"Monolith Design" Topic

Where do I begin,
I have been buying minis from Monolith Design, mostly 40mm stuff, and have had no problems. Placed a order, got the usual email responce. It was a large order that was back ordered, etc.
I have emailed Steve about 7 times in the past 7 weeks, and no responces, I have left messages on his phone, still no responce. I am out $260, and all I want is my apes I ordered.

Ive been nice about it, but growing angry about everyday.
Its like he dropped off the face of the earth.
I know that it seems to be hit and miss with Monolith Design, and I have never had any problems until now….so I guess I am finally experiencing a miss.

Tom

There have been a number of threads recently about non-communication from Monolith. I understand your frustration, but it's more than possible that it is something serious, especially given that you (and me, and many, many others) have always had great service from him.

Anger is probably not a good reaction, and getting nasty here or in messages to him would be a very bad idea (not saying you have, mind you). Let's wait and see what the problem is before jumping to any conclusions.

I was not going to say bad things, just mostly trying to get some communication from him. Maybe his computer is broke, maybe there is problems with the caster, so on and so on, or maybe something more personal. but at least some sort of communication on his end, is all Im after. It is not really having to wait, its more of, not getting an email responce from him. But it is strange, but I am very tired of the matter, just want it resolved. Maybe that someone knows him personally will say something, or maybe he will even see this message and respond. Seems to be the trick these days.

Nazrat,
I have had the same problem with them that darcelegion has.

I got a lot of odd stories out of him (including that he was in the hospital, pet died, etc…), but when an order shows up over four months late, broken items, and not the whole order?
That is when I feel complaining on a message board might help bring the poor service to his attention.

Me? I just would never order from them again. Really nice pieces, just too unreliable for me.
Heck, they were too unreliable for Brigade Games, and they dropped the line from their webstore. That also kinda tells you something…

I wish you the best of luck darclegion…

Shaun at "The Bunker" may have contact with him. He sells (or used to) Monolith stuff at shows so might have other contact numbers/emails etc.

Yea, Im starting to lean towards not doing business with him if things down start looking up soon. I'd take a reason right now..anything…silence is the worst. I am a understanding person and all.
I understand how the miniature business works, etc…things happen, delays, etc….
But I dont even know if anything has shipped.
I have called and left 4 messages. I know that one or two times I could not leave a message, that means (I think) that his message box is full. Then 30 minutes later, I could leave a message. So someone is reading the phone messages. The message greeting doesnt say Monolith Designs, its just your standard "the person is not here,etc message"
I checked the number, its the right one. And Im not leaving mean messages, or anything of that nature, they are nice and professional.
Ive ordered from Monolith/Graven Images, and all of the emails are signed
Regards Jim
I thought I was speaking to Jim Bowen the whole past 3 years, when I just talked with Jim Bowen yesterday, and he said he had not worked from Monolith in 18 monthes…so who have I been talking to on my orders, I assume that there was a email signature and he just didnt realize it. But why would Steve sign his name Jim, I dont know….but I always got my orders, and had no problems, so I dont really care, its just wierd.

Anyways, I just want my damn dirty apes or my $260 USD back…but Id prefer the Apes, or at least an email saying at least sorry for not responding to my emails in the past going on 8 weeks.

Tom

Maybe he just doesnt like me…

All that is fair enough! I just always cringe when people go off on somebody who ends up being horribly ill or passed away, as happened recently with Dave Howitt from Britannia. A fellow came on here railing about how horrible they were for not replying to his inquiries and he ended up looking very bad.

Wanting your stuff or your dough is perfectly reasonable, as is never wanting to deal with him again. That's why I always order using Paypal. I have always gotten my money back with no problem if a dealer takes way too long for any reason.

Ofcourse, I am reserved for that very reason…I sure hope that he is ok, and or that nothing is bad happening. Ive ofcourse have kept that in the back of my thoughts.
I tried calling again, no answer.

tom

I too rang again on your behalf today, left another message even though yesterdays drew zero response so far!

Same here…someone was on the phone when I called. Its like they are screening the calls….very puzzled. I left nice messages, nothing mean.

Phil,
Again, I appreciate your help. It does help the frustration. Im more puzzled by the whole thing….I hope he is ok. Im trying to sit back and wait…which I have been, that the problem.

Just had a look at his profile here on TMP

TMP link

Last visit today 21st July 2011…He does a lot of painting for the Perry Brothers and I also know that he deals with Four A Miniatures

fouraminiatures.com

Might be worth your while sending them a mail to ask his whereabouts.

