Alliance Distributor in US dropping most of B5 miniatures?

D

DontFearDaReaper

Mongoose
Two of my local game shops have told me that Alliance (a major hobby distributor here in the US) has dropped all but the latest releases of the B5 miniatures and they can no longer special order them for me. Do I need to start ordering direct from Mongoose or is there another source here in the US for B5 minies?

Dave
 
I am having the same problem. I am wanting a few ships and the rules but I can't get them from any of the local stores. Alliance is in my area(might only be a wearhouse) but the local stores could get me the fleet book but nothing else. It sucks and not sure where else I can order from
 
FRP games in Calif. is working directly with the manufacturer in Dayton, Oh. and it seems has a good supply of ships and a few weeks on ordering from them. Give em a try, they have great service. Hope this helps.
 
Admiral Phlop said:
FRP games in Calif. is working directly with the manufacturer in Dayton, Oh. and it seems has a good supply of ships and a few weeks on ordering from them. Give em a try, they have great service. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I understand this, however I like to support my local game store whenever possible. I shouldn't have to order online to get the figs. My LGS is essentially the largest store in the Chicago area. It really ticks me off that they cant get the figs through their distributors.


Dave
 
Is that the stores fault? If I can't get the figs through my game shop then I am going to order from where I can get them, that is if you want the models. My local store is just now letting us know that he is taking orders for Bab 5, since we have a campaign going on there. 10 players each with their own fleet. I guess he sees a possible sale or two. I don't know who is his distributor. I hope your shop gets a different distributor, but in case they don't you now have a place to order from.
 
Odd. I know the warstore is going to be stocking B5 but that may be because of a deal direct with mongoose.

If you want to buy from your local retailer you can tell them that Neil does offer wholesale prices to BM retailers. That way you can get your figs and help out the local fellas.

ender502
 
I told my LGS that, right about the time Neal dropped the whole line. I am waiting for Neal to re-stock so I can get B5 minis again. If it weren't for my order of Centauri 4 months ago that I received last couple of weeks, I would still be out of B5.

Dark Angel
 
Our LGS has had repeated difficulty with Mongoose either not returning calls or not completely fulfilling orders with little or no explanation. The reason the distributors like ACD and Alliance are not carrying the older stuff, is they're having a hard time order too and don't want the same hassle when trying to order large shipments of the older figs.

Mongoose has had trouble with Battlefield as well. They weren't able to keep up with demand and had to scale back production.

Things that make you go, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
 
As the owner of a game store, I can confirm that Alliance and ACD are not carrying most of the ACTA line. It's very frustrating...

However, Mongoose was very responsive when I contacted them directly. Tell your local game store owner/manager that Mongoose sells to established businesses with no minimum and a reasonable discount. They should be able to stock ACTA without too much trouble by ordering directly from Mongoose.

Please be patient with your local store. Ordering directly from companies is much less convenient, involves added paperwork and usually takes longer than getting stock from a distributor. Just remember, buying from your local game store is the only way to convince them that it is worth the trouble to stock ACTA miniatures despite the inconvenience...

Also, ACD is now under new ownership and their inventory is changing. If enough retailers ask about ACTA, who knows... It might be best to point this out to your local store as well...

ShopKeepJon
 
k3ndawg said:
Our LGS has had repeated difficulty with Mongoose either not returning calls or not completely fulfilling orders with little or no explanation. The reason the distributors like ACD and Alliance are not carrying the older stuff, is they're having a hard time order too and don't want the same hassle when trying to order large shipments of the older figs.

Mongoose has had trouble with Battlefield as well. They weren't able to keep up with demand and had to scale back production.

Things that make you go, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Click to expand...

That's odd. I didn't have any of these problems.

As for the distributors, that's not what I was told when I asked...

ShopKeepJon
 
However, Mongoose was very responsive when I contacted them directly. Tell your local game store owner/manager that Mongoose sells to established businesses with no minimum and a reasonable discount.
Click to expand...

I don't think enough of us are buying to convince our LGS's to mess with it. One specializes in historical miniatures and only did special orders for B5. Alliance has a warehouse in town so when they were carrying the figs we could get them with less than a week of turnaround. The other store only carries GW and a smattering of board and card games. They are not excited about setting up an account with Mongoose for a couple of special orders. If I could get either to carry or special order, I would buy from the LGS because both stores provide convenient gaming space for customers.

So do you sell online Shopkeeper? :twisted:
 
k3ndawg said:
Our LGS has had repeated difficulty with Mongoose either not returning calls or not completely fulfilling orders with little or no explanation. The reason the distributors like ACD and Alliance are not carrying the older stuff, is they're having a hard time order too and don't want the same hassle when trying to order large shipments of the older figs.

Mongoose has had trouble with Battlefield as well. They weren't able to keep up with demand and had to scale back production.
Click to expand...

Neither of these is true, I am afraid.

The reason certain distributors are not carrying CTA (at the moment) in the US is because we ended a flooring arrangement that made no sense for a miniatures line of this nature.
 
Too be honest, the reason for distributors dropping Mongoose isn't important, although you have contradicted some of your early statements on the issue. You previously admitted that demand outstripping supply on B:E was a major reason for shelving it in its current format.

I'm more interested in how you intend to get distributors back onboard. Without market penetration, Mongoose can't survive.
 
Poi said:
Too be honest, the reason for distributors dropping Mongoose isn't important, although you have contradicted some of your early statements on the issue. You previously admitted that demand outstripping supply on B:E was a major reason for shelving it in its current format.
Click to expand...

And that is true as well - the two are connected. Flooring involves sending a distributor a _huge_ amount of stock, for no charge, then waiting for it to be sold. That is just not viable for a range like CTA, especially when we have a large number of orders from mail order and other distributors.

The reason I pointed it out in the first place is because we have not been dropped by any distributor, and rumours to the contrary could be damaging.

Poi said:
I'm more interested in how you intend to get distributors back onboard. Without market penetration, Mongoose can't survive.
Click to expand...

CTA could survive on mail orders alone. As for market penetration, that has never been a problem for us.
 
DontFearDaReaper said:
So do you sell online Shopkeeper? :twisted:
Click to expand...
I'm afraid not (though I probably should...)

There are several very good online retailers that would love to have you business though...

In general, my view is that you should buy from you local store if possible. It builds community and often provides a good place to meet and play. If you don't buy from them, they go away. :(

On the other hand, I have no problem with people buying online if the local store can't or won't provide. (Or if there isn't a local store for that matter.)

ShopKeepJon
 
Forgive me for being cynical, but didn't we have this discussion like two months ago? And all that led to the whole State of the Mongoose and promises of restock shipments as well as new quality guidelines for miniatures? Now Alliance is not doing Mongoose anymore because of the arrangements? Their way or the highway kind of thing?

I mean, seriously, when the hell am I going to be able to order a Poseidon? Ka'Bin'Tak? Not even concerned about the Hyperion right now.

Can I order this game through my LGS or not? And if so, how can he get the orders in?

Dark Angel
 
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