Secret Weapon Tablescapes - Kickstarter ended @ $311k

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**SlaveToDorkness**

I got my Deadzone display board today!!

It looks pretty good, if I can only figure out what all the fiddly bits are for now.

**MasterSlowPoke**

I'm looking at the first US's ship's position on a whim, and while it's very close to the US coast (landing today), this is the closest ship:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/366822140/vessel:SSV_TOLE_MOUR

I don't think it's too late to rule out pirates.

**Snrub**

ARE YOUR BODIES READY????

I KNOW MINE IS!

Update #138

Sep 26 2014
Ship Update - Happening NOW!
6 comments
10 likes

I am working with ModiFX / The Combat Company to clear the AUS shipment for release. The freight company has already arranged transportation to the warehouse, and we're gearing up to ship all of the AUS orders in October.

The first of two shipments to the USA warehouse is due at our door on Friday 3-October. If you happen to be in the Sacramento, California region and want to help us unload a truck... we'll make it fun, you can pick up your order (assuming it's all on the first truck), and anything we have in stock can be purchased at 20% off of MSRP while you're there.

I do not yet have an update on the UK ship, or the second USA ship, but they're still moving.

All of the USA originated Deadzone orders - meaning those backers that pledged ONLY for Deadzone tiles - have been shipped. UK/EU and AUS orders are pending, but they will have the shipping information today, and I will coordinate the release with them ASAP.

I am reposting the ship information only so it's easy to keep track of.

Who has the last of the ship information? I DO! I DO!

UK Bound Ship

NYK HERMES 006w36

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/477832500

AUS Bound Ship

SNL COLOMBO 1406S

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636013289

And so that it's all in one place, here are the US bound ships again:

USA ship 1 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636015182

Vessel name: YM Mileston V.18E

ETD Yantian: Sep 08, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Sep 27, 2014.

USA ship 2 of 2

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/636014996

Vessel name: YM Mutuality V.30E

ETD Yantian: Sep 15, 2014.

ETA Oakland: Oct 04, 2014.

**Mathieu Raymond**

Wow, you actually get a discount on stuff if you put in an honest day's work. Plus pick up of your stuff if you're lucky.

It's... incredibly homely. I like it.

**MasterSlowPoke**

I'm really hoping I get it by the second week of October so I can do an Amries on Parade entry with it.

**Valhallan42nd**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Wow, you actually get a discount on stuff if you put in an honest day's work. Plus pick up of your stuff if you're lucky.

It's... incredibly homely. I like it.

Dammit, why am I not on the Left Coast!

**Tibbsy**

Well it's not pirates; but it's something.

Man, Murphy's law really has hit this project hard....

#139
A Wild Customs Officer Appears!
Posted by Secret Weapon

The vessel for the first US shipment has been flagged for intensive examination, which means that my container will be sent to another warehouse for customs inspection.

This means I get to pay additional customs fees (YAY!), and that our container will be delayed 4-5 days (or more if there's a backlog) while they inspect the boxes.

If you were planning to join us for the unloading on 3-October... hold your horses. I'll have another update as soon as I have more news.

It's always something, right? HA!

**Aerethan**

IB4 people bitching about more forces that could not be foreseen or helped.

I'm glad the tiles are here, and will soon be in the loving arms of those who got them!

**RiTides**

I'm glad they're here! Although I anticipate selling my rolling fields display board, as the delay has meant it missed the project I had intended it for (of course if someone is interested in it, please PM me

otherwise I'll be putting it up in the Swap Shop).

**Snrub**

Why do you have to pay extra just so customs can rifle through your container?

How is that fair in any way, shape or form?

**Joyboozer**

Cos America, that's why, now shut up with the questions, terrorist!

**Snrub**

Yeah, us commies and our lax customs....

**Joyboozer**

Ours aren't lax, just stupid, I got a letter in a parcel containing Xbox games from the UK, informing me not import foodstuffs. There was no foodstuffs, room in the package for foodstuffs or anything inside even resembling food.
Left me wondering if Australian customs are a bunch of dudes whose job is to find out, can I eat it.

**SlaveToDorkness**

Were there teeth marks on your Xbox?

**Joyboozer**

There sure are, it's not food!

**Mathieu Raymond**

Then never order from Hasslefree. They always put in some random candy in the pack.

Although it is the second best reason to order from Hasslefree.

**-Loki-**

I've known people who have ordered from hasslefree and not had the problem.

Basically, Australian Customers randomly open packages to audit. You'll know it because they put a huge 'inspected by customs' sticker on it. If hasslefree randomly throw unordered candy in there, it's not something that's going to cause you trouble. At most, if they audit your package, they'll remove it and put a sticker on it, and a note abut what they removed.

In the above case, they probably also opened a package that did have food and put the note in the wrong package.

**Mathieu Raymond**

I got a package inspected by Canada Customs, and it was resin minis, but for some reason it got re-tagged as kitchen utensils.

So I've been using my resin mini while cooking but it keeps bending like crazy.