I am a big fan of Jim Bowens sculpts and would buy lots of his stuff from him if only he could arrange a reliable route to market, web site and/or supplier.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Odd that Jim would say he hasn't worked for Monolith in 18 months though. I was in constant contact with Jim while he ran Graven & Monolith for Steve while he was on a hiatus, and this was as recent as 5 months ago. I always got prompt replies and mailing of my orders. There was an issue before that where Steve's AOL account had been marking my emails as spam, but Tony over at the Yahoo Group contacted Jim on my behalf.

Weird that things have gone so sideways in recent months.

-B6

I found Jim Bowen at
jimgbowen@hotmail.com
on his new website, at first I didnt think it was the same Jim before I emailed, but turns out it was. He told me that he had not worked for him in 18 monthes, while all the emails were signed Jim….so I just thought it was Jim…very strange. I went back and looked at all of my emails to make sure. Hes still helping me out. Not sure what is going to happen. He also didnt know why Steve would be using his name. I always got the minis, and there was no problems…he can be Jim if he wants to, as long as I get my minis…haha.
Im as confused as anyone could be confused….

Well, hopefully it will get worked out…..I give up. Maybe somebody will contact somebody that knows Steve or whatever or who ever and I will get my stuff in the mail, my money back, or a email….an email would be great. Thats all I want….plus the minis.

I am a big fan of Jims stuff too, I have about $1,500 USD worth of his Gorillas. I wanted to branch out into the other stuff, because I like what I see.

Hopefully something good will come of this. I have talked to Jim Bowen via email. Maybe he can help me hopefully.

Im almost ready to pay for a Ape to be sculpted and Ill cast them myself..(half joking)

That's a lot of gorillas!

And I was wanting more…..
Anyways, I have to play it safe, I put a claim in against the paypal transaction….he has 10 days to do something.

Hopefully I can still get my minis and I will be happy.
Hopefully. But I decided to protect myself, I only had 1 more day, before it hit 45 days.
I wouldnt have mind waiting if all i got was a responce back of some sort.
I do hope that the guy is ok, and not hurt or something or worse.

It's always best to err on the side of caution. I've done it twice this year with vendors who I've dealt with and trust!

Well, Ive washed my hands with it, I will not do business with Monolith Design again.

Tom

He was fine yesterday, I assume it was his wife who told me he was dropping the kids off at school!

One of my 'stories' he told me that he sent it about 5 weeks ago, and that it must have been lost or help up in customs.
Funny thing was that about a week later it showed up in my mail box (again, broken items, not the whole order, etc…) with a Royal Post mark of only 6 days ago.
If the post mark (from the UK) was 6 days ago, how was it shipped over a month ago????
Lot of Monolith's stories are hinkie like this.
Again, its too bad. They have a lot of great sculpts, and I'd love to order more of some of the models, but bad service always stops me for ordering again.

Yea, its all Steve, the one man show, who seems to not care about his customers.
I will never buy from him, and I advice no one to buy from him.

Tom

Broken, missing items, months of waiting,lies, poor packaging, that's monolith!

Buy at your own risk.

It's getting harder to order from companies in the UK not sure what it is, I've been waiting for an order for 3 months the order he said finally went out in middle of June still haven't seen it. I won't mention the company but they've been around for a while. Best thing is to pay by Paypal they will go after them for payment if you don't get the items I'm getting real close to sending in the complaint myself soon and request my money back. Good luck I hope it turns out well for you.
John

I got my money back, and I will not do business with this company.
tom

I had to sic Paypal on him the last time. I had a feeling I would have to so I pulled the trigger on the last day I still had recourse to that option. He had told me everything was in stock when I ordered, accepted my order and payment within two hours of it being placed (in spite of the time difference), and then promptly dropped off the surface of the planet, contact-wise. Enough is enough already.

I love his stuff, but Steve is lousy businessman, and his quality control is non-existent. Shame really, as he has had some great products over the years.

I will give him credit for creative story telling (I want to use the term "filthy liar", but it is technically possible that one's order is held for over six months due to an emergency trip to Africa, numerous hospital stays, several in-laws passing away, etc.). In an industry traditionally full of excuse-makers, he's a living legend.

The best thing that could happen to Monolith would be for all the molds and masters to be sold to someone reliable who cares enough to at least try and run the business properly.

- Rod

Well, I know he wont be contacting me at all. He would be smart not to. He is one fake business man. I wont tell anyone what to do, that is your business. But I would not ever give this person money….and especially when he can not return your phone calls or emails, and keeps your money. Thank goodness for paypal protection. I would say alot more, but I choose not to.

