Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Bazaar of Obscurities => Commercial => Topic started by: Yuber Okami on October 21, 2013, 09:52:04 AM
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Moderator Edit Update 2016-09-10
All things seem well with BCB so this thread was taken off the 'sticky' list
Moderator Edit Update 2015-09-17
People report that some new and existing orders have been fulfilled. See pages 21ff. for more details.
Moderator Edit Update 2015-05-01
There are ongoing reports of poor service and dubious behaviour of forum members trying to do business with Black Cat Bases. If you are considering purchasing from this company, you may wish to read this thread to get personal opinions and experience reports from forum members.
To all posters: please refrain from making "statements of fact" unless they can be backed up by evidence. Any speculation should not be presented as fact in the legal sense.
Moderator Edit Update 2014-11-24
Going from official records, it appears that Black Cat Bases were dissolved as a limited company as early as of June 2010, but continued trading.
As of November 2014, their website is offline as well.
MODERATOR EDIT:
We have edited this post to highlight the issue that Black Cat Bases have been unresponsive to orders for a considerable time period. In addition, customers requesting updates have run into walls and had to resort to opening Paypal disputes to reclaim their payments.
In light of these issues, we must assume that Black Cat Bases have essentially stopped trading (also, their UK company registration has apparently elapsed). The fact that they are still taking orders and continue to accept Paypal payments is disconcerting, to say the least. Numerous reports of poor (or rather, no service) have been posted to this thread, which will remain open for people to inform themselves and post updates on their own situation with regard to Black Cat Bases.
Westfalia Chris (Commercial Moderator)
I'm opening this thread as i'm getting desperate. I ordered some miniatures from them in the opening days of september, and, aside from the miniatures never reaching home, they are not answering any of my e-mails (which i sent using three different addresses in order to avoid the spam-qualification problem). Don't know what else can i do
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They're really bad at customer contact at the best of times. They claim this isn't the best of times.
See http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56435.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56435.0)
Once the order I paid for in June arrives, I won't be dealing with them again. >:(
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Very unlike Ben and Jo. Black tree wouldn't suprise me but Black cat...very odd.
:?
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Black Cat Bases have always been one of the most friendly and service aimed companies, as far as I know. However, they've hit a bit of a rough spot with one of them having medical problems and their internet connection being down. Orders have been stacking up, so there is quite the backlog, which they seem to be struggling to work away.
Going with past experience, I'd say that they will come through in the end, but batten down the hatches and don't hold your breath, as I assume it will take quite a bit longer.
I sure hope this will not kill them off as a company, as they're a favourite for many still...
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I have been waiting for an order since june, now I sympathize with their medical and internet problems. I did however try contacting them with phone number they posted on their site back in August. Still no reply.
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Too bad. I hope they'll recover. I noticed they are not at Crisis this year either. I always bought some stuff at their booth and they are a favorite of mine.
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I have a sizable order from August still outstanding.. and like others, no response from email sent.
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Well, balls. I wish I'd known this before I ordered. I've been waiting 3 weeks and had no reply to my emails.
Apparently I have 45 days from date of transaction to file a claim with PayPal. I will be doing so unless I have shipping confirmation.
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Should we? i mean, if they had at least e-mailed us explaining the situation i would not worry even if i were told to wait for six months, but with radio silence on i'm worried about losing my hard-earned money (very, VERY hard-earned money)
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I've been emailing as I want some of their gangers and haven't had any reply.
According to the member profile (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=profile;u=392)they haven't been on LAF since July 3rd.
They've always given exemplary service in the past.
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It`s November and still no reply to my emails.
We all know this is a hobby and not a full time business - stuff happens. But the least you can do if you get in trouble is put up a notice and stop taking orders.
I`m off to file a claim with Paypal. It`s a shame - I was really looking forward to painting up those robots.
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There seems to be a new notice at the company's site, but unfortunately it does not have a date. Anyway, it seems that one of the owners is very ill. I will have more patience with this issue (and hope Ben gets better)
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That message has been up for quite some time.
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I understand Ben is still very ill.
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My wife asked me to look into this, since one of my birthday presents hadn't arrived ...
... with luck it will be a Christmas present, I suppose!
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My wife asked me to look into this, since one of my birthday presents hadn't arrived ...
... with luck it will be a Christmas present, I suppose!
Yeah same here. My birthday present that was ordered on the 11th August. No luck contacting them by phone or e-mail. Hopefully get it this side of christmas but not holding my breath. Ah well, keep trying to contact them I suppose. :'(
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Good news. Black Cat texted me back today. Very apologetic. They say that they've got through most of their orders and the rest will be complete in next fortnight. Was good to hear after everyone is struggling to get in touch with them. :D
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Woohoo.
And hopefully that is a sign that their health issues have taken a turn for the better...
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Good news. Black Cat texted me back today. Very apologetic. They say that they've got through most of their orders and the rest will be complete in next fortnight. Was good to hear after everyone is struggling to get in touch with them. :D
God bless you!!!
Really hope Ben has got better, too
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That is the best news for a long time!
Hopefully this will see the end of this chaos and is a sign of Black Cat Bases and Ben is ok again!
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That is good news. I may reorder if people confirm receipt of their orders.
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The last notice posted on their website states that Ben is back at home. Hope everything goes back to normal once and for all
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Thank goodness. They deserve a second chance. Good folks.
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Glad to hear things are on the mend with these guys; their service has always been excellent before.
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Nonetheless, they have yet to contact me. I tried to send them another e-mail but it has not been answered so far. Could anyone who has been answered send them an e-mail on my behalf? i can give you the details via pm
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I made an order on the 27th of October and have had nothing since the confirmation email. I hope something happens soon.
Dan.
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Good news. Black Cat texted me back today. Very apologetic. They say that they've got through most of their orders and the rest will be complete in next fortnight. Was good to hear after everyone is struggling to get in touch with them. :D
Did anything come of this? Did your order arrive?
I'm still waiting for one from June.
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Why would anyone order from this company? They sound truly awful :?
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I had good service the first time that I had made an order with them but forgot about this thread when I made my second order. I hope it's just a one off problem for them.
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I've never had a problem with them before and can only surmise that their current problems are exceptional. They're just a small hobby outfit with few resources so they are badly affected by things like illness. I have no connection with the company by the way, I'm just hoping they get back on their feet, especially as I want to order some deep ones.
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I've never had a problem with them before and can only surmise that their current problems are exceptional. They're just a small hobby outfit with few resources so they are badly affected by things like illness.
Yes, but knowing they have problems, I don't see why they persist in taking new orders. The whole 'we hope to sort out past orders within a fortnight' line has been going on for months...
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Yes, but knowing they have problems, I don't see why they persist in taking new orders. The whole 'we hope to sort out past orders within a fortnight' line has been going on for months...
A fair point there. :)
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Still waiting for my order to show up...
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Despite the apparent burst of activity, we've heard nothing either.
It is a shame. Fortunately for me there's no time pressure, but still, it's a little frustrating not to have heard anything at all.
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I have received a "Order shipped" mail with a short apology. I'll let you know if it finally shows up.
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My order from june second is still showing its processing, still no word from them.
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Still no word on, or sign of, my August order...
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BCB are now working through the back orders and getting them out. Illness is still an issue, however. Real life, I'm afraid.
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Yeah, not heard anything further I'm afraid. Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up. Thought it was a really positive sign after reading that people weren't able to get in touch with them at all.
I have received a "Order shipped" mail with a short apology. I'll let you know if it finally shows up.
Fingers crossed mate.
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BCB are now working through the back orders and getting them out. Illness is still an issue, however. Real life, I'm afraid.
Some sort of communication would go a long way towards mitigating the damage they are doing to their reputation in this period though.
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They really appear to be doing everything wrong.
They continued to take orders that they couldn't fill, they didn't communicate their status and offer people the opportunity to place the order at a later date and they are still not updating their site or the people in their order queue as to the status of orders and the company.
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Why would anyone order from this company? They sound truly awful :?
In their favour they do have a uniquely eclectic range of frankly bizarre models that often look better in hand than they do in the photos on their site. Additionally, I have found them decent people to deal with too, if a little slow on the turnaround at the best of times.
Im waiting for a very small order (two figures and a sprue of weapons) since August, but its not "urgent" as these things go. I do want to eventually get the order though. I also hope that the damage that this delay has done to BCBs image doesnt cause them to go under. Stockists with such unique and varied ranges are few and far between.
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I'd love to order from them. Some nice characterful miniatures and very efficient and friendly service up until this latest episode.
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I am also waiting and hoping they will get back again. I still have lots of things I want to order. But untill something happens I guess it is better to wait.
I am willing to give them a second chance, if they eventually get the back orders sent out.
Their service used to be so great and all... This really is a shame and I completely understand that people get upset by no replies and such.
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Yeah, not heard anything further I'm afraid. Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up. Thought it was a really positive sign after reading that people weren't able to get in touch with them at all.
Fingers crossed mate.
It arrived today!
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It arrived today!
Good news. At least they're definitely picking, packing and posting them. :D
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Any one else had a recent result with their orders - other than Yuber Okami ?
I was thinking of ordering some pigs and chickens to populate a Hamlet for a Vietnam project but having watched this thread grow I'm having second thoughts about ordering from them - unlike some other members who have ordered and are in no particular rush for their items I dont want to have to wait months for my figures.
Regards
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Still no luck here. :'(
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I emailed them regarding my order and got no response and had to actually raise a dispute with Paypal to get an email from them. Even then I haven't heard back from Jo in over a week.
I totally understand that they are probably swamped with business but the way they have handled this has really only made the situation worse.
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I was thinking of ordering...
Likewise, I just keep an eye on this thread hoping for a biz-as-usual post or two.
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Im still waiting on my August order. Its only a couple of miniatures, but thats not the point really.
The depressing thing is that I would have ordered from then again since if there had been any sign of life :(
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Mmmmm the responses to my question aren't looking too favourable at the moment.
I've ordered from them before with no difficulties (early 2013), as has been said they do some diverse and off the wall figs that you just cant get any where else and this milarky is such a shame as its bound to effect their reputation and peoples trust and could so easily been avoided by a simple post here on LA by them (or emails to waiting gamers) !
Regards
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I know it's not a perfect situation but personally I'm hoping Ben gets better as soon as possible, the hobby isn't as important as a positive resolution of his health problems.
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I've ordered from them before with no difficulties (early 2013)...
As have I. Which is why I didn't hesitate to order this time. Its one thing to keep your business open when there is a health issue but I really wish that they had been upfront about that and made it apparent when I ordered that they were months and months behind in their orders.
I've had to rework a Kult for VuK and put another project on hold.
These are absolutely minor issues when compared with people's health and I really do hope that everyone is soon doing well and they get their business back in order but I am rather resentful that they took my money fully aware that they were not going to be able to fulfil my order in anything approaching a timely fashion.
I made four orders all on the same day from four different sellers and I have received all three of the other orders. Hopefully I can get a refund on my order so I can get the figures I want for another source.
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Has Black Cat come back online again?
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I see the their home page lists "new releases for January". Is this January 2014? The notice above about illness is several months old. I'd really like to hear some good news so I can re-place my order from back in the fall.
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I see the their home page lists "new releases for January". Is this January 2014? The notice above about illness is several months old. I'd really like to hear some good news so I can re-place my order from back in the fall.
I had the same question myself.... I wasnt sure what 'January' the notice was for...
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I had the same question myself.... I wasnt sure what 'January' the notice was for...
