Has anyone else had problems/issues/complaints with and or about Three Stage Studios?

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**Howard A Treesong**

RiTides wrote:I think it was a paraphrase, Silver, and just emphasizing that the officer did not view Daniel as being the victim. He's been harassing Rick so it's nice to hear the local PD aren't buying his story about Rick doing the reverse.

Well their previous list of offences, dismissed or not, would suggest that Daniel and his father are in the unfortunate position of being "known to the police", which won't help them much.

**RiTides**

Keep it polite, please... References to what 4chan would/wouldn't do isn't helpful to getting this person finally caught, either.

**Alkasyn**

I haven't had any dealings with Michael or whatever he chooses to call himself, but I'm glad to see that Justice, although slow at times, is working. You have my support.

**TheLionOfTheForest**

I just want to say that it is awesome to see the community on Dakka unite against this guy. I got ripped off by a moving company that never even showed up. $800 bucks gone and cc company founded in favor of the movers and refused to compensate me, regardless of the hundreds of complaints against them on ripoff report.com. It's nice to know that sometimes these asshats get what's comin to em.

On another note, said thief is clearly suffering from some major personality disorders and like a true campy villain has dug his own grave through his inability to keep his lies straight and letting his ego off the leash and saying too much. Ultimately he's his own worst enemy

**RandyMcStab**

He's just emailed me back to say he'll refund me, we'll see if this takes place....

**lionofjudah**

Randy
I received a full refund after 4 months of waiting for my models to be shipped. Yes he did refund me, even threw in an extra $5 while telling me how ungrateful I was for posting on the first page of this 8 page expose.

...It is wonderful to see a community come together and find someone who likes to play games with peoples money and emotions. Grateful I am not in Dallas....
Thanks to the mods for keeping this up and I do hope that follow through continues and satisfaction comes to those who dont appreciate scammers, liars and thieves...

**timetowaste85**

I have to second the thought (or tenth/twentieth the thought) that Rick, the MODS and Aerethan have been doing a great job seeing this "creature" brought to justice. I'm glad I haven't had any run-ins with Dan/Matt (ironically, the names of the two singers from my favorite band) and my gaming-heart goes out to you guys he's screwed over. Please, follow up on making sure this goes to court so he can know that you don't mess with nerds. I kinda want to see a demotivational poster entitled "don't mess with the internet" and see this guy's picture running from all the memes out there...

Again, on topic, thanks to all the guys working hard to see justice done, making the internet safe for the rest of us. I haven't been burned by him yet, but as is the case in Russian Roulette, it may have only been a matter of time before my bullet was up-so thanks in advance.

**Aerethan**

Redacted. See the following comments for where things stand and how to move forward.

**RandyMcStab**

Well after my emails of today I can say I've been fully refunded with a tip for my troubles.

There were some points he wanted me to post included in the PayPal payment (which I can't copy/paste) but were to the effect of if you can demonstrate you are owed he will d=consider your claim.

Actual quote off email:

'At least you can see the REAL ME. A man that made mistakes in thinking I could do more then I could but is more then willing to correct those mistakes.'

So there we go then. I'm happy at least and have purchased alternatives elsewhere; as this all started mid April (for me).

Mods feel free to redact/edit/delete if this post isn't in keeping with the above from aerethan but I did say I would post what he wrote when happily refunded.

**RiTides**

Aerethan, while that is admirable, my concerns are actually more so with older scams of Daniel's. Daniel Mandelbaum = "Matt Bonder" = posing as his mother "Susan Beasley" = Miniature Wargame Conversions = Three Stage Studios = Conversion Corner. Plus all the eBay accounts. Now his real name is connected to all that.

I want to know what happened to the 2 scratch built thunderhawks that DANIEL owes from last year. I'll post the info when I'm home.

No matter what he's told you, I am NOT negotiating. I did so for months with him with little results. All I want from this thread is for victims to contact the POLICE, not Daniel. He knows what he owes and pulled the negotiator trick on me, and it was just to delay more.

No negotiations, no posting Daniel Mandelbaum's wants. Only facts, contacting the police, and making sure everyone in the wargaming community knows Daniel Mandelbaum = Matt Bonder. That is all that matters. His negotiations are worse than meaningless, and not worth relaying here.

I will never speak to him again, but I will speak to his police, and let everyone who will listen know Exactly who this scammer really is: Daniel Mandelbaum.

**MajorTom11**

also don't agree with this.

I am not interested in capitulating, following any of his conditions or not hammering home this guy is Daniel Mandlebaum who is Matt Bonder who is RSO.

Like Ritides said, we have played this game before and put ourselves in the middlemen shoes, and here he is again screwing people over a few months later with the same pathetic and souless excuses as before. No Daniel. Not interested. Not this time.

