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 Jeigh wrote:
Hi, 

First of all I wish to apologise for the prolonged delays you have experienced. We estimate that your order will be ready for shipping within the next 7-10 working days. 

Yours, 

Simon

------------------

7 to 10 working days brings me over a month to order and post the 40k rule book. What on earth!

Ah! working on the s$%£^e sandwich approach.
They don't even give a confirmed date.

Boy, I would hate to be an unvalued customer!

 Mr. Burning wrote:

 Jeigh wrote:
Hi, 

First of all I wish to apologise for the prolonged delays you have experienced. We estimate that your order will be ready for shipping within the next 7-10 working days. 

Yours, 

Simon

------------------

7 to 10 working days brings me over a month to order and post the 40k rule book. What on earth!

Ah! working on the s$%£^e sandwich approach.
They don't even give a confirmed date.

Boy, I would hate to be an unvalued customer!

Yeah that's ridiculous.. 7 to 10?! If you get a complaint, you should go package up the rulebook and mail it the next day! Its not like they get loads of complaint letters every day of the week surely?

Replying to a complaint that someone has waited 3 weeks for their rulebook with "Dont worry, we will get it to you in 7 to 10" is ridiculous.

I would demand a refund. But like I said, I have had a bad experience with MG so I just generally think they suck. Never again shall I order from them.

No, no, it will be "ready for shipping" in 7-10 days. No-one's actually getting anything in that time frame.

Ah 'should be ready for shippiing'.

MG, Take ownership of the issues at hand. Go to another store or site, stump the cash for it, then ship it special delivery/dog sled/concorde/C-17.

And that's working days too - which means 2 weeks on top of the 3.

I would get your money back quick.

With:

debts massively outstripping assets

them separating stuff off into separate companies and websites (Eye of the storm website looks amazingly like maelstrom)

no new GW chaos space marines on their website, wonder why ?

very little stock except for Flames of War.

My guess is that customers and suppliers are about to be dumped on from a a great height.

Has anyone seen the so called apparent new warehouse ?

I have indeed got my money back.

I responded with much the same as you folks said. That in total 5 weeks was completely unacceptable especially with no reason given. Told them I was taking my coin elsewhere.

Received the auto generated refund message yesterday. Meh.

I had a problem getting a copy of the limited dark vengance from them, similar issue to the one in the other thread, they took my money then a week after release day they offered me a refund as they didn't have the stock and weren't getting any. Annoying as this was the fact that it took 3 weeks 6 emails and an open and escalated PayPal dispute from the time of the offer of a refund to actually receive my money back, I heard from maelstrom not once after the first email and it took PayPal to get my money back for me.

After hearing similar things to oldandcrabby's posts from other places in the UK, I rang them on the weekend and got my money for my Vallejo Model Air set that I ordered a month ago. After seeing O&C's post and the Chaos Marine post, I rang them again yesterday, and asked politely but firmly to have all of my other orders refunded. I got it back as a paypal payment, rather than as a refund, but in the circumstances, it's good enough.

A shame, I've enjoyed buying stuff from Maelstrom for something like 5 years now, so it's sad to see them sink like this. If these rumours turn out to be just that, I might take a look at them again early next year - should be enough time to move the warehouse and set up a working business with realistic feedback, I reckon.

If all the rumour, conjecture and speculation about Maelstrom's demise is correct, one has to wonder how much impact GW's embargo has had on them - they used to do an awful lot of business to ROW. Shame that GW's policy is enough to (potentially) force them out of business...

looks like their own range Banelegion has been transfered to another company?! http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/

quote:
In June 2012, Mierce Miniatures took over all operations regarding the BaneLegions and Templar's Forge ranges of wargaming and hobby products from Maelstrom Games.

Aren't / weren't Maelstrom on Dakka? Its kinda weird that this thread has been going on for so long without anyone from Maelstrom chiming in.

 pixelpusher wrote:
Aren't / weren't Maelstrom on Dakka? Its kinda weird that this thread has been going on for so long without anyone from Maelstrom chiming in.

They tended to only participate in the Banelegions thread. They may have been scared off by/lost interest due to the criticisms of the Melenunes?

Though it is interesting that this thread has had participation from other retailers, like Wayland Games....


