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Other Stuff => Bazaar of Obscurities => Commercial => Topic started by: Kommando_J on 04 November 2015, 05:51:04 PM

Title: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 04 November 2015, 05:51:04 PM: Although in the past i've been known to trumpet Warlord games excellent mail order service...not any more.

On Saturday I made a custom order for metal miniatures for a Frostgrave gang, I finally received a reply this morning...it would seem that those days are now over citing that it causes problems/confusion with mail order...despite the fact that not two months before I made an order and was told in most cases i'd be able to do the same in future as most stuff was made to order barring exclusive miniatures.

Also from the tone of the email this seems to be the new way of things which saddens me, lately i've noticed the parallels between warlord and a ''certain company'', their relentless pushing of Gates of Antares(which even riffs off the original rogue trader in the artwork no less) i'm getting a terrible feeling of deja vu...

I hope im wrong butget the feeling i'm not, what say you leadadventure denizens?
Title: Re: Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Rhoderic on 04 November 2015, 06:34:20 PM: It's very much a "shades of grey" thing for me. They're certainly adopting some business practices that aren't ideal for us budget-minded hobbyists, and they seem to be escalating. On the other hand, it's probably true that custom orders do cause problems and confusion for a company that's grown well beyond the "garage industry"/"vanity business" level where most other miniatures companies are positioned.

Ultimately, I try to remind myself that there's many degrees of hell, and Warlord is still nowhere near GW in that respect. It's not corporate, and it's not "fronting" the way GW is. Rick Priestley pops his head through the door over at the TMP forums every so often. I just wish he'd find his way over to some other forums as well...

It's also not inconceivable that the people at Warlord may change their ways again for the better. Remember 5-10 years back when Foundry was the most hated entity in the hobby community other than Games Workshop (and possibly Mongoose Publishing) for its greedy, miserly business practices? Foundry-bashing was the national pastime here in LAF. That changed.

For the most part I'm just resigned to the fact that Warlord is going to do whatever Warlord is going to do. But I do hold on to some hope that it won't keep escalating to GW levels of meanness.
Title: Re: Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 04 November 2015, 09:16:15 PM: I don't think they'll reach GW levels but... they do seem to be headed down a similar path.

The whole gates of antares pushing for one....after pretty much ages of no advertising, don't get me wrong it certainly interests me but take for example the new boxed set, it's too expensive to justify which bothers me as the exclusive Ghar mini is something i'd love to have...I feel like they are creating some artificial demand for people that are interested in Ghar but don't want to miss out on the ''once in a life time'' mini.

The articles have gotten more commercial, take the usmc one by Rich Dando, don't get me wrong a great article but at the same time annoying,he works there and has access to all the bits so OF COURSE he can do all these amazing/unique little conversions, as it turns out we the ordinary customer no longer have the same option(when we did only a few months ago).

''On the other hand, it's probably true that custom orders do cause problems and confusion for a company that's grown well beyond the "garage industry"/"vanity business" level where most other miniatures companies are positioned.''

To be fair it was never a garage industry, the smaller companies it snapped up where though.

I may be ranting slightly but tbh the whole thing today plus the things I have noticed have put a sour taste in my mouth.
Title: Re: Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: syrinx0 on 05 November 2015, 03:24:14 AM: It might depend on who gets your order as well. I have had a few custom orders for my Dacian forces that were handled in a timely and accurate manner by Lorenzo inspite of my mulltiple separate orders. That was only in June so unless they have had a big turn over recently, I wouldn't think it was a new policy.
Title: Re: Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 05 November 2015, 04:03:11 AM: It's funny you should say that as my order was mostly Dacians for a frostgrave warband project(now dead in the water unfortunately) and it was Lorenzo that answered/informed me of the change of policy, I quote his reply to my ticket;

''I'm very sorry but at this time due to the complexity of our range, we are not able to swap or amend items within customer orders.

