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I think it is time trading standards got involved in this. They are in clear breach of several parts of the companies act and data protection legislation.

Surely the customer accounts and mailing lists etc are assets of MG - so can't be transferred to another company without incurring costs. I have a feeling that may be some very dodgy dealings going on. It all looks like Rob Lane is trying a major fudge on the accounting side to take everything out of MG and leave suppliers / customers with nothing. Hopefully he'll get stopped.

Unsurprisingly, my details haven't been migrated to the new site.

UK guys - go for it! Not much I can do from here on the Data Privacy Act and Ethical Standards and all the rest.



As for whether other companies will continue to trade with Rob Lane. Inc., I offer you this:

In DreadBall News:

The Hub is live!
http://www.manticgames.com/DreadBall.html

And we're at some more events:

- 10th November - TableTop Nation, Essex (Big-ass Pre-Launch Party - let us know on Facebook if you're coming)

- 24th November – Eye of the Storm, Mansfield

- 24th November -Triple Helix Wargames

- 1st December – The Outpost, Sheffield

Hmmm I was thinking about going the TTN for that but don't have a big-ass.

There's still time to get on i suppose.

 scipio.au wrote:
Unsurprisingly, my details haven't been migrated to the new site.

UK guys - go for it! Not much I can do from here on the Data Privacy Act and Ethical Standards and all the rest.



As for whether other companies will continue to trade with Rob Lane. Inc., I offer you this:

In DreadBall News:

The Hub is live!
http://www.manticgames.com/DreadBall.html

And we're at some more events:

- 10th November - TableTop Nation, Essex (Big-ass Pre-Launch Party - let us know on Facebook if you're coming)

- 24th November – Eye of the Storm, Mansfield

- 24th November -Triple Helix Wargames

- 1st December – The Outpost, Sheffield

And what were You expecting, comrade? Realities of rotten capitalism and market economy /to be read with strong accent/.

On the other hand, a venue is a venue. They're not supplying anything to maelstrom, they're just using their space. - It's not like there is a huge number of dedicated gaming centres around.

But then again... I am thinking of emailing mantic and saying that I feel it is a bit insensitive, considering the amount of people maelstrom have ripped off.

CainTheHunter wrote:

And what were You expecting, comrade? Realities of rotten capitalism and market economy /to be read with strong accent/.

What I was expecting, tovarisch, was actually pretty much this. I wasn't really expecting Mantic to be one of the first back with them, since they have a pretty good reputation and a lot of goodwill with people, but the bottom line prevails, always. As for simply "using their space" - I understand that a venue is a venue, but it's not like they'd have the use of it for free, so they're probably paying Maunsfield Gaming something for the use of the venue that night. (EOTS is not a small space).

 scipio.au wrote:

CainTheHunter wrote:

And what were You expecting, comrade? Realities of rotten capitalism and market economy /to be read with strong accent/.

What I was expecting, tovarisch, was actually pretty much this. I wasn't really expecting Mantic to be one of the first back with them, since they have a pretty good reputation and a lot of goodwill with people, but the bottom line prevails, always. As for simply "using their space" - I understand that a venue is a venue, but it's not like they'd have the use of it for free, so they're probably paying Maunsfield Gaming something for the use of the venue that night. (EOTS is not a small space).

To be fair, I've done tradeshows and so on; which I imagine is really what this is about, and you can't just cancel these things a short time in advance. Usually payments done months in advance at which point, there's really no backing out.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them back out especially when / if we get to hear the full story about what has happened. I suppose it'll be down to the likes of mantic whether or not they want to show their support for the wider gaming community or if they are purely out for themselves and put their event ahead of the feeling of the masses. Could hurt them a bit either way

Yup it was probably booked and paid up long before the fire sales, so changing the venue last minute would hurt Mantic and fans without having any real effect on EotS

I don't see why EotS won't have suppliers trading with them but the terms will be different.

