"Another busy day at Wargames Foundry?" Topic

Another busy day at the Wargames Foundry shop:

Follow this link for more "ground breaking" news: wargamesfoundry.com

When are these chimps going to get real?

Unrealistic pricing and the number miniatures per pack are the issues for me.

Raglan

I dunno, I think it's great that they're un-discontinuing old ranges.

Doug

Looks like they are trying, still pricy though.

But they are on the right path.
The number of figs and price was never really an issue.
But that shipping was INSANE!

Aztecs, Incas, -and- 2000AD back in production:
Works for Me!

I love Foundry figures they are the best and I don't mind paying for the best either. So I can't wait for the lines I'm interested in to fully come out; Colonials, Darkest Africa, Ancients.

I love the figures but I can not afford to buy units of them. I use higher priced figures for Generals or unique characters in a unit so they stand out.

I'm with Irish Marine, I have a load of foundry miniatures, and look forward to the reissue of the old lines.

Well I thoroughly applaud Foundry for their recent efforts.
I love most of their miniatures, and those "chimps" can throw their poo at me any time! :)

A beautiful table in the middle there.

What the other guy said Sans Poo.

Have always liked the figures and the prices are steep. But, I agree, they seem to be 'trying'. I use their paint system and their service to the states has always been excellent.

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

I've had some great service from them recently, with freebies included in my orders. As for the price, not an issue for me and I would think most Canadians; if one includes shipping Foundry are now similar or even cheaper than many ranges, including the Perrys.

And I love their old ranges. The Biblicals are just fantastic.

Iannick
clashofempires.ca

Well, I just took a look and shall be the voice of reason here, which is a change of pace for me.

Foundry are priced $3.10 USD a figure, whereas Empress are priced at $3. USD I don't see anyone ragging on Empress' prices.

If one were to by three packs of a figure, the price drops down to $2.79 USD each.

The Regiment packs come to $2.13 USD a figure.

The Horde comes to $2 USD a figure.

Army is $1.80 USD a figure.

They are a lot cheaper than Reaper! Perry metals are $1.84 USD each.

The shipping seems to be very reasonable at $7.74 USD. Then it bumps to free.

Oh boy, I am tempted now. Let me check their colonials and WWII. :-)

I have been very criticizing Foundry in the past. Because they were VERY expensive.

Well… probably it's getting hard for them now that gamers can compare prices, etc, on the internet.

So they are trying a new attitude, another new guy is in charge and he says he wants to change things etc.

Why not?

I keep watching prices and miniatures. There are many Foundry minis I'll probably buy if prices are reasonable.

I think Foundry are still a bit more expensive than everyone else but the gap has certainly closed up quite a bit. Close enough that I'm willing to pay for the better quality miniatures. I just placed an ordered that contains 84 Vikings (including some stuff like the Shield Maidens, and 2 sets of Valkyries that I didn't need) and with the combination of regiments and blisters it came to 2.77 a figure with free shipping. I could have reduced this further if I had ordered or horde or an army but those didn't suit my needs.
My recent Perry order through Architects of War (awesome service by the way) came to 2.32 a figure including shipping. That's only a .45 cent gap. And the Perry's don't have Vikings in their line so they weren't an option. I think Foundry is definitely a viable alternative again.

I like it that they are reintroducing some of the discontinued ranges…like the ACW packs…

I'm so glad they've brought back all the Landsknecht pikemen as single packs. So, so glad (my wallet is not).

CPBELT: You're math is a bit off, unless you buy the 6 figure packs like some of the west and africa stuff. Regular rank and file packs are 8 figures and are $2.32 USD a figure in single packs or $2.09 USD in a regiment of 3 packs:

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I'm glad to see the ranges coming back. There ACW figs are the favorite part of my ACW collection. On this side of the pond their prices are on par with just about everyone else.

Get mine from the War Store (when they manage to have the ones I want in stock.)

thewarstore.com

I was using the 6-figure ACW and AWI pack prices. Yeah, the 8-figure rank and file packs are even less. I forgot the packs can vary between lines. Thanks for pointing that out.

Bottom line is that the rest of the industry has caught up to their prices, or in some cases surpassed them. Downside is that scale creep has also surpassed many of the Foundry figures, which might deter some folk.

I'm completely on board with you Raglan. I don't care for their business ideas at all. When in Afghanistan they were the only company which would not forgoe their postal charges when BFPO rates were zero under 2 kilos. Their unit price is the highest and they are neither the best nor have their ranges kept pace with modern requirements for variety. I naturally vote with my purse and will never buy their figures (which are too small these days) but have to say they are still in business so I can only assume plenty nof others buy their stuff. Capitalism does dictate in the world of retail to charge what the market will stand.

I'm glad the Perrys did the AWI range fore foundry, both companies AWI figures work well together, but I do agree that scale creep is starting.

I absolutely adore their ACW range, arguably my favourite range from any manufacturer, but over the past ten years have gotten used to buying them from eBay or other retailers who to date have had a better understanding of servicing overseas customers and for the better price points.

I'll keep an open mind about the "new" Foundry, but have yet to see them do anything that compels me to order from them direct.