That is an automatic feature of their shopping cart software - if you look at the products you'll see that they aren't new
Mike
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I wonder what has happened... BCB has always provided me with BEST customer service I've had from a net store. This is not like them at all :/
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That is an automatic feature of their shopping cart software - if you look at the products you'll see that they aren't new
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thanks for posting up. I had read that you had suffered some health issues in the recent past and that you had to slow down BCB for a bit, I hope that you're doing better healthwise. This is far more important that toys and stuff. I just wasnt sure where BCB's status was as of today and if it was feasible to place an order to receive in a timely manner now that you may be caught up.
Best regards,
Erik
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for posting up. I had read that you had suffered some health issues in the recent past and that you had to slow down BCB for a bit, I hope that you're doing better healthwise. This is far more important that toys and stuff. I just wasnt sure where BCB's status was as of today and if it was feasible to place an order to receive in a timely manner now that you may be caught up.
Best regards,
Erik
Mike is Black Hat Miniatures. Is he anything to do with Black Cat Bases? They have totally separate and distinct websites. You have me slightly confused with this post.
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Mike is Black Hat Miniatures. Is he anything to do with Black Cat Bases? They have totally separate and distinct websites. You have me slightly confused with this post.
Aye Plynkes has the right of it gents Mike is a different company
http://www.blackhat.co.uk/
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Mike is Black Hat Miniatures. Is he anything to do with Black Cat Bases? They have totally separate and distinct websites. You have me slightly confused with this post.
Thanks for the catch! I wasnt reading close enough between 'bases' and 'miniatures'. Sometiems I've heard them called just 'Black Cat'. I appreaciate you clearing that up for me.
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Thanks for the catch! I wasnt reading close enough between 'bases' and 'miniatures'. Sometiems I've heard them called just 'Black Cat'. I appreaciate you clearing that up for me.
Black hat do have some cracking miis mind you ;)
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Has Black Cat come back online again?
I had an order that I had to contest via Paypal. They got ahold of me after my initial complaint and suggested a refund but that was sadly the last I heard and I eventually had to escalate the issue to get a refund.
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For those wishing the raise the issue, this UK-based company is subject to The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, which include the following -
Performance
19. (1) Unless the parties agree otherwise, the supplier shall perform the contract within a maximum of 30 days beginning with the day after the day the consumer sent his order to the supplier.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), where the supplier is unable to perform the contract because the goods or services ordered are not available, within the period for performance referred to in paragraph (1) or such other period as the parties agree (“the period for performance”), he shall—
(a)inform the consumer; and
(b)reimburse any sum paid by or on behalf of the consumer under or in relation to the contract to the person by whom it was made.
(3) The reference in paragraph (2)(b) to any sum paid on behalf of the consumer includes any sum paid by a creditor who is not the same person as the supplier under a personal credit agreement with the consumer.
(4) The supplier shall make the reimbursement referred to in paragraph (2)(b) as soon as possible and in any event within a period of 30 days beginning with the day after the day on which the period for performance expired.
(5) A contract which has not been performed within the period for performance shall be treated as if it had not been made, save for any rights or remedies which the consumer has under it as a result of the non-performance.
(6) Where any security has been provided in relation to the contract, the security (so far as it is so provided) shall, where the supplier is unable to perform the contract within the period for performance, be treated as never having had any effect and any property lodged with the supplier solely for the purposes of the security as so provided shall be returned by him forthwith.
(7) Where the supplier is unable to supply the goods or services ordered by the consumer, the supplier may perform the contract for the purposes of these Regulations by providing substitute goods or services (as the case may be) of equivalent quality and price provided that—
(a)this possibility was provided for in the contract;
(b)prior to the conclusion of the contract the supplier gave the consumer the information required by regulation 7(1)(b) and (c) in the manner required by regulation 7(2).
(8) In the case of outdoor leisure events which by their nature cannot be rescheduled, paragraph 2(b) shall not apply where the consumer and the supplier so agree.
The relevant trading standards department is that of the Hampshire County Council - http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards.htm (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards.htm)
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Being in the states not sure what my options could be.my order is now close to eight months over due. Still have not recieved any word from their end.. >:(
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Too bad, with their website message and new products added, I'd have assumed they were trying to get their operations back on track.
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I've tried phoning them twice - no answer.
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Strange that the site is still up. And very unfortunate for people who shelled out money and got no product. I'm glad I tried here first before I ordered.
That's why I posted my bad experience with MasqMini in Nov/Dec. It's important to let people know when they have a really bad experience so others dont repeat it. FYI, still nothing in the post :P
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Well, I just looked up when I ordered which was in October, and decided to ask them if the order was likely to be posted at some stage? I wont be holding my breath as I wait for a reply.
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This is so sad, as I have seen them at shows and ordered online. In the past they were ace, and orders always arrived with a free cat. I can only think that something catastrophic has happened.
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This is so sad, as I have seen them at shows and ordered online. In the past they were ace, and orders always arrived with a free cat. I can only think that something catastrophic has happened.
It did. They weren't able to process orders, cast or redo moulds for months. But they kept taking orders. I have to assume that they thought that the illness wouldn't be as long lasting or serious as it turned out to be but at some point they should have shut down their store and stopped taking orders.
I've got nothing but sympathy for them and I sure wouldn't have wanted to be in that position but I think they currently just have way, way too much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it.
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Still waiting on my order from last August...
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Result.
I raised a PayPal dispute and the stuff arrived today with an apology and a 15% off next purchase.
Reason is 'very severe and unexpected ill health'.
This is now stated on their website:
http://blackcatbases.com/
Hopefully all will be well.
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I'll wait a bit longer for them to get çaught up
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Very bad news about the continueing health problems. But good news that they are trying to get back on foot and not closing down Black Cat for good.
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Very bad news about the continueing health problems. But good news that they are trying to get back on foot and not closing down Black Cat for good.
Yes on both counts. Hopefully I will see my August order at some point soon. I will reassess if and when that happens.
Fingers crossed. I hate to see small, eclectic manufacturers like BCB having difficulties. When manufacturers of these sorts of ranges go under - for whatever reasons -the whole hobby suffers.
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Yes on both counts. Hopefully I will see my August order at some point soon. I will reassess if and when that happens.
Fingers crossed. I hate to see small, eclectic manufacturers like BCB having difficulties. When manufacturers of these sorts of ranges go under - for whatever reasons -the whole hobby suffers.
Agreed!
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Just had an email to say that my order from late december has been dispatched....
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I received my order placed in December today along with an explanatory note from Jo, free cats and a discount code for future purchases.
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Curious that folks ordering after me are getting theirs sent and still no word on mine :-[
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Curious that folks ordering after me are getting theirs sent and still no word on mine :-[
Then contact Ben and Jo again, I'm sure this isn't intentional.
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:D I got the e-mail today too regarding my order from August. Dispatched. :D
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I too have just received confirmation of an order from early July being just dispatched.
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Just got my order and damn these are nice minis. thought they were nice looking at the site but they look so much nicer in person (so to speak). I got the 10 random deep one hybrids and they sent me 12 which is nice. I also got Lovecraft and his cat version 1 and they sent me an extra hand/weapons sprue. I'm very pleased. :D
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Great news that they seem to be coming through and catching up!
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Still waiting on my (or more accurately my wife's, since it was a birthday present) order from October, but I'm pleased to hear things seem to be starting back up again!
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Still no joy on my August 2013 order...
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Still no joy on my August 2013 order...
Ditto. I got in touch via their contact form a couple of weeks ago, seeing as things seem to be moving again to an extent, but no response.
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Any updates on how fast orders are being dealt with now? I really want to buy some stuff from BCB but don't want to have to wait months to get my order completed.
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Yeah, I'd like to order some things but I'm really nervous, at least until the people in this thread have gotten some resolution.
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I ordered in the fall, tried 4 times to contact by email, received no replies, requested and received a refund by PayPal.
In January I received a shipping notice but have not gotten anything by mail in the last 6 weeks.
If the package arrives I'll happily pay for it - but I'm not holding my breath.
If and when I hear they are up and running again I'll might re-order. But not yet. (10 March 2014).
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No, still waiting for the order from last June...
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An order which I placed at the beginning of February has arrived. There was a note of apology with it for the delay, due to re-occurring severe ill health. It states that all the back-orders are now going out. There was also a discount code for 15% off my next order.
So it looks like they might be back in business.
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That's good news... :)
but my August 2013 order is still outstanding... :(
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Oi :o, wished I had read this Thread earlier :(. Just placed an order with them for the first time.
Lets hope they manage, lovely stuff but in no way I am going to wait that long, I don`t have that kind of money.
Of course I wish them well and I too hope that his health gets better but that doesn`t appologize for taking money from people and not delivering.
I cross my fingers for myself.
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I think that I should ring Visa and see if I can get a refund. I am contemplating moving and have had no response to my email from them, so the likelihood of actually getting anything seems remote.
Oh, ok I will wait till the end of the month to see if anyone has been supplied yet. ::)
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I contacted them twice now since I am rather nervous after having read all those Threads over the Net. Wished I hat known all this earlier but I had heard only good things prior to this. No response so far, not even an order confirmation or an Order History in my account.
I hope they get back to me fast or I will leave the ship as soon as possible, I was burned bad in the past, never again.
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Sadly i made an order a few days ago without having reading this thread before. I wont wait a lot, if i dont get my package in a month i will raise a refund with paypal.
I can understand that the most important thing in life is health, but if you cannot carry your bussiness you should close the shop until everything is sorted. I have sent them an email will tell you if i receive any kind of answer.
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My emails have gone unanswered...
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I logged into my account and found that my order is showing "processing", whatever that means?
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Mine has been on processing for six days now. I think every order shows that way right now, Its an automatic update once they receive the money.
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Hi all, first post here by which I intend to vent my spleen, grind my axe, and express my frustration over the black cat bases shopping experience which I am slightly (dis)heartened to find myself being not the only one who feels a bit let down by this whole debacle and extremely p!$$ poor customer service.
I had made a purchase with Black Cat Bases Ltd for a couple of miniatures (order no. 2418 if you happen to be reading owner of black cat bases! ) which had been confirmed from themselves on 22nd of February 2014. So far so good.
After repeated attempts to contact them by email by what is now mid-April,I have proceeded with trying to get them to correspond by opening up a Paypal dispute to inquire as to whether my order will ever materialise in the near future and be dispatched, or my monies returned, which had been opened up over a week ago. Come the 16th of this month it would've been over 2 weeks (which I feel to be adequate time in a business context) since the dispute will be opened, by then I will escalate to Paypal which I then believe Paypal will just give me a refund.
Either way very disappointed with Black Cat Bases because I would've liked to receive my order and/or hear a peep from them. They have a unique range of miniatures which I would've liked to own some part of, and I would've rather received them late with an apology rather than a straight refund.
The owners do have my sympathies re: poor health and internet connectivity, information which they have precluded upfront on their website and have done so since Oct 2013 by my reckoning.
A further scouring of past posts on forums such as these from Black Cat Bases indicate this poor health issue might have something to do with achilles tendon surgery concerning one of the owners which is very painful and debilitating (ouch), which can affect the issue of making up orders, clearing their backlog etc. If this is why they cannot cast miniatures to order I understand that. I wish this was made clearer, and that their online business would've been temporarily shut instead or taking orders and receiving monies they never intend to make good on, and waste my time, their time, everybody's time!
However the issue of internet connectivity is something I find highly suspect. This is mainly 2 reasons, the first being that their black cat bases ltd website seems to be updated monthly, showing the latest products for the month. Secondly black cat bases sell stuff on ebay online with great regularity and are highly rated sellers, with items still on sale at the moment.
Why are black cat bases able to continue to make good on their orders on ebay but not on their website? Puzzling indeed. Worst of all their ebay sales are from a.n.other gaming miniatures systems, but not of their own unique range which I would've loved to have purchased via ebay if I were able to.