Don't let him fool you. He is doing the 'right thing' because you guys cornered him, not because he wanted to. He will pull his usual crap of 'oh I/we/they had cancer' or 'oh I bit off more than I could chew' or 'oh I didn't know I owed you anything' followed by allegations of blackmail or wrongdoing or lying against anyone who speaks the truth about his activity etc etc etc. Usually, he would get his latest unfortunately fooled friends to come in and defend him, after riling them up with appropriate bs about how we are victimizing him. After they came in and cause a huge fight usually ending in the thread being locked, Matt would go silent for a few months and then re-appear with a new alias or company or both and start the whole cycle over again.

This time though, seems he burned all his bridges. No one is going to come in and have this thread locked on your behalf this time Daniel/Matt, and if you manage to dupe someone new into posting in your defence aggressively with the intent of locking the thread I will delete their posts so fast it will make your head spin right off your lying scamming shoulders my friend, mark my words. I don't give a rats if you get a happy customer in here to say you delivered on something either. I only care about your victims, and that's it. You are a thief and a predator of the wargaming community, and i'll be damned if anyone says differently ever again on my watch in these forums.

No green mushroom extra life for you this time Daniel Mandlebaum/Matt Boner/RSO/TSS/Lord Serpius/Susan/Damian. This time it sticks.

**Kanluwen**

Aerethan, quite bluntly, you need to not be his middleman.

If there is to be any middleman involved--it should be the local law enforcement near Daniel Mandlebaum.

There is nothing, at all, which ensures that you are not being utilized as a delaying tactic.

**MajorTom11**

Well said Kan.

Aerethan, please do not take this wrong, we are so viciously against it because we have played the role you are trying to do right now several times between us already. No joke. He will try to play on your own positive morals by seeming reasonable and playing to sympathies any normal person would feel bad for. It is all lies. He will say things to you no other human being you've ever met would lie about, you will feel bad for him. You will feel a need to solve things without punishing him because he is already oh so beat up. Then he will turn around and rob another of our friends a few months later, and find someone else to be his proxy in a thread like this 'to keep things calm' and 'reasonable' and 'stick to facts'. He will do these because the very morals he will use to manipulate you are precisely the qualities he lacks. Don't be his pawn, don't let him fool you into thinking you could make him stop. Trust me. I promise you it's not worth it to speak to him. He lies like you breathe.

Unfortunately, I can tell you this with 100% surety only because he duped me a for a short time into defending him in his guise of of Susan Beasley/Lord Serpius. And that was only a few months ago...

**fidel**

This is by far the sexiest - most awesome - thread I have ever seen. Only goes to show that people who are vile, lying, scammers can hopefully be brought to justice - and by justice I do not just mean a "refund;" because if I can agree with Majortom11 here... it seems he is trying to fall back because he is cornered.

**Aerethan**

Very well. On that note how about this:

Send information that can be used to build a case. No more negotiations, or second/third/ninetieth chances.

I won't be able to pursue legal action myself that I know of as I'm not a victim here, but I will help compile evidence if any actual victim wants to step up the game and get a lawyer.

At the end of the day, I'm trying to help Dakka, not Daniel. I'm most certainly not trying to clear his name. Whoever decides to pursue legal action let me know. If no one does, then this issue will continue to happen.

I will assist in any way I can. I'll also edit out my previous post so as to avoid any confusion.

**MajorTom11**

You're a good person A, whatever happens, thank you!

**RiTides**

Aerethan wrote:Very well. On that note how about this:

Send information that can be used to build a case. No more negotiations, or second/third/ninetieth chances.

Totally agreed here. And as Tom said, he and I both know negotiations are futile only because we were both duped into that role before, having never traded with him ourselves, trying to help his victims.

The only way to help his victims is to spread the word about him, and go directly to the police when they are found (or have them do so). Most email Daniel for months in the dark before venturing onto a forum. He knows exactly who they all are, and exactly what he owes them. I hope you have those reimbursement for those 2 thunderhawks ready, Daniel- it's a large enough amount for the police to care.

No negotiations. Only getting the word out, and then getting all the information we can to the police.

**alarmingrick**

I also agree negotiation will be wasted time and breath. I wish it could be so, but he'll just drag it out and frustrate whoever he's dealing with.
I feel all of Daniels deals as RSO/Matt Bonder/whoever need to follow him. Once someone has done what he's doing repeatedly, without remorse,
I don't see anything changing other than what he's scamming people with.

**MarkyMark**

There is also someone on B&C that hasnt recieved items from TSS. I 100% agree with keeping this thread open and active, why because of the current purge of refunds from the fella, yes he could well be refunding from his pocket/bank account or could just be refunding from other peoples money, i.e a prymid scheme. This is pure guess work I have nothing to back that up other then a gut feeling based on his history, but imo its worth noting espicially as it will be a few more months until this would come to light. Feel free to delete as I appericate before you have said you only want facts

**MajorTom11**

No need to delete, you are likely right, and if we let it go, he WILL do it again. Please, if you can, post in B and C a link to this thread.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
And give my regards to the boys over there, it's been a while since I was a member there, but I was a B and C'er in the early/mid 2000's

**MarkyMark**

I have pointed the poster on there and anyone else on there who havent recieved goods from TSS to post over on here as well, I doubt anyone will be able to get a good estimate off how many people have been left 'hanging' by TSS RSO et al but doesnt mean we shouldnt try.