This means that unfortunately we can no longer undertake requests for product changes and individual components/models as this was causing problems and confusion for our mail order team. It is something we will be looking into further in the future but I'm sure you can appreciate that due to the size and complexity of our current offering (and it's constant expansion) that this will be a significant undertaking. As soon as we have any news on the matter, we'll be certain to make an announcement via our Newsletter, Facebook Page, and Website - so by all means keep watching for news.'

I checked my emails and the last custom order I made was in early July.
Title: Re: (COMMERCIAL) Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Momotaro on 05 November 2015, 04:27:29 PM: Nothing they've done sounds unreasonable. They're a very, very long way from the contempt that GW has for its customers.

The job of a company is not to bust their own asses for their customers, although many people who take pride in their work will do so. A dollar in your pocket doesn't make you king for the day either.
Title: Re: (COMMERCIAL) Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Predatorpt on 05 November 2015, 04:50:26 PM: I remember that they warned about that change in the mail order service, in one of the Bolt Action FB pages. I think it was in August, early September. :?

There was some uproar because of all the custom projects that people were doing, but they said they would implement a new system next year (after the launch of the Antares line and the overhaul of their other lines).
Title: Re: (COMMERCIAL) Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: manic _miner on 05 November 2015, 05:09:39 PM: Well i think that with all of the new lines they have trying to do custom orders will take up lots of staff time.

When anyone releases a new product like the Gates of Antares set you will of course get lots of promotion going into it.My game arrived this week and i love it.Very good value for money.The extra pieces for pre-orders via Warlord are a bonus.A good marketing plan to get more money into the company for future products.

I have now placed an order for another box set too.The Ghar are just a very cool miniatures concept.

For me i think Warlord will be doing very well with the new game.Time will tell.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 05 November 2015, 05:26:11 PM: ''Nothing they've done sounds unreasonable. They're a very, very long way from the contempt that GW has for its customers.''

True, i'd disagree with that latter statement though, contempt implies they care, Gw is more just ignorant.uncaring of it's customer base.

''I remember that they warned about that change in the mail order service, in one of the Bolt Action FB pages. I think it was in August, early September.''

Didn't catch that, never been a big fan of facebook.

Personally I think a lot of it may be down to a case of Warlord biting off more than it can chew with regards to acquiring a heap of new ranges and trying to promote GoA at the same time, i'm hoping things change and am excited about the new Ghar.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: syrinx0 on 06 November 2015, 03:41:05 AM: Guess I got lucky with my order or it was easier to process for some reason.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kamandi on 06 November 2015, 04:17:51 AM: I'm surprised they didn't quietly put Antares on the shelf and invest in launching Doctor Who. A shiny Doctor Who game with good production values would be a winner right out of the gate. Antares, as their own property, might be a bigger money maker eventually but it won't come without years of effort and investment.

There was never a second D&D or a second MtG. There won't be another 40K.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 06 November 2015, 08:14:28 AM: I think Doctor who is a good way off yet, methinks next year at the earliest.

As for Antares they did low key at the start and that didn't really work, just look at their forum section on warlords site, it's been mostly empty for ages.

I agree with the banner, there will not be another 40k...although I don't think that will stop them from trying as they already use bolt action to snatch up the ex-40k crowd.

I want to get into GoA but the costs seem to prohibitive for a game that might not take off, even though it's a bargain £70 is a bit much for a starter set, especially when i'm only interested in one of the armies in it and have zero aesthetic interest for the other.

''Guess I got lucky with my order or it was easier to process for some reason.''

From the xplanation I was given ease of casting/spares kicking about seems to be a big factor.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: manic _miner on 06 November 2015, 10:27:20 AM: It looks like it is doing really well so far.Lots of pre-orders have been going in and now that the proper rules are out more people will be willing to give it a try.

Looks like the Ghar force set is due out soon too.Just seen a post on there Warlord forums.You maybe able to pick up a Fartok miniature as some people have ordered multiple sets.There is a new trading site on FB for Antares stuff.