Money upfront, limited size orders and the frequency that they can make them would all be a first step. Which given MG's previous excuses when non of that applied would not fill me with confidence.

The up shot of that would be that EotS will have the same poor turn around in stock that we have come to expect from MGs with the usual "but it's all GWs fault" excuse tagged to every message.

Mantic will use them as it the best space local to them for gaming - the other is WHW, which i dare say wouldnt like mantic turning to game,,,,

 notprop wrote:
I don't see why EotS won't have suppliers trading with them but the terms will be different..

Probably because the guy who owns both companies owes lots of the suppliers a fortune, both kidneys and his soul (assuming the latter hasn't already been sold )

davidjones wrote:
I think it is time trading standards got involved in this. They are in clear breach of several parts of the companies act and data protection legislation.

From what i understand they are, but as a standard operating procedure they wont comment on any open or on-going investigations. So don’t be surprise if we don’t hear anything but then suddenly do.
My advice is if you’re in the UK contact the Citizens Advice bureau in your area asap and make a complaint, (You have to go through them not directly to Trading standards). The more people who complain the bigger and stronger the case, and I imagine the tougher the punishment that the courts can hand down.

 scipio.au wrote:
Unsurprisingly, my details haven't been migrated to the new site.

UK guys - go for it! Not much I can do from here on the Data Privacy Act and Ethical Standards and all the rest.



As for whether other companies will continue to trade with Rob Lane. Inc., I offer you this:

In DreadBall News:

The Hub is live!
http://www.manticgames.com/DreadBall.html

And we're at some more events:

- 10th November - TableTop Nation, Essex (Big-ass Pre-Launch Party - let us know on Facebook if you're coming)

- 24th November – Eye of the Storm, Mansfield

- 24th November -Triple Helix Wargames

- 1st December – The Outpost, Sheffield

To be fair to Mantic, there is still a thread in the Find a Game forum about an event being held at EotS in December, so it's not like the whole community has completely written off EotS/Maunsfield Gaming yet either.

I just registered here specifically so I can share my story on this thread.

I'm enormously disappointed with Maelstrom, because for a few years they were my primary source for all things GW and saved me a lot of money (and/or let me continue in the hobby when regular prices would otherwise have precluded it). It was sad when GW shut down Maelstom's ability to sell to North America, but that wasn't Maelstrom's choice.

I placed orders on October 10 and 12 for some moderately expensive In-Stock items (one around 80 pounds, the other around 120). After a week or so both changed status to Packing... then one of them reverted back to Processing.

I'm happy to say that the one that didn't revert moved on to Dispatched and arrived a little while later. But the other item remained stuck in Processing, and was still there when the Maelstrom site went down. I've sent a couple of e-mails since then but nothing back.

And then after reading this thread I went to the Eye of the Storm site. And there showing as "In-Stock (1)" is THE VERY ITEM I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR ALL THIS TIME.

My only consolation is that I paid with Visa and will be getting that money back from them. But... the utter *gall*. I'm absolutely stunned that anyone could perpetrate such a naked, brazen fraud.

HopScotch wrote:
Link to Privacy FAQ http://www.eye-of-the-storm.co.uk/index.php?act=pag&ref=privacy

That's the bit I was looking for, thanks.
The email address I used with Maelstrom was specifically only used there, so if it shows up in EotS, it'll be obvious they shared the data.
As soon as is shows up, off to Trading standards with them.

[Update]: Thanks Dysartes. I'd not read the whole thing properly. It's the ISO, not TS that do data.

While trying to find the EOTS site i've turned up another of Rob Lanes companies that I don't remember hearing about before (same Mansfield address)

Anglia Games Limited, established 15/6/12

any ideas on this one?

 Skinnereal wrote:
As soon as is shows up, off to Trading standards with them.

Which will do a lot of good, especially as TS don't deal with DPA breaches...

