"What the *bleep* just happened at Foundry?" Topic

I was looking to start organizing a new figure order. I had recently gotten the Tribes of Legend rule book from Foundry… Call me weird, but some of my favorite movies are the old Ray Harryhausen films taken from Greek mythology, Jason & the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans. So, armed with Tribes , I was planing to build the "forces" for mythological games using a mix of "bog standard" ancient figures and some of the specialty mythology figures Foundry had recently released.

SOOOOO, I was about to drop an order on them for some of the Amazons…

IMAGINE my SURPRISE when I opened my bookmarks only to get the fatal "404" page. When I did a Google Search, SAME thing. GONE!! Then I got an email from Foundry this evening, and armed with the information, found their new webpage…

Not a SNIFF of the "Mythology" figures…

What the BLEEP!!!

I imagine they will be in one of the forthcoming areas that they mentioned in their email. You can always drop them a line and ask about availability.

I believe they dropped many of their fantasy ranges?

Wargames factory makes a box set of 28mm hard plastic "greek style" amazons that would be about 1/10th the price of foundry.

Just got an email from them. They changed their website back to the Kevin Dallimore design from years ago.

I have two copies of the two Trojan heroes sets

Send them an email. They may not be planning to carry that line on their main webpage anymore but the other lines seem to be going on their ebay sites. I would think they would still be able to sell you the figures your interested in.

A while ago they posted that they were moving their fantasy ranges to their ebay store or some other website.

Ahg, that new/old site is terrible!

I was looking at their site last night. The home page said something about the figures designed since about 2004 (or something) being sent to different websites. There were links, which I didn't follow since I was looking for historical figures. So, see if you can link to their home page and go from there.

And yes, I tend to agree with you that a lot of those fantasy figures are great, including the Amazons!

Grelber

Ahg, that new/old site is terrible!

Why complain? It's not even Christmas and Foundry has delivered a turkey…

I can't find the relatively new Victorian stuff either …

The historical models made after 2005 are supposed to get their own site? CastingRoomMiniatures.com? Or ebay only?

That is really unnerving that the Victoriana range may get discontinued.

UPDATE: Ah, just heard from Marcus – the Victorians will be on ebay as well as the Casting Room Miniatures site – no danger of discontinuation currently.

They have said they'll ditch a lot of stuff as part of their "renewal"

foundryfantasy.com

Looks ok to me.

It is a separate fantasy site.

It's as though the last 8 years did not exist, back to the 2005 issues with Foundry of incomplete / unfinished ranges.
The problem is that you cannot turn back time and things have moved on. Customer expectations are different and the global recession bites deep into our figure spending allowance.
I hope that differences are patched up with the original sculptors and that packs of figures originally promised in the 'golden era'finally appear.Failing that sculptors are found who can sculpt in the 'approved style and standard' so we can purchase new product and expand our collections.

However I work in the public sector so am used to not holding my breath…

I like the older website. It loads a lot faster and did you notice the price reduction in the figures? Makes Foundry a lot more competitive.

I can't figure out if this is their Big Comeback, or their death spiral.

But I suspect that in the end, it's all about the figures. A lot of new, and very good, figures have come along in the past decade or so. If people don't want the Foundry product any more, then no amount of sales or outreach will matter.

If they can couple this new outreach and pricing with new and interesting figures and perhaps some new and better-edited and better-written rulebooks, then they might indeed make a big comeback.

I think it would be nice to see them come back with a splash. I hope they do.

Me too; they seem to be making a real effort to turn things around, I hope it pays off.

For Foundry to come back, they would have to renounce just about every policy the Old Regime championed.

Read this ,then ye shall know:

"" Welcome to the first phase of our new website!
You will probably notice that our website has changed its appearance. As many of you will realise, we have gone back a decade or so to the website that the mighty Kevin Dallimore designed for us way back then.

We think that we have put up over ten thousand different models: all sculpted between 1978 and 2005.

Each page on the site contains a Collection of (usually) eight related packs which you can buy individually, or you can buy the whole page at once and receive a discount.

For the time being we are going to be selling our individual packs at £10.00 GBP each: so a typical collection will cost you £70.00 GBP

We are suspending all our other discounts and offers while we run the £10.00 GBP price.

