[Commission Painter Review] Siege Studios

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**Aerethan**

If the last reply from Seige Studios was on the 29th, that's 13 days where he couldn't be bothered to take a few pics with his phone even and send them to Optimates. That's not being busy, that's willfully ignoring your client. It takes not 10 minutes to send a few update pics.

At worst he's stalling and hoping the heat dies down and people forget about this, at best he's just a bad commission service(regardless of his painting skill).

At this point cautious skepticism is the most anyone should afford this guy.

**Optimates**

As promised, I'm here to update the thread!

So I got an e-mail from James today with photos of one of the hero characters (Big Bob Watts) and a walker (the Orca) completed, except for the basing. He stated that he's got two of his artists working on the project now and the other models are underway. I've got some photos attached, hopefully they come through clearly, cause I suck at doing this. :p

Think they came out lovely. They were done exactly to my specifications - the Orca looks great and Big Bob especially looks good, love the way he came out - so happy so far.

I'll continue to update this thread as we go!

**Haight**

That is awesome news Carl !

I am very happy to see that Mr. Otero of Siege Studios is coming through for you. That is great that he went the extra mile to have 2 artists working on your stuff.

Keep us updated with any more pics you get ; so far they are looking pretty nice.

-- Haight

**Thairne**

And the redemption begins!

**Stormwall**

The work speaks for itself. Nice.

**gunslingerpro**

Looks fantastic! Also, makes my Bob look like junk

Looking forward to seeing more of it.

**Johnson & The Juice Crew**

Any more updates or pics from "Siege Studios a miniature painting service"?

**Pelas Mir'san**

The models look amazing, but I will watch this thread with interest.

**Eggs**

Mymearan wrote:
This is a great example of why companies shouldn't get involved in discussions on forums. I'm sure James is an honest person, but he let himself be dragged into an antagonistic discussion where he was on the defense, irritated and frankly not showing his best side, because of what he probably percieved as unwarranted attacks on him and his company. The best thing to do would have been to make a single post with a statement saying we made a mistake, we're doing this and this to make amends... and then let the work speak for itself and leave any further dicussion to the client if he wishes.

I actually disagree with companies not responding on forums. I think companies can use forums to great effect, but they need to apply a huge dose of common sense, avoid posting specifics about any customers, and have a whiter than white, non-abrasive posting style.

A simple 'We aware of the problem with such and such customer. There has been a breakdown in communication, and we are working with the customer to resolve the situation to their satisfaction.' Would have gone a long way in my eyes to placate the dakka hive mind.

**Haight**

Hey Optimates,

It's been another couple weeks ; any new updates ?

**Optimates**

Hey, sorry for the delay guys, I've been crazy busy. I shot Siege Studios an e-mail 10 days ago asking for updates and was told that James was working on the jet bikes and the troops were next up in the queue. Haven't heard or received anything since, so I sent another e-mail today asking for an update. We'll see if I get anything further.

**Haight**

Optimates wrote:
Hey, sorry for the delay guys, I've been crazy busy. I shot Siege Studios an e-mail 10 days ago asking for updates and was told that James was working on the jet bikes and the troops were next up in the queue. Haven't heard or received anything since, so I sent another e-mail today asking for an update. We'll see if I get anything further.

I'm confidant you will. 2-3 week intervals for updates seems reasonable to me. Let us know when you have !

**Optimates**

So, got some new photos to share with everyone! This leaves only 15 troopers to be done. Think they came out lovely, especially the Purple Sharks.

**Bora77**

Optimates I must congratulate you on your calm approach to this commission and its development.

You show a great deal of understanding, probably due to your stressful times... The fact that you asked the studio not to reply further shows your great personality.

I am a bit worried that things heated up so quickly in this thread - some replies were either intentionally aimed at tricking the paint studio owner into a negative reply or simply mean.

I followed the BTP fiasco closely and I see where this is coming from, but one has to understand the way a small commission studio works and the fact that the client was given a substantial discount and a proper apology is enough by my book.

Anyone who expects more for the small amount of money paid for such a service and comparing to contracting to build a house etc is just wrong.

