some specimens were acquired from professional meteorite hunters (Extraterrestrial Amino Acids), reputable collectors (ex. Elephant Bird Eggshell), and artifact dealers (ex. Knight’s Sword, Mummy Beads). Other specimens I collected on my own or from family heirlooms (ex. Amazon River Water). Some were also obtained from private land owners (ex. Great Dying, Pangea). And still others were obtained from open or closed auctions (ex. Muhammad Ali, Space Shuttle).

During my nearly four decades of collecting, I’ve done all that I can to ensure that each sample contained in the Mini Museum is authentic. However, it’s important to note that certificates of authenticity are not commonly available from all sources (such as scientists and land owners), but when they are available, I will absolutely share them.

I have also acquired many specimens that would be perfect for a Mini Museum, but will not include them because I am uncomfortable with their provenance. And no matter how much I might personally like these specimens for my own collection, I can’t rationalize selling them to others.

I am extremely confident, however, about the provenance for everything included in the Mini Museum. If you’re just learning about the Mini Museum, I would also encourage you to have a look at the projects for the First, Second, and Third Edition. Dozens of detailed updates spanning the last few years provide a sense of the care with which we’ve approached the Fourth Edition.

Finally, I should say that every specimen that I’ve curated for the Mini Museum is authentic and was acquired ethically and legally. Each Mini Museum will come with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by me, Hans Fex.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Is my backer number the same as the Mini Museum I will receive?

No, but it does indicate your place with your reward tier and the order in which we will ship.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

How can I get the solo Amazon River Water Vial and a Mini Museum?

The solo Amazon River Water Vial will be available as an add on after the campaign. We plan to use BackerKit once again to gather up your shipping information, and during that process you will be able to add the Amazon River Water Vial. So, right now, you’ll want to back the Mini Museum of your choice and hang on until that survey comes through after the campaign.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Will the Space Shuttle HRSI Tile Coating be available as an add-on?

Hopefully! Like the Samurai Sword slice in the Third Edition, the Space Shuttle HRSI Tile Coating will be extremely limited. Details about this item will be shared in a project update.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

What about the SMALL and TOUCH Versions?

The SMALL and TOUCH versions of the Fourth Edition are still in development, but we expect to have information ready to share in September.

Backers of the Kickstarter campaign will receive discount pricing on the SMALL and TOUCH versions of the Mini Museum when they are released. It does not matter which tier you back during the campaign, even PURE LOVE will receive the discount pricing. Kickstarter Backers will also have priority for these items as they will be made available in BackerKit before a general release to the public.

TOUCH Edition Numbers: For those of you interested in the TOUCH, it is important to note that the earliest backers of the Fourth Edition Kickstarter campaign will receive the lowest edition numbers. If this is important to you, you’ll want to back the Fourth Edition campaign as soon as possible to reserve your place in line.

Last updated: July 09, 2018 13:34

Shipping Updates
For the most up-to-date information about the status of our project, check our project updates on Kickstarter!
No shipping updates are provided.
BackerKit FAQ

What is BackerKit?

BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!

The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.

How does BackerKit work?

After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.

I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?

The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.

Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.

To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.

How do I update my shipping address?

BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.

When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?

That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.

I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?

As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.

Contact Us