As HopScotch pointed out on the previous page:

HopScotch wrote:
In addition to what I wrote above, if there appears to be a breach of the Data Protection Act you can make an official complaint by filling out the form on this page and emailing it back to the Information Commissions Office.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/handling/complain.aspx

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
While trying to find the EOTS site i've turned up another of Rob Lanes companies that I don't remember hearing about before (same Mansfield address)

Anglia Games Limited, established 15/6/12

any ideas on this one?

That'll be fore when EotS goes under!

 SoulDrinker wrote:

 notprop wrote:
I don't see why EotS won't have suppliers trading with them but the terms will be different..

Probably because the guy who owns both companies owes lots of the suppliers a fortune, both kidneys and his soul (assuming the latter hasn't already been sold )

Maelstrom Games owes the suppliers.
This is one of the benefits of setting up as a Ltd company. Rob Lane has limited liability in law. (depending on how things were moved and transferred to Maunsfield et al).
Sure, the suppliers will tread carefully, but they'll come back, and in greater numbers.

Mr. lanes ownership could be a stumbling block, but when trading recommences with certain suppliers, it will be down to EOTS/Maunsfields credit/trading history and not Rob Lanes'.

And money talks of course.

If Mr Lane stumps up a box of cash in advance of an order I don't see most suppliers saying no.

I received my money back through paypal. Maelstorm just ignored the claim and it was resolved in my favor.

 Mr. Burning wrote:

Mr. lanes ownership could be a stumbling block, but when trading recommences with certain suppliers, it will be down to EOTS/Maunsfields credit/trading history and not Rob Lanes'.

Suppliers aren't stupid. And it's not a huge industry. They know who's doing what. If anything, it'll probably be cash terms only for a few years.

Hi people
Im new to the forums but had to say something. Ive spent over a grand in the last moth or so Ive bought from Maelstrom gaming and from Wayland games twice each. Both times I was disgusted how bad they dealt with my order. It took weeks , no replies, hang up on me, didnt inform me and took my money and still messed up my order plus having things in stock on live stock levels then deciding they dont have it in dont tell me but take my money. Maelstrom took nearly £50 from a £120 order charged me and sent me half an order. Called them over 50-60 times nothing . Emailed them threatened legal action nothing. Dont have much choice these days so tried firestorm games which a mate suggested and so far on my 3rd order and theyve been great. Ive played for years but stopped for about 7 years get back into 40k and not had much luck with sellers up until firestorm games and would recommend to anyone great service too. Its a damn shame when people get shafted by companies that just dont care

 Far Seer wrote:
Today, I received an email from Maelstrom saying that my order has been dispatched.

I am crossing my fingers.

It's arrived! I still have an item that I'm waiting for, but it's just one paint pot. Now I can relax in peace!

It is gakking strange how it arrived today, when I received the email saying it was dispatched only yesterday...

 Far Seer wrote:

It is gakking strange how it arrived today, when I received the email saying it was dispatched only yesterday...

Even stranger: I got a mail on wednesday, that an item (yes, just one) was shipped that day (nov 7th).
Alas, I've received said item on saturday (nov 3rd)!

Receiving items from Maelstrom before the dispatched email is pretty common

Got my refund from paypal It took ten days from the moment i reported the incident to the moment i got the money on my account.

Glad that i got out of this mess without any loss (2/3 of the items delivered, and the rest reimbursed by paypal).

Sining wrote:

 Mr. Burning wrote:

Mr. lanes ownership could be a stumbling block, but when trading recommences with certain suppliers, it will be down to EOTS/Maunsfields credit/trading history and not Rob Lanes'.

Suppliers aren't stupid. And it's not a huge industry. They know who's doing what. If anything, it'll probably be cash terms only for a few years.

Suppliers are not stupid. They will look at what EOTS are doing and not Rob Lane, So long as EOTS comply with T&C's EOTS will be open to negotiate better trade terms. Hell, EOTS is already trading, and has been building up its credit and payment history, That is what suppliers will go off,

It's a no brainer.