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I've mentioned what I, as a business owner, would do earlier in this thread. No need to rehash it.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:
So whats the hopeful ETA now?

Hopeful: Before Christmas

Probably: After Chinese New Year


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Snrub wrote:

And how many of the delays were actually Justins fault? And what else is he going to do about delays out of his control? Beg forgiveness and offer 10% discounts? I think not.
All he can do is shrug and say "oh well" about the things he has no control over.

What would you do/have done in his situation?

He does need to offer a Mea Culpa and some decent-sized discounts - especially given the second wave pledge manager" thing that didn't end up panning out along with the substantial delays. And my understanding is that he plans to do exactly that, so credit to Justin on that point. However, I wouldn't back another KS from WGF, and Justin/SWM would have to have run a second campaign where everything ran smooth as butter and delivered on time before I'd consider giving him my money 2 years out again.


Justin's in a very difficult position here, since it seems that everything WGF tells him is total bs, but when he passes it on to us, he's the one on the hook nd held responsible for it (which is fair enough as well, to an extent). Packing was supposed to be finished over 3 weeks ago now according to what he was told awhile back, and with no newer updates, it seems that perhaps packing isn't done. Still. Also "no word on a ship" doesn't inspire any kind of confidence. On the other hand, as much as WGF feth him (or Mark/DFG, etc) over with delays and endless layers of bs false promises, he's not exactly in a position where he can publicly throw them under the bus either. They've got his money, they've got his tools and the means to manufacture them, and they've got his stock. It seems pretty obvious that he can't publicly say anything negative about them. After all, I'm sure they could make things go even slower if they wanted to - and gak, the boards missed GenCon, which has got to cost Justin even more money in terms of exposure, GW has released their own cityscape tiles, which is going to cost in terms of people having bought (and continuing to buy) the GW ones...

Meanwhile, backers are rightfully pissed off with him as well for the delays, especially given that all the homework was supposed to have been done and gak is going to be a year or more late.

So, like I said. Difficult.

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

 Crimson Devil wrote:


Remember, this KS was supposedly well researched on SWM's part with the logistical issues worked out and we still got the situation we are currently dealing with

There's no supposed about it - it was well researched, but that only takes you so far when doing any kind of project for the first time. I get to deal with the nuts and bolts sides of big auto parts manufacturers, and despite decades of experience, there are always delays, pushbacks, and problems, because the unexpected stuff wouldn't be unexpected if it'd been either easily predictable, or in the existing research. Computer files to printing issues, the boxes, all things that stick out in hindsight, but in the initial research and planning, "I give data, timing, and quantity to company, they give me quote and when the time comes, boxes,' is not something that foresight would predict blowing up in your face late in the project.

Just clarifying, that isn't my quote above.

New update:

Update #132 Aug 19 2014
Deadzone Shipping - Please Read
Comment Like 10 likes
I received confirmation from Mantic today that we can begin shipping any time, but I want to make sure everyone has a chance to confirm their address, and so we will begin shipping on Monday 25-August.

This applies only to the Deadzone tile sets, and only for those backers that only backed for the Deadzone tiles. If that's you, please make sure we have your current address:

https://tablescapes.backerkit.com/

My apologies that this wasn't timed with the Deadzone Wave 2 shipments from Mantic. I missed an email on the run up to GenCon, but we're on it now and I have the crew sorting the tile shipments.


What about the other tiles?

While I was at GenCon I received an email from WGF asking me to confirm the AUS/UK numbers. While this is a good indicator that they're sorting the shipments I have asked for confirmation. I will post more as soon as I have news. Of course this is August, and that means I'm actually only home today before heading out again... then back next Monday and flying out again on Wednesday. It's good times! This means that while the update will be posted I will otherwise be less able to reply to comments until I return on 3-September.

Stay tuned...

 MasterSlowPoke wrote:

 Aerethan wrote:
Am I the only person who is still happy about this thing? I'm getting a great 4x8 board for a VERY reasonable price. Did it take a lot longer than intended? Sure. But I'd rather all these kinks get worked out than have a company issue a refund or put out a subpar product.