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 filbert wrote:
If all the rumour, conjecture and speculation about Maelstrom's demise is correct, one has to wonder how much impact GW's embargo has had on them - they used to do an awful lot of business to ROW. Shame that GW's policy is enough to (potentially) force them out of business...

Yeah, definately. However that should just effect turnover and GW stock. It shouldn't lead to the huge deficit in funds owing compared to assets. And they still have the retail shop, which apparently has lots of stock. Though if Maelstrom defaults on payments to GW/Warlord/etc, wouldn't they not supply Eye of the Storm following that?

 Jeigh wrote:
Hi, 

First of all I wish to apologise for the prolonged delays you have experienced. We estimate that your order will be ready for shipping within the next 7-10 working days. 

Yours, 

Simon

------------------

7 to 10 working days brings me over a month to order and post the 40k rule book. What on earth!

WOW! I got the very same email the other day. I wonder if everyone who's orders are late are getting this? 0.0

I have just seen this thread.

I placed an order for some plaguebearers around the time the new ones where released, and have yet to receive them. Around 14 days ago I contacted them and got that EXACT email...

I have just now contacted them about a refund. In all honesty, this is reallty worrying me. Ordered a lot from maelstrom in the past and never experienced anything like this before.

 filbert wrote:
If all the rumour, conjecture and speculation about Maelstrom's demise is correct, one has to wonder how much impact GW's embargo has had on them - they used to do an awful lot of business to ROW. Shame that GW's policy is enough to (potentially) force them out of business...

Are/Have Maelstrom put all their eggs in one basket? with this business issue. It would be interesting to find hard facts about how much they rely on GW sales and how much they relied on ROW sales with GW product. But that info won't see the light of day.

Nothing lasts forever though.

Yeah, definately. However that should just effect turnover and GW stock. It shouldn't lead to the huge deficit in funds owing compared to assets. And they still have the retail shop, which apparently has lots of stock. Though if Maelstrom defaults on payments to GW/Warlord/etc, wouldn't they not supply Eye of the Storm following that?

This would depend on their credit terms with GW. Arrangements can be made to ensure trading continues. It isn't in GW's interest not to shift stock into the distribution channel. I would expect cash payments up front if credit is withdrawn, which is standard practice. (If internet doom mongering is true).

I was told by the unbearably rude guy on the customer service number that I would definitely be included in the next batch getting delivered which was arriving last Friday and that it would be shipped immediately. Still on processing and no sign of it yet and now they don't really seem to want to answer the phone either. Previously maelstrom used to deliver good service at good value. This experience has completely put me off them and will without question never use them again. I have used all my money back with them and intend to accumulate no more. This is after ordering on 28/8

That sounds like they have way more orders than they can get stock for?

The crazy thing is, while waiting for my order(near two months now), I've spent money with other shops that I would have spent with Maelstrom, but for the fact they're so slow(no way I'm trusting them with more than £25 worth of orders at one time). Poor service = less money spent...

 Gorlack wrote:
I have just seen this thread.

I placed an order for some plaguebearers around the time the new ones where released, and have yet to receive them. Around 14 days ago I contacted them and got that EXACT email...

I have just now contacted them about a refund. In all honesty, this is reallty worrying me. Ordered a lot from maelstrom in the past and never experienced anything like this before.

Hi,

We are expecting these to come into stock late next week. We will of course send them as soon as we are able. I apologise for the delays you have had and the inconvenience this has caused.

Yours,

Simon


This was in response to my email 2 weeks after placing an order for stuff that was entirely listed as "in stock" back when they had the brief 30% off (I never got any part of that order shipped to me, despite all being "in stock".)

If you want a refund, I'd suggest using the phone. I did get my refunds after calling them. It's a bit easier to ignore an email than a polite but firm person on the telephone.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 lukewild1982 wrote:
I was told by the unbearably rude guy on the customer service number that I would definitely be included in the next batch getting delivered which was arriving last Friday and that it would be shipped immediately. Still on processing and no sign of it yet and now they don't really seem to want to answer the phone either. Previously maelstrom used to deliver good service at good value. This experience has completely put me off them and will without question never use them again. I have used all my money back with them and intend to accumulate no more. This is after ordering on 28/8

Yeah, I got put off by them 2 or 3 times on the phone with polite enquiries (that delivery is coming in this/next week!) before I called up in a polite no-BS mode to get my money back. Beware as well them telling you that "our computers are down" because they seem to have a lot of "computer issues" right now as well. Guy wrote my order numbers down on some paper and I got a manual refund later.

