"Naismith-Roundway (again)" Topic

Okay, so things are a bit strange at the moment, and additional delays are inevitable, but…

Placed an order a month ago, emailed to ask if there were any Covid19 delays and no response. I'd phone, but no number listed. I know that they have a bit of a hit and miss reputation (I so wish Navwar still had them), but there doesn't appear to be any "due to the current situation there might be additional delays etc" on the website. Not that you could find it if there was, front page cluttered up with Russian spam.

Anyone received an order recently? If you have, when did you order?

I feel your pain. I imagine there are still some random and severe delays with shipping. I haven't ordered from Roundway recently but I posted similar issue with a Navwar order I placed in April. Card was charged over a month and half ago and I am still waiting on the order. I ordered from Pendraken and Magister Militum after that charge and received those orders weeks ago. I know it's not Navwar's fault, their customer service has always been exceptional (even with antiquated ordering) in the past. It's either in limbo someplace or mishandled by less than stellar local mail carriers.

Never had an issue with Navwar, Tony's customer service is brilliant (many get irked by his reluctant acceptance of modern communications technology – he's got as far as a phone and fax).

My issue is with the new owner of the Naismith and Roundway ranges – John Roberts.

I know it's not Navwar's fault, their customer service has always been exceptional (even with antiquated ordering) in the past. It's either in limbo someplace or mishandled by less than stellar local mail carriers.

Could be something to do with a significant lack of planes …

Was looking at their site a few days ago and decided not to place an order. I was not encouraged by the fact that the owner had not updated his site by posting pics of the figures. I appreciate that many of our suppliers are mom and dad operations but to not have pictures of your product seems a recipe for disaster.

I don't think it is the lack of planes. I ordered 3 CDs from Music Scotland located in Oban in the West Highlands of Scotland on 4 June. They arrived this morning in Astoria, OR. I'm happy with 13 days between ordering and getting.

There is definitely capacity issues with transatlantic shipping. My airmail items to Europe from Western Canada are at 2+ months at this time. There's articles about USPS using sea going shipping to send via air mail items because the volumes are large enough to justify using a vessel. I imagine though this makes the receiving postal station swamped with huge volumes in a very short time frame.

David
kingsfordminiatures.org

To go back to what I was asking: anyone received an order from Naismith Roundway recently?

(Transatlantic shipping isn't an issue, as I'm in the UK)

I was not encouraged by the fact that the owner had not updated his site by posting pics of the figures.

Have you any idea how much effort would be required to photograph every figure to an acceptable standard (painted rather than bare metal) and load the images onto the website? And all that time is time that would otherwise have been spent casting figures and filling orders.

MajorB – yes, I do. Until I retired recently, I ran a small miniatures company (sole-trader) via a website. I had every figure photographed, mainly using nothing more sophisticated than my phone camera – it's really not that difficult. No need to fully paint them – a black wash, rubbed down whilst still wet gives a more than acceptable result; far better than bare metal.

In the end, it's your choice as a seller. If you want to maximise your sales, present your product as well as possible. If you don't care whetheR people order or not (lucky you), don't bother.

Miniatures really need to be seen before they are ordered. It's a no-brainer.

DBDD

To answer your question KYPD, no. Have a good day and good luck.

My order arrived today. :-)

That is good to hear. I was about to reply that I am also waiting for an order – hopefully mine will also arrive soon.

Hi all…two orders placed in last few weeks and arrived safe and sound..they add a certain randomness to my existing army..really nice figs..many thanks

Important to say that orders are going out. Don't wish to harm the business, but he really does need to clear up all the spam on his website. A simple message on the website would have meant I wouldn't have posted the question.

Hope your order lands on your doorstep soon Swampster.

I ordered on May 28th from the US. Nothing received yet, but I consider this still in the reasonable range.

My only concern was not getting an email acknowledgement of the order. I am used to that. But still a small shop and all

Recently got a refund from Paypal for an order I placed with them months ago. Not only didn't arrive, no response to the repeated emails over the months of waiting.

Suspect something is wrong.