The whole experience from buying via black cat bases ltd website has been one big disappointment, despite what I had read in the past regarding the reliability and enjoyability of miniatures and orders from previous customers, it seems like that is firmly in the past.
If anyone reads this and are one of the lucky few who have finally received their long awaited order, I envy you. For the rest of us, I for one would definitely never advocate purchasing anything from black cat bases ltd.
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Hello. I won't try to defend all these claims, since I clearly can not anymore. But I won't to comment on a couple of them though.
1. The monthly updating is, as far as I can see, something the webshop is doing by itself. The updates show old releases and not any new releases at all. So I would think it is something automatic in the shop software.
2. As far as I know BCB don't have an email shop? If I am wrong then please provide me a link, as I would want to look at that myself. I do know however that other Ebay shops/Sellers do sell Black Cat Bases items and these sellers might have things in stock from before these things hapened.
I hope this might clear up some stuff. Even though at this time I would think the most reasonable thing to do for BCB would be to close down shop untill backlog was cleared.
I still have my hopes up.
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Hello,
1. re: monthly updating, that might well be the case.
2. re: ebay (UK) shop check out their links here:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/War-Gaming-Miniatures
http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=jo8673
(Seller is 'jo8673', highly rated, same logo and introduction re: Simba, links back to black cat bases website, etc, so clearly these are the same peoples)
To reiterate, I wish their ebay shop did sell the miniatures that I wanted featured in their blackcatbases.com catalogue, I would've bought them in a heartbeat. Alas they don't, but still they've been buying and selling stuff on ebay for the past 7 months so perhaps 'internet connectivity' is more to do with their actual webpage/shop since their ebay trading is completely unaffected.
In any case I completely agree with you, if they are unable to make good on their orders their website/shop should be closed. Until then I will have to await a response and/or escalate dispute with Paypal to get my money back.
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As you can see they arent almost selling miniatures on their ebay shop. Mostly used books and what it seems to be leftover stocks. So their internet works.
As far as i know you have to wait 45 days to ask for a refund with paypal. So i have to wait 37 days. Im pretty sure thats what in the end i will do cause i dont think they will answer my emails or send me the miniatures.
¿Has anyone tried to send a message to them using ebay?
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As you can see they arent almost selling miniatures on their ebay shop. Mostly used books and what it seems to be leftover stocks. So their internet works.
As far as i know you have to wait 45 days to ask for a refund with paypal. So i have to wait 37 days. Im pretty sure thats what in the end i will do cause i dont think they will answer my emails or send me the miniatures.
¿Has anyone tried to send a message to them using ebay?
No mate, you need to do this BEFORE 45 days hits. Not after. If you wait 46 days youre SOL.
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Viciouscircle,
Just replying to you as well, concerned about your comment re: waiting for 37 more days. I urge you check out this link:
https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/buyer-protection
Quote from paypal regarding buyer protection:-
"Buyers must raise a dispute within 45 days of a single PayPal payment for the full price of the item. If no satisfactory response is received from the seller, a claim must be filed within 20 days of raising the dispute."
You do NOT have to wait 45 days to ask for a refund with paypal. You MUST raise a dispute with paypal within 45 days, after which you must escalate within 20 days, otherwise you'd lose your claim and your monies will evaporate. (unless of course you've also paid by credit card, which would have a further degree of protection).
I am also assuming that Blac Cat Bases' internet connection does work due to the healthy activity of their ebay sales account, and also that they are able to make good on their ebay orders based on positive feedback they've been getting the past 7-8 months (compare with negative feedback on online forums just by doing a quick google search of the following words "contact black cat bases". Wish I had done this before buying anything from their website now!)
As their ebay sales account and therefore paypal account must be in good working order, there really is no need to get in touch with them via ebay, as going through paypal will work just fine (otherwise their ebay shop wouldn't work either and they'd have a bunch of unhappy ebay customers with negative ratings. Don't see any of those). Therefore, I can only assume they are ignoring my emails and adopting the 'ostrich' business strategy of burying their heads in the sand and refusing all efforts of basic communication. Emphasis on "assume" of course, as I will be willing to consider an explanation, an apology, anything! as whatever patience I once had it has now run out.
Why they are doing this instead of just shutting the shop down I can only speculate, insinuate, and vent my displeasure and disappointment, skirting dangerously close to libel and slander, so I cannot comment further I hear from them, receive my order, or get my refund.
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I see about the Ebay shop now, I wasn't aware of that.
About the internet problems. I think they did have internet problems in the past, but I don't think it is the case anymore. I would think the main problems for contact now would probably be a huge baglog of mails and orders, which might be a complete chaos and overwhelming.
I ceartainly hope they will eventually come around and get everything sorted out. I really wish to order from them again in the future, but right now I need to see more positive feedback from people.
It is great to see that some people do get their orders and all, but it is kind of heartbreaking to see how others apparently still get totally ignored.
To end I can only send more best wishes to BCB and the best of luck to anyone with outstanding orders.
Everyone please keep us updated. I for one is very interested to hear both good and bad experiences and wait impatiently for the day when only the good are left again.
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Thanks for the clarification, guess i will wait until the end of this week and then if theres no answers o updates on my "processing order" i will start the refund with paypal. I dont want to wait for months from my miniatures to arrive and not being able to know if i will ever receive them.
Btw menziestank my order is number 2460 and yours is 2418. So there are at least 42 persons i suppose in the same situation as ours.
If they can enter their ebay account, they can enter this forum and say something about our orders. They can access their email. So no excuses for me about internet issues.
I know small bussiness arent amazon. You dont get a minute based report about your order, but at least they should be able to tell the costumers whats happening and if they cannot even do that, just close the shop until things are sorted.
Sadly for them, i guess a lot of people are now aware of whats happening.
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Btw menziestank my order is number 2460 and yours is 2418. So there are at least 42 persons i suppose in the same situation as ours.
At least. My order from last August is #2205. Its not a very large order - just two miniatures and a sprue or two of weapons - but thats not really the point.
Very disappointing.
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An update:
Well well well...
After opening the dispute on paypal to force Black Cat Bases to account, and posting on this forum to express and share my frustration to other fellow miniatures enthusiasts, guess what surprise I got via my personal email and my BCB ltd account this noon (Monday, 14th April 2014)?
"... Date Ordered: Saturday 22 February, 2014
The comments for your order are: Hi, sorry for the delay which has been due to ill health, your parcel is now on the way. My sincere apologies. Jo
Your order has been updated to the following status:
New status: Dispatched... "
:o
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for customers awaiting their orders as BCB clear their backlog? Or will I be one of the lucky 'Chosen Ones' (see: squeaky wheel + grease).
I'll await receipt of this long-awaited delivery when (or 'if') it arrives as Paypal have given me until next week (Wed 23rd April 2014) to escalate the dispute, otherwise it will be closed in the seller's favour. If it doesn't turn up before then (which is ample time for a 1st class small packet delivery within the UK, 1-2 working days) despite being marked as 'dispatched' I will have no choice but to escalate this and claim my refund* as being within my consumer rights.
*Note: I must state that in the event that said items do not materialise before I claim my refund, but appear as if by magic after I get my money back I will provide to BCB Ltd the monies they are owed as a matter of course.
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Glad to see that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. When did you open the dispute on paypal? Asking because maybe that forced them to move. Please keep us informed if you finally receive your miniatures.
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My order purchase was dated, paid for and confirmed by Black Cat Bases Ltd on 22nd February 2014, paid by Paypal.
I opened a non-received dispute with Paypal on 3rd April 2014, (therefore 29 working days since ordering & paying for it)
I sent 2 messages on the 3rd of April and subsequently on the 9th of April, stating I would escalate on the 16th and demand a refund.
I have received this dispatch confirmation today 14th April 2014 (therefore 36 working days since ordering & paying for it), and will escalate the dispute to Paypal on 23rd April 2014 if I haven't received the items yet.
I will report back as soon as I have received items, but a bit saddened that I had to kick up a fuss in the first place for what seemed to be a routine transaction. Good luck to everyone else with your orders/items too.
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Do what you have to do.
I've ordered a lot of stuff over the years from various people and I've had to open Paypal disputes twice. That gets 'em moving because Paypal will drop them if they get too many complaints. Paypal employees are constantly dealing with fraud and they do take action.
Unlike the bastards who own Kickstarter- I'd like to baseball bat the owner's knees :)
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Do what you have to do.
I've ordered a lot of stuff over the years from various people and I've had to open Paypal disputes twice. That gets 'em moving because Paypal will drop them if they get too many complaints. Paypal employees are constantly dealing with fraud and they do take action.
Unlike the bastards who own Kickstarter- I'd like to baseball bat the owner's knees :)
For KS, just use your credit card dis[pute. I ordered heads from Mimic and they totally dropped the ball. I got my money back a few days ago.
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So if I want to order from Black Cat- I need to order, wait a month, then file a Paypal claim, and then they will send it. :)
Still might be faster than Armorcast and Zombiesmith lol
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Unfortunately, I didn't learn about the health issues, etc, until well after the PayPal dispute period had ended. My August 2013 order of almost $200 is still in limbo...
Just sent them a message via eBay's contact seller link... we'll see if anything comes of it.
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At least. My order from last August is #2205.
And mine 2152...
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omg you guys have been, and are still awaiting your orders, from that long ago? (August = 8 months and still outstanding?).
That is outrageous, simply unacceptable on the part of Black Cat Bases. >:(
I know paypal have the 45-day dispute period and seemingly do not even give people the option to file a claim once past the 45-day period, so you might have to seek recourse with either your credit card provider (if you have purchased via your credit card) or own local trading standards body (UK), or Better Business Bureau / Federal Trade Commission (if you're American), or similar equivalent consumer protection body (elsewhere).
If all else fails, you might have to get in touch with Hampshire Country trading standards (Black Cat Bases are based in Hampshire, UK) and write a strongly worded complaint.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards.htm
In any case if buying via paypal i would normally expect at latest 1-2 weeks from purchase to delivery as standard, and the 45-day paypal yardstick I would assume to be at the stretch of most people's patience, simply because once past this limit you are now at a severe disadvantage in terms of successfully clawing your money back.
If I were you guys who have been still awaiting items since February 2014 or even longer ago, and BCB don't even begin to offer a refund (I'd say an apology is insufficient) I'd be shouting about this from the bleedin' rooftops!
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Quote from: cheetor on April 14, 2014, 04:47:16 AM
At least. My order from last August is #2205.
And mine 2152...
Mine is between these two...
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Hello all,
Final update:
Further to my dispatch confirmation and message of apology from Black Cat Bases the other day, I have indeed finally received my items today through the post via UK 1st class recorded delivery (which I had to sign for from the postman this morning).
Thanks to all for putting up with my long posts previously, good luck to everyone else still awaiting their orders.
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Good news for me as well. I just got an email to say my order (from August I think) has been dispatched.
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I have just contacted paypal about my order. Dont want to wait for months until they send me the miniatures if they ever do. Will keep you updated.
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Still no change on my order from last june...no responses, even when I demanded a refund back in nov. I believe it was.
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For that reason i wont wait anymore. My order was just made 15 days ago but any other shop in the world would have shipped my products, blackcatbases doesnt answers my emails and messages throught web email, their own website and ebay and wont do it until paypal contacts them. If they send me the goods, fine thats what i want. If not, i will ask for a refund and end fo the story.
Its sad cause they have a lot of things im interested in, but for sure, no matter how this ends, i wont buy from them again.