The new Run Fartok Run scenario on the Warlord site looks like it will be fun.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Rhoderic on 06 November 2015, 05:53:17 PM: Quote from: Kamandi on 06 November 2015, 04:17:51 AM
There was never a second D&D or a second MtG. There won't be another 40K.

Fingers crossed that you're right! I don't want (contemporary) 40K, I'll be happy with Rick Priestley's Beyond the Gates of Antares :)
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kamandi on 09 November 2015, 01:57:04 AM: I'm just being a bit of a cranky old man. I wish Warlord well with BtGoA. I'm just too jaded to get excited about it. I'm more interested in Bolt Action these days.
As a coda my "Won't be another 40K", if there is one game that has captured a piece of the 40K and/or WHFB market it would seem to be Warmachine.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 09 November 2015, 04:07:32 PM: Quote from: Kamandi on 09 November 2015, 01:57:04 AM
I'm just being a bit of a cranky old man. I wish Warlord well with BtGoA. I'm just too jaded to get excited about it. I'm more interested in Bolt Action these days.
As a coda my "Won't be another 40K", if there is one game that has captured a piece of the 40K and/or WHFB market it would seem to be Warmachine.

Market, but not spirit. That game is fucking horrible.

BtGoA seems to capture the spirit of 40k, in large part because of Rick Priestley. He is the Ricksiah.
(http://files-us.myalbum.io/photo/360/tQ/l4/tQl4lq3kzw8d.jpg)
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 09:36:18 PM: That picture is fucking horrible, consider it stolen.

Also ,BtGoA and the terminator just doesn't interest me no matter how hard i try. Kind of seems like warlord are trying too hard to catch up to gw but just aren't really hitting the right targets the GW did when they released 40k and LotR
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 09 November 2015, 10:01:12 PM: Quote from: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 09:36:18 PM
That picture is fucking horrible, consider it stolen.

What! IP infringe... Wait. Enjoy lol

I did that pic a few years ago. Seemed appropriate. :D
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 10:07:33 PM: Quote from: grant on 09 November 2015, 10:01:12 PM
What! IP infringe... Wait. Enjoy lol

I did that pic a few years ago. Seemed appropriate. :D

It now takes pride of place over at oldhammer memes.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 09 November 2015, 10:36:06 PM: Quote from: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 10:07:33 PM
It now takes pride of place over at oldhammer memes.

Wow. I think that gives me some Oldhammer street cred or something. Awesome! lol
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 11:43:28 PM: Quote from: grant on 09 November 2015, 10:36:06 PM
Wow. I think that gives me some Oldhammer street cred or something. Awesome! lol

I'm not too sure, to be honest it's mainly just me pasting pictures of rick over the latest memes.
If anyone wants to set up a warlord memes page that aims to copy me , i fully support that action!
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 10 November 2015, 12:00:26 AM: Quote from: nic-e on 09 November 2015, 11:43:28 PM
I'm not too sure, to be honest it's mainly just me pasting pictures of rick over the latest memes.
If anyone wants to set up a warlord memes page that aims to copy me , i fully support that action!

Well, make sure you credit me in some way. If I can't be famous, I want to be Internet Famous. That's better.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Westfalia Chris on 10 November 2015, 05:22:06 AM: Memetic mutation and digression is not the way of LAF. Please return to the topic at hand.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 10 November 2015, 05:28:31 AM: Right.
So... Warlord, not so bad, just seem very busy, Antares keeping them super busy.

Company growing, maybe custom orders in the futures again.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Kommando_J on 29 November 2015, 03:44:34 AM: I hope so, I love warlords stuff but i'm not made of money and have no real interest in ''massed ranks'' style gaming, I like small custom projects and skirmish gaming/small scale battles.

One thin ive noticed though is the lack of decent articles on their site, the past few weeks have just been recycles of older articles.