Postage rates will be £6.00 GBP to the UK and £8.00 GBP to the rest of the world: with post free coming in at £80.00 GBP Unfortunately it looks like our postage rates are going to have to go up in the relatively near future: all the shipping companies seem to be bringing in price rises at once.

Our old website that this replaces must have been the slowest site in the world. We hope that you find this new one to be a much pleasanter experience. As you wander around, we would be very grateful indeed if you would let us know about any problems that you encounter. This will help us no end. Also, we're very keen to know about anything on the site that irritates or annoys you and anything that you think could be improved. Email marcus@wargamesfoundry.com.

DAFT TEXT
At some time over the last 10 years someone took it upon themselves to change the names of many of our packs. Previously they all had sensible names. The new names are often neither sensible nor accurate. One of the surviving staff here at Foundry was telling us that the reason all those Chinese models were renamed either as "Chinese" or "Bandits" was that the previous management felt that all the silly Chinese names were too difficult for people to remember.

This is terribly embarrassing, and we are going to fix it. Regrettably the new text was printed across the images in many cases. The process of replacing them with clean photos without foolish names is going to be a long one.


ARTICLES etc
The old Dallimore designed site was packed with interesting articles and suchlike. These will return as soon as we can set the time aside for getting all the old articles (and a good number of newer articles) up on the site.

SO: WHERE ARE ALL THE OTHER RANGES THEN???
Our other models: the more recent ones, are all going to get their own new websites (apart from the really cr*p models of course: we will use those as fishing weights).

There will be four sites:

Flyte of Fantasy:
Fantasy models made since 2005.

Casting Room Miniatures:
Historical models made since 2005.

Rustbucket Miniatures:
'Replacement' models made since 2005.

"We haven't thought of a name for these yet' Miniatures:
These are the couple of hundred or more marvellous models that Kevin Adams made for us some time ago. Many of them were never properly released. These will share a home with the very fine fantasy models made for us by Mark Copplestone, Shane Hoyle and Mike Owen.

I feel that I should explain the "Rustbucket Replacements". You won't believe it: but it's true.
At some point the previous management decided that, as a huge proportion of our sales was made up by the thousands of models that Michael and Alan had made for us, they should simply have all the Perry models resculpted by someone else so that we would not have to pay the Perry's a royalty any more.

They have had loads made. We have removed the replacements (though we are still selling some off on the wargamesfoundry eBay site). The entire Perry range is back in stock and dangling from the storage hooks in a factory.

We have recently started the "FlyteOfFantasy" eBay site though it doesn't really have that much up on it as yet.

We started "TheCastingRoom" eBay site last week! We've had five sales today so far! Even less up on that one though.

The "WargamesFoundry" eBay site is doing well selling off our regiments overstocks. We have sold well over 25,000 miniatures on it in the last month. We keep putting up the odd newly found regiments when we discover them in the dusty corners of the Foundry factory. Chinese and Zulus went up recently.""

…which they seem to be doing!

Chinese. eh? Maybe I should go and look up if they have any jingal gunners.

So what do we do about postage if we want to place an order that has some figs from the Fantasy website and some from the Historical website?

This all seems a bit confusing, which is never good for the customer.

Foundry should look up how well having different websites worked for Netflix when they proposed it.

Spoiler alert: Customers complained about having to visit separate sites to purchase items from the same company and Netflix scrapped the idea.

This is a terrible idea from a branding and business perspective. So you fracture a once strong brand with lots of brand equity somehow left in the marketplace and increase your payout for operating on the web x4.

Hire a decent web design firm who knows a thing or two about IA and brand development. They will save Foundry money in the long run. The difference between a site built in 2005 and 2013 are night and day. Selling off overstock on Ebay? so, not only is Foundry paying to operate their own website, they pay Ebay to list items? Then pay your percentage of the sale to Pay Pal? And then give the Perry's(or other sculptor)their cut? Given the narrow margin on lead miniatures I don't see how this business model can be profitable.

Ok, I just tried finding stuff on the various websites and it is very confusing. Makes no ryhme or reason.

I will +1 what Hornets Nest has just said.

Also, wasn't the old buy X packs get Z packs free better than the current price?

Here is the really bad part. The same pack of Street Violence on the historical site is $15 USD, but on the fantasy site the pack is $20. USD What????

John TOFM – Old Glory has a nice set of Jingal gunners.