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Hi viciouscircle, I would've though that contacting them via ebay 'contact seller link' (as pacarat has done, many posts up) might work as a longshot, would be interesting to know if this was successful, which it wasn't in your case.
Do keep us informed if the method of opening a dispute, then informing BCB of your intent to escalate the dispute in X days time (X being their 'last chance' length of time you will reasonably wait to see if they will make good your order, in my case it was almost 14 days), and see if this will provoke action on their part, like it did with me.
Also wondering if Dan did finally receive his items, as he received an email from BCB confirming dispatch.
For others e.g. Grimrod, Cheetor, Diplomatist, Pacarat, etc, if jumping up and down and making an absolute fuss to Black Cat Bases about your still-outstanding orders, I don't really know what else you can do apart from ensuring you have copies of invoices, receipts and/or other proof of purchase, and take this matter up with your credit card provider, paypal, trading standards, better business bureau, etc, for advice.
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Thread on TMP with an interesting response from Moonfleet Miniatures:
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=342986
Also some history on TMP:
Moonfleet, if you know them personally then they really need to put some effort into damage control. A message on the website and dealing with the fallout on the LAF thread would help them enormously. As it stands years of getting a good reputation are being wasted.
In this hobby people will understand illness but not sticking a few messages around advising of likely delays is doing long term damage to their reputation. On TMP alone,
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=322443
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=322889
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=319037
I've always found their service excellent and their unique range of products great. Hope they can sort it out.
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Hi, I received my order today with an offer of a 15% discount on my next order and a note of apology.
However given that the following note has been on the website for a month or so.
"I apologise for the delay on dispatch of orders, this has been due to severe and unexpected ill health. Also our internet has been down for a long period of time and so I have been unable to access anything! Ben is now home from the hospital making it possible for me to cast orders while looking after him. We would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we have had problems. This is most unlike us especially for any length of time. You will receive confirmation once your order has been dispatched. Once again my sincere and unreserved apologies!"
I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that people would order and then expect to get prompt turn around on their orders made in the last couple of weeks? ??? :?
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I am still really hoping that they get back on thair feet. I have so much stuff I want from them. But I am going to wait until things have stabilised again.
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I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that people would order and then expect to get prompt turn around on their orders made in the last couple of weeks? ??? :?
What if you don't hit their front page? What if you go directly to a product page?
If you can't fill orders in a timely fashion and you have a huge backlog then the simplest thing to do is shut the site off, post a notice and work on filling your old orders.
Blaming people for not seeing a post on the front page is ignoring the issue of who has the ultimate responsibility for this.
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Blaming people for not seeing a post on the front page is ignoring the issue of who has the ultimate responsibility for this.
Perhaps, but it's toys from a couple of which one half is really ill. It's inconvenient for us, but they're going through the mills at the moment. Maybe cut them some slack?
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Perhaps, but it's toys from a couple of which one half is really ill. It's inconvenient for us, but they're going through the mills at the moment.
It is toys. Its also people's money. And if they have a lot of backorders then it is a lot of money.
They may be in a bad situation but how is continuing to take in orders you can't fill a smart solution? Or even fair to your customers?
They are also not doing themselves any favours in a legal sense since they are in breach of their own terms on their site
Most orders for metal figures are dispatched within 5-7 working days.
Most orders for resin are dispatched within 7-10 working days in our own ranges and within 21 days for Little Green Man items in resin and for clear resin in any range.
Again, it sucks that they are in this situation and I feel for them but the solution to their problem was really simple, they chose not to do it (for whatever reasons, they may even be good reasons) and this situation continues to get out of hand.
Maybe cut them some slack?
I think if you read through my posts I have been more than sympathetic to them and their situation. What I don't have a lot of time for is people being aggressive in their defence of BCB. Blaming people for not seeing a notice on one part of their website is churlish. I've operated, installed and written code for enough e-commerce sites to know that it is simple to post warnings in your checkout section and catalogue pages to inform people of delays.
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I have held off from ordering from BCB for almost a year because of this. I have to say, I'm sympathetic with people being sick. I'm not sympathetic for people being sick AND taking money without the ability to then send the merchandise that was ordered. Also at the risk of sounding hard hearted, this is a business and it is required to act as one. If the store owners are unable to manage and run their business, it seems questionable and possibly illegal to accept customer's money if there is no reasonable expectation that the terms of a sale could be completed. The only point that 'toys' is even relevant is that no one is waiting for medication or some life saving device. But 'toys' is a meaningless excuse for customers essentially cheated out of their money. I can only speak for myself to say that if after a few weeks it was clear I was unable to run my business, I would be very questionable myself if I was still accepting money and taking orders. I also find the 'computer' excuse to be rather thin. Sorry, but gotta call a spade a spade, but in the 21st century in Europe it seems rather implausible that it is true especially if sales are still happening through ebay. No one complaining is saying that they are angry that anyone at BCB got sick and cannot run their shop, they are angry that someone at BCB got sick, they cannot run their shop, but they ARE still accepting orders and money. That's where my sympathy disappeared.
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I have to agree with Too Bo Coo, I think he's summed it up exactly.
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So far, six days after i opened the dispute on paypal i havent received any answer from them in any way i have tried (mail, direct message on the website and even on ebay). Will wait a few days more before asking paypal for a refund. I should do it right now cause i dont think im going to get any kind of answer,
I have to completly agree with Too Bo Coo. While my dispute was opened on 19/04 since that, they have been putting new items for sale on ebay. That means they can access ebay. That means they can see that i have sent them a message via ebay. They still receive positive comments on ebay. So they are sending stuff.
Cant believe some folks still try to defend this situation.
In the meantime they still accept orders throught blackcatbases without any kind of intention of sending the goods. For months. Some folks havent received their stuff dating for more than 8 months now.
Just hope paypal takes some actions to prevent them for continue doing this kind of bussiness. In the other hand, best wishes if they really have some health issues.
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Not reply yet from blackcatbases. Deadline is day 8 or paypal will resolve the issue
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Eeeeerrrgghh.... Well the mention of customers not hitting the front page message, or even NOTICING this thread until after placing a sizable order with BCB applies to me.
I only found out all this after not receiving any responses to my emails and phone texts asking when i can pop over and pick up in person. I only live 20 mins away from them. Maybe I should offer them to part time employ me to take on the brunt of the casting and business needs whilst the illness is endured.
I have total sympathy given the reasons, however I also echo the need to be firmer and clearer about what they can and can't do right now. It MUST be terribly difficult for them, I get that, however the business fallout is reallly really bad without any answered emails or texts...
I don't know what to do really.
I'm actually quite serious about learning to cast the minis for them (If they read this and I can help out with a little renumeration in cash or minis and learning for my time then I'm happy to help out)
My order number is 2475
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yeah....im also one of the members who did not see this toppic OR the message on the webpage before i ordered some stuff at the beginning of last month
because i found a link on google and just had to buy some minis......i guess i learned to do my homework next time and allthough i feel sympathy for them i must say it makes me angry to get no reply at all
and the message on the webpage doesnt even have a date so i dont have any idea what timeframe i have to expect....
and as nobody is reacting to my messages and mails i opened a paypal dispute a week ago but i will have to hand the problem over to paypal in a few days... wich i will do !
dont get me wrong i get that they may not be able to send out stuff BUT ! they could have simply closed down the shop untill the issiues are resolved !
my order is 2452 so there seem to be a lot of other people still waiting !!!
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I contacted Paypal about it and will hopefully get my money Back. I am not going to put up with Stuff like that, there is no appology for their way of handling this matter. I wish them well but do not take my money with opem hands and leave me hanging after that.
I am sorry but f I read that some haven`t gotten any answer to their order in over 8 Months....thats stealing in my Book.
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Dont wait any longer. My order is 2460 and i opened a dispute with paypal on 4/22 that ends on 8/5. I havent got any answers from them, neither paypal so far. I even sent a message using ebay and no answers from there. In the meantime they have been selling and listing new stuff on ebay so i iguess they could have seen my message. Maybe the health issues only applies to things being sold at blackcatbases and not on ebay. So dont waste your time or give them any more time, just open a dispute and recover your money.
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Moonfleet Miniatures is Black Cat Bases correct?
Anyway, somebody using the "moonfleetminis" handle is active on TMP today.
communication problems and illness? not today apparently...
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No, Moonfleet and Black Cat are not the same. But Moonfleet miniatures are sold by Black Cat.
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Recovered my money via Paypal since they didn`t react to their inquries either. Every Way I tried contacting them was ignored, doesn`t leave me with a good picture of their Bussiness.
Sad that it had to come to this.
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So these guys are on their way out?
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received an email stating my order has been dispatched...let ya know when it arrives
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received an email stating my order has been dispatched...let ya know when it arrives
When was your order made Grimrod? If you dont mind sharing it, then what was the order number?
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order number 2103...order placed June second 2013
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Dont wait any longer. My order is 2460 and i opened a dispute with paypal on 4/22 that ends on 8/5.
order number 2103...order placed June second 2013
That is one hell of a backlog of orders.
It does give an idea of just how long you may have to wait, but at least things are moving, albeit very slowly.
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That is one hell of a backlog of orders.
It does give an idea of just how long you may have to wait, but at least things are moving, albeit very slowly.
i dont care...i want my money back
and if i may order there again i will think about it for a long beforehand !
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It does give an idea of just how long you may have to wait, but at least things are moving, albeit very slowly.
It also isnt moving in numerical or chronological order, which increases frustration.
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i dont care...i want my money back
and if i may order there again i will think about it for a long beforehand !
Fair point, not saying that you should not feel that way.
I am just commenting that for those that have gone beyond any time limits, ie. Paypal reclaims etc, that there is hope that you will get what you ordered.
Eventually.
It also isnt moving in numerical or chronological order, which increases frustration.
Hmmm.....not so good.
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It also isnt moving in numerical or chronological order, which increases frustration.
The only contact I had with them mentioned that my order include items that they had to remaster moulds for. That may be a complicating factor in getting orders shipped
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My order from October has been dispatched. However, it was so long ago that I've moved in the interim, so now I have to go back to my old place to see if I can collect it from the landlord.
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I have to say, until I read that people are not only caught up, but orders are being fulfilled in a timely manner for a few months, I just cant take a chance. In fact, in light of an illness, it may not be helpful to add to their 'order mountain' since we are aware...
On a personal note, i do hope they can bounce back both health wise and with their business.
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The only contact I had with them mentioned that my order include items that they had to remaster moulds for. That may be a complicating factor in getting orders shipped
Its possible.
That said, unfortunately nothing really justifies the lack of communications and continued sales despite what appears to be zero fulfillment, remastered moulds or otherwise. I have been very accommodating and patient and have yet to get even an acknowledgement of my attempts to communicate with BCB since last August.
My order is small - under €15 - so I am less concerned than some others when it comes down to it, but the value of the order shouldnt really be the issue anyway. Ho hum.
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My order is small - under €15 - so I am less concerned than some others when it comes down to it, but the value of the order shouldnt really be the issue anyway. Ho hum.
Agreed the Value doesn`t matter when it comes to treating your customers. Its mindboggling. Since AUGUST without an answer!
Like most of us I am sympathetic to their personal issues, but from what I am reading this has been going on for quiete a while and I lack the understanding for how they can`t find some solution.
People even offered their help. They could get some Part Time help to deal with all the emails coming in or Team Up with another Bussiness for the Time being.
Anything.something. If I only heard something from them, even if it had been : "We are sorry this could take 3/6/12 Months since we have so and so many Back orders" or they could finally CLOSE THE STORE DOWN till they have sorted things out.
Be upfront since this are special circumstances, tell the community how many Backorders we are talking about.
