ACTA:SF release

[JMPayneJ]

Folks, I let SVC know about feelings I have seen expressed here and he's aware of how our customers are reacting. I wanted to share with you his response from our boards.

Comments from SVC:

Guys, nobody is getting screwed (at least not on purpose). It turned out that the orders were a lot more than expected, that the production was somewhat slower than expected, and Mongoose got overwhelmed. There was no evil plan to lock up your money for extended periods; they honestly took orders they honestly thought they'd ship on schedule. Best laid plans of mice and Klingons. (ADB is literally 1000 miles from the Mongoose facility in Ohio or we'd all be over there helping ship stuff so Robert could focus on manufacturing it.)

There is some confusion out there which makes things look worse than they are. Probably from us not talking enough.

Jean (and I) post a lot more updates about what's going on than Mongoose does. It's a corporate culture thing. (We're just chatty people.) Matthew is, to some extent, not posting updates because he knows Jean will do it for him and will do a proper marketing lady job of posting it. (It's a joint venture and if ADB can handle the public relations while Mongoose concentrates on production, that's GOOD for YOU, not bad acting on the part of Mongoose.)

Remember that the guys at Mongoose are all working as hard as they can (Matthew and Rob come into the office on their vacation days and work many hours) and information posted is that day's best guess (and often is a "no worse than this" scenario). Matthew has written a huge check for more equipment (due next week) and has put up the money to hire more employees. His heart and his wallet are supporting YOU.

As for this thing about "Pre-order customers get screwed while new orders are sent right away" that's an accident of accounting. The original plan was for Mongoose to send a designated amount of stock to ADB, since (given shipping times and the daily flood of orders) any attempt to ship exactly what ADB needed would mean they'd be sending daily small shipments of whatever was ordered in the previous few hours. Matthew and I discussed many times just how many ADB thought it would need so that we didn't end up with lots of stock on hand while pre-orders to Mongoose went begging. They actually sent less than half of the contract specification (with ADB's approval) and no fleet boxes. We shipped our pre-orders and ended up with a very few squadron boxes beyond what orders came in (and those have almost all gone). So it was truly an accident of guessing what ADB needed, not a deliberate plan to screw the pre-orders. We did discussing having us ship orders Mongoose was holding but the paperwork to transfer them was just impossible (thanks to the modern merchant bank system).

Rulebooks are not in short supply, but as the Mongoose warehouse is trying to ship pre-orders in the order received, an order placed with Mongoose today for a rulebook may not be sent if it takes time away from producing ships. Since rulebooks were in no shortage and already packed in cartons from the manufacturer, Mongoose sent us a bunch and we have them in stock (although we just sent most of that stock to a wholesaler who is furious that none of his order has been sent by Mongoose, so we may be out by week's end).

==

Now you know what we know.

Jean

As one of the rabblerousers, I just want to take a second and say "Thank you Jean" for being so active and keeping us informed. Whatever my frustration may cause me to say, ADB has earned my respect and my interest in FC.

 

[IraShaine1972]

For my part have in no way intended to imply I felt like anybody is getting "screwed" as ,in my book that would imply fraud of some for and there is no doubt in my mind my order will be fulfilled.........at some point.

However given that the point of assurance has long past and only an approximation given that ads no less than a 2 month delay I dont think it is out of order to at least be allowed to cancel my order and have access to my funds.

If that is impossible at this point then there is really not much I can do about it.

Just to be clear I am promoting the entire ACTA system in my area and have gotten several players for Noble Armada and was just TODAY discussing with the shop owner how we are going to further orginize play and get Star Fleet running as soon as we can. So I have no intention of ditching the game. I just feel that the delays are to long.

That being said again I have to suck it up if I have to I suppose.

 

[hermitbob]

I don't believe that MGP is "screwing" anybody. That doesn't change the fact the MGP may have misrepresented the availability of it's products. That is what is killing me, MGP stated twice that orders would be shipped out the following week, then that there would be a little delay. Then we hear that there is no plan for completing the backlog of pre-orders other than wait for it, while retailers have in-stock what most people are waiting for.

Jean, and by extension ADB, have been in constant communication with the community, for which I believe that ADB has done everything it can to resolve this problem. All the while MGP is even more silent than ever. Even having Jean be the spokesperson for both companies she is only able to speak for ADB's actions.

At this point I am more likely to buy from ADB and not MGP, then again rushing for an early release was a mistake. The rulebook, the one item made in sufficient quantity, is apparently of poor quality, as at this point an errata is necessary and not everyone who bought one has even had a chance to pick one up. Quality is just as important as quantity.

I would not have had any problem with any of this if we had been given a release date that actually coincided with when toe product would be available in the quantity and quality necessary to keep complaints of this tone from occurring.