**MajorTom11**

Thank you sir -

**RiTides**

Here's what I was referring to about the Thunderhawks, btw. In contact with this person to find out more up to date info:

Spoiler:

Shikimori wrote:Hello!

forgive me for the late reply, i was away for the holidays and haven't checked the forums since.

I'll try to cover what happened as best as i can.

I contacted Matt on Feb. this year, i got eluded into the idea that he could scratch build 2 Thunderhawks (For myself and a friend). I did all the talks with him through my personal email.

At first he would reply instantly (same day or the next). We went over the specifics and after several emails, we both confirmed on the price tag and the completion date (he said it would take 4 weeks). However, as the weeks went by, his replies were slow till the point were i am ignored now.

He asked for half of the cost to begin work, and to receive the other half after showing the complete products. I kept asking for WIP pics, but he never provided any, always stating that he would eventually show me something.

Within weeks, i began to panic because he never showed nor spoke of the commission. I do not recall when it was (i would guess about 3 months), he vanished..... no word, no email, nothing.

I then discovered he had a blog, and that a bunch of people share the blog. I sent an email asking if Matt could reply back to me, i was told that he left the country for work and that his return to the country was not known.

Then comes September and Matt finally replies back. He sent me 2 pictures of a single Thunderhawk in different angles, without saying anything. I did not know what to make out of it and asked for a refund.

I've asked him many times to refund the money sent but he replied back " i dont have the cash, either wait for me to sell the thunderhawks or till i get paid"

His last email (september 27th) i told him "im afraid to send you money, since ive been waiting since feb." , he replies back with "I didnt ask you to send money did i?"

Now from that statement alone, im under the assumption "i will work on this at my own pace, if i want to, and when i do get it done, i may send it over" something along those words...

I do have a record of the emails.... its the only thing i got to back my story up....

Sorry for the long post, i hope that it made sense (forgive my grammar and punctuation)

If you need further details, please dont hesitate to ask. I appreciate your efforts to warn the community, i would hate for someone else to be fooled again by Matt.

Have a great day

This is from last year, and the person only stumbled on the last thread on Dakka by chance. That's the problem here- Daniel takes commissions on in private after building up a new blog/name for himself, and it rarely comes to light until much later how much and how many people he owes.

It's fantastic that he was caught in the act early on with Three Stage Studios, but I am more concerned with older scams he still has running, as these more recent cases are (by comparison) easy to resolve through Paypal, since he doesn't want to sully his own personal Paypal account name (Daniel Mandelbaum).

If anyone has more information on the above or any other long-standing debts of Daniel's as "Matt from Miniature Wargame Conversions" or "Three Stage Studios" or any permutation of his, please post here / PM me, and most importantly, contact his local police at the numbers listed in this thread.

**lionofjudah**

Ritides...thanks for keeping on top of this. In my email transactions with him, daniel cursed and berated you...let me know i /you had triggered something for him.
Daniel uses a refund as hush money and thinks we won't talk. When confronted he begins to panic and become aggressive...all over email.
I have compassion for him but no sympathy and do hope there is enough evidence gathered to begin proceedings against him.
I will continue to watch this and keep my postings active on other sites so people are kept aware of this fraud

**kronk**

Thanks for this thread, guys. I've passed this information on to my gaming buddies so that they don't get taken in...

**Lt.Soundwave**

I'd like to voice my support for all of you working to make sure this guys behavior sticks. /salute

**Lt. Coldfire**

High five to RiTides and others for keeping after this clown all these years. It's good to know we finally know who he is and hopefully some people get their money back on this fiasco.

**alarmingrick**

RiTides wrote: Daniel Mandelbaum = "Matt Bonder" = posing as his mother "Susan Beasley" = Miniature Wargame Conversions = Three Stage Studios = Conversion Corner. Plus all the eBay accounts. Now his real name is connected to all that.

I will never speak to him again, but I will speak to his police, and let everyone who will listen know Exactly who this scammer really is: Daniel Mandelbaum.

I think it's important to remember that we've also had one of his fellow staffers at MWC post on here confirming that info. I know he caught hell for it, but LuckyNo.5
did post on here that they are indeed the same person, and had behind the workings knowledge of Daniel's dealings.

**Shepherd23**

This post is off topic. Further off-topic posts will receive official warnings - MT11

**timetowaste85**

This post is off topic. Further off-topic posts will receive official warnings - MT11