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It has been explained more than once that quite possibly Rob has been advised not to make any public statements.

I would say a comparison to DM is a bit over the top. Like him or not Rob is a visible part of our hobby. He goes to events. People know him on site. It's really not a fair comparison in the least.

However, whether he can make a statement or not. Until something comes up that clears it up there is going to be speculation. Past experiences will be discussed. Known information and ramifications will be discussed.

And like it or not right now he's taken money from people for nothing. He has people's personal items at his store. People lost credit for items they sold him that he may have resold.

It might get resolved. It might not. But I for one find it poor taste he was taking pre-orders up till he closed his doors and didn't contact people with personal property at the store and make up a new "rule" to get them to pick their stuff up.

I don't have a dog in this fight. I find it interesting. I never bought anything from him because his bitz were always on the high end and if I wanted box product I had the Warstore or my FLGS's. Sad to see a good gaming space go because that sucks for locals.

Also Darkwynn. It's been 2 years. Might be a good time to brush that chip off your shoulder about Dash

And like it or not right now he's taken money from people for nothing. He has people's personal items at his store. People lost credit for items they sold him that he may have resold.

So that is the worst people can say - it has been already been said here a lot... why is it worth repeating ad nauseum ?

And that isn't against the rules of Dakka. Otherwise News and Rumors wouldn't exist with everyone repeating the same thing ad nauseum.

Don't like it, don't engage. No one is making you read it over and over again.

LOL - I can see which side of the fence you are on .

 Hulksmash wrote:
I would say a comparison to DM is a bit over the top. Like him or not Rob is a visible part of our hobby. He goes to events. People know him on site. It's really not a fair comparison in the least.

However, whether he can make a statement or not. Until something comes up that clears it up there is going to be speculation. Past experiences will be discussed. Known information and ramifications will be discussed.

And like it or not right now he's taken money from people for nothing. He has people's personal items at his store. People lost credit for items they sold him that he may have resold.

It might get resolved. It might not. But I for one find it poor taste he was taking pre-orders up till he closed his doors and didn't contact people with personal property at the store and make up a new "rule" to get them to pick their stuff up.

I don't have a dog in this fight. I find it interesting. I never bought anything from him because his bitz were always on the high end and if I wanted box product I had the Warstore or my FLGS's. Sad to see a good gaming space go because that sucks for locals.

Also Darkwynn. It's been 2 years. Might be a good time to brush that chip off your shoulder about Dash

nope Hulk, I don't think so and it hasn't been two years. Considering how he handled himself in Texas and gaming community from Houston, Austin and Dallas have bad taste in their mouth from what he has done and handled himself... I think its perfectly fine. When you demean people that you don't even know and treat people like crap... it gets remembered.

The point though that comments get modded and changed which are held true. These are speculation but yet they don't get edited. is that or is that not a double standard? He runs a business and to even say him taking pre orders up till he closed orders was poor taste is wrong to say also and is misleading. There has been plenty of times and times when myself have gone up there Rob and Rob's employes asked people not to leave there stuff in the store even before hand. Some people did but that is onto them even after being told. I don't know where you guys are getting that rumor from but again that is speculation.

The only part that people have is if you had store credit, yep you lost out. That is the part of doing business with the store. You can deal with the bank, they own it now. That is it, there isn't going to be a statement there wouldn't be anything else and again. No one really deserves one because it isn't their business. The people here don't have the right to know. You can call up the bank and ask them and see what their response will be. This isn't information privileged allowed for the public esp when its under bankruptcy.

Also I still find it sad that mod fuels these flames and we invoke only rules when we think they should apply.

Darkwynn wrote:

The only part that people have is if you had store credit, yep you lost out. That is the part of doing business with the store. You can deal with the bank, they own it now. That is it, there isn't going to be a statement there wouldn't be anything else and again. No one really deserves one because it isn't their business. The people here don't have the right to know. You can call up the bank and ask them and see what their response will be. This isn't information privileged allowed for the public esp when its under bankruptcy.