 

[Cyporiean]

I don't believe that MGP is "screwing" anybody. That doesn't change the fact the MGP may have misrepresented the availability of it's products. That is what is killing me, MGP stated twice that orders would be shipped out the following week, then that there would be a little delay. Then we hear that there is no plan for completing the backlog of pre-orders other than wait for it, while retailers have in-stock what most people are waiting for.

Some folks have gotten their ships and books, and at least one distributor has (Warpath Games/FRP Games). I haven't come across any other retailers that have said they have stock.

 

[Sgt_G]

Trying to keep an open mind here, I can see why stores have products first. While it's not cool to tick off a few people that pre-ordered, if they miss a delivery data to a distributor it could impact future business with said distributor. For all we know, there may be contract requirements they HAD to fill, or else. Obviously, no one is happy about this mess, but sometime you have to pick which people to make less unhappy at the expense of others.

 

[davyj0427]

We as the players can always buy from the company.
Who will the distributers sell to if there are no players.

 

[Sgt_G]

True, Davy_J, but I'll bet there's a lot more players out there who are not posting on the boards. If we're all die-hard enough to be here, checking the boards six times per day, I seriously doubt the delays are going to drive us away, no matter how much we say we might while venting. for me, it's a new game system I've never seen before, so I'm hopeful the rulebook is worth the wait. If not, I have everythng ever published for FedCmdr and SFB, so the minis will still get used.

 

[IraShaine1972]

I wouldnt have given any mind to any of this back logged delay of product or anything had I not dropped $200 on a pre-order based largely on the promised shipping date of 12/5. Nor even an extra week. Now this January+. I would have just sat back and ordered the models when they were actually on the market except for all the pre-order hype that was NOT delivered on. I understand that problems arise and I also understand that hard work is being done to get things on track but still. The fact that it is my money that is more or less in limbo. Maybe even had I gotten an least an offer to cancel or some other consideration and ANY kind would have at least gone a long way to ease my impatience with all of this. Instead its been nothing.

Well I am sure that this will all be forgotten in a couple of months when things are caught up but when I dont feel like I am being served with consideration as a customer it tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth for a long time.

 

[Spence]

Mongoose plans to catch up on all pre-orders by the end of January.
Fleet Boxes will be no later than the second half of January.
In February, they will officially re-do the launch of the fleet boxes to the wholesalers.
Kzintis will come out in March.
Gorns will come out in April.

--snipped by me--

@Jean

To clarify my understanding, in this case pre-orders is only referring to material ordered directly from Mongoose. Also by wholesalers you mean the distributors.

If so I take this to mean that the intent is for Fleet boxes to be sent to the distributors sometime in February. Making them available to people that order from their FLGS sometime in late February or early March.

Don't take anything in this post as implied or any other kind of criticism. I'm just trying to plan my summer con season and wanted to verify my understanding of the timeline. And I fully understand that the timeline may be set in solid jello :wink:

 

[GalagaGalaxian]

I don't mind having to wait until Feb to order fleet boxes from my game store, but as I've already ordered the rule book through them, I hope it won't take that long for Distributors/my game store to get the book!

 

[Jean]

First, let me thank you for the kind words. In a stressful time for you, taking time to thank me means a great deal to me. I will continue to try to keep you in the loop.

Spence, wholesalers does indeed mean distributors. We tend to use them interchangeably as the biggest distributors are wholesalers. The schedule I had above is echoed in this topic: http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=49645

I urge all of you to read that topic. Matthew is obviously reading it and posting in response to customers' posts. If something has gone wrong with customer service responses, he needs to know about it. He'll only know if you tell him. He's even posted his email address, so you can contact him directly.

What we are trying to do with the dates we listed is to avoid any future disappointments of you, the customers and fans. We are giving ourselves the leeway to get the products done. We will hope for sooner, but we are confident that Mongoose will make those targets.

Finally, I want to thank you for hanging in through this all. I do understand (from other adventures) how frustrated and upset you must be. But you are giving us the chance to make things right and we appreciate that, more than we can express.

Jean

 

[Finlos]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Jean.

It can't be easy ramping up production quickly to meet demand, particularly at this time of year when most folks are in 'vacation mode'. Once all the details are worked out there should be fewer wrinkles with production of future fleets.

I'll have other chances to demo the game to my friends.

 

[IraShaine1972]

Well given that I was finally offered some options and coupled with the fact that I have and already am actively promoting the entire ACTA system locally with great response I will continue to wait and hope that sooner rather than later is the more accurate expectation this time.

Looks like FRP has more or less blown through their supply already anyway so that option is out now. I doubt they will see a re stock any faster than it will take for me to get my order.

Oh well. Back to painting the 100+ NA ships I own.

 

[Spence]

Thanks for the reply Jean.

Hang in there :mrgreen:

Spence

 

[thinkerman]

Any news on when shipping will start on the Fleet boxes?