I'd be more upset if say Justin wasn't in the hole for a large amount of his own money, but that is not the case.

I'd glady wait another 6 months if I had to in order to get this product and have it on the market for others. Although that may be simply because this is the first major product to compete with GW's overpriced nonsense, which factored in to me backing it.

I agree, the sheer negativity is rather surprising. It might be because I'm getting the temple board, which was always going to be last, but it doesn't seem that late.

I really didn't intend for my negativity to come out as negativity towards SWM or Justin. He has really been great about the whole thing. Sure, I would rather have had the board months ago, but I do really feel like the problems he encountered were not of his own doing, and were genuinely unanticipated. I'll be glad to have the board, and glad to promote it to others.

But I backed this particular project because he wasn't a fly-by-night company, or someone just starting up, or someone who could just pack up with my cash and take off. He's the owner of a well-known, well-regarded, well-established gaming business. I felt like he would know as much as anyone about what he was getting into, and he has been upfront and honest about everything.

There's not many other kickstarters I can say that about. For products I might be interested in, so many of these people are unknown quantities, or they are hoping for the next Bones kickstarter while not preparing for that. I'm glad I backed this product, and I'll gladly send him some more money in the future. But it really did make me gunshy of Kickstarter. He's a stand-up guy and he got put through the wringer on this product. A less honest businessman might have shrugged his shoulders and moved on with the cash. I'm not sure I'm willing to roll the dice on another project at this point.

New Update

Project Update #133: Tablescapes - LEAVING CHINA!
Posted by Secret Weapon ♥ Like

You read that right folks! I have an email from WGF letting me know that they're scheduling the freight and waiting on a ship.
If you need to update your address....

The ship won't leave China for another week or so, which means you still have 4+ weeks to get your address updated. I will post another update before we start shipping, which will allow you to place a hold on your order if you're going to be in transit, on holiday, etc. In the interim, please update your address in BackerKit if you need to:

https://tablescapes.backerkit.com/

That's it for now....

I'm packing up to head to NOVA Open this week, but I'll be checking in with China from the road. I don't expect to have an update until I have the ship information, but I'll post news as I have it. I will be using a vessel tracker for the ships, so we can all follow along.

Thank you!

Thank you for your patience, or at least forbearance, throughout this process. We're moving forward, and all of the tiles will be shipping in the very near future.

It's going to be amazing.

Project Update #134: And away we go!

This is not a drill. I repeat: this is not a drill.

Three ships will be leaving Hong Kong in the next week, and the Tabelscapes Tiles are on them. No, really.



This is a shot of the 20' container on its way to the UK. There is another 20' on the way to AUS, and two 40' containers on the way to my warehouse. I will update again as soon as I have the ship information so we can all watch them make their way across the pond. In the interim...

https://tablescapes.backerkit.com/

Please log in and confirm your address. I will close the system on Friday 11-September to give us enough time to process the mail merge and get packing lists built. This is not a drill. The tiles are no longer in the

WGF warehouse, and we will be shipping soon.

O_O

I am excite!

 Aerethan wrote:
I am excite!

I am cautiously optimistic.

Oooh, just in time for my to packing up and moving to an apartment that won't have room for a game room! Hurray!

That's okay, maybe I can get a 6x4 board and lay it on the carpet or something. Worst case, I could just take them with me up to the game store, I guess.

So does Justin want us to confirm our mailing address again? Any need if it hasn't changed since before the KS started?

He just wants anyone who has changed addresses since the beginning to log on and verify that the current one they have is correct.

Oh Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah,

Update #135

Sep 9 2014
The ships are away!
8 comments
13 likes

Not only are the ships underway, we have tracking information!

USA ship 1 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636015182

Vessel name: YM Mileston V.18E

ETD Yantian: Sep 08, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Sep 27, 2014.

USA ship 2 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636014996

Vessel name: YM Mutuality V.30E

ETD Yantian: Sep 15, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Oct 04, 2014.