Also I still find it sad that mod fuels these flames and we invoke only rules when we think they should apply.

Except:
http://www.spikeybits.com/servlet/StoreFront

Posted by Rob Baer at 10:25 PM

The issue is... People gave product to FTW for store credit, But are those 'inventory' being transferred sideways to SpikeyBits and then being sold now that from the previous statement (which is now gone) that SpikeyBits was 'sold, inventory and all to Dicehead games?

And Rob is making postings about how they will resume bitz and used model sales? How did all of that seemingly be insulated from FTW games? I sure as hell someone's models which they lost store credit for from FTW going under isn't being sold on the new 'SpikeyBitz'. What was shifted between unconnected companies where one could go bankrupt and another cold be sold, inventory and all to someone else especially when it appears from discussions of the lease and the employees that the companies were sharing revenues and infrastructure? Things don't add up.

For 'no answers due to bankruptcy', re-aliasing and starting up sales and taking money for things supposedly tied to FTW games and should be under bank oppression seems to be moving forward and quite vocal.

If they want us, the internet consumers to do business with 'Dicehead' and the new Spikeybits, I do think some information on the transition and transparency is warranted. if you want to say 'it is none of our goddamn business' then see they are continuing to sell models and take money in, I can't reconcile those statements. Let's just hope someone's models which they lost 'store credit' doesn't appear for sale on the website.

Actually, if the new company obtained those used models through legitimate means (ie a transaction at or near market value took place and is documented between the two companies concerned) then it is fine, legal and there wouldn't be a thing the original owner could do about it.

Sale of assets is a normal part of liquidating a company, it isn't illegal for another company owned by some or all of the same people to buy them, as long as certain rules are followed.

The store credit owed makes the person who traded their models in to FTW a creditor of FTW, but they have transferred ownership of the physical product to FTW (unless some sort of agreement was in place that title didn't transfer until the credit had been redeemed, but that is unlikely as FTW wouldn't be able to sell the models in that case.)

So used models traded in to FTW could appear for sale under another company name quite legally.

The morality of that is another discussion entirely, but even then, morality only really comes into question if one has solid evidence of malicious intent to deceive.

I can tell you that I have known Shane at Dicehead for over a decade and you will not find a more honorable guy. Be careful in your insinuations.

 Fishboy wrote:
I can tell you that I have known Shane at Dicehead for over a decade and you will not find a more honorable guy. Be careful in your insinuations.

Or what? You are making threats now?

If he is honorable, he must know he is taking on baggage and the questions which come with it. If he wants people to be his new customers, then he might want to explain how he acquired all of this and assure us customers that there is no more risk to us in relation to FTW/Spikeybits activities? That is what happens when you buy out a 'failed brand' and try to rehabilitate it with the goal of engaging their previous customers. IE: us.

The sketchy veiled threats by sockpuppets and invested supporters is directly out of the DM handbook. Maybe let these business owners speak for themselves than fighting proxy battles for them as you are just making things look worse. If Shane wants to be the new owner of a bitz empire on the internet and wants the customerbase to transition over, being clear about what transpired and how he acquired things and outlining Rob's exact role can do nothing but help him and his business.

All we see right now is customers out money and property, and Rob Baer standing, hand out asking for people to give him more money with a new alias and selling what should assuredly be assets to the bankrupt business which can't be spoken about, but yet sold for profit.

Things don't add up, and while they might, transparency is the best way to start off on a new foot, especially when *WE* are the customers who are being asked to patronize this new business... Past history is a valid metric for expected future performance. Such a shift with a 'don't talk about it, it is none your business, please give us money' is not a good business model IMHO.

Hey fishboy best not to feed the trolls if you know what I mean.

Having never been in his store before I wonder how much he was in to GW for? I mean how big of a selection did he have on hand of new wrapped stuff? I might be chasing a rabbit with this, but just saw posted how miniaturemarket.com has now dropped GW products because of the slow sales of the product, lack of support from GW and overall cost of product they "have to have" in the store. They are one of the biggest GW clients I know of in the states and for them to make that choice really leads me to wonder how a store like FTW or my local FLGS can handle keeping the product lines? I mean to stay current you have to buy the stock for the new hot stuff "space hulk", all the huge WFB nagash stuff, and with the limited windows GW gives you to sell in its hit or miss on sales.