But nothing at all doesn`t work for me. I don`t buy into Internet Problems as well, not for 8 Months in the year 2014. They continue to sell stuff via ebay and they met with People in person, why don`t tell them to Post Information on their behalf to migitate the damage.
I understand that People want to defend them and I believe People who tell me that they are likable and trustworthy Persons, but in the end I need to protect myself and my Earnings.
This is about more than "Just Toy Soldiers". I earn my money, I worked for it, as others waiting did. I think its reasonable to ask where that money has gone while I haven`t gotten anything in return, not even a single Line of Reply, Confirmation or Information to my Tries to get in Touch with them.
Is saddens me since I heard so much good about them and I love their Line of Miniatures. and I am no one to rant about something this much usually, but they are really damaging themselves if they continue to deal with this in this manner.
I don`t believe for a second that they are oblivious to this Thread or the ones on TMP, or the messages they are getting, its a conscious decision to deal with this situation they way they are doing it. I get thatt they are probably overwhelmed and in over their head, but there are Solutuions to that. I hope they know what they are doing...
Appologies if I offend someone that knows them personally and I appologize to them also. I do wish them well, but I won`t do Bussiness with them anytime soon.
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I should mention...it appears the obelisk lines have been removed from their site
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I should mention...it appears the obelisk lines have been removed from their site
I'm told that line is going to a German company, hopefully soon.
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I'm told that line is going to a German company, hopefully soon.
It would be good to have them available again.
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I should mention...it appears the obelisk lines have been removed from their site
Great....Not. A large chunk of my Aug 2013 order (# in the 2190s) is from that line of figs.
I sent them a letter by snail mail this week. Hopefully that will generate a response. Dead silence via email and eBay inquiries...
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It could be that they're no longer licensed to sell Obelisk. In a best case scenario they still have the ability to mold them even if they're not in stock, or have an arrangement to keep the molds until they've cleared the backlog.
If that's not the case a responsible seller would have emailed you about the circumstances.
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If that's not the case a responsible seller would have emailed you about the circumstances.
I do think we're sort of past that point now...
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It could be that they're no longer licensed to sell Obelisk.
They aren't. There was an announcement about it a while back
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I also got a full refund from paypal. They didnt even answer to their enquiries. Good luck everyone that is still awaiting for an order. If you are in time, ask for the refund.
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My order arrived yesterday afternoon, and in the matter of giving credit where credit is due. I ordered a few miniatures from the obelisk gangstars line. and to make up the delay they threw in the whole packs those miniatures where from..
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Good news! What was the turnaround time for you? I'm not going to cancel my order though it may take some time I guess.
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My order was placed june 2nd 2013
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My order was placed june 2nd 2013
Wow, that's a Kickstarter style wait :)
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Blimey, well at least they are making good on orders ultimately. But still: blimey. At least the wheels are still moving, both in terms of their business and it indicates they may be on the healing road again. Hope things improve for them.
I have to say though, being a recent returnee to the hobby after 20 years I'm getting used to a certain degree of flakyness in half the orders I've made with companies. Really knacked off to get an email from Wayland Games saying they've had to get some of my order from the manufacturers. WHY THE F*CK WAS IT ON THEIR SITE? FFS. I dunno, maybe that 20 years of ordering anything BUT miniatures got me used to a 3 day turnaround on products marked available on commercial websites. had EXCELLENT service from hasslefree, Avolak, Brother Vinni, NobleKnight and Miniature Empires (ebay) and a few other companies. TritexSports on ebay marked an order as despatched and then emailed to say it wasn't in stock so I got a refund today. I wasted an HOUR looking at that listing. (AARRRGGHHHH)
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It only seems hit n miss at this point..... Still dont trust them at all.
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Anyone got an update on this thread?
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Still waiting on my Aug 2013 order..
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Still waiting on my Aug 2013 order..
???
:'(
:(
And I have some things I wanted to order, too...
Gracias,
Glenn
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I also got a full refund from paypal. They didnt even answer to their enquiries. Good luck everyone that is still awaiting for an order. If you are in time, ask for the refund.
Over the years I have had 5 successful refunds from PayPal and none of the sellers ever responded to PaPal as far as I can tell. Seems to be 'just part of doing business' in some cases.
Grcias,
Glenn
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Still waiting, no communication.... and I really want to add a load of Tcho Tchos and Mi go to my order :'(
Please BCB, please deal with your emails!
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Still nothing... Next month my order will be one year late. Sent a letter by snail mail two months ago - doesnt seem to have had any effect.
~ $200 down the drain...
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Still nothing... Next month my order will be one year late. Sent a letter by snail mail two months ago - doesnt seem to have had any effect.
~ $200 down the drain...
Ouch! That's a horrendous amount of cash to lose! :(
This is inexcusable.....
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I remember them being at Salute a few years back. Most wondrous glass cabinets full of stuff I needed. I have ordered without issue in the past but not for at least 6 months or so.
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Well, my order has now passed the one year mark.
Still no indication they intend to fulfill their obligation.
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Well, my order has now passed the one year mark.
Still no indication they intend to fulfill their obligation.
I'm going to call it: you're SOL.
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Good lord, I can only imagine the kind of state those two have to be in. Poor gits, I'd love to offer a hand in getting orders together (They've been so excellent with my past orders) to try and silence the rabble.
Good to know they're persevering, even if progress is losing to a snails pace.
I'd give them an order for support but it sounds like they have enough to work around. x3
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Who the hell are you calling rabble?
For some of us they've been sitting on our money for over a year with no indication of any action to fulfill their obligations, communicate what's happening or to respond to perfect reasonable approaches. To 'persevere' in such circumstances is pretty damn close to soliciting funds under false pretences and fraud.
The 'state they've got themselves in' is one where they're damn lucky that they're not getting visits from the boys in blue.
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Who the hell are you calling rabble?
For some of us they've been sitting on our money for over a year with no indication of any action to fulfill their obligations, communicate what's happening or to respond to perfect reasonable approaches. To 'persevere' in such circumstances is pretty damn close to soliciting funds under false pretences and fraud.
The 'state they've got themselves in' is one where they're damn lucky that they're not getting visits from the boys in blue.
I agree, The 'rabble' comment does seem quite out of line.....
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Does anyone have a nice gif of discontented rabble? Anyone? Now's the time to deploy it.
Lord Fancypants, 'e is. Rabble... Prfffft.
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(http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/15/152120/2170339-52469-189308-Rabble1jpg-620x.jpg)
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.
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No more rabble-rousing from anyone. Period.
EDIT for clarity:
I would like to ask everyone to remain civil. Substantiated criticism is indeed appropriate, calling folks names is not.
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Is there no one on the forum who knows them personally who might get word to them just for a note of reassurance to LAFers with orders? Not a 'hurry up' prompt - just a "can you you pop by this thread and just let us know that things are still moving forwards and we can feel reassured" kinda deal...
My offer for hands-on help is still on the table too, should they be interested. It's only a short drive away and I'd happily trade some time and effort for the opportunity to learn the casting process :)
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i always pay using paypal, and if i don't reveive my order in 35 days, i'll open a paypal complaint ... ;)
and that's all ...
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Is there no one on the forum who knows them personally who might get word to them just for a note of reassurance to LAFers with orders? Not a 'hurry up' prompt - just a "can you you pop by this thread and just let us know that things are still moving forwards and we can feel reassured" kinda deal...
Rees of Moonfleet Miniatures knows them. I don't think he's a member here- he's on TMP though, where I read a response from him about Black Cat. It was a while ago and may no longer apply.
I needed a few odds and ends a while back to complete some figures I obtained second hand and Moonfleet was helpful and responded quick. Moonfleet had their own site at one point, don't see it now though- which sucks because I want to buy some Moonfleet figures but there's no way I'll order from Black Cat until I see a positive trend for order fulfillment.
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This is a great shame, as there's been a few times I've wanted bits from them. They're not helping by not responding to emails nor answering their phone though.
Obviously I feel sorry for them but typically we're an understanding rabble mob bunch so long as we've some explanation.
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This is a great shame, as there's been a few times I've wanted bits from them. They're not helping by not responding to emails nor answering their phone though.
Obviously I feel sorry for them but typically we're an understanding rabble mob bunch so long as we've some explanation.
Ditto all the way around
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Just wondering if anyone in this thread has recently received their order and what order number they were? Just trying to guage waiting times again, or if things are moving at all, in lieu of any communication.
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Still nothing on my order from August 2013...
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I thought I'd test them, esp. as there's always paypal protection to fall back on.
Order #2610 28/9/14 is still pending, no response to an email a week ago, no response to the raised dispute via paypal on 21/10.
Rather interestingly I had a quick look at the company details for Black Cat Bases Ltd ( Company No. 05594251 ) and noticed it was dissolved some time ago in 15/06/2010, although it's still trading. Paypal account is in that company name, a google brings up that site, etc. Sounds a little naughty. :?
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I think at this point we can call BCB DOA.... Sad, they had so many interesting things that I would buy in a heartbeat.... Jammer! :(
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I think at this point we can call BCB DOA.... Sad, they had so many interesting things that I would buy in a heartbeat.... Jammer! :(
Indeed. They had some really nice pieces :(
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Came across this topic by chance three days to late as I placed an order on Tuesday. I feel like a turkey that's just spotted Bernard Manning staring at him :o
As anyone on here received an order recently? And if there is a valid reason for lack of communication and people not getting what they have paid for then why not catch up and stop taking more people's money in the meantime.
Maybe I'm wrong to criticise as its only been a few days but reading this thread doesn't fill me with confidence.
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Yeah, I feel your pain... some of us have been waiting a year or more.
I didnt ctach this thread until a couple months after I had ordered - too late for paypal redress...
And having their web store still active smacks of fraud...
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I've decided to open a dispute since I've sent several emails but got no reply. Normally I would be patient and wait but after reading this thread I can't see the point in sitting and hoping my order will arrive anytime soon.
Sad as they have lots of great products that I'm interested in.
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I've escalated the issue with PayPal now to get a refund. The fact that I'm order number 2630 and this is going back to at least orders 2100 ish is a disgrace. No Internet access for over a year ::) apparently no mobile signal either ::) how of people's hard earned cash do they have sitting in their PayPal account! Worst experience buying in this hobby so far.
Sort it out!
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Is it possible our moderator can modify this topic title and put it as a sticky stating a warning etc ??? As been 12 months and people are getting caught out perhaps summarise and lock topic as no one seems to be getting anywhere
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Sticky yes, as a warning/notice. Lock, no, just in case something changes...
My .02 Lupins....
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Sticky yes, as a warning/notice. Lock, no, just in case something changes...
My .02 Lupins....
I agree here.... Let's hope this turns into a Comeback Story and BCB comes back from the dead. I think we all agree that that would be a great thing.
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I believe the website stays on because they haven't turned it off. There are serious problems over at BCB. Unfortunately health problems and it's like a drifting ship, it's still there but nobody at the helm.
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Johan - do you know them personally and in a position to talk to them? I'm half tempted to drive over there as i may be too far gone for paypal disputes. I dunno. It bums me out that they can't even send a block email to waiting customers juust to clarify and manage expectations. If I had that, and even if it said I have to wait a year, I'd be cool with that.
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I'm a bit surprised paypal haven't pulled the plug on them.
Very sad they're having problems but as I've said before they need to kill the site shopping card and stick a notice up as this is destroying a very good business drip by drip. If they sold the moulds and gear there's a reasonable business opportunity for an investor to take over which would help everyone but as time rolls on the goodwill is vanishing.
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What about their web site/cart/shop provider?
Someone is still paying that bill, or they'd have been turned off long ago...