**Cyporiean**

Status Update - All Themes - All Countries wrote:AUSTRALIA - UNLOADED

First up we have the first official photo of Tablescapes Tiles in the wild - or in this case the inventory sitting in The Combat Company warehouse in Australia.
USA 1 of 2 - INCOMING!

The first US container is due today (8-Oct) at 11:30 AM -- which means I need to finish this update and get my butt out the door to help unload. Stay tuned for photos, because we're unloading 2x what you see in the photo above, and that's only the first container!
UK/EU - DUE NEXT WEEK

Mantic Games has confirmed that their container is due next week, and everything should be arranged for delivery at this point. I'll have an update on this as soon as we have word from customs.
SHIPPING LISTS / MAIL MERGE

The mail merge is complete, and being reviewed for errors one last time. This will go out to the AUS/UK distributors on Monday of next week, and everyone will have the green light to begin shipping.
ADD-ON ITEMS & ADDITIONAL PURCHASES

I'm going to get the Tablescapes Tiles listed on the SWM site this week, and create a hidden sale for backers (and late backers). Keep an eye on your email for a link.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Seriously, I can't thank you enough. Together we've managed to maintain (or at least feign when necessary) our enthusiasm on this project despite delays, setbacks, and a litany of minor annoyances. Now that the product is actually here (or about to be) the entire thing seems unreal.

Without your help this wouldn't have happened. Sure, the bank helped too, but they don't get the love.

I'll need time to recover from the launch, but once that's done you can expect great new things from the Tablescapes range. Stay tuned....

**DarkTraveler777**

Soon!

I'm going to get the Tablescapes Tiles listed on the SWM site this week, and create a hidden sale for backers (and late backers). Keep an eye on your email for a link.

That is a nice touch.

**Desubot**

Snrub wrote:
Why do you have to pay extra just so customs can rifle through your container?

How is that fair in any way, shape or form?

Did it actually tell ya what kinda exam they preformed?

90% of the time though they do it just to annoy ya though

Edit: Might be different down there though.

**Portugal Jones**

Snrub wrote:
Why do you have to pay extra just so customs can rifle through your container?

How is that fair in any way, shape or form?

Because unfortunately, while we're all honest and scrupulous people here, there are a lot of people who try and sneak illegal/undeclared goods through ports in the shipping containers. You can't check them all, and all that volume costs money to store until processed.

It also might've been something that triggered an automatic review - a shipping container filled with a product from China that they've never had pass through before, better double-check to that it really is a container full of 'plastic gaming tiles' and there aren't knock-off products or something in there.

**Azazelx**

Especially if "Secret Weapon" is anywhere in the paperwork. Despite us knowing what SWM is, would you want to be the customs guy in charge if something bad happened because you didn't inspect the container marked "Secret Weapon". Imagine the questions that would be asked. Imagine Fox News!

**daedalus**

If it said Secret Weapon on it, would it really be that secret?

**Azazelx**

Jokes aside.

Just imagine if a container from china with "weapons" somewhere (anywhere!) on the paperwork (not stamped on the side of the container, Road Runner cartoon style) wasn't inspected and then there was some sort of terror attack made shortly afterwards using the contents of that container. Imagine being the guy who waved that through. Imagine what their supervisors would say. Imagine what Fox News would say. Lifetime repercussions, and on and on. All of the Terror alerts have just risen recently, so I can see anyone in customs being extra cautious and not letting anything with "weapons" anywhere on the paperwork go through without checking it properly.

Obviously, this is all speculation based on the trading name of Justin's business. Hopefully he's been sensible enough to set himself up as "Nerdcorp LLC" who is simply trading as "Secret Weapon Miniatures". ...and if not, it might just be time to do that.

**Cyporiean**

USA Container 1 being unloaded:

**DarkTraveler777**

Someone needs shoe laces!

**Snrub**

The one time there is awesome news to share and Cyp beats me to the punch. All this hard work.... but for naught.

On the plus side though, here's another update...

Update #141

Oct 9 2014
And so it begins....
2 comments
6 likes

And now we all fall down.

588 cartons were unloaded, with a total weight of 12,652.3 pounds.

As soon as we started some of the other tenants came out to see what we were about. Shortly after that we had a pile of pallets, a forklift, and a driver for the former. Thanks to their help it turned a 4+ hour death sentence into a 1.5 hour slow torture. They'll be back next week to help with the second 40' container... which has even more stuff in it. EEP!

Also, I need more warehouse. Dammit. Fortunately that's already done too. Once the first wave is moved we'll transition to pallet shelves.
Stay Tuned For Pre-Orders!

We will begin shipping to backers that ordered one of these unloaded themes - and ONLY these unloaded themes - by the end of the week.

My goal is to have pre-orders listed for these themes, and only these themes, at the top of next week. I will email out a link so that you can order from the super secret, hidden pre-order page.

But they're here. They're really, really here. The rest of the tiles, mostly the Urban themes, are due next week.

*THUD*

**SlaveToDorkness**

Dammit, all I ordered were the urban sets!!

**Snrub**

Some people just can't catch a break.