I'm not trying to make GW the bad guy here or even take blame away from Rob, just trying to show people how a few bad stock purchases could easily swing a small business into bankruptcy or success. Maybe someone who shopped there can let us know if they had tons of on hand stock of slow moving GW goodies, of warmachine/hordes.

The few times I went in there they had a pretty decent GW stock. The most I've seen of any FLGS. Now, I don't know how much they moved, but they always had a good selection to choose from. So they had quite a bit of money tied up in GW product on the shelf.

Based on what's been posted so far it doesn't seem like GW can be blamed for this. There's certainly been plenty of posts about GW's business plan regarding FLGS's and direct only, etc. in various threads by knowledgable people but without more information it doesn't look like it played a key role in this closure.

 MWHistorian wrote:

It had to do with a large order. They went all in on something, as in many thousands of dollars and it backfired. They were left with several thousands of dollars of opened product that they weren't allowed to sell. It was Saturday and everything was going good, they got the bad news on Sunday, employees were told on Monday, shop closed tuesday. After that, I know Rob filed for bankruptcy protection, and that's where my knowledge ends. I've heard a few rumors but until I learn more I won't say them.

 MWHistorian wrote:
[
Something to do with the latest Magic the Gathering release, but I don't know the details.

nkelsch wrote:

 Fishboy wrote:
I can tell you that I have known Shane at Dicehead for over a decade and you will not find a more honorable guy. Be careful in your insinuations.

Or what? You are making threats now?

If he is honorable, he must know he is taking on baggage and the questions which come with it. If he wants people to be his new customers, then he might want to explain how he acquired all of this and assure us customers that there is no more risk to us in relation to FTW/Spikeybits activities? That is what happens when you buy out a 'failed brand' and try to rehabilitate it with the goal of engaging their previous customers. IE: us.

The sketchy veiled threats by sockpuppets and invested supporters is directly out of the DM handbook. Maybe let these business owners speak for themselves than fighting proxy battles for them as you are just making things look worse. If Shane wants to be the new owner of a bitz empire on the internet and wants the customerbase to transition over, being clear about what transpired and how he acquired things and outlining Rob's exact role can do nothing but help him and his business.

All we see right now is customers out money and property, and Rob Baer standing, hand out asking for people to give him more money with a new alias and selling what should assuredly be assets to the bankrupt business which can't be spoken about, but yet sold for profit.

Things don't add up, and while they might, transparency is the best way to start off on a new foot, especially when *WE* are the customers who are being asked to patronize this new business... Past history is a valid metric for expected future performance. Such a shift with a 'don't talk about it, it is none your business, please give us money' is not a good business model IMHO.

No threat, but you might sully what little bit of respect people have for you. Do Shane or Rob owe you money? If you choose to not do business with them it is your prerogative but slandering people based on assumptions and lack of knowledge/details, then insulting their friends is just something I can not grasp. Nor how violent your reactive responses seem. I am no sock puppet and Shane and Rob do not owe you or your pathetic ideals any answers. You are insulting people you don't know over a situation you are not involved in and pretend to take the high road. Shane has a very good reputation based on years of being in this business. He has been running major tournaments for years and has owned Dicehead for over 11 years. He is pretty well known among the major tournament players because of his creation called the ATC. I still have to wonder why Mods are allowing this level of assumption insults. Not really news or rumors any more and nobody seems to be adding anything of value to the conversation, just baseless juvenile assumptions based on no facts or knowledge of the situation. This is the last comment I will post on this witch hunt. Nkelsh have at it...I am using that ignore button for the first time..