Come in Nighthawk – check out their E-Bay selling site:
auction

Sure sounds like Foundry are going out of their way to make buying their products a chore, which is (as others have noted) never a good business plan.

Doug

Foundry appears to be a company where the blind are leading the blind.

Its not rocket science, just provide good quality miniatures at sensible prices and don't screw customers over with the postage. The young fella managing Foundry at the moment wants to realise the company no longer produces the best miniatures on the market. Furthermore, many other companies have now surpassed them in both quality and customer service.

All the announcements coming out of Foundry in the last few months are just nonsensical marketing spin which are actually making them look a bit silly.

Raglan

Amen to that M'lord. Foundry were considered the best, what on earth is going on with them…….?!

A few months ago I thought Foundry had found their way out of the darkness. I placed one small test order and got immediate email confirmation. The service was good and delivery was within a couple/maybe three weeks to me in the US. I was pleased and placed another order with equally good results. However, three weeks ago one of my local hobby shops/game stores (the only one in this area that still has a figure rack dedicated to Foundry) placed and order and has heard nothing despite three follow-up emails to Foundry from that store seeking confirmation. Now we see this change in the Foundry website which seems to make working with them more difficult for customers. I love Foundry figures. If I didn't I wouldn't care what they did, but it seems pretty obvious to me that the more complex you make a purchase process the less attractive that process will be to those who simply want to buy your product. Come on Foundry, start thinking "user friendly."

My biggest problem with Foundry is price. It's just that simple. $4 USD per infantry figure is just too much.

John TOFM – Old Glory has a nice set of Jingal gunners.

Really? I have never seen them in their catalog.

I have seen a huge amount of their greek myth packs in their ebay outlet store in the last three weeks. That looks like that they have cleared them out?

@ wrgmr1 Thanks! I'm on it now; had found THAT eBay "store," it was the others that were a mystery (should have said -- sorry for the confusion!).

At the risk of having someone sling a stone my way -- "Hey, you started this!" I have placed an eBay order for some stuff I wanted -- the prices are hard to resist and the shipping is supposed to be "flat rate." I've had confirmation of my order (well, okay, evil-Bay's), BUT… But, I emailed Foundry about a couple small items I thought I was supposed to have gotten from an order about six weeks ago (all blisters received safely otherwise, BTW).

I got an email back AFFIRMING my "desire," but letting me know it turns out the items I wanted were "optional" on a "casting card" from within a selection, and so I got what was available and in the correct number from within that list, but not what I wanted -- specifically wanted a Roman "Eagle" standard. BTW, I was told that they would happily add the standards in my next order…

I sent an email following up my eBay order and asked if there were ANY way to add that Eagle in this eBay order? I have had an email answer already AFFIRMING that was not only possible, but had been done, AND, that my order has shipped.

So, its not here yet so I can't say if all that really happened (it only just shipped), so we'll see. But when folks jump right on something and email me a detail of their actions -- not excuses -- I usually give them the credit for it until shown otherwise…

All THAT said, I do think that FOUNDRY should have maybe taken a little counsel and also waited AT LEAST until after SALUTE to do this.

I'll opine here. I wonder if, by separating these lines on to distinct website, if they aren't planning on selling those lines off -- and soon? I honestly think that would be a mistake.

For example, in doing this they have divided the "World of the Greeks" into two halves, and are throwing the more recent "Mythology" sets over the side of the ship! NOT a good idea. Anyone remember "War-hammer Ancient Battles…???" Sigh…

The mythology figures are now on the fantasy website. Just takes a bit to find them. I ordered last week and got mine today (In the US). Still a bit pricey but worth it.

link

Changing the website is a slight miscalculation in a series of rather good/positive changes.

I thought the previous website was actually quite good and well organised. All they needed to do (IMHO) was have better enlarged pictures and the set up was sweet. The current image 'enlargments' are just stretched, low resolution versions of the smaller pics.

I've never bought 'Collections' and the previous unit deals were pretty good. Don't they say nostalgia ain't what it used to be…?

Should have left the site. I got use to it already.

Joker: While their figures at have hit $4 USD per figure n the past with their current price they are $1.90 USD-$2.25 depending on whether it is an 8 or 6 figure pack. I've done a lot of Foundry for customers and almost all of the line packs are still 8 figures with the command, Old West, Darkest Africa, etc being 6 figures.