In an industry traditionally full of excuse-makers, he's a living legend.

You mean someone has FINALLY stolen the crown from Jeff Valent? About time !!!

It's too bad to hear there's been so much trouble with Steve and Jim. I should have ordered more when I had the chance, but it looks like I should thank my lucky stars I got the stuff I do have.

The Yahoo Group is still being moderated. I submitted a message over a month or so ago and it was never approved and it never materialized, but someone posted something just a few days back. So Steve or Jim are still around and still checking the Yahoo Group.

Strange stuff indeed, and sad.

-B6

I ordered from Steve last year (about $90 USD worth of stuff). He kept on giving me excuses on when the stuff would go out and then dropped off the face of the earth. I never heard back from him or got any of my stuff. Take it as hard lesson learned, I will never do business with Monolith ever again. Its too bad too. They looked like they had quality terrain.

I used to be a regular customer of Monolith. Deliveries used to be delayed, which is ok since it's a 1man business … Now, 3 years ago, I placed an order as usual, had the confirmation where Steve announced everything was here to be quickly sent …. then never heard about neither Steve, my order or Monolith ! I kept sending mails for about 1 year, considering he could have had a good excuse to give and everything would be forgiven, yet I never received neither a reply (exception made of an automatic one when he was on vacation, so he's receiving my mails …), nor my order.

Harsh lesson here: be keen with one and he'll stab you for sure.
That's a shame as Monolith's products really deserve a better business.

Its all Steve, Not Jim Bowen, no blame put on Jim, he has not worked "with: Monolith for a few years….

Just a further update on this lads…

I sent Jim/Steve/Whoever an email at the Smssrd address about two months ago and never got a response. So I thought I'd try again yesterday. Today I got a "Mail Delivery System Failure" reply to that email address. I guess it's fair to assume, with all of the above mentioned problems, and now their sole email address no longer working, that Monolith has closed it's doors. Not that they had any customers left with all the crappy service.

It's really a shame, and a poor, poor way to do business (or remain in business).

-B6

This just keeps getting better and better. I got an email this morning from Monolith's email address and it appears it was a mass mailing with a link that looked much like a virus. I guess that's their way of silencing their critics! ;)

-B6

yea i keep getting those, I have not opened the link in fear of a virus. Kinda strange. That guy should be in prison by now…
He will be soon. Taking someones Identity is pretty serious thing when it comes to money.

And I do think he is sending out emails with a virus on it….makes since.

to bad there is not a way to check to see if a link in an email is a virus without getting the virus. Kinda blows my mind, that another person on this topic has been getting the same strange emails I am getting with a link that looks questionable, from the Steve of many names.

And Steve really, if you are reading this, and you are infact sending me a virus, I know where you live, what your house looks like, your address, your history and I know how to contact the police in your home town…dont mess with me.

Don't bother darclegion…I know where he lives as well (I even know a secondary phone number…His Mum's)..or where he USED to live…I keep getting sent 'virusy' emails too.

Mark it down to experience…I sculpted for Monolith for what was effectively three months in all…with the grand total of £112 in royalties over what must now be over five years now….He stopped contacting me when I started questioning as to why everything was SO slow…..Not had any payments since….

Cheers – Techno

£112 for three month's work ?….At least the copyright on those greens is still mine if I ever decide to 'tart them up' at some stage in the future.

Yea, I hear hes not a very popular person in the industry. Thank goodness, for Paypal refunds.
tom

This guy sounds like a real piece of work.
Glad you got your money back darclegion. No one deserves to go through that…

A real piece of work ?….Yup !
Popular in the industry ? I could give you a list…Designers, mouldmakers etc that he's kept waiting and waiting and waiting….until they eventually give up.
Always WONDERFUL excuses…and playing people off against each other.

Be interesting if he ever tries to sell any moulds of the metals….I don't know about Jim's stuff but there are others (including myself) who would be saying "Hang on..Just a minute..Those aren't yours to sell without consulting us….or paying us off."…

I'll be keeping my eyes and ears WELL open regarding this.

Cheers – Techno

Also worth noting, is that if you try and log on to the Monolith SITE….A)….The site won't be recognized…(at least not by my search engine)
B)…Your PC will be attacked immediately by what Norton shows as a high risk Malicious Cookie..(Whatever that is !)
Good old Norton blocks it straight away.

You have been warned.

Cheers – T

And is this still going on?