Martin

I've had an order (2 actually) in with John since May. I also had quite a problem getting him to reply to emails but eventually managed it. As with others on here, I was worried by the state of the website, though, strangely, I've had no problems getting on the site until today!
I CAN let people on here know though that he IS still in business but is suffering from ill health -Fibro-Myalgia and arthritis, both of which are very debilitating and they make getting stuff out very difficult for him. Whilst this in no way excuses bad communication, I can assure customers that they will get their orders eventually. I would recommend regular emails to him though, just to let him know that YOU haven't forgotten about the order!
Despite the long delays and ridiculous 30% postal charges (domestic rates) these are still the cheapest minis on the market and the best 15mm figures still available to "old skool" gamers like me. You can try to reach him on 2 email addresses – I cc to both when I email him. I can't really give the second one out on here, but anyone that has placed an order through Paypal should have it. It starts doowop38. Hope this helps some of you. I'm keen to keep the man in business as they are literally my favourite minis. I only wish I'd beaten him to buying Tony at Navwar out!! Cheers, Malcolm.

Thanks for the update – I was just wondering about my order from May. It does help knowing what is going on.

I was trying to look at the Roundway figures but it seems the website has now disappared? Is this the end of getting any of these figures now?

Another update. Now that the PayPal time limit is over, John Roberts will no longer reply to my emails. I have asked him for a full refund but had neither the money or a reply and PayPal has dismissed my claim. I now have 2 options. The first, and one I prefer, is to turn up on his door mob-handed and beat him to a pulp. Sadly, that's not a very clever idea and so I will have to take the second option which is to take him to the Small Claims Court. Yes, it will cost me £25.00 GBP, but hopefully it will put a CCJ on his record.
I have been a complete idiot regarding this con-man and deeply regret believing his reassurances. DO NOT PLACE ANY ORDERS WITH HIM IF THE WEBSITE RE-APPEARS.
That the website has been taken down is I believe down to me due to my emails, unless of course, others have said the same. The following is the last part of the trail of emails. The earlier parts have vanished from my email account for some reason -probably time limits or something.
Sent: 12 December 2020 11:55
To: doowop38@yahoo.co.uk
Cc: naismithnroundway@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: overdue orders
 
Hi John.
I am STILL waiting for a reply to my last email, let alone any sign of my orders arriving.  Am I going to have these before Christmas please?
I understand your health problems and the difficulties posed by the corona pandemic, but I think you should have been able to get the orders out to me before now, particularly as you promised me in August that I would receive the figures within the month. Despite your reassurances that you would keep me updated, that was the last I have heard from you.
Further to this, if I do not receive the goods I have ordered before the New Year, I shall be applying through Paypal for a full refund. I have been extremely patient, waiting almost a year for you to fulfil your contract with me but enough is enough. I wish I could say that I look forward to your prompt reply, but I very much doubt that I will receive one.
Yours
Malcolm O'Connor
 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
 
From: Mal
Sent: 29 October 2020 18:05
To: doowop38@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: overdue orders
 
Hi John.
How long am I expected to wait to receive my orders please?
I have been very patient so far and appreciate and sympathise with the difficulties that your ill-health is causing, but to be still waiting for an order placed on the 21st of January and another placed on June the 14th, (simply because I trusted your word) is unacceptable as I hope you would agree.
I see from comments on TMP that other customers are having the same difficulty and would like to know how you intend to deal with the situation. Your website is still live and taking orders, which seems slightly dishonest to me as there is clearly no way that you are able to fulfil those orders in the foreseeable future.
As you know, I have been a huge fan of the Roundway and Naismith figures for more years than I care to count, so it is in my own interests, to feed my habit, for you to be a huge success and, whilst it is far from my business to comment on how you run yours, could I offer a few suggestions?
1. Either call in favours with friends or pay someone to do the casting for you until you at least get caught up with your back orders. Have a word with Anthony at Navwar- he may know someone who could help you or be able to offer useful suggestions.
2. Get rid of all the junk messages on your website. It gives an absolutely terrible impression.
3. Stop taking orders until you have processed all the ones currently in the pipeline, place a notice explaining that you are temporarily unable to take orders due to illness and email all customers waiting, apologising for the hold-ups. Good customer services and relationships are of key importance in any consumer based business.
4. Get photos of as many of the figures as possible on the website. I can help you with some.
5. Set up a newsletter to keep regular customers informed.
6. If there is no other way of getting the business up and running by you, consider selling it to someone who can -the ranges are far too good to be allowed to fall into disuse through illness.
 