Also, if you paid via PayPal, make sure you're within 45 days and you can open a dispute.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

ted1138 wrote:
The crazy thing is, while waiting for my order(near two months now), I've spent money with other shops that I would have spent with Maelstrom, but for the fact they're so slow(no way I'm trusting them with more than £25 worth of orders at one time). Poor service = less money spent...

I've ordered several of the things they kept putting me off about from different companies in the UK (including Wayland, it must be said), and all shipped same day or within a few days.

It isnt a matter of them having more orders than stock, they have obviously either run out of credit with some suppliers or they are late with payments and have accounts on stop/credit being recalled.

I would be surprised if they have many orders at all looking at the number of complaints about them now.

There is no obvious reason why they would not have the new chaos space marines on their website unless they have no credit left with GW and/or no money to buy them.

They are obviously going under and by the looks of it going to take a lot of customers money with them. My guess is anyone with an outstanding order for GW stuff with them isnt going to get it, they are going to just lose the money.

I wonder if this whole new warehouse thing is a complete fabrication just so they could appear to have a sale to generate some cash to try and get some supplier accounts moving again.

Just under 45 days, so opened dispute with paypal, hopefully I'll get my money back...

oldandcrabby wrote:
It isnt a matter of them having more orders than stock, they have obviously either run out of credit with some suppliers or they are late with payments and have accounts on stop/credit being recalled.

I would be surprised if they have many orders at all looking at the number of complaints about them now.

There is no obvious reason why they would not have the new chaos space marines on their website unless they have no credit left with GW and/or no money to buy them.

They are obviously going under and by the looks of it going to take a lot of customers money with them. My guess is anyone with an outstanding order for GW stuff with them isnt going to get it, they are going to just lose the money.

I wonder if this whole new warehouse thing is a complete fabrication just so they could appear to have a sale to generate some cash to try and get some supplier accounts moving again.

Obviously going under ?
how can you tell this ?
I was in there a couple of weeks ago, all seemed fine.

How can you tell this ?

When your debts are almost twice your assets (and I am guessing the assets are imaginary highly inflated prices for old dead ranges which probably are unsellable), the only way you can keep trading is if the cash flow is good. The fact that they cant get GW, Vallejo and others in shows they have run out of credit, that means death. Its just basic business.

If you were in there few weeks ago, were you at Maelstrom Games new warehouse or at "Eye of the Storm Ltd" shop. The shop is now part of Eye of the Storm Ltd.
http://www.eye-of-the-storm.co.uk

Splitting off stuff into separate companies and leaving the toxic debt in the original company is standard practice when you want to fold a company.

What would your reason for them not being able to get the new GW Chaos Space Marines in be then? Do you think they want to stop selling GW? Lots of GW stock in there when you went few weeks ago then? Or perhaps lots of older stock, dead ranges etc were filling the places where the more popular games used to sit on the shelves?

I wonder if someone from the UK phoned them and asked why they arent doing the new GW stuff, even some of the new Battlefront stuff, wonder what they would say?

Having a brand-new poster with 4 posts in this thread only also raises a few eyebrows. I'm not going to speculate out loud, since you could be anyone, of course. But what got me moving to get my refunds immediately (I was originally going to give them another week to ship the stuff they had again told me as in stock) was the pointing out of the lack of Chaos Space Marines on the site. That equalled the panic button for me, and I had a couple of chats with some excellent CSRs from PayPal before I called Maelstrom back to ask for my refunds.

Wow. Eye of the storm website


Here's some choice bits:
(my bold)

Welcome to Eye of the Storm! We offer a 10-15% discount and FREE postage worldwide with most items!*

WELCOME TO THE EYE OF THE STORM
newsdesk 14-09-12 | 10:25 gmt
Welcome to the shiny new Eye of the Storm store!

This is the webstore for our bricks-and-mortar wargames store and venue located in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

To start with, this store will just supply event tickets, but we will shortly expand the range to also include the models we stock in the store.

