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 xcasex wrote:

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Can there be more awesome miniature pics and less panty-wadding in this thread?

nope, i apparently have something to gain by using reason.
best of luck though!

I know I shouldn't, but what reason? You've tried to deny things as unsubstantiated despite being given references to substantial evidence from multiple sources. What has been unsubstantiated, and I'll provide you links to evidence.

We've had official statements from MG themselves, some of their debtors and distributors, plenty of statements from customers who've lost money and some who've had money refunded via paypal (for which their account was cancelled) or credit cards, due to a lack of communication.

I personally tried emailing / calling them many times about an incorrect order in the last few weeks and got nothing. I had a couple of items paid for but not sent, that I'll never see again, but to the tune of about £10, so not worth small claims court (£50), and I saved more than that from the clearance sales (I risked a fair bit of money on them thinking they just needed a cash flow boost). Due to the poor way it was handled I'd be reluctant to risk money with any of his ventures again.

There are plenty of rumours here, but there is a pretty common theme to them (so either there's some truth to the matter or a lot of people are making up similar stories). But there are also plenty of substantiated facts.

It's also worth noting that whilst many customers have lost £10's, some have lost £100's, and there are suppliers / debtors who have lost £10,000's and even £100,000's (that's hundreds of thousands of pounds). So we're not talking about a small venture ripping off a few people, we're talking about debts that will have a serious effect on the entire industry - the debt was nearly enough to bring down at least one of their suppliers. For Rob to shut down MG with "we're gone busy, sorry." and then suddenly other venture of his are trying to claim to have nothing to do with MG and that there were no problems is a bit of an insult to all of those that lost out and know better.

His reasoning is one fishy sob story with lots of holes by a mierce representative = substantiated while 50 pages of dozens of people complaining about how maelstrom stiffed them = unsubstantiated -_-

While the models are quite cool, their names and so on are utterly unpronouncable.

As to the MG/MM thing - MG had been my exclusive online store of choice for several years before they tanked. They gave reasonable (if very slow every now and then) service. I had a look at getting stuff during their fire sale and kept reading the thread about how people were not getting their orders and decided not to bother.

I have to say that MG's comunication throughout the whole thing was woeful and left me not wanting to have much to do with anyone in the management of MG. They squandered years of good rep they had with me in a few weeks/months. And to be honest it will take a lot for me to have anything to do with them again.

sining, "sob story" really. see this is what we call unsubstantiated. the thing is that you can't say who did what without having oversight of the company, you don't have that, you have some scarce information and to compound it further you are far too emotionally invested to be critical of all information.
Like I've said before, when the internet hatetrain gets going it has a lot in common with mob justice, which is fraught with over exaggerations.

The company went tits up, that's the reality of it.

and all of this discussion like I said before to those interested in replying to my post a page back, you can reach me via PM -- without becoming childish and telling me to read what i've already read -- As this discussion doesn't belong in this thread.

oh and, it'd be swell if you guys could refrain from inflating my thoughts with whatever you think is my opinion.

 xcasex wrote:


and all of this discussion like I said before to those interested in replying to my post a page back, you can reach me via PM -- without becoming childish and telling me to read what i've already read -- As this discussion doesn't belong in this thread.

If you don't want it discussed in this thread then stop discussing it. Seriously!

People on both sides of the issue have posted, made their points, and moved on. My last post was a few pages ago. You should do the same if you want people to stop replying to your points . As it is now, you are almost solely the cause of this continuing discussion, since you keep replying saying you don't want to talk about it here, while simultaneously making the same point over and over.

 RiTides wrote:

 xcasex wrote:


and all of this discussion like I said before to those interested in replying to my post a page back, you can reach me via PM -- without becoming childish and telling me to read what i've already read -- As this discussion doesn't belong in this thread.

If you don't want it discussed in this thread then stop discussing it. Seriously!

Rob Lane didn't rip off anyone, like the moon landing or the holocaust

OK, I guess we've reached Official Public Warning Time?

Moving forward, Off Topic and/or Rule #1 Violating Posts will earn the user in question a sanction of some sort. Sanction to be commensurate with level of offense.

Mierce Miniatures do have a 'history'.

This is the "Official" New and Rumors thread for Mierce here on Dakka Dakka.