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If I had the cash I'd buy them in a heartbeat. No idea where I'd see if they were for sale or for how much though! I'd crank out all those back orders for Laffers though and that's for sure.
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aaaw crap...had some money and thought to maybe give it another try....came here to look if anything changed...sad to see it did not
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Development on my order # 2610 from 28/9/14, I already raised a paypal dispute and there had been no response. BCB had until 15/11 to respond but today, 14/11, they've supplied a tracking number for an item posted on the 14/11.
It gives no address nor an expected delivery date, so it's more wait and see.
Meanwhile on the BCB site in my account it's still listed as "Pending".
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Development on my order # 2610 from 28/9/14, I already raised a paypal dispute and there had been no response. BCB had until 15/11 to respond but today, 14/11, they've supplied a tracking number for an item posted on the 14/11.
It gives no address nor an expected delivery date, so it's more wait and see.
Meanwhile on the BCB site in my account it's still listed as "Pending".
That's positive, but I must say, make sure that if your package does not arrive that you follow up. The reason I write this is that I ordered some items from Masq-Mini. I contacted him after the two week mark, no response. Tried one more time and then after a month with no communication or product, I opened a dispute with paypal. He contacted me an hour or so later and claimed that the items shipped, than contacted me the same day to say they were returned and he would send them out again. I left the paypal open. 2 more weeks, no product, but here is the kicker, he provided Paypal a postage receipt. They closed the case in his favor saying that he provided a receipt. When I ran the tracking number it came back to nothing. I had a very angry conversation with the paypal rep who sided with the vendor, until I convinced a supervisor to actually run the tracking number. She got back on the phone and apologized, I got my money back no problem. That was a year ago....and surprise surprise, nothing ever arrived at my house despite giving paypal that 'tracking number' and receipt. My point here, follow up and demand clear proof, I would have still been out my money if I hadnt!
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Check the tracking number out on the mail-courier web site, they would give you the date and address etc... or not. Then contact Paypal... If UK Europe you can return the goods on receipt of a refund too, at their cost.
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Yep I'll be keeping my dispute open until something turns up, if it doesn't I'll let paypal know.
I did run the tracking number, all it told me was an item had been posted by a recorded service, no clue as to delivery address nor date.
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Yep I'll be keeping my dispute open until something turns up, if it doesn't I'll let paypal know.
I did run the tracking number, all it told me was an item had been posted by a recorded service, no clue as to delivery address nor date.
Take care not to just leave it open. If a dispute isn't escalated before 20 days of opening it, PayPal considers it solved and closes it !
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And today it arrives by registered post. :?
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Its time the businesses in this business start acting like businesses and not hobbies... and own up to problems when they are there. Its customer service, not a mate who doesnt mind waiting.
Or am I being harsh?
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And today it arrives by registered post. :?
That must have been a nice surprise. Bet you'd pretty much written them off.
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That must have been a nice surprise. Bet you'd pretty much written them off.
I'm going to take a wild guess that the only reason he got his items, and others did not, is that he utilized the Paypal complaint system and then BCB was accountable one way or another. So if anyone wants to place an order with BCB, they should jump on the complaint system in 30 days without a reply and see if this trick works again..... The Paypal dispute problem is not just losing the money, but losing paypal as a service provider if they get too many complaints.
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I got my refund on 11/11/14 after no response to my many emails or to PayPal. I see that they are still sending orders so they do have Internet access so why not either close the site or answer people's emails? The illness might have been an excuse 12 months ago but it just doesn't cut it after this amount of time. Obviously think nothing of taking people's hard earned money
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Looks like the site is down now, I would imagine Black Cat Bases is no more.
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It appears BCB is no more.... That stinks. :(
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Thats good news, i mean if they arent able to do bussiness anymore they should have closed the site time ago. Sadly i guess a lot of people wont see their money or stuff and im afraid that nothing can be done about it.
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The website appears to be back up and running again. Its all very odd.
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Really? It doesnt even show up in google anymore...
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I was told by a mate and I went to check on it using an old bookmark and there it was. I was even able to add stuff to the cart.
http://blackcatbases.com/ (http://blackcatbases.com/)
While you can't find it on Google it will still take an order.
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I was told by a mate and I went to check on it using an old bookmark and there it was. I was even able to add stuff to the cart.
http://blackcatbases.com/ (http://blackcatbases.com/)
While you can't find it on Google it will still take an order.
Cheers John!
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The site hasn't disappeared, it's now only the third search result now ;).
I also ordered something in July, but at least it seems as if they are still sending orders (or at least one ;)).
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I wait since last year on my order, inquire, despite.
saluti
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Got my order! After I'd been refunded by PayPal weeks ago got an apology. Silly thing is, if I'd had just one reply to my many emails or a response through PayPal I'd have been happy to wait a few weeks, but with no communication....
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Has anyone received an order after the last post in November? Unfortunately it seems that they are only shipping their orders in case of a paypal dispute.
Cheers
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Nope - still waiting on mine.... too late to dispute on paypal too i guess.
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I really wish this issue would get a clear resolution one way or another.
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The message on the from of their site has changed a bit since i last looked. Just mentions a second time in hospital.
I still don't get the total silence from them though :(
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I ordered from them, got no response to any query until i generated a paypal dispute. Got my order in a few days then with the excuse about illness. The thing is though that someone is updating the site. If they cant fullfill orders they need to stop taking them.
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I have resigned myself to the fact that the money is gone. Will there no longer buy and when someone asks me, I do not advise buy something there.
saluti
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I ordered from them, got no response to any query until i generated a paypal dispute. Got my order in a few days then with the excuse about illness. The thing is though that someone is updating the site. If they cant fullfill orders they need to stop taking them.
When was this?
I have just ordered from them on the 21st of March. .. I guess I shouldn't have.
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When was this?
I have just ordered from them on the 21st of March. .. I guess I shouldn't have.
I think the updates are all automated, with random entries for "new this month". I've been seeing this activity for almost two years now. August 2015 will be the 2 year anniversary of them taking my money, and not delivering the product.
Suggest you open a claim real quick - I didn't hear about their issues until way after the pp deadline.
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Any progress here? I’m still very interested in some of their minis. Like the fisherman captain smoking his pipe. About a year ago, I ordered some miniatures, but had to start a PayPal dispute to get my money back. First I felt very sorry for them, reading about serious health issues. But following LAF and TMP, it seemed to be weird. Recently on TMP a guy from Moonfleet stated, that he’s gaming with Ben of BCB every week… Maybe sometime life sucks, with lots of problems everywhere, so one might duck and cover. But no phone, no cell phone, no computer, no possibility to contact any provider, no family or any friends in GB at all? And no problems to acquire unlimited new orders by pre-payment at the same time? Hard to believe. I really would like to help, if I could!
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Hello Sarge,
could you give us the links to the topic from the miniatures page?
Thank you very much Couldn't find it.
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Yeah, I'm out $200 for...hmmmm...a year and a half now. Absolutely no response, including a typed letter I sent via post.
Would be nice if they owned up to what is basically theft.
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Recently on TMP a guy from Moonfleet stated, that he’s gaming with Ben of BCB every week…
Found it, thats a Joke, they Game every Monday.
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=378274
Speechless...
There goes my last bit of sympathy.
instead of gamin EVERY MONDAY NIGHT...he could sit in front of the computer and explain whats going on and why people like pacarat are out of 200 bucks.
Don`t quiet get what the Man from Moonfleet is trying to tell me here
I game with Ben from BCB every Monday evening.
They are still in business and still operating, but the health issues are ongoing and long term.
I can assure you they would not rip people off but i do understand that poeple can be put off because despatch has been somewhat hit and miss.
Rees
(I am a good friend of Ben n jo at BCB (no sock puppeting etc )
They could be the nicest People on gods green earth..I wouldn`t care...hit and miss is a gross understatement if you follow all those Threads over the Net..
Edit: Of course I feel for any severe health conditions but at this stage they need to take action, post an explanation here and close the shop own till they are back on track.
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That's a pretty rose-tinted post. 'Hit and miss'... more like miss, miss, miss, PayPal dispute, hit, miss...
How can they sustain this way of 'business'? Mind boggling.
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I'm not an attorney in their jurisdiction, but this sounds dangerously close to full on criminal activity at this point. Is there some authority to report them to? I cant speak for others, but good will seems to be exhausted in this case.
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I'm surprised paypal/their credit card processor haven't closed their accounts. The number of chargebacks must be frightening.
Lovely company, great products, hugely annoying.
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Is there some authority to report them to?
Their "contact us" page gives an address in Hampshire, so the county's Trading Standards Officer might be a place to start
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards)
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My story updated:
I ordered. Nothing happened for weeks apart from my money being accepted via paypal.
I made a dispute. Nothing happened and there were no replies to paypal or emails sent through their own contact system.
After a few weeks I then upgraded my dispute to a claim and immediately received an email (not via paypal but privately) stating that they had been trying to process my order but my address had been entered incorrectly.
I went to their homepage and sure enough the street didn't show in the overview. However when you edit your own details the street WAS there... Uhm... Anyway I wrote back giving my complete address and stating that the address was also given in the paypal details of the order.
Then nothing continued to happen... and eventually the claim went through in my favour and I got my money back! o_o
Totally weird!
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Ladies and gents, just a polite reminder to keep any comments completely fact based and any assumptions of the intentions of the company owners are to be kept to yourselves.
Also a quick reminder to keep any comments civil. This is an information thread primarily and should be used as such.
cheers
James
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Ladies and gents, just a polite reminder to keep any comments completely fact based and any assumptions of the intentions of the company owners are to be kept to yourselves.
Also a quick reminder to keep any comments civil. This is an information thread primarily and should be used as such.
cheers
James
I'm not calling these people thieves, but the order I put in a while ago is also MIA and not knowing the laws in their jurisdiction I am certainly curious is anyone has reported them to the authorities, who would be in a position to adjudicate whether some crime has been committed. If it were just me, or some other individuals than maybe a fluke, but I think it's a fair question to ask as quite a few folks seem to need to be made whole again.
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Their "contact us" page gives an address in Hampshire, so the county's Trading Standards Officer might be a place to start
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards)
Thanks for that lead.
That URL also has an online consumer complaint form where one can detail all the specifics.
I intend to do a write up outlining my unfilled order, etc. and submit it.
Who knows, if enough folks with unfilled orders sent in complaints, maybe something would come of it.
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damned, more than two years after the start of this thread I too fell for this trap.
Ordered some mini's two months ago, no responses to my emails. The order is listed as 'pending' on their site.
I filed a paypal dispute today...
I'm sad.. I was looking forward to those models ...
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Today, I contacted PayPal by phone. I told them, that Black Cat Bases is still collecting money after nearly two years while customers are reporting that they have to open disputes to get their money back. And how their webshop seems to work on its own (automatical pseudo updates and illness-disclaimer). I mentioned, that I also was refunded by PayPal last summer and probably nothing changed since then. Because there are many forum-threads about that topic, one containing 17 pages now (guess which one…). PayPal will check BCB’s account now.
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Cool, thanks for doing this.
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Today, I contacted PayPal by phone. I told them, that Black Cat Bases is still collecting money after nearly two years while customers are reporting that they have to open disputes to get their money back. And how their webshop seems to work on its own (automatical pseudo updates and illness-disclaimer). I mentioned, that I also was refunded by PayPal last summer and probably nothing changed since then. Because there are many forum-threads about that topic, one containing 17 pages now (guess which one…). PayPal will check BCB’s account now.
Big thumbs up!
Whether it is by choice or ill fortune, they need to be stopped or told off or something. :)
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Bravo! Needed to be done.