I am sure the studio has learned their lesson and maybe they will change their workflow in monitoring their artists progress better in the future.

**Haight**

Thanks for the update ops : those jetbike things looks really well done, i think they nailed "new, but aging" gritty tech look dead on.

Not sure how much you paid, but looks like you're getting your money's worth ; they're coming out nice.

**gunslingerpro**

Those heavy infantry are really something special!

**Optimates**

So, I'm really sorry for not following up on this thread. Let's just say things went a bit form bad to worse and its been tough for me to keep up (I'll save the sad story for another time :p), but I did want to provide you all with an update.

6/15 - Siege sends photos of the completed project and asks for a shipping address. I respond the same day and provide my shipping address.
6/16 - Siege responds and says they'll ship everything out shortly and send a tracking number.

Fast forward to July...

7/7 - Haven't received anything (In all fairness, international shipping can take a while). Send an email asking if the package was shipped.

Haven't heard anything back since then, so its been eight days.

So, yeah. That's where I'm at. :p

**Desubot**

USPS tracking number?

Ja try the USPS tracking site? should pop up by now i would think.

**Reality-Torrent**

SiegestudiosUk wrote:
Thairne wrote:
Question...
Why didn't you inform your client on what was happening? As it looks like you played dead until the issue became public..?

Not trying to be venomous here, but this is, imo, the core that can make or break the case.

Hi there,

I do appreciate your comments and you are entitled to your opinons but please for the sake of your own embarasment please base them on FACTS not assumptions.

Firstly we at Siege were left in the same darkness as Carl as we had no contact from the artist at all what so ever, via call, text and email.

I had personally exhausted all means of contact with the artist in question.

It was only after the written threat of legal action that movement happened and contact was made by the artist.

Now I should not have to go into so much detail or justify and clarify to anyone other than our client the full details but I am as I/we have nothing to hide what so ever.

Please out of respect and common courtesy, watch the thread and keep updated, but any slanderous accusations, comments or statements based on non factual opinions, will be reported.

I have done all I can to make this situation that was caused by someone else's incompetence and lies.

I would appreciate it if people did not jump on any band wagons being driven by people seeking to make situations worse.

I have done all to make this right and this is for the record the first and only instance of a negative epsiode in Siege history since its inception.

Once again, I appreciate people caring and taking a stand against mal practice BUT, Siege is not ignoring the issue, I am not ignoring the issue and it is being dealt with to the best of our ability.

Thank you all for the comments and I will have this sorted for Carl and for the sake of keeping the excellent reputation that Siege has always wanted to maintain.

Many thanks

James
Director

Siege Studios Limited
www.siegestudios.co.uk

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Haight wrote:
SiegestudiosUk wrote:
Desubot wrote:
*Grabs Popcorn

Glad to see a response

and i hope your wife is ok/gets better and such and such.

... unfortunately a single person's actions can tarnish all what many others have worked hard to build.

I agree with the letter of your words, however we probably mean them contextually different.

Gonna be watching this thread ; and just like the BTP fiasco with Tenebre, if this doesn't end well for OP, i'll be singing it from the rooftops on every gaming site, blog, twitter-feed, and local shop i waltz into. Which is a lot.

At the very least, a response is a good first step.

Also as a business trying to build a reputation, immediately cease asking your clients to send payment as a gift. It's not a gift. It's a payment for service. You're putting your customers at risk, and it's definitely moderately shady, borderline deceptive. If this were me and the company i was doing business with requested payment as a gift, my spider sense would have red-lined, and i would have walked away right then and there.

My mechanic doesn't ask me to pay as a gift. My contractors that work on my house don't. The paperboy doesn't. None of my vendors at my work do that i purchase tons of material from day to day. It's shady. You might be turning business away. Fees are fees ; people with enough money to get comission paint jobs will know and understand that and probably not give a hoot.

Haight,

I appreciate your comments and opinions, but please bas them on FACTs now your assumptions, all deposits paid to Siege are not ever sent as a gift.

Where exactly did you get this information from I would like to know.

