Distributor woes

[EDFDarkAngel1]

"Matt’s out of the office today, however, I’m watching his emails. I special order for my customers for B5 as well, I have a theory but I’m not certain it’s true. It’s quite possible that Mongoose is spinning these metal minis to order or quite possibly stocking short on their minis in the US since they’re not as popular as they are overseas. My buyer has placed the order almost 2 weeks ago, so it could show up in the next week or two.

Most manufacturers respond to our p.o.s within 2-6 weeks. I know that’s a big time frame but it’s the best one I can provide for you."

This is a response my LGS got from his distributor after 2 1/2 weeks of no minis. My guy, and apparently his distributor, is trying everything they can to get the order in. I was okay with Babylon 5 being out of normal stock and having to be special ordered but... is this going to be normal?

Dark Angel

 

[Captain_Nemo]

Wow that kinda sucks!

Check this out, I placed a preorder for 2e fleet lists with my LGS back in the last week of August, I waited 4 weeks....nuttin "Sorry we can't get it. "

So I tried another place they at least were decent enough to call me on the day that I placed the order and tell me that their Distributor ( ACD ) didn't have any in stock and, it would be about a week instead of the 4 days that they originally told me it would take. I said OK.

In a fit of frustration I call a Barnes & Noble Bookstore not far from home. B&N got it in 6 days, the other LGS still had not gotten it and the owner was both embarrassed and, frustrated.

To really cheese my ass My Fleet book started falling apart in less than an hour.....grrrr

 

[Admiral Phlop]

If you are in the states 2 stores that I know of have the books in stock. They are FRP and The Warstore. My Fleet book is now falling apart. Luckily I have a copy of the pdf and will be printing out a copy and put into a binder.

 

[meglos]

my rule book fell apart today im not happy.

 

[stryve]

Strangely, my fleet book came in two days after I ordered it. The 2e rule book however is still coming up as out of stock, four weeks later.

 

[wkehrman]

I'm facing this problem as well. It's great that I can get it from the Warstore etc, but I'd much rather by from my FLGS because, well, I play there. They need to pay for things like lights and A/C and heat, etc. I have US$150 sitting in the bank waiting for a Crusade Era EA Fleet Box to arrive. I have US$50 coming at me when I get finished with my current commission. That's US$200 that is going to my FLGS either to buy Mongoose stuff, or to buy something else.

According to Mongoose, some of the US distributors "won't carry their stuff".
I've seen the invoices on the last two shipments, they have things like "Backorder" and "Not Yet Arrived" on them. This is an EA Crusade Box (the new one) a pack of Firebolts and an Oracle scout cruiser. All items that are, allegedly available.

Suppose I should just cut my losses....

 

[EDFDarkAngel1]

Well, I've had three of three game stores I go to all mention that they are not sure what Mongoose is doing, but they all claim they are trying to get the stuff in. They all blamed their distributors at first, then their distributors get back with them and tell them that they have been trying to get B5 in.

Who am I to believe?

Dark Angel

 

[NASCARsushi]

I would tend to believe the distributors. My local FLGS store employee is a B5 FANATIC, and he's been trying as hard as he can to get things like the Abbai Juyaca and a few other random items for months. He goes through ACD and another distributor PHD to order stock the store. But for the last few months he can't get anything in...all the distributors say they are out of stock and have been for quite some time. Some have even gone as far to say that they've never even received some of the new releases.

What's the root cause of this Mongoose? Is this result of the mold replacements we heard about a few months back? If so, GREAT, I can't wait to get a well cast vorchan or Primus model or even G'Quan.

 

[wkehrman]

If mold replacement IS the problem, fine, SAY THAT! What we're getting from Mongoose is that there's no problem, and what we're getting from our FLGS and Distributors is that there is a problem. Only one of them can be right.

Molds wear out. If that's what it is, I'll get a set of counters and wait for the re-releases. If it is something else--Mongoose is not interested in my pittance--let me know, I will go elsewhere. I have played the VaS system, I enjoy it, maybe I can roll the money over into historical minis.

 

[Mongoose Alex]

Hey, guys.

I can assure you we're not deliberately shorting the distributors with our A Call to Arms miniatures. The unhappy fact is that many of the bigger distributors have told us that they simply won't carry the miniatures as stock items, though they 'may' do special orders for stores. The people who make these decisions are telling us that there is not enough demand to warrant it.

(I say 'may' because I've been talking with a store recently who was just told by a major distributor that his special order would not be passed on to us to fill).

There are a few ways round this, however, which will ensure your LGS can get the product.

If they contact me directly (afennell@mongoosepublishing.com) we will put them in touch with distributors who are carrying this product (while some of the larger distributors are convinced there is no demand for the product, other, smaller companies are ramping up their orders quite dramatically to supply stores with product). If that option doesn't work, we will supply the stores directly ourselves.

I am not going to get into a mud-slinging match on this forum, however if your store is being told by distributors that we are not supplying them then the simple fact of the matter is that they are not ordering from us (though they are hardly going to admit that!). This state of affairs is no good for anyone, and by contacting me we can get this fixed. In fact, if you want to pass me your stores contact details, I'll get in touch with them.

 

[wkehrman]

Why would a distributor string a store along, then? As I've said, I've seen the invoices the store receives, they don't say "not carried" they say "not available". One distributor even has a line on their invoice saying THEIR minimum order (from the manufacturer) is x amount. Should I have my store ask someone point blank "are you carrying this?"

Can my FLGS wholesale directly from you?

 

[Mongoose Alex]

Should I have my store ask someone point blank "are you carrying this?"