Their product range:
Note, vastly reduced from Maelstrom - no GW, FFG, etc, etc, etc

· hobby
coat d'arms
formula p3 hobby
the army painter
vallejo

· living card games

· wargames
darklands
flames of war
hordes
infinity
malifaux
warlord games
warmachine

oldandcrabby wrote:
How can you tell this ?

When your debts are almost twice your assets (and I am guessing the assets are imaginary highly inflated prices for old dead ranges which probably are unsellable), the only way you can keep trading is if the cash flow is good. The fact that they cant get GW, Vallejo and others in shows they have run out of credit, that means death. Its just basic business.

If you were in there few weeks ago, were you at Maelstrom Games new warehouse or at "Eye of the Storm Ltd" shop. The shop is now part of Eye of the Storm Ltd.
http://www.eye-of-the-storm.co.uk

Splitting off stuff into separate companies and leaving the toxic debt in the original company is standard practice when you want to fold a company.

What would your reason for them not being able to get the new GW Chaos Space Marines in be then? Do you think they want to stop selling GW? Lots of GW stock in there when you went few weeks ago then? Or perhaps lots of older stock, dead ranges etc were filling the places where the more popular games used to sit on the shelves?

I wonder if someone from the UK phoned them and asked why they arent doing the new GW stuff, even some of the new Battlefront stuff, wonder what they would say?

Well if there was proof that they had ran out of credit with certain companies, then that would give your claims some justification, but there is no proof of this.
Now i am not saying either way what is happening, but i just think you are jumping the gun a tad is all.

Obviously going under ?
how can you tell this ?
I was in there a couple of weeks ago, all seemed fine

Im not being funny mate, but if they arent, they should be. That at least would excuse some of their actions.

I made a thread about MG weeks ago, telling people how they basically purposely fethed me. Several people said "the same thing happened to me" in that thread alone, and after a few weeks and actually taking the time to look, it basically looks like they are ripping the fething piss out of hundreds of people.

Whoever is running that shower of gak is a chaucerian fraudster, the bloke should be in fething prison.

PM me if a representative for the company does show up by the way, Ill send him my address, he obviously wont have it since he wont have read the 3 emails I sent him to get my money back.

No but seriously, those guys a fething joke. I tried to call at least ten times to no avail, and they never once replied to any of my emails either, I just got a refund via the site.

What they are up to has long since went past mere incompetence and we are seeing outright fraud. They are taking orders knowing full well that you wont recieve your items for many weeks at best, or possibly not at all as in my case. Its absolutely fething outrageous. If they had any integrity at all they would have shut the webstore down and say "we are currently unable to ship any items in less than a fortnight, so we are taking no further orders until we have rectifited any issues on our end" not just swiping everyones cash and then acting like a mother fether about it. Holding the money for as long as possible and not answering the phone or replying to any emails!?

Not much gets me super pissed, but people basically robbing me does. Not only do I hope the company goes bankrupt, I hope I bump into the owner in the pub so I can take him outside... If I had to kick him once for every customer that has felt defrauded these last three months I would basically be booting him round the car park for 4-6 weeks.

Which is apparently 3 weeks faster than their current shipping times! Arf arf!

 Jeigh wrote:
That sounds like they have way more orders than they can get stock for?

Maybe.


In the mean time...


...30% SALE!!1111

I'm afraid I'm going to have to join the chorus on this one.

After four years of being satisfied with their service I've had to cancel three orders in the last three months. I currently have one outstanding from five weeks ago, there's no sign of change in the 'processing' status, no communication, no reason anymore to believe they can complete the order.

I've got the nagging suspicion that they are very stretched for cash, and are using my payment to cover earlier costs. This would mean they are not using my payment to order the items for me. Couple this with the lack of updates for the new chaos models and the number of previously satisfied customers expressing doubts on the company's practices and I am doubting Maelstrom's ability to meet my order. It's a shame for them, but they've lost my business.

I'm just glad I paid through Paypal - cut out the middle man and make a claim, escalate it, get you money back, easy.

 Rayvon wrote:

Well if there was proof that they had ran out of credit with certain companies, then that would give your claims some justification, but there is no proof of this.
Now i am not saying either way what is happening, but i just think you are jumping the gun a tad is all.

It's not quite proof, but have a look at the EOTS website and compare it to the Maelstrom one. The EOTS one looks as though it's being set up to replace the Maelstrom one, and it does indeed lack quite a few companies on it...