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I found and old business card from them with a mobile number on it if anyone wants to try it. It is probably from a few years ago though
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Hope PayPal will shut down the BCB-account until they are really back again. The employee I talked to visited the BCB-homepage simultaneously and noted all info. But there will be others to process the query. So it certainly will help when other buyers not only open a PayPal dispute but also tell them about the coherence. Don’t know how a former great company could be transformed to worst and how the people deal with their situation. Therefore this way is not about ‘punishing’ BCB by charging them for penalty. But at least it simply could cut off the misuse of collecting money.
And I'm still tempted to order their pipe-smoking fisherman captain again. And many others. Sad situation.
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I'd be happy to just get my $200 back...
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well it's been over a year now since I ordered £45 of minis and stipulated store pickup. I have now sent them a message requiring a response and stating that if I have not received an update within 7 days I will visit the store seeking either an update of progress or a refund. It's a shame to have to waste time and effort like that.
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Wish both of you luck but PayPal won’t refund you after missing the deadline. Perhaps like many others who fell for the illness-disclaimer and had regards on the suffering BCB member. Not knowing that Ben is healthy enough to enjoy a game meeting every Monday like the Moonfleet guy stated on TMP (http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=378274). Over here in Germany it would be fraud if someone collects money while knowing that he would/could not deliver. (I’m a jurisprudent). But if more victims would tell Paypal about their experiences, it would be more likely that they shut down the BCB account.
One problem with Paypal is that they accept transactions even when you don’t have a PayPal account (or disable PayPal on eBay). Just for the fees they can collect. But PayPal don’t want to lose money. First they freeze money on a sellers account until they get their fees and are sure there is enough remaining to refund. If there’s no money left it might affect their decision to refund a victim. Because all customer protection is only a voluntary service and no enforcenable claim. On the other hand, PayPal USA or Europe might not know what happens to customers in different countries. The more people will contact them and send links to LAF or TMP threads, the more chances rise to stop the BCB PayPal account. But that is up to others.
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There's been a development
A day after opening a dispute with paypal I received a mail saying that the models are on their way. now a few days later the models arrived!
So it is still possible....
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There's been a development
A day after opening a dispute with paypal I received a mail saying that the models are on their way. now a few days later the models arrived!
So it is still possible....
Ha! I recieved that too, but that was on the last day I could escalate to a claim. Never got the models. Escalated to claim and got the money. ;)
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Has anyone received an order in the last two months?
It isn't very nice to know that you have only the opportunity to get your models through a paypal claim.
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It sounds like BCB is just either burying its head in the sand or worse, just trying to get away with it. If they were really having issues then surely they would just close the site. They are just taking the piss now.
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Hi guys, just registered with lead adventure so I can share this information with you. I will be sticking around for what appears to be a fantastic forum!
I have just found a working number for black at bases at this link. http://www.wheregb.com/black-cat-bases-ltd-489172
I spoke to an actual human, seemed completely casual about the issues and confirmed they are still trading. When I asked whether they were aware of this forum they said they were and they are MOSTLY caught up with orders. I smell a massive pile of BS. I am so angry as imagine others are as I have been waiting for a year for my order. When pressed on the issues the lady abruptly hung up. Do with the link what you will.
The scruffy zombie
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My order is two years overdue....
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OK now i am 99% convinced that they are just taking a pi** at everone !
i just got this mail a few minutes ago
Detailed Invoice
Date Ordered: Thursday 03 April, 2014
The comments for your order are: Hi, sincere apologies for the very long delay which was caused by severe and extended ill health, your order is now on the way, thank you so much for your patience and understanding, if you have another order outstanding it will be on the way as soon as possible, we are catching up as fast as we can and will of course be honouring all order. Jo
Your order has been updated to the following status:
New status: Dispatched
Please reply to this email if you have any questions.
......
.....
.....
i will update you if my stuff arrives or not ( i guess not)
edit: Just realized that i cant recieve anything that they may send me because i moved to another city in the meantime and i dont see any point in filing forms that the package may be redirected on the whim of a chance that the models may actually arrive !
I mailed them my new adress...lets see if they aswer my mail.....in about a year that is
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They are totally taking the piss. Confirmed.
After my comment above I have been phoning non stop. When I got an answer the second time they refused to admit that they were black cat bases, I must have caught them on the hop the first time! I told them I didn't believe them and told them of the letter I was sending to trading standards in Hampshire regarding their activities. Giving them one week to send out the two orders I was chasing. Low and behold a few hours after hanging up on me I had a despatch notice. My order arrived the next day. A full two years after I ofdered. Now if they were genuinly catching up on orders, pacarats order above would be first as his was ordered way before mine.
It seems the only way to get your order is to bully them into submission. I didn't want to, I understand how illness can affect your whole life and business but their lack of honesty is disgusting. Totally vile behaviour. Has anyone else noticed that the info on the front of their website has changed again also. Albeit a subtle variation on the poor us theme again. So they have access to the Internet, and they have the stock. They are just being dicks about the whole thing. My letter is still going to trading standards, It invites them to check this thread so please post if you are still waiting for outstanding orders. Or just ring them non stop like I did.
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Sorry to read about your experiences, Scruffyzombie. And right, the BCB “health-disclaimer” seems to have been modiefied…
At the end of May I’ve told PayPal about the issues. Don’t know whether PP have shut down their account (of course they won’t give me a feedback for certain reason). Was anyone able to pay an BCB-order by PP since then? Registering on BCB today is requiring data ‘as it appears on your credit card statement’. So I’m tempted to contact VISA and Master Card, too…
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I'm lucky, I got my order in the end! Others are not so fortunate. There is no way id be giving them my card details though! Be warned people.
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So err, does anyone know or can contact that Moonfleet guy that the BCB guy reputedly games with every Monday?
I mean, asking him might result in something at least, and I don't think it can go much worse.
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I'm lucky, I got my order in the end! Others are not so fortunate. There is no way id be giving them my card details though! Be warned people.
yupp thats a joke
its like they skipped from hey lets scam people with paypal to...oh there is an easyer way to scam people !!!
the thing is i allways read posts from people defending them by bringing up health issiues !
I was suffering from depressions a few years back...i did not even have the power to get out of bed
do you know what i did with the internet shop i owned back then ? I CLOSED IT DOWN !!!
there is no good reason , not even health related , to let people wait YEARS for the stuff they bought and payed !
im also thinking of letting someone know about this , but being from germany i dont really know who i could send a complaint too !
but if i can i will send a complaint to whoever watches this kind of stuff in Britain , maybe one more complaint from another country can make a liddle difference !
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Try this: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/protection-for-the-consumer/trading-standards/reporting-a-problem-to-trading-standards/ (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/protection-for-the-consumer/trading-standards/reporting-a-problem-to-trading-standards/)
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yupp thats a joke
its like they skipped from hey lets scam people with paypal to...oh there is an easyer way to scam people !!!
the thing is i allways read posts from people defending them by bringing up health issiues !
I was suffering from depressions a few years back...i did not even have the power to get out of bed
do you know what i did with the internet shop i owned back then ? I CLOSED IT DOWN !!!
there is no good reason , not even health related , to let people wait YEARS for the stuff they bought and payed !
im also thinking of letting someone know about this , but being from germany i dont really know who i could send a complaint too !
but if i can i will send a complaint to whoever watches this kind of stuff in Britain , maybe one more complaint from another country can make a liddle difference !
There is something I don't understand: If they don't want to close the shop, Why don't they hire someone to run it on their behalf until they can take it again?
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I EVEN EMAILED THEM OFFERING MY SERVICES FOR FREE! unfortunately I no longer have as much free time any more but they did not respond anyway, just like with my order a year and a half ago. I will be visiting in person at some point soon. Been putting it off due to other stresses and not needing any more!
Seriously, what **** do they think they are playing at? Responses to emails at the ABSOLUTE LEAST.
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I EVEN EMAILED THEM OFFERING MY SERVICES FOR FREE! unfortunately I no longer have as much free time any more but they did not respond anyway, just like with my order a year and a half ago. I will be visiting in person at some point soon. Been putting it off due to other stresses and not needing any more!
Seriously, what **** do they think they are playing at? Responses to emails at the ABSOLUTE LEAST.
you can collect order numbres and collect the miniatures people are waiting for ;) :)
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Haha yes!!!
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im not joking man...if id live in Britain id most likely join you !
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I have opened a Paypal dispute with them, having been waiting since March for an order. I have just bought a house about 10 minutes from them so will be popping in to collect my miniatures or my money if they don't get sent very soon.
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I have opened a Paypal dispute with them, having been waiting since March for an order. I have just bought a house about 10 minutes from them so will be popping in to collect my miniatures or my money if they don't get sent very soon.
while youre at is tell them that they sendt out order 2452 to the wrong friggin adress ;) ( IF the sendt it out at all that is :D)
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I have opened a Paypal dispute with them, having been waiting since March for an order. I have just bought a house about 10 minutes from them so will be popping in to collect my miniatures or my money if they don't get sent very soon.
Wow, shifting close to them, that's commitment to get your minis ;)
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Ask them if they've seen Pacarat's $200 lying around there somewhere, too.
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Ask them if they've seen Pacarat's $200 lying around there somewhere, too.
yeah, that would sure be nice...
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Does anyone fancy buying them out? I'd be tempted if I had the cash as there is clearly the interest in their figures. I was just about to order a load of deep ones and hybrids myself before this all happened.
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I'd be tempted if I had the cash as there is clearly the interest in their figures.
same here
no cash though :D
that screams for a kickstarter :D
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that screams for a kickstarter :D
It'd end up going sour I bet...
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It'd end up going sour I bet...
i only was about 25% serius on this one ;)
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Hah!
I can imagine the stretch goals...
We'll do it.
No, we'll really do it.
No, we'll really really do it.
We've a bit of a backlog due to illness.
Your chance to file a paypal claim has passed.
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Hah!
I can imagine the stretch goals...
We'll do it.
No, we'll really do it.
No, we'll really really do it.
We've a bit of a backlog due to illness.
Your chance to file a paypal claim has passed.
Laughed out loud at this one! :)
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I appreciate the humor, but some of us are out some serious cash here.
Might be better to keep this thread on track. If we do end up getting any UK authorities involved, and they read this now 20 page thread, a serious tone would probably have more impact.
Thanks.
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I appreciate the humor, but some of us are out some serious cash here.
Might be better to keep this thread on track. If we do end up getting any UK authorities involved, and they read this now 20 page thread, a serious tone would probably have more impact.
Thanks.
yeah seems reasonable
how long have you been waiting now ?
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yeah seems reasonable
how long have you been waiting now ?
Two years. My order was placed Aug of 2013
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I appreciate the humor, but some of us are out some serious cash here.
Might be better to keep this thread on track. If we do end up getting any UK authorities involved, and they read this now 20 page thread, a serious tone would probably have more impact.
Thanks.
Fair enough.
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I have now also received an e-mail which states that my order with my accurate order numberhas been dispatched. I am curious if I will receive them in reality ;)
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Apparently my order has been dispatched. I eagerly await it's arrival...... it was bits and pieces to finish an entry in this years LPL.
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Maybe at long last they are getting their s*** together? Fingers crossed!
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Maybe at long last they are getting their s*** together? Fingers crossed!
they are still ignoring my mail where i stated that they sendt it to the wrong adress though !
i did send it to them 6 times now..... and i guess i will do so any time i logg in to my mail acc
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Thanks to whoever contacted me via email and told me he would forward my wrong adress thing to them the next time he sees them ( because they keep ignoring my fu****g mails i am at email 10 now )..... i guess its the guy who will visit them ?
well whatever man....thanks....lets see if that works out
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Woke up to find my order arrived. Bit of a surprise!