Absolutely. And if they say yes, ask them when they intend to order it from us. 'Not available' does not mean we won't supply them - it means they won't supply the store.

Can my FLGS wholesale directly from you?

Yes. In fact we are already supplying a number of stores in the US who prefer to order from us.

 

[Taran]

In another week, it will have officially been a Month since I ordered my books...

But I got my Fleet Boxes in under a week.
Ordering individual models is going to be a PitA, though...

 

[Leadman]

Well, here's some more information to add to the confusion. I have talked with the folks at War Store and Thought Hammer. War Store told me that their main distributor has decided to drop the Mongoose line because of changes Mongoose made to the their distribution policy. The other distributors that he usually works with told him the same story. He has found another distributor that still carries the line and is getting set up with him. I believe that he also mentioned that there was an issue with supply and confusion because the old and new fleet boxes have the same part number. Thought Hammer was a little more vague. They stated that their distributor was going through some changes with Mongoose at the same time that the new products were coming out with the same product numbers as the old products. Both companies stated that they hoped to have things worked out in a few months.

Leadman

 

[ShopKeepJon]

I own and run a game store and deal with two of the distributors mentioned above. When I tried to get miniatures for ACTA I was told that they don't carry most of the miniatures any more because they didn't sell well for them.

My sales representative at Alliance has promised to speak to his buyers about this and try to get me more information about their future intentions for the line.

It is not a question of the distributors not being able to get the product, but a question of the distributors not wanting to get the product. I stock many things made by Mongoose and don't have any trouble getting most of them from these same distributors. I've even managed to keep the rulebook and fleet list book on my shelves by ordering them from these distributors. Only the miniatures are unavailable.

And to answer another comment made earlier, distributors don't usually intentionally lead people on. Usually it is a question of missing information. The people taking orders from stores like mine are not usually the ones doing the ordering for the distributor and they don't always communicate well with each other. The sales representatives answer questions based upon information that the have and it is often insufficient or outdated. Also, distributors are not fanatical about updating their product data in their computer systems. I've seen many products listed in distributor inventories as being "out of stock" when the company that made it has been out of business for years. Distributor invoices reflect the information in their inventory files not what is actually going on with the product...

The small distributors that do have ACTA miniatures have wargaming miniatures as their primary product. They are more specialized and are currently doing a better job than the big distributors because of it. The problem is that many stores, especially smaller stores, don't have the ability to order from too many different sources due to problems with minimum order sizes and the fact that large distributors give much better wholesale prices to stores that maintain a minimum order volume.

All that being said, however, I have been in contact with Mongoose to ask about ordering from them directly. I found them to be very helpful and friendly. They have no minimum order and offer decent wholesale prices to established businesses. I hope to receive my first order from them soon. If your local game store is having trouble getting ACTA miniatures, tell them this. It might help...

ShopKeepJon

 

[EDFDarkAngel1]

Below is an excerpt from my LGS and my conversation regarding my Mongoose order:

Having said that, no one on my supply side has said they can't or won't get the ships in for you. Like I said before they are in business to make money and if any product is slow/not moving off their shelves then they re-evaluate the need to carry that product. The same would be true no matter what the line. If the need for Warmachine or Magic: The Gathering dropped off they would look into going "special order only" status on those lines as well.

Also, there are "price points" that must be hit. Typically distributors only make 5-10% of retail on what they carry, (yes that means $10 of the $100 Narn box set) so Special Ordering small lots costs them money. I am sure they hold off shipping until they collect a large enough order to cover those costs, which could explain the 2+ week "turn around".

I'm not suggesting that one side is right or wrong on this issue. I have the unique experience of having been on 3 sides of this discussion. I have manufactured, I have ordered for a store and I am a gamer. Bottom line, THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED, but unfortunately it's the only system "we" have. As far as adding a distributor or buying direct from Mongoose, it's out of the question. Most distributors require more documentation than I can provide anymore or their minimum orders are so high that the wait would be just as long because we only order around $200 a month as it is.

From what I've seen and heard on my side of things, Mongoose is still a fairly small company, and they may be experiencing some of the same growing pains that Privateer Press had not that long ago. Remember when all the LGSs in the valley were having a hard time getting Warmachine stuff in? Add to that the idea that Mongoose may not be casting their own models. If they are farming their casting out then they have to fit their runs into someone elses schedule.

Trust me, I know the frustration you are feeling, personally I've gotten out of game systems for these same reasons.

In closing, I know it's frustrating, but I promise I am doing what I can to get you your stuff.



I've been doing alot of business with him in the past and I know he's straight with me. He feels more like the fault is with the system rather than the distributors, manufacturer, or the stores.

Dark Angel

 

[MongooseMatt]

He feels more like the fault is with the system rather than the distributors, manufacturer, or the stores.

This is very, very true - these problems simply do not exist in the UK or Europe. We are, however, looking at alternative ways of getting round these issues.

 

[Jhary]

He feels more like the fault is with the system rather than the distributors, manufacturer, or the stores.

This is very, very true - these problems simply do not exist in the UK or Europe. We are, however, looking at alternative ways of getting round these issues.

Oh really? sorry after severals Talks with Game Shops in France, Germany and Belgium i say the problems are even larger.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Oh really? sorry after severals Talks with Game Shops in France, Germany and Belgium i say the problems are even larger.

Not saying there are _no_ problems

But they are different and not rooted in the system for years.

 

[wkehrman]

By the way, given that I'm living in Colorado, USA and the Mongoose warehouse is in England, what will be the additional cost to talk my store into ordering directly from you?