20144 - "No Rules" ..whenever.... (1 Viewer)

C

chalklands

Sergeant First Class
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Aug 2, 2007
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I'm really getting peeved with Britains. Published release dates are continually being changed, not by weeks but by months.

For example, I really don't get it with this set. It is showing on the Britains website (in the UK) as being sold out already, but it is not being released until the 'Spring', and will probably not be released until the Summer/Autumn anyway. How will I know when it is actually being released so that I can keep a look out for it from dealers??? Or has it totally 'sold out' so it won't be with dealers?

Britains...please get your act together!
 
That's why I canceled all my pre-orders on the indians of the new Clash of Empires range.At first some were coming out at the beginning of the year,now it's March and will probably be longer than that.I understand production delays and such but it seem like Britains and Conte are always this way.I don't see KC,Jenkins,CS,TGM and others having this kind of problem.I will probably still get some of the indians when they are actually in stock and if I miss a few I probably will be able to get them on Ebay for a while.
Mark
 
Also I want to say that I do like Britains' products I think they are very well done but I think these constant delays are really hurting your business.
Mark
 
A little patience can go a long way. I have never regretted waiting on any release from W. Britain regardless of how long I had to wait. Case in point . . . this past Tuesday I received the ACW Confederates/Fence sets which I have been waiting on since last July. I must say they were well worth the wait and in my opinion the best ACW sets released to date. Sometimes we just need to remember TTT . . . . that is, Things Take Time. Besides, spreading releases out over time makes it easier on the pocket book. #20144 is a limited edition set that has a lot of appeal for AZW collectors. I would be willing to bet that the number of pre-orders that W. Britian retailers have made for this great looking hand-to-hand combat set maxed out at the production quantity. Even though the WB website indicates that it is sold out, in spite that it has not been released yet, it probably just means that all orders have been filled by retailers. With that said, when it is released, it will more than likely disappear rather quickly. I know that one of the four ACW sets that I mentioned above is already hard to find (comletely sold out at Treefrog) and all four sets are listed on the WB web site as sold out after only the first week of release. If you want 20144, and you haven't already done so, I would recommned that you pre-order it from your dealer to ensure that you get one. As far as the Clash Of Empires Range goes, the figures of the Eastern Woodland warriors look fantastic in my opinion and are a much welcomed addition to early American history scenarios. The first releases of these nice figures will be within the next 7-10 days according to my supplier. This is well within the time frame that was originally announced for the initial release.

Given everything that has happened in the past 6-7 months with the change in Management, I think W. Britains is doing quite well by us collectors.

:smile2: Mike
 
I'm not a Britains collector so I'm ignorant how they do things. I see a new WW I set listed on the Treefrog site as available for ore-order that I may be interested in but, which is listed as not to be released until the summer. Huh? Is that normal. I'm used to K & C and FL where things are available pretty fast. I also don't understand how sets are numbered. There doesn't seem to be consistency but that's a minor matter.

Brad
 
Mike I understand what your saying but they need to stop putting estimated dates that are months ahead of actually being released and it's just not an item ounce in while but a lot all the time.Nobody is questioning the quality of their items but people get frustrated waiting and waiting.
Mark
 
jazzeum said:
I'm not a Britains collector so I'm ignorant how they do things. I see a new WW I set listed on the Treefrog site as available for ore-order that I may be interested in but, which is listed as not to be released until the summer. Huh? Is that normal. I'm used to K & C and FL where things are available pretty fast. I also don't understand how sets are numbered. There doesn't seem to be consistency but that's a minor matter.

Brad
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it is a totally different concept from monthly dispatches. wbritains is more of a quarterly concept ie summer, fall, winter and spring. the sculpting is great and pricing is the best of the major ts companies.. now the but..... delays are more of the norm than the exception. typically you should add a couple months to the expected timeline... good news is your wait will be rewarded with an excellent product
 
I can truly understand the frustration of many collectors when it takes months and months to see the actual appearance of an announced set or figure.
But then again, it will come out at some point and when it does, most collectors are quite satisfied with the result.
With the name WBritain comes a very long history of Toy Soldier manufacturing/collecting, some kind of an obligation for the current owner.

There was quite a drop in quality, when the Ertl. company took over Britains, and it almost hit the "last order" spot.

But then, fortunately First Gear came in and Richard Walker was put at the helm, and he did a splendid job to bring back Britains, in quantity of new Toy Soldiers, but most important in quality of new Toy Soldiers as well.

I am positive, that the current man at the helm, Ken Osen, will do his very best to continue on the successful road that Richard Walker got going.
Quality/Price ratio of the Britains figures are hard to beat, as well as the amount of figures/ poses they put out in their most successful ranges, say ACW, AZW.

So, let's give them a break and look forward to releases as they come out.

Actually for the very disciplined collectors among us (how many are there? ^&grin), the system works quite well.
If you decide to collect a subject, you do know what is coming out in that field, and you can put your funds aside for a decent amount of time, until it actually comes to "pay day".

Their current system is not comforting the collector who's approach is the "buy it now, want it now", but the one who makes long term plans for collecting a line or two, or more ^&grin is well taken care of.

My best wishes for continued success of a great Toy Soldier company.

Konrad
 
zulucollector said:
it is a totally different concept from monthly dispatches. wbritains is more of a quarterly concept ie summer, fall, winter and spring. the sculpting is great and pricing is the best of the major ts companies.. now the but..... delays are more of the norm than the exception. typically you should add a couple months to the expected timeline... good news is your wait will be rewarded with an excellent product
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation as I'm not familiar with their procedures.

Brad
 
I love my Britains AZW figures and really like the WW1 series and certainly do not mind waiting given that I never walk into my TS shop without something I want. Surely Britains just need to be conservative with their estimates. If they think July, say early September. If it is on time (early), great; if there is a holdup, they have a buffer. While doing my postgrad work I always added a six week buffer to my estimates. It gave me an undeserved reputation for being punctual and possessing an impressive work ethic.
 
I got my kit for joining.Didn't get the free figure,don't know if I was suppose to yet but as others have said Britains does their releases differently.I'm use to the Jenkins way.A lot of nice figures in that catalog.^&grin Remember one thing those that have complained it is because we want their items and that is a good thing for Britains.
Mark
 
marco55 said:
Mike I understand what your saying but they need to stop putting estimated dates that are months ahead of actually being released and it's just not an item ounce in while but a lot all the time.Nobody is questioning the quality of their items but people get frustrated waiting and waiting.
Mark
Click to expand...

This is what a lot of folks turned off from Conte, released dates never met?? I do agree with Mike and Britians is a great company just have to clean up on the release dates, and I'm sure Ken and co. will do just that...Sammy
 
sammy719 said:
This is what a lot of folks turned off from Conte, released dates never met?? I do agree with Mike and Britians is a great company just have to clean up on the release dates, and I'm sure Ken and co. will do just that...Sammy
Click to expand...

I think he will too.
Mark
 
marco55 said:
I got my kit for joining.Didn't get the free figure,don't know if I was suppose to yet but as others have said Britains does their releases differently.I'm use to the Jenkins way.A lot of nice figures in that catalog.^&grin Remember one thing those that have complained it is because we want their items and that is a good thing for Britains.
Mark
Click to expand...

I also received my Club Member package . . . . in years past the Club Figures have been sent out in May time frame . . . .
:smile2: Mike
 
The sold out on the Britains site refers to stock being sold out to DEALERS. You CANNOT buy directly from W.BRITAIN. If you look on the WB website they show what is shipping each month. This has always been accurate and you will then know when the sets are available to purchase.

Collectors club figures come out in May..............always have.
 
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