Black tree design

Don't know if this topic is in the right place, but here goes:

I was wondering if anyone has some experience with Black Tree Miniatures? Black Tree Design website

The prices are really low, but I like the somewhat stumpy orc's they've got there. Looking at the price-tag, I don't expect GW or reaper-quality sculpts, but are these guys any good? I know they look kind of "dummy" but I think that's part of the fun. Reminds me of 4th edition warhammer mini's.

If you have any opinion on these guys (be it negative or positive) I'd like to hear it!

I've heard good things about their miniatures, but I've heard a LOT of people say they've had problems with having to wait months for things to arrive, with e-mails being ignored, etc...

Gibius wrote:

I've heard good things about their miniatures, but I've heard a LOT of people say they've had problems with having to wait months for things to arrive, with e-mails being ignored, etc...

Thnx for the reaction! I will keep that in mind.

Do these stories of long waiting times come from Europe, or other places in the world?

Just placed an order. We'll see what happens.

Will keep you updated!

The Accessories and the Swarms caught my eye, and a lot of the other stuff is keenly priced and has a certain old school charm.

Keep us informed of your experience, if it's good they might get an order from me

My story is from Europe (Spain).
May the luck be with you... you'll need it

Endakil wrote:

My story is from Europe (Spain).
May the luck be with you... you'll need it

Thanks for the warning. Can you explain a little more? Did something go wrong with ordering, shipping? Did they forget you? Did they give you the wrong models?

Just reading a thread over on Frothers of people having issues. If you do have problems might be worth going over there and seeing if there are any suggestions..

I also read lots of negative threads over at the Lead Adventure Forum. Good luck, vampirekhaine!

Thnx both of you. I'll just wait and mail.

Will keep you updated!

Update time:

8 august 2010 : placed order
9 - 12 august 2010 : void (otherwise known as radiosilence)
12 august 2010 : send 1st mail
12 - 17 august 2010 : void
18 august 2010 : send 2nd mail stating that it is rude not to inform customers (through contact-form on site)
19 august 2010 : reply from john, apologizing for the delay. Letting me know the order had been shipped and will arrive soon
20 august 2010 --- > : the waiting begins

Wonder when it will arrive....

I'm getting impatient..... it should be here by now.

Let's give it another go on the mail.

A friend of mine and I both had very bad experience with them last year. They had a summer sale in july 2009, so I ordered 5 blisters. Received half the goods 4 months later (after numerous emails and one phone call). The phone call really seemed to speed up things. But I had to wait another 2 months to get the missing 2 blisters after I called tthem again.
My friend had the similar experience, roughly 4-5 months.

Sorry that I just saw your post late. Your goods wil come but it's going to be long unless they've changed the way they work which is quite possible after the masssives complaints they must have received.

Really hope it'll get quicker for you.

Just reading another post about Black Tree, erm possibly on LAF ( I get around a bit ).

They said they had some success by actually ringing and having a chat with them before placing the order, making sure the items they wanted were in stock and sort of making themselves known.

Pretty damn farcical though if that's the hurdles you have to jump through just to make an order. I like their halflings but I'll be buying the ones from Black Hat instead.

I've had the same problem with a store here in The Netherlands. Turned out the guy from the store had some personal problems or something and he kept stalling... Eventually I gave up waiting...


Good luck Vamp K.

September 1st and still waiting?

Actually, a day later and still waiting.

/me fires up mail

As expected... huh.

Well based on my experiences with Forge World, Black Tree aren't all that bad

As expected, I know. Although I must say the following words mailed by john did shine some light in the otherwise rather dark ordering system:

John from BTD wrote:

I know our reputation if quite poor. To be honest, a great deal of the complaints are justified. We have done a terrible job particularly in customer service and communication. It may sound like an excuse but the downturn in the economy coupled with the skyrocketing price of metal caused us a great deal of trouble. Having such a huge range has made it extremely difficult trying to handle inventory.

With a couple of lines ahead:

John from BTD wrote:

We have made a great deal of progress over the last 6 month but still have a ways to go! I really appreciate you taking the time to email me.

I wonder when my orcs are going to be in......

At least he gave an honest answer, owning up to their mistakes.

Concerning the quality of the figs, I bought the Shadow Elves once, long ago, when they were called Harlequin, instead of Black Tree. I have actually bought many harlequin models back in the days (its the same company and basically same figs today), and I have never been unhappy with them. Sure, they are hard to convert, cut and customize, being quite rigid, but some look good as they are. I made statues for Mordheim out of the shadow elves. Looks really great

I have ordered only once from ForgeWorld but was very happy with my order.

cianty wrote:

I have ordered only once from ForgeWorld but was very happy with my order.

The items were excellent but the customer services were non-existant - at least it seems Black Tree respond to emails! (what with that being a form of techonology that ForgeWorld struggles with... )

5pointer wrote:

cianty wrote:

I have ordered only once from ForgeWorld but was very happy with my order.

The items were excellent but the customer services were non-existant - at least it seems Black Tree respond to emails! (what with that being a form of techonology that ForgeWorld struggles with... )

Don't count your blessings to soon . They've stopped communicating or so it seems. Radiosilence for over a week now.

Let's see what happens.

And .... still no package.

The only excuse I keep hearing is "postal service must have held it back". Well, if they provided TNT-numbers than we would at least know, wouldn't we? Those numbers are not THAT expensive and I would be willing to pay that extra dollar to know where the hell my order is.....

Any dutch people around here that know if it is possible to track something that is supposed to be here already, without having an tnt-number?