I hope you appreciate that I really want you to succeed (and desperately want my orders) Another thing you need to do is keep in communication with your customers. I know from personal experience of ill health that being unable to fulfil orders on time causes embarrassment and through that, lack of communication.
Please take these comments in the spirit in which they are intended -from someone who I hope is a friend as well as a customer.
 
Yours,
Malcolm O'Connor
 
 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
 To: doowop38@yahoo.co.uk Cc: naismithnroundway@yahoo.com
27/12/2020 16:51

Hi John.
How was your Christmas? Ours was crap -literally! Jen was really ill all Christmas day night. We ended up shattered! At least my 3 French hens survived (well 2 cockerels and a hen).
Can you give me any idea of when you can get my order out please? I realize everyone is having a pretty tough time and I don't want to cancel the order -apart from anything else, it could cause you problems, which is the last thing I want. I'm pleased to see you've  closed down the website -temporarily I hope. It should at least give you breathing space to allow you to get existing orders out.
Could you please keep in touch? I'm really quite an easy-going and understanding person, and know exactly how difficult long term issues with severe pain can be. I've said it before, but if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to let me know.
I wondered perhaps if you are having cash-flow difficulties because of Covid, lockdowns, work etc and are having difficulty buying in metal to work with. I realise that's a cheeky question but it's well intentioned. I'm a great believer in positivity and that a problem shared is a problem halved, and sometimes talking to someone gives one a different perspective that can get you over seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I know how hard it is to get yourself out of a hole and how it can affect you.
Anyway, Happy Christmas to you and let's hope the New Year is far better than the one now ending and that your health and mine improves!
 
Take care my Friend
 
Malcolm
To: doowop38@yahoo.co.uk Cc: naismithnroundway@yahoo.com
02/01/2021 14:51
Hi John.
I wish you would take the bother to reply to emails.
It's pretty clear that you are deep in the There's no other reason why I should still be waiting for my orders for almost a year.
Obviously, if I decide to reclaim my losses, it will either depend on your decency to return it to me without bother through Paypal, which seems unlikely given your lack of communication, or I would have to claim it back through the small claims court, which will mean you receiving a  CCJ against yourself and possibly having moulds taken off you. THAT may get me my money back, but it certainly won't do YOU any favours OR help get what I think the best 15mm figures on the market back out there!
I don't WANT to have to demand my money back by ANY method, but unless you are prepared to talk to me I'm swiftly running out of options. I'm trying to be fair and trying to help out, but you are making things far worse by not replying to me. I've been incredibly patient with you and am prepared to carry on being patient -but ONLY if I know what is going on. NO lies or -the TRUTH.
Cheers
Malcolm O'Connor
 To: doowop38@yahoo.co.uk Cc: naismithnroundway@yahoo.com
04/01/2021 16:07
I am STILL waiting to hear from you. What do  you intend to do about the orders I am waiting for? Would you prefer to send off the goods I have ordered from you or refund my money? I would be grateful if you could let me know asap.
Yours
Malcolm O'Connor

It's such a pity that these lovely little figures should become unavailable because of a man who would rather defraud customers than ppay someone to do his casting as I suggested. I'll keep you informed as to how I get on.
Cheers
Mal.

I hope the roundway line doesn't disappear, if the moulds and rights come up for sale I would definitely be interested to add them to my stable.

Truly a shame to lose access to these ranges. I am a fan of the Naismith 25mm ancient ranges and would have placed another order recently had not the Naismith and Roundway website disappeared from the internet. Since evidently the current owner has become unreliable I can only hope that the molds and manufacturing rights will somehow find their way to someone reliable who will again offer the excellent Naismith true 25mm ancient figure ranges for sale to the wargaming public.

A darn shame.