The whole reason we take PayPal is because it gives our clients peace of mind of secure and safe payment. Since starting Siege has NEVER ever taken a PayPal gift payment as a deposit.

Let me make that clear for all and so that it is on record here.

Please do follow this thread and the fact that we will be completing Carls commission to spec and with not taking the completion payment and as I have offered a further 25% discount off a future project if Carl wishes.

Again, as stated in my previous comments, we are doing all we can to sort out another persons mistakes that have effected and reflected badly on my business.

If for any reason I see you or any other member slandering my business based upon assumptions or hear say, I will take the matter further to Admins and as far as need be.

If I had not contacted Carl after I realised there was an issue, left it after seeing his emails, this thread and from not hearing back from the artist then I would not be able to defend things, BUT I have come on here with no fear or worry as we are not a bad business, money stealer's or in business to delude and betray people.

Carl has already stated that I always replied to his email in a timely manner and done all I can to make him confident of Siege and my dedication to his commission, with that said, I respectfully advise and ask that in future you know your FACTS before making wild accusations based on no FACTUAL knowledge of the situation, terms or communications.

Kindest regards

James
Director

Siege Studios Limited
www.siegestudios.co.uk

When you decide NOT to contact and reply to your customers concerns when recieving email after email and even a call. Then sir, you are inviting all the accusations and hate that the community can muster.

**BrookM**

Don't quote an entire shedload of stuff just to reply with a single line..

**Optimates**

Desubot wrote:
USPS tracking number?

Ja try the USPS tracking site? should pop up by now i would think.

Ack, sorry, should have been more clear. He said he was going to send a tracking number, but never did, so I don't have one at this time.

**Desubot**

Optimates wrote:
Desubot wrote:
USPS tracking number?

Ja try the USPS tracking site? should pop up by now i would think.

Ack, sorry, should have been more clear. He said he was going to send a tracking number, but never did, so I don't have one at this time.

Yeah that's entirely a different situation.

**Optimates**

So, wanted to provide an update, which will thankfully be the last one. Why? Because everything arrived! Hurray! Everything was packed professionally and in perfect condition, exactly what I ordered and what was in the pictures I posted earlier. Most of it looks even better in person, especially the Purple Sharks, they look fantastic in person. Very happy with everything and the ultimate outcome, so this situation worked out for the best. To everyone who offered support and well wishes, I really appreciate it, thank you!

**Desubot**

Congratulations. post pictures.

**Haight**

Optimates wrote:
So, wanted to provide an update, which will thankfully be the last one. Why? Because everything arrived! Hurray! Everything was packed professionally and in perfect condition, exactly what I ordered and what was in the pictures I posted earlier. Most of it looks even better in person, especially the Purple Sharks, they look fantastic in person. Very happy with everything and the ultimate outcome, so this situation worked out for the best. To everyone who offered support and well wishes, I really appreciate it, thank you!

Awesome to hear. Frankly, after 2 and a bit weeks for international shipping, i wasn't that worried (though i understand why you'd be with lack of tracking #). Hell its a 3 hour drive from where i live to parts canada, and due to lovely ol' customs, i have had packages take 3 weeks to get there.

Glad you got your stuff mate.

They ended up looking pretty cool, too.

**SiegestudiosUk**

Just to confirm as no update had been posted, that the project was completed and delivered as promised.

All of what I have posted above stands and is correct and our client was fully satisfied.

Many thanks

James Otero
Managing Director
Siege Studios Limited
www.siegestudios.co.uk

**RiTides**

Thanks for checking in, Seige! The OP did post that he received everything and was thrilled with it

(copied below). So glad everything worked out well in the end:

Optimates wrote:
So, wanted to provide an update, which will thankfully be the last one. Why? Because everything arrived! Hurray! Everything was packed professionally and in perfect condition, exactly what I ordered and what was in the pictures I posted earlier. Most of it looks even better in person, especially the Purple Sharks, they look fantastic in person. Very happy with everything and the ultimate outcome, so this situation worked out for the best. To everyone who offered support and well wishes, I really appreciate it, thank you!

**Vorroth**

Do they still use paypal gift?