I know they put out a call to find hobbyists in Nottingham to come in and do articles in exchange for access to bits and early access to miniatures...not sure how that will pan out though, in theory it sounds good but in practice the hobbyists it's aimed at cannot do many of the conversions without putting down serious cash in order to get access to bits for example the usmc article I cited earlier in this thread
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 29 November 2015, 06:01:42 AM: From their forum:

Re: Logic behind model packs and squad sizes?
Postby admin » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:22 pm
Things are a foot chaps to address this we will have single miniatures available through the web shortly, not all but enough so you can add to you squads. Also keep your eyes open for Friday's newsletter...
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Atheling on 29 November 2015, 12:29:29 PM: Quote from: grant on 29 November 2015, 06:01:42 AM
From their forum:

Re: Logic behind model packs and squad sizes?
Postby admin » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:22 pm
Things are a foot chaps to address this we will have single miniatures available through the web shortly, not all but enough so you can add to you squads. Also keep your eyes open for Friday's newsletter...

Would the Early Wars of Religion (Hicks sculpts) be available in normal pack sizes for anyone who wants larger units?

Well worth considering as having to buy the command again would put customers off ordering more ;)

Darrell.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Major_Gilbear on 29 November 2015, 12:32:27 PM: Well, I asked that question directly regarding Antares; so I'm not sure the reply was aimed at the broader product range. :?

You could always ask about other ranges too?
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Atheling on 29 November 2015, 12:37:00 PM: Quote from: Major_Gilbear on 29 November 2015, 12:32:27 PM
Well, I asked that question directly regarding Antares; so I'm not sure the reply was aimed at the broader product range. :?

You could always ask about other ranges too?

Yeah, I'll drop them an e-mail or phone soon :)

Darrell.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 29 November 2015, 03:45:17 PM: I think their intention is to get over the Antares launch (by all accounts very successful), keep going with their Bolt Action (they can't seem to keep up - not my bag of tea), and then institute the type of selective ordering that we all want.

Seems to be a bad bout of growing pains, probably resolve in a longer better solution eventually.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Darkoath on 14 January 2016, 09:55:02 PM: I just ordered a full set of the mounted and foot commanches a couple of weeks before Christmas. I also had a couple of mdf buildings with that order. The order arrived the week after new year's without any problems. I was actually quite impressed since the mail gets so wonky around the holidays.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: grant on 15 January 2016, 01:46:44 AM: I recently did two orders, and both were very personally served, and the delivery was excellent.

Absolutely zero complaints. Top notch all around.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Atheling on 15 January 2016, 08:35:53 AM: Ordered on the 12th of December, package did arrive in time for X-mas but one of the mini's I wanted to trial paint immediately had a serious miscast. Complained about it straight away (ie opened a ticket) but just received a replacement two days ago on the 13th of January.

I realise that the holidays would have played their part but 23 days to replace one miscast??? Too long for a large business in my opinion.

Warlord should invest in more staff over the holidays to reduce the time for dealing with complaints as well as shipping over the holidays.

I have to say that apart from that incident I've had nothing but good customer service from them.

Cheers,
Darrell.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Wachaza on 15 January 2016, 01:08:08 PM: For a lot of small businesses it's easier to shut down for a fortnight over Christmas/New Year rather than try to operate and heat a building with a skeleton staff who want either overtime or to be off. I'd guess they don't get much demand just after Christmas as well.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Vanvlak on 15 January 2016, 01:10:02 PM: My order, over the same period, arrived quite rapidly (in Malta), Idefinitely can't complain.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Painterz on 25 January 2016, 12:35:42 PM: Their Doctor Who plans just got torpedoed given the BBC aren't releasing a new season of Who this year.

I guess it will be 2017 before they want to launch it, whenever in 2017 the BBC decide to air the next season.
Title: Re: [CONSUMER INFO] Warlord Games foreboding?
Post by: Wachaza on 26 January 2016, 07:39:40 AM: I'd guess they'd launch as fast as they can because the licence will have a time limit on it. Waiting a year or more for the very best time to launch isn't a good use of the licence.