Their history is well known - and can be seen right here in this very thread.

If anyone wishes to continue to discuss that history, please do so in a different thread - maybe in Dakka Discussions?

Thanks!

 SilverMK2 wrote:
While the models are quite cool, their names and so on are utterly unpronouncable.

This for the love of all that is holy

Seriously there is a huge difference between using some unique names from various cultures (such as Bjorn or Ryu) and just slapping your forehead on the keybord

Tvubyhawd The Uafsijn. There, I just made a new monster!

 kenshin620 wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:
While the models are quite cool, their names and so on are utterly unpronouncable.

This for the love of all that is holy

Seriously there is a huge difference between using some unique names from various cultures (such as Bjorn or Ryu) and just slapping your forehead on the keybord

Tvubyhawd The Uafsijn. There, I just made a new monster!

Apparently the names are Welsh.
Yes, a rare and odd language, but not just random keyboard bashing.

yxalitis wrote:

Apparently the names are Welsh.
Yes, a rare and odd language, but not just random keyboard bashing.

Well forgive my ignorance then

But still, theres a reason people tend not to make Fantasy Wales . And even then it doesnt make sense to name every faction out of welsh names, unless all of this indeed does take place in fantasy Wales

Just rename them yourself.
Bob, smiley, tall and screamy.

Easy

Wow, I was unaware of all the happenings....

yxalitis wrote:
Apparently the names are Welsh.
Yes, a rare and odd language, but not just random keyboard bashing.

Living quite close to Wales, I have to say I think the language was made up during the great throat infection of ye olde times BC

I never ordered from Mealstrom games, but i checked the celtic marines when the sales were going on, but by then the good stuff was gone, i like some of the figures posted here but reading the thread on mealstrom and other sites, i will refrain from ordering stuff, even if this is a "new" company, it is blemished by the previous happenings.
Saying it is a new start and the 2 companies are not related is ignorant IMHO.

xcasex it is nice that you don't see any problems with it, but don't belittle the people who had lots of problems getting their order, at least you should understand why they are suspicious of this "new" company.

Ignorance is bliss :p

yxalitis wrote:
Apparently the names are Welsh.
Yes, a rare and odd language, but not just random keyboard bashing.

Then I have a name suggestion for the Kingdom's capital:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyll )
and Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollônpenrhynareurdraethceredigion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorsafawddacha%27idraigodanheddogleddoll%C3%B4npenrhynareurdraethceredigion )
for its rival

 Kroothawk wrote:

yxalitis wrote:
Apparently the names are Welsh.
Yes, a rare and odd language, but not just random keyboard bashing.

Then I have a name suggestion for the Kingdom's capital:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyll )
and Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollônpenrhynareurdraethceredigion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorsafawddacha%27idraigodanheddogleddoll%C3%B4npenrhynareurdraethceredigion )
for its rival

Yeah, these names make the Meirce Monsters look like plain English. That is just stupid!

I went to that Llanfairplyggy place when I was on a trip to Wales, the signpost was quite impressive!

I can't put my finger on it, but some of the more recent sculpts just don't seem to have some of the quality of the older ones (not some of the original 5 or 6 which were horrific).

Didn’t one of the early sculptors get a job with GW?

 johnstewartjohn wrote:
Didn’t one of the early sculptors get a job with GW?

Yeah, Aragorn Marks has an exclusive contract with GW now.

 Cyporiean wrote:

 johnstewartjohn wrote:
Didn’t one of the early sculptors get a job with GW?

Yeah, Aragorn Marks has an exclusive contract with GW now.

Thanks couldn’t remember his name.

Denilsta wrote:
I can't put my finger on it, but some of the more recent sculpts just don't seem to have some of the quality of the older ones (not some of the original 5 or 6 which were horrific).

In my opinion, I have to completely disagree. And don't get me wrong, Aragorn Marks is one of my favourite sculptors. But in my view, I'd rather say that the quality of the recent sculpts are by far better than the earlier ones. Of course, there are a few recent ones that isn't my taste, but all in all, the quality is way up.

Something is off about the Kraken. It's an excellent set of design elements that somehow doesn't coalesce into a coherent whole.