Shane at Dicehead is a stand up solid guy with a sterling reputation. I don't know the details, but I'm positive that it's nothing "shady". Maybe he gave Rob a job to setup a mailorder store for himself and getting to use the Spikeybitz logo was part of the deal? I don't know that - but I do know that Shane is already a full retail distributor for GW and for many other hobby systems - so selling it online is more mechanics for him than buying any product or collateral from Spikey Bitz.

At the end of the day - SpikeyBitz may have a few folks bent sideways - but Rob has done a TON to promote the hobby along with his retail/online sales. I would give him a break for that alone. Let time see what the real story is before making judgement.

Same with Dicehead - they are what we should all wish a game store was about - plus (and I do know the owner personally) the owner and his wife are nice, honesty, and plain old fashioned good folks. Working hard to eek out a living. Hobby community should support them and not dig them down.

nkelsch wrote:

Darkwynn wrote:

The only part that people have is if you had store credit, yep you lost out. That is the part of doing business with the store. You can deal with the bank, they own it now. That is it, there isn't going to be a statement there wouldn't be anything else and again. No one really deserves one because it isn't their business. The people here don't have the right to know. You can call up the bank and ask them and see what their response will be. This isn't information privileged allowed for the public esp when its under bankruptcy.

Also I still find it sad that mod fuels these flames and we invoke only rules when we think they should apply.

Except:
http://www.spikeybits.com/servlet/StoreFront

Posted by Rob Baer at 10:25 PM

The issue is... People gave product to FTW for store credit, But are those 'inventory' being transferred sideways to SpikeyBits and then being sold now that from the previous statement (which is now gone) that SpikeyBits was 'sold, inventory and all to Dicehead games?

And Rob is making postings about how they will resume bitz and used model sales? How did all of that seemingly be insulated from FTW games? I sure as hell someone's models which they lost store credit for from FTW going under isn't being sold on the new 'SpikeyBitz'. What was shifted between unconnected companies where one could go bankrupt and another cold be sold, inventory and all to someone else especially when it appears from discussions of the lease and the employees that the companies were sharing revenues and infrastructure? Things don't add up.

For 'no answers due to bankruptcy', re-aliasing and starting up sales and taking money for things supposedly tied to FTW games and should be under bank oppression seems to be moving forward and quite vocal.

If they want us, the internet consumers to do business with 'Dicehead' and the new Spikeybits, I do think some information on the transition and transparency is warranted. if you want to say 'it is none of our goddamn business' then see they are continuing to sell models and take money in, I can't reconcile those statements. Let's just hope someone's models which they lost 'store credit' doesn't appear for sale on the website.

Wow you are making some pretty heavy assumptions all from a link that says SpikeyBitz will be continued by Dicehead. A store that has been around for a very long time as game stores stand. I read that link and take it for what it is, the ability to order bitz from Dicehead. Who like a smart businessman is attempting to pick up some extra business in a tough economy.

I think it's perfectly reasonable for people to be asking a series of WTF questions with the "Spikeybits=Dicehead" announcement. And failing information, you'll get ...speculation.

This Rob's surname doesn't happen to be "Lane", does it? It could be like the two Steve Jacksons!

Okay guys, at this point I think every type of opinion about these allegations has already been stated, so we're just going around in circles of people commenting on speculation and allegations and other people pointing out that people are just commenting on speculation and allegations.

So from here on out, the only people that should be posting in this thread are those that have actual firsthand knowledge of something they'd like to share. If you don't have any firsthand experience relevant to this topic, then please consider this thread 'locked'.

Those who ignore this warning will have their posts deleted and potentially have further disciplinary action taken against their user accounts.


Thanks.

My sources tell me the store is reopening on Oct 13, 2014 under new name and ownership. I don't have any more info besides that. Will post more when I know it.

They say they will be honoring store credit.

word on the street I heard is that there may be a change in leadership even if Rob is still there as they are being taken over/being backed a-new financially by Comics and Gaming which already has a few locations spread out over the Tri-State already. Dont know if this means they are becoming a Comics and Gaming or if they will still be a FTW. Not sure how reliable this is but it seemed serious enough to stir concern among the current richmond comic-pushers

 yakface wrote:


Okay guys, at this point I think every type of opinion about these allegations has already been stated, so we're just going around in circles of people commenting on speculation and allegations and other people pointing out that people are just commenting on speculation and allegations.

