"Black Tree Design status (US side)?" Topic

Hi all,

Has anyone placed an order with them recently or know status of the US site for Black Tree Design? Is it operating still or in limbo?

I just placed a large order for some Zulus with Black Tree Design last week but I haven't heard anything as to status. My order right now is still unfulfilled.

I also tried contacting the company but their phone# no longer is valid and I submitted their contact US webform but no word yet.

Thanks

Phil

It is still operating as far as I know. I still get sales emails from them. My experience with them is that they do not respond to any communication, and you eventually get your stuff. I would be shocked if you said that you received your order in a week.

Ok thanks. Good to know. I will wait as patiently as I can. I just hope my figures are available in the US and not in the UK LOL.

Phil

I hate to say this but their FB page hasn't been updated since Aug 2019 when they gave yet another reason for "Why things aren't being shipped."
If you read the numerous posts here on TMP, and the posts on their FB page, you will see that they are HIGHLY unreliable, and pretty much a "red flag" operation.
Expect no communication, no information, and no product.
If you get any (especially product), you are one of the VERY LUCKY ones as so many others have been ripped off.
And this is sad because they have some figures I would love to order, (I have one of their sets I purchased from a retailer), and would love to order more, but I like to get the product I buy.
Caveat Emptor seems to be the message when dealing with these folks…

Annnnd I just tried to contact them via email from their addy on their FB page, and it came back "User Unknown".

They do have a phone #, but I would be surprised if it still worked or someone answered it.

I made a decent-sized order (IMO, anyway) and I received a box a month for 3 months. No proactive communication between boxes, and no response to emails that I sent.

Ordering from them on eBay seems to get best results. They have to abide by eBay rules and send purchases promptly or they get the axe. That is the only way that worked for me. Was about 7 days after purchase I had 2 sets of soviets in winter suits.

Seems the options are a bit more limited. Take this info as you may. Your experience may vary.

JH

I imagine that he is only putting things on eBay that his has in stock, which greatly limits your options.

Horrible company – absolutely incompetent management – Got screwed by them once and will never buy from them again. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. I'm amazed they are still in business.

CT

I've ordered from them numerous times and always received the order, even if I did have to wait, for what it's worth

BrockLanders +1

I've never been stiffed after many purchases from BTD US.
As a matter of fact I received an order last week.

I've also never received an order from them "in a timely manner", it always takes a month or two.

In my mind that's the price of doing business with Black Tree.

BigDan +1

I can't believe there's still posts like this 20 YEARS ON.

That's how long it's been. Bill can confirm this, but I'm sure the 'sock puppet' scandal was 19 to 20 years ago, when they came on here under false names slagging customers off for criticizing their service, much like this post.

I'm with Murphy on this one. I wouldn't be ordering from BTD. Just do a search on TMP on you will see a myriad of problems.

Vell, always got my stuff. Took a while but got my stuff :)

Hi all. I was lucky and able to get a hold of John at Black Tree Design. He's getting a shipment of metal in to make more figs and he's also getting new molds ready for his Zulu line.

I have ordered in the past like 10 years ago from the BTD and received my figures. I do remember that it does take a while.

Anyway, in case others are still wondering, the Black Tree Design is still in business.

I was hoping there would be distributors but it appears it's direct sales only.

they have lots of promises and lots of excuses. I would avoid this company.

Many years ago there were a string of bad reviews (still in the archive here), and that kept me away. Then, at a certain point (~2016, possibly earlier, but don't quote me) I remember they made an effort to turn the ship around (new management?) and there were enough good reviews that I put in several orders, I want to say 2017 and 2018, and and everything arrived and all together, and they even answered emails. Castings exceeded expectations, and made from a nice old school lead (personal preference). A certain (Christmas?) sale where the ever-present discount also applied to artillery and units (a singularity IIRC) was magical. Got pretty much everything I wanted that was in production at that point, except going all in for the fantasy saracens, which are since OOP. I guess it was a lucky stroke I got in when I did. Sad to hear, as I used to sing their praises. Guys in my club have been passing word around like the above warnings as well. Shame.

Joining in three months later…

I was wondering about BTD's status as well after finding some forgotten about Normans in the mountain of shame. I looked John up on Facebook and his work status says "Worked at BTD."

Not sure if this means he gave up the ship and let it sink or if someone else took over. If it was the latter you'd think there would have been some sort of announcement. I attempted to log in to the website and get an error. There's also an error when attempting to sign up for the email list that I mysteriously stopped getting emails from years ago.

It's a shame if these minis are gone forever as there were several more I wanted to fill out a few units in a couple of armies.

I'm just wondering why this post isn't on the dr who board, hmm…?

I placed a small order here in the US, about $40. USD I received a confirming email that the order was received, and when it shipped. I got the order at my door in less than a week.

I love their figs and have always gotten my orders eventually so I just set myself up that it might take a while when I order, but granted that was a couple of years ago that I sent my last order.