Now postage will add a bit to that but that would be the case with almost anybody you order from, with free postage coming after ordering 8 or more packs.

With the price reduction to £10.00 GBP a blister, that means Foundry are very competitive. If you compare them to say Eureka, they are £10.00 GBP for either 6 or 8 figures, while for that you only get 4 Eureka figure…

What annoys me is that didn't Foundry bring the UK postage down to £4.00 GBP for a trial period? The email says it is now £6.00 GBP and may rise, ie, back to the price it was!

I would buy more Foundry stuff if the postage was more appropriate. I don't want to have to spend £80.00 GBP to get free postage…

Best wishes to Foundry in revitalizing the business.

Looking at the "collections" I am afraid I just do not "get it" – often they include a pack at random (ie Crimea – charge of the light brigade has an infantry pack in it). Price wise they are around the £1.20 GBP mark, more for command, so for such old figures that are probably too small to fit current ranges, and too expensive for me. If the "collections" sensibly reduced the price then maybe i could understand it – but otherwise, why?

Is it the Minifigs model – are people just buying to completre their own collections? Or are people seriously considering using them again from scratch?

I like that they lowered their prices. A pack is now $15.00 USD. However, if I read it write, the shipping is a standard $13.00 USD. That is fine if I am placing a decent size order but if I only wanted one pack paying $13.00 USD shipping makes that one pack now $28.00 USD. Many times I am only looking for a pack or two. Seems high.

Joker: While their figures at have hit $4 USD USD per figure n the past with their current price they are $1.90 USD USD-$2.25 depending on whether it is an 8 or 6 figure pack. I've done a lot of Foundry for customers and almost all of the line packs are still 8 figures with the command, Old West, Darkest Africa, etc being 6 figures.

What the heck was I looking at then? I saw 6 figures for $24.95 USD. Hmmm….I'll have to go back and see. Maybe I was looking at a cavalry price? I saw infantry though.

I did send Marcus Ansell (the new manager of Wargames Foundry) a link to this discussion.

Interestly, he did not reply to either my email or comment here – I guess that silence is sometimes the best policy when you are floundering out of your depth?

Raglan

I don't agree that Foundry is floundering at all. I see most of the steps taken by the new team as a step in the right direction. I do agree with Inkpaduta that a flat shipping charge is probably not a great policy as it discouragse small orders.

I still got a Wargames Foundry free pack voucher from the year 2000, do you think I should use it yet?!?

peterw3169.blogspot.co.uk

I did send Marcus Ansell (the new manager of Wargames Foundry) a link to this discussion.

Interestly, he did not reply to either my email or comment here – I guess that silence is sometimes the best policy when you are floundering out of your depth?

Good grief, does the poor guy work on an "on call" basis on weekends?

ScottS

This discussion started on the 16th, so I guess he had plenty of time to answer.

Raglan

I hadn't had the "spendy" back three weeks ago… okay, yes almost four weeks ago now… SOOOO, I was holding off until a new pay-period so I would HAVE the "spendy" to buy those Greek Mythology Amazon packs I wanted, in order to try out their rules-set, Tribes of Legend.

Changing the website is a slight miscalculation in a series of rather good/positive changes.

Well, guess they have heard us!! The webbie where the mythology figures had been migrated -- Foundry Fantasy -- is verschmaltz. So much for these figures continuing to be available else-when!!!!!!!!

Have passed on concerns and questions to Marcus, as I'm working on te venue area, but this might help some of the questions.

link

Also I do know that they have just finished with a court case against old manager after the debacle of his management that resulted in him beng taken to court for bullying, homophobic bullying and other pettyness and questional conduct/business.

I also am aware that the new site is better tthan old one but as things go new web designer decided to have some form of a breakdown and left the site nearly complete so they are workig on that.

And they are currently finding new master molds for ranages that they never knew anything about, so its a long process, but its all being worked on. Any issues contact Marcus marcus@wargamesfoundry.com

The new site looks awful, and the fantasy figures are gutted. Where are the goblins?

is it really four bucks a figure now? That's absurd, for figures so small.

With so many other companies making plastic figures, Foundry had better get their stuff together in a hurry.

Why should I pay $4 USD for a metal zulu, when two other companies make plastic Zulu at half the price?