So from here on out, the only people that should be posting in this thread are those that have actual firsthand knowledge of something they'd like to share. If you don't have any firsthand experience relevant to this topic, then please consider this thread 'locked'.

Those who ignore this warning will have their posts deleted and potentially have further disciplinary action taken against their user accounts.


Thanks.

Hey everybody I just wanted to pop on here finally make a post!

First off thanks to everyone for their support over the last week or so. As you can imagine they've been quite eventful for me, and I was really touched by the outpouring of support and personal messages to me recently. It’s been a blast helping to enrich the projects of so many gamers around the world for all these years!

Obviously there has been a ton of speculation about what has happened, what will happened and how it pertains to everything in between. While I won't get into specifics I will say that about 99% of the 6 pages or so of this particular thread was completely untrue, insomuch as that I actually had to issue several cease and desist orders to various individuals and am currently considering further legal action against them as well.

However on a more positive note I would like to announce that the Richmond Gaming Community will not be without their biggest store any longer as FTW Games is now Battlegrounds.
In the end I felt that rejecting a larger offer on liquidating the store's assets and accepting a much smaller one to allow new owners to re-open the store was the right call.

The new owners will also be honoring a portion of the store credit some customers had built up with their purchases etc to continue to help keep the gaming community going here.
You can checkout the official announcement here http://www.ftwgames.net/2014/10/ftw-games-is-now-battlegrounds.html

Also if you haven't heard yet, Spikey Bits Mail Order is now Dicehead Games, so be sure to check that out as Shane is running a HUGE SALE on everything from Games Workshop to Secret Weapon Minis, right now as well! http://spikeybitsblog.com/2014/10/the-return-of-spikey-bits-mail-order-2.html

I apologize that all of the legal legwork that was necessary with our shutdown, the handling of our lease, as well as all the offers on the business took so long to iron out and I couldn't have posted something sooner.

So again thanks to everyone, and Happy Gaming!

-Rob (MBG) Baer
Spikey Bits http://www.spikeybitsblog.com

Well, that, as they say, is that. I'm glad it was resolved to the benefit of all. Always a sad business when a gaming shop has to shutter the doors.

So you didnt flee the country with other people's minis?
LOL. Just kidding. I've been a loyal customer and will continue to be one. Sorry this happened and we hope to see you around the store. Hopefully this will put to lies to rest. Thanks for letting the new owners know about my pre order issues.
Will it be the same staff?

I would advise the stores new owners NOT to refuse to honour old spikeybits gift cards (unless there is a strong financial issue in doing so)

even if they no longer have equipment to read them I'd advise collecting the gift cards as they come in (and advertise to get folk to bring them in) together with contact info) and look to beg/steal/borrow some time on an appropriate reader in say 3 or 6 months time as a one off, take down the info and give out new store credit

even if the old til/merchant system won't help out info recovery businesses should be able to

as it is saying you'll honour old transactions, store credit (over $5) but not gif cards is a sure way to alienate gift card holders ('why do they hate me specifically', they're not going to care

excited, gonna try and stop by tommorow

Went in today and the new owner will be honoring store credit and pre orders! That means I WILL be getting my Operation Ice Storm. The store was busy and business as usual. The new owner seemed like a really nice, stand up guy. I am so glad to have my store back with all the great employees still in place. awesome.

edit: gonna not stir up the pot anymore. The worst is over with.

Anyway, as the store is now in extraordinarily competent hands, Battlegrounds will be getting my full support.

 Musashi363 wrote:
Went in today and the new owner will be honoring store credit and pre orders! That means I WILL be getting my Operation Ice Storm. The store was busy and business as usual. The new owner seemed like a really nice, stand up guy. I am so glad to have my store back with all the great employees still in place. awesome.

Agreed. The new owner does seem cool and was very friendly. Let's hope first impressions prove accurate.