Perhaps things are finally being dealt with a little faster. For those still waiting, these were my order details:
Order Number: 2475
Detailed Invoice
Date Ordered: Tuesday 22 April, 2014
Obviously I'm happy to have finally recieved them, I just hope they are really working flat out to catch up on orders now. Would love to get more minis but can't make an order until I see a reasonably functioning business back in place.
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Woke up to find my order arrived. Bit of a surprise!
Perhaps things are finally being dealt with a little faster. For those still waiting, these were my order details:
Order Number: 2475
Detailed Invoice
Date Ordered: Tuesday 22 April, 2014
Obviously I'm happy to have finally recieved them, I just hope they are really working flat out to catch up on orders now. Would love to get more minis but can't make an order until I see a reasonably functioning business back in place.
that only makes me more angry that they did send it to the wrong adress :)
also im quite surprised you got your stuff and paracat is still waiting
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My wife's order arrived Thursday... Only 14 months late..
I wonder if there starting to get through the backlog.
We shall have to wait & see
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My order has arrived. Hopefully they are working their way through the backlog and everyone else will also get what they wanted.
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It'd be great if they were getting back on their feet. There's so much stuff I want now I can't get it!
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It'd be great if they were getting back on their feet. There's so much stuff I want now I can't get it!
I'm amazed that anyone would consider putting new orders in with them! But that's your business.
Meanwhile I received this e-mail this morning...
Date Ordered: Saturday 06 July, 2013
The comments for your order are: Hi, So sorry about the long delay which was caused by severe and prolonged ill health, if you have another outstanding order it will be dispatched as soon as possible we are catching up as fast as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding, we will of course be honouring all orders. Jo
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There's absolutely no way I'd consider putting an order in until it was evident that they'd sorted things out. I'd just like to pick up those Deep Ones.
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I received an email this morning stating my August 2013 order had shipped.
We'll see...
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There's absolutely no way I'd consider putting an order in until it was evident that they'd sorted things out. I'd just like to pick up those Deep Ones.
If they wrote something like:
'Sorry for everything - we're getting our act together now'
On the front page I would consider ordering from them.
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If they wrote something like:
'Sorry for everything - we're getting our act together now'
On the front page I would consider ordering from them.
That would certainly help! At the moment I'd just like to see people get their orders. I lost money with the Maelstrom Games thing a few years ago now, so I sympathise.
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Just tried an experiment. A new order. :D
Interesting: without any problem I was able to log into my ‘vintage’ BCB account. My order status still is ‘pending’ order date Monday, June 24th 2013, money withdrawn by PayPal on August 5th 2013.
So my new attempt included some minis of the former order and a few more (I really want that fisherman with pipe but now have no use for some other minis anymore. One of my long-term projects is the fishing vessel ‘Consul Pust’ based on a 1/100 paper craft model, scaled up to 1/64 and converted into an armed private commerce-raider).
Total new BCB-order: about 21 GBP.
Surprise: paying by PayPal is still possible! :o :o :o Even after I’ve told them about the BCB issues. Maybe there were not enough new orders causing disputes? Or maybe PayPal is working that slow?
However I paid and will increase pressure after two/three weeks. Hopefully I’ll receive the minis. Otherwise PayPal has to refund me again. Will be a piece of cake since THEY ignored my warning ;)
But on the other hand all protest by different customers might at least have pressed BCB into delivery. lol
Stay tuned…
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I received my order :) Can't believe it after 14 months. When they state that all orders are dispatched I might consider making a small new one. ;)
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Surprise: paying by PayPal is still possible!
Who does paypal list your payment as being to?
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Who does paypal list your payment as being to?
A usual I immediately received the standard PayPal payment confirmation note afterwards.
Roughly translated ‘You have sent the money to’ – drum roll – ‘Black Cat Bases Ltd (enquires@blackcatbases.com)’.
So PayPal did not block any @blackcatbases.com address. However, they also stated that – in case of problems - I can start a dispute within 180 days. (Of couse I won't wait until March 2016 ;) )
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A usual I immediately received the standard PayPal payment confirmation note afterwards.
Roughly translated ‘You have sent the money to’ – drum roll – ‘Black Cat Bases Ltd (enquires@blackcatbases.com)’.
So PayPal did not block any @blackcatbases.com address. However, they also stated that – in case of problems - I can start a dispute within 180 days. (Of couse I won't wait until March 2016 ;) )
Interesting as the Limited company was dissolved in 2006/7 (looking at companies house) and so they shouldn't still be using Ltd as part of their name....
Mind you, Black Tree Design continued to do the same thing until I pointed it out to them.
Mike
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Interesting as the Limited company was dissolved in 2006/7 (looking at companies house) and so they shouldn't still be using Ltd as part of their name....
Mind you, Black Tree Design continued to do the same thing until I pointed it out to them.
Seems there are many ‘shades of black’ in our hobby. My experiences with Black Tree started a few month ago and were great. BCB had a great reputation once but when I ordered two years ago, reality became very different (this very important topic didn't exist back then and I wasn't warned).
So my next thought was: maybe a second meaning of ‘Ltd’ is life-time-delay?
But surprise! Today I received a new BCB-mail. My order status already switched to „dispatched“! Not the old cancelled order from 2013, but my new one from 5 days ago.
If the minis really will arrive soon, it would be like a change from black to white. Hopefully my fishing vessel now might get a captain long before its launching.
I’ll believe it when the postman will ring. In the meantime best wishes to all fellows in misery and good luck to BCB to get back on track.
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Interesting as the Limited company was dissolved in 2006/7 (looking at companies house) and so they shouldn't still be using Ltd as part of their name...
Exactly.
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Still waiting for the alleged package to show in the mail.
Curious to see if all my order is included. Appears that some of the lines that use to be available (ochmann's gangers and animals) are no longer listed.
what's funny is that they still show on main page as "new products for September", but when you click on item you get "no product found".
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Big surprise! My (new) BCB-order arrived today. All minis included and in great condition. Total time from ordering until delivery (England-Germany): just a week. Perfect performance in this case. I’m not resentful and hope BCB will run their shop this way now. Time (and this topic) will tell.
BTW: This sticky forum-topic IMHO was (and still is) a great help. Warning customers, sharing experiences and important: keeping the issues up to date. Again and again.
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Big surprise! My (new) BCB-order arrived today. All minis included and in great condition. Total time from ordering until delivery (England-Germany): just a week. Perfect performance in this case. I’m not resentful and hope BCB will run their shop this way now. Time (and this topic) will tell.
BTW: This sticky forum-topic IMHO was (and still is) a great help. Warning customers, sharing experiences and important: keeping the issues up to date. Again and again.
this may lead to me sending out another order in the future....
they are still ignoring my mail about the wrong adress though !!!!
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Will wonders never cease...
My order from 25 months ago arrived today.
I have not checked each fig yet against the order form, but upon initial glance it looks likes major groupings/themes of figures are there.
At very least the Ochmann gangers and african animals appear to be included.
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That's great news! Seems they are getting things together at last. They need to sort out communications but people are getting their orders so thats the main thing. I'm even contemplating a new order from them, never thought I'd say that again!
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Um, very interesting any idea if they go to any UK shows?
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My order placed on Thursday 15 August, 2013 was marked as dispatched on September 6th 2015 and I got my hands on it (in Ireland) about a week or so after that.
My order was small, so it was less grating than the experience that some of the folks here had, but I am pleased to have got it all the same.
What will happen now I wonder? Will people start buying from them again? The company sells many items that I am interested in buying, but giving them any sort of significant amount of cash would be daft.
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I too have been following this closely as there's a small order I'd like to place (some lizardmen).
The quality of their minis is nothing to write home about, let's be honest. But what they may lack in quality more than make up in originality. They have some ranges that simply are not carried by anyone else (modern day gansta tcho-tchos!).
It will take some time for any (sensible) person to place a big order from them, but hopefully they'll become once again the reliable store they once were.
Only time will tell, though.
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I think if I place an order as they do have loads of stuff I want I'll just be paying via paypal and being really quick to dispute non-delivery.
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they finally answered my email...
all in all im positive that i might give my order another shot :)
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I made a small order in August of last year. About a month ago I received an email apologizing for the delay, and I received the figs a couple of weeks ago.
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Perhaps I will put in an order....
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after i talked to them via email ,the actual situation should be that there are only two outstanding orders by now
so if any of you guys did not get your stuff by now ( or whithin two weeks) try to contact them via email
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It might be of interest that their site seems to have updated and now mentions having a holiday sale between now and 4th of January 2016. ???
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It might be of interest that their site seems to have updated and now mentions having a holiday sale between now and 4th of January 2016. ???
Anyone made a successful order recently?
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I ordered from BCB about a month ago. My mate ordered about a month before that.
Both orders arrived overseas (Ireland) in under a fortnight.
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Placed an order March 1...the stuff arrived yesterday. Excellent delivery I'd say 8)
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It's nice to see that the troubles of the past seem to have been left behind.
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I placed an order at the beginning of March and it arrived today, about 16 days to America.
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I've been wanting to make an order with Black Cat bases and I'm in the U.S., but I heard a lot of bad things about orders. Does this issue seem to have been cleared up with them?
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The 4 most recent posts seem to say so, 2 of which have been overseas orders. Looks like they are back n track.
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I forgot to post. Placed an order after I read the first two deliveries and got mine in 2 weeks.
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I placed a small order on 28.06., dispatched on 01.07., received on 12.07.. - Not bad.
Packaging could be better (a bit of bubble wrap would be good, the ziplock bag around the mini is often not enough of protection).
I'm happy they're back in business. They got still some stuff I need... will order again!
Was there ever some kind of official statement about their temporary hiatus?
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Summer Sale 2016
20% off of all products until 5th September. (Not available to trade customers or in addition to any other discount). Grab a bargain:
www.blackcatbases.com
Apologies if this is a duplicate email from some people, we had to change the system yesterday, duplication should not happen again.
Enjoy!
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Hi guys,
I thought I will post my positive experience here. I also placed a small order on 13/08/16, marked as dispatched on 28/08/16 and received today on 2/09/16. All present and accounted for. I placed my order through Paypal in order to receive buyer protection just in case.
Cheers
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placed an order and received it in under a week. There was a minor error which was rectified 24hours after i informed them .
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I think all things considered I'll take this off the 'sticky' list. Let's hope it doesn't need to go up again.
cheers
James
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Yeah, probably resolved if the latest orders are anything to go by. I ordered Sunday night to take advantage of the 20% sale and got my stuff on Tuesday. That's good going.
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Good to see them back and running smoothly again. Hope it stays that way.
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Just a heads up I just received an email from them letting me know the will be closed 20 Sept. to 5 Oct. At the end of that, there should be a new website for them.
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Good news that things are going better for - and with - them.
-Michael
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I decided to test the waters with Black Cat Bases, I placed a small order for their science fiction mercenaries. Placed order on 11/07/2016 to Montrose CA received it today 100% fill rate. The items could use a little packing material. Excellent service
David
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I've made two orders in the space of two months, absolutely no complaints. Prompt delivery and everything as expected.
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Well, if it weren't for this topic I never would have known BCB to carry such an interesting range with quite some fun and affordable models. Will place an order soon ( and no, I'm not a sock-puppet, don't know the guys, only love some of their models ) :).
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Well, if it weren't for this topic I never would have known BCB to carry such an interesting range with quite some fun and affordable models. Will place an order soon ( and no, I'm not a sock-puppet, don't know the guys, only love some of their models ) :).
It's a really eclectic mix they have, really glad they are back in business. The missus has forbidden me from buying any new stuff for a while, but I have me eye on their not John Constantine mini.