The biggest problem is everything interesting is basically happening from the shoulders up. Rather than the eye being drawn all over the miniature I feel like I'm trapped in some mad octopus jumble and the human parts (because there is a jarring separation) just don't matter. The bizarre squatting pose doesn't look terribly natural either. And it has the typical Banebeasts problem of "Where did he find armour plates his size?"

Not that the mini is bad mind. It's just not as good as it could be.

Also, the Axe-Drune Champion would be alright if it weren't for his absurdly oversized axe.

Just got this in my email from Maelstrom Games (I was subscribed to their newsletter, although I had successfully unsubscribed in AUGUST). An email on behalf of Mierce Miniatures:

Maelstrom Games - MIERCE MINIATURES SALE wrote:Hi there,

You are receiving this e-mail because you have ordered BaneLegions or Templar's Forge products from ourselves in the past. As Maelstrom Games is currently undergoing liquidation and will cease to exist in 2013, you cannot buy those products from us any more, but of course you can get them from the company we sold the BaneLegions and Templar's Forge ranges to back in May - Mierce Miniatures!

As well as that, those nice guys at Mierce (www.mierce-miniatures.com) are currently running a 20% off UK RRP festive sale until the 2nd of January on their Darklands and BaneLegions ranges, so if you'd like to grab some of those amazing miniatures such as such as Krull or The Terror of Fortriu or Kraan or Euryalia or tons of others, including their superb new releases Clundwr, Uuthüll, Hirakoth and Arthyen of Carn Maen, now's the time!


THE MIERCE MINIATURES VOUCHER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Their 20% off UK RRP discount voucher ends on Wednesday the 2nd of January 2013 at midnight (GMT), and it will work on all of the items in the Mierce Miniatures webstore from the BaneLegions and Darklands ranges but not on any Templar's Forge products or Components.

Your voucher code is: CHRISTMAS-SALE

To use this voucher simply register on their webstore, www.mierce-miniatures.com (if you haven't already), copy and paste the code into the Voucher field in your basket when you have selected the items you want, press 'REDEEM', and the webstore will do the rest. You are not limited to one purchase and, indeed, Mierce asks you to recommend them to your friends with this voucher!

Happy Ordering!

Here is the last email I got from Maelstrom before unsubscribing on August 16th:



And here is a copy of the email unsubscribing from their mailing list, also received on August 16th:



To send a "20% off products" email that is nearly identical to their normal sale emails (see the spoilered email above), but directing folks to Mierce Miniatures rather than themselves is almost too much. To send such an email even to people who unsubscribed from their mailing list months ago probably breaks some laws, too.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, I'm considering reporting them to this agency:

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

As a one-off instance, it may not interest them much. However, if I find out that any of my information was given to Mierce Miniatures, or if I get any further emails from Maelstrom, I will definitely be doing so. It bothers me that my email was still on file ready to be sent to months after unsubscribing- I've actually never had this happen with any entity I've dealt with before. My feeling is that governments take the requirement to be able to "unsubscribe" from further mailings from a company rather seriously.

I wonder what the people saying that these are 2 different companies not related to each other will bring up now.

 Alkasyn wrote:
...2 different companies not related to each other...

I don't think I've seen anyone argue that second bit in all seriousness. Have you? Does make a bit of a difference

Well if it follows the patterns of the past I guess mierce miniatures will be next to go under.

It actually is somewhat worrying- I originally unsubscribed to Maelstrom because those discount emails became so frequent and so... insistent in their tone. Or desperate...

It could be that Mierce is having trouble generating business through means such as this (posting about their wares on forums) where people are able to alert one another to the circumstances that led to their creation and to use caution.

Emailing customers who have ordered from Maelstrom in the past (whether they have unsubscribed or not) direct through the Maelstrom email address is a means to avoid that conversation...

But yeah, it'll be concerning if these become anywhere near as frequent as Maelstrom's own sale emails did towards the end. Of course, my assumption is this is a one-off attempt, since I really shouldn't have received any ads from this company after unsubscribing.

Well I don't know the USA law regarding data protection but I'm pretty sure that this would be worth a complaint to the relevant authority in the UK. This behaviour is on a par with PPI phone calls, once you have Unsubscribed that should be it.

20% off is a nice deal. But MM is always offering 10% off, so it isn't really that big of a difference. I will be getting a few still, though. Some discount is better than none.