I am still waiting on the vessel information for the AUS and UK shipments, and I will have that information posted as soon as I receive it.

We will lock down BackerKit this week!

If you need to get in and update your address, please do so now. I realize that most of you probably haven't moved, but it doesn't hurt just to confirm that everything in your profile is correct. Two minutes now can save a lot of hassle down the road....

https://tablescapes.backerkit.com/

This is it. This is really, really it.

Right then. Let's start the betting.

I'll put a hundred bucks down that one ship gets hijacked by pirates.
The other ship will get hit by a storm and lose only the tablescape containers.

I know nothing about international container shipping, but why would it be on two boats?

Spread the odds of one sinking? I'm guessing it's just what was available.

Time to find out if element games will be stocking these when they hit retail.

Another update.

Secret Weapon wrote:Project Update #136: Deadzone Shipping - BackerKit Locked 12-Sept



We have 81 Deadzone only orders shipping from our California warehouse, and here's the first half of them. They're being picked up by FedEx on 12-September and we'll have plenty more ready to go out by then.

I will be sending the Deadzone backer information to Mantic and The Combat Company no later than Monday. We just need to confirm the countries are correct and that we don't double ship them from the USA.

BackerKit will be locked down on 12-Sept

With the first container due in California in less than three weeks we're locking down the BackerKit system. If you need to update your address, or confirm your pledge, please do so now.

https://tablescapes.backerkit.com/

We're ramping up to start shipping all of the pledges. It's going to be quite a ride!

The YM Milestone was last tracked off the coast of Japan. It's destination is Los Angeles.

http://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=636015182

The YM Mutuality is currently docked. It's destination is listed as Kaohsiung.

http://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=636014996

No info for the AU ship still, sadly...

Well, I hope they get delivered before the end of October.

Update on the other ships

Project Update #137: UK/AUS Ship Info
Posted by Secret Weapon
Who has the last of the ship information? I DO! I DO!

UK Bound Ship

NYK HERMES 006w36

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/477832500

AUS Bound Ship

SNL COLOMBO 1406S

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636013289

And so that it's all in one place, here are the US bound ships again:

USA ship 1 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636015182

Vessel name: YM Mileston V.18E

ETD Yantian: Sep 08, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Sep 27, 2014.

USA ship 2 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636014996

Vessel name: YM Mutuality V.30E

ETD Yantian: Sep 15, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Oct 04, 2014.


All of the themes are in these shipments.
The #1 question I've been getting is "which themes are ready to ship?" The answer is all of them. We're shipping everything in one big wave, and everything has left China. WGF has no active Tablescapes production in the queue. This is it for the first shipments.

YAY!

Where is SWM's warehouse? I know its in California but is it in the Los Angeles area or near San Francisco? Just wondering what transit time (if any) will be tacked on to the boards arriving in Oakland and then being trucked down to the warehouse.

So, late Sepember to early October for transit and then another couple of weeks for US shipping. Glad to see this is finally getting done.

Is anyone else worried about this stuff finally shipping during the height of the hurricane season?

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Is anyone else worried about this stuff finally shipping during the height of the hurricane season?

Da Butcha wrote:
I'm glad I backed this product, and I'll gladly send him some more money in the future. But it really did make me gunshy of Kickstarter.

Wouldn't be surprised if SW is as well. SW cancelled its last KS, preferring to fund it directly. Their last product, the Schaff brushes (as good as Raphael 8404's) was also released directly from their store. The Malice Game Tiles will be released "soon" with "the molds being poured this week" (see SW Facebook). No indication if it will be a KS, so I'm guessing it will be in store. If so, you'll get your tiles and support SW, too!

What was the one that got cancelled? Was that the little family (card?) game?

 Azazelx wrote:
What was the one that got cancelled? Was that the little family (card?) game?

Both "Angry Sheep" & "Fill in the (___) Blank" got canceled.

Ah, didn't know either got cancelled. I wasn't especially interested in either the games, nor backing additional projects from a company with such huge delays (even with the blame being at WGF), so I simply tuned out.