"Too Hotz or not too Hotz?" Topic

OK. I am getting confused…
I need to get some hex mats for CY6, but…

I hear that the best hexed mats out there is Hotz. But now it seems that they are a flakey company.

I was just about to order some mats, and did a quick search on TMP on Hotz ( I do this now for all new companies that I have never ordered from after my All Fronts Armor disaster…), and people do say that they have great mats, it just takes FOREVER to get, not so hot service and no communication.

Should I order from them or is there another place I can buy hex mats for CY6? It dosent matter if they are from Hotz or anybody else.

Any hex mats that you can recommend?

Thanks! \m/

I think if you are in no hurry, Hotz mats are the way to go. I f you are in a hurry, well another vendor is the way to go.

Mike

There are 3 main options that I know of at the moment:
1. Hotz – very nice, but he's usually snowed under, so expect a wait unless he happens to have your mat in stock.
2. Monday Knight – not as nice as Hotz, in my view at least, but still good quality and reputedly excellent service.
3. S&A Scenics – good quality felt mats; a little plain, but very nice, and again quick service. These are expensive compared to the two US firms, though; for a UK customer it's not that big a difference after postage, but as you're in the US they're considerably more expensive.

Dom, who's delighted to have just gotten a stock of Hotz mats in….

Agree with Dom in that the Hotz mats are great. Ordered my 2" hex European field mat for use with WW1 aircraft and got it in about 3 weeks, start to finish. If he has some in stock you're gold, if not you've got to wait.

In my opinion, well worth waiting for.

Dan

Hotz isn't a US company, he's in Canada.

Good point – I have a tendency to forget that, especially as he prices in US dollars.

I ordered 2 mats from him in June, and they came in ~2 weeks. I did send him an e-mail before ordering to get an estimate on delivery time. He was very forthcoming about when they would be printed and shipped.

I ordered a 2" hex European mat last year, took about 2 weeks, no problem. Though I've read the same threads as you! It is a great looking mat. I agree with Dan, well worth the wait.
Peter

I'd go with Hotz, and just wait for delivery.

I'd just buy a piece of felt at the fabric store, and mark hexes on it if needed, instead of going with the Monday Knight ones.

Just be patient with Hotz and you won't be disappointed in your mats. Of course, if you are in a big hurry you might want to find another source.

As for communication-- he stayed in touch with me the whole time I was waiting on my goods. It's apparently on again-off again, though.

Good Luck,

I've sent him e-mails three times now, trying to order a custom mat, and he's never even written me back.

His mats are gorgeous, though.

I've met Eric and he is a great guy, very sincere and cares a great deal about his hobby and the products he makes. I don't know if that's important to you or not -- is to me.

I've seen his stuff. I cannot recommend his products too highly. There are no misrepresentations, no fluff, you get what he promises.

Eric does have a family and there are some issues in his family that (IMO rightfully) demand his attention from time to time. These family matters sometimes take precedence over his hobby activities. He dropped off the map for nearly a year at one point in time -- really had no choice – again IMHO.

Eric has a 'real' job, outside of making wargame stuff. His workload is variable. He's not a 40 hours a week guy. Demands within his employment probably influence the time he has to produce his mats.

Eric is not a 'company' in the sense that he has folks that work for him. AFAIK, he does practically everything himself. Like all of us he does get stretched a bit thin at times.

So, I think you need to approach dealing with Eric like you would with an artist. You will get the stuff when he finishes it. That said, what you get just might be the best on the market.

Yup there is a trade off there, but IMO, you will forget about the occasional delays much sooner than you will forget about a product that doesn't measure up to your expectations.

mjc

"Eric is not a 'company' in the sense that he has folks that work for him. AFAIK, he does practically everything himself. "

Sounds like a lot of other wargames "companies" then.

You could try contacting Imperial Hobbies in Richmond BC. When I was there in June, I'm pretty sure I saw some Hotz mats. Not a lot, but maybe they have what you're looking for.

I plan on buying a couple of HOTZ hex maps. I totally understand and sympathize with what MJC is saying about Eric. But I must say that regardless of his situation, good communications should be important and essential to his business even if it does take a while. I have emailed Eric twice (over two months ago) asking for approximate delivery times for a couple of different mats and have received no reply. As far as I was concerned, I didn't mind waiting any amount of time as long as I know what to expect. Not knowing what is going on is not good and makes the customer feel like they are left hanging and out of their money. Good communications will always make a mark with customers even if the product takes time (even lots of time) to get to the customers.

Good communications also avoids threads like this…

That's my two cents…

Sounds like a lot of other wargames "companies" then.

Yes, I always wonder why such companies when communicating on TMP say "we".

Just yesterday I mailed my order for two 5" hex mats, one sea blue and a double sided european fields map. Been thinking of buying them for a few years but after seeeing a few at H'con I was sold.

I will let everyone know how long it takes…

Yes, I always wonder why such companies when communicating on TMP say "we".

Yes, it is an odd one. I occasionally lapse into it myself, but try not to. For some reason M&M Enterprises from Catch 22 springs to mind when one-man firms use "we"….

I have a double sided Hotz mat. I waited six or maybe seven weeks but it was worth it. Its brilliant.

If you're Uk based buy one from Dom if its the size you want otherwise I'd just wait and do something really cheap while you wait. Maybe draw up some hexes on your computer and photocopy some sheets up just for a stop gap.

Having got my Hotz I wouldn't bother with anything else.

I have to agree with most of the statements above. I received my matts from order to delivery in approx. 6 weeks. They were for a friends xmas present. When I ordered them I was fully aware of the possible time delay involved so I ordered them 12 weeks in advance of xmas and was pleasantly surprised when they arrived well in advance. My wife surprised me by ordering a set for my xmas present 3 weeks after I sent in my order. Her order arrived the week prior to xmas. However at all times Eric kept in touch with her and apprised her of the progress being made including the shipping date.
The wait and anticipation is well worth it. Understand though that his matts, as some claim they are, are not a full 6' wide. He physically cannot get this width on the equipment he currently has.

BonsaiBob I would recomend that you e-mail him again. He has one h@ll of a spam blocker and a major problem with the both of the internet service providers in the Vancouver area. At one point a major fire took out most of internet service in the greater Vancouver area for almost a week. So your emails to him may have hit during this time frame.

Ray, in Calgary