I still say that destroying the molds on the so-called "limited edition" figures was a TERRIBLE thing to do.
I disapprove of "limited edition" things that are produced by normal production means in general. Stupid concept, nothing but an idiotic gimmick.

I can only afford to buy their minis 2nd hand through ebay.

Nice minis, but out of my price range.

I`ve also bought quite a few Foundry figures from e-bay, they are great models BTW. They paint up very well, but the shipping cost from Foundry`s is the spoiler.

CPBelts sums might hold up in US, but that just shows import costs throwing others ranges out of kilter. Foundry are silly expensive, 15€ for 4 sheep, a dog and shepherd – no thanks!

If you buy 3 ACW regiments it works out at £81.00 GBP for 72 figures. Thats £1.12 GBP each. Seems good value to me. As cheap or cheaper than most 28mm metals.

They also appear to have dropped their regular 20% off discounts, since new management.

I thought they promised to resolve their postage and shipping rates, in a previous mail shot.

"I still say that destroying the molds on the so-called "limited edition" figures was a TERRIBLE thing to do.
I disapprove of "limited edition" things that are produced by normal production means in general. Stupid concept, nothing but an idiotic gimmick."

The issue here was trades description. The company used them as a sales gimmick with the promise of collectable scarcity then just made them generally available. This created an integrity issue. It's unsurpising the new brooms have done the decent thing & destroyed the moulds.

I miss the discount offers -only time I used to buy Foundry -apart from E Bay of course.

It's unsurpising the new brooms have done the decent thing & destroyed the moulds.

Decent? DECENT???
Integrity issue? The whole concept of "limited edition" is a fraud anyway.

Gentlemen,

I am not a Foundry hater, I actually think some of their ranges are really nice – Ancient Germans being one of them.

What I do take issue with, is Ansell's son pretending to be an entrepreneur and then putting some spin on what a reformed company Foundry has become, when actually all they are doing is re-releasing old ranges at over the market prices.

I simply don't buy into the spin, because I have seen no evidence to support it.

Furthermore IMHO, Foundry's approach to pricing is arrogant under the current market conditions.

Raglan

Raglan, im with you on everything about foundry and their new spin.They may have ruled the roost over a decade ago but alot of superb miniature ranges have come out since then .Example : Foundry had a Superb perry Landsknecht range but Artizan designs are superb too and £2.40 GBPp cheaper per pack of 8. And if anyone really wants to see where foundry are these days look at their new Renaissance stuff.They look like stiff Renaissance robocops.Sums it up,they lost their best sculpters like the perries and have no one to sculpt anything better.No wonder they are bringing the old stuff back!!!!!

whiterose

You make a very good point about them not having any decent sculpters at present and therefore the only choice is to re-release the older ranges. I have a famous sculpter friend (who shall remain nameless) who told me some absolutely horrific stories about how Foundry treated their employees.

As yet, a new face, does not mean new policies and principles.

Raglan

Dear Lord Ralgan,

Grow up.

Sincerely,
TMP

IronMike

Like you, I am entitled to my opinion and since when have you been voted in as the voice of TMP?

Raglan

I'm not a Foundry buyer, but have always admired their work from the very early ECW and Franco Prussian ranges produced by the Perries and like many have said, the new management do appear to be making changes but unless they alter their postage structure and start investing in new ranges and sculpting talent, they are rapidly appearing o be a dinosaur.

When did you last see Foundry figures of the quality of Tsuba Miniatures Russo Japanese War, or Musketeer Mini's Character figures for their Gothic range…..not for a very , very long time. And yet they insist on selling figure that are years old at incredibly high prices. It seems to me to be a deck of cards that cannot last much longer. Sincerely hope they can restructure and sort it out.

Lord Raglan,

I can assure you that I agree with your comments, and also that ironmike doesn't speak for me.

You'll also note the incongruity of proclaiming to speak for all of TMP when he isn't even a supporting member.

Iron mike doesn't speak on behalf of me either, but his comments do make some sense. Calling the proprietors of a business that one doesn't patronize "chimps" is a bit childish.

What is with all the hand wringing? If a toy company makes toys that are too expensive for you, then simply don't buy them.

yes they are good quality figures,its a shame they have this head in the sand mentality about their plan. Maybe when the cash flow starts getting critical they may just wake up

@Bowman – It's not so much hand wringing, but more, ermmm how can I put it, feeling of being conned and treating your customers as fools. To do that is a Gerald Ratner….see wiki for more info on Mr Ratner…..

Customers are allowed to vent their spleens if they feel they have been conned…..particularly on the specials…..

To be fair shipping costs have halved and new ranges don't spring up out of thin air, especially not good ones.

MM,

……how can I put it, feeling of being conned and treating your customers as fools.

Hardly a universal feeling given some of the responses on this thread.

I'll allow that one man's "hand wringing" is another man's venting of "spleens".

As for:

….if they feel they have been conned…..particularly on the specials…..

I'm not sure I know what you mean. I would buy from Foundry when they had specials on the shipping costs to Canada. I have always been happy with my service from Foundry and do not feel conned. Projectmayhem indicates that the 20% discounts have stopped. That is a shame, and will prevent me from further purchases. Hardly makes the owners "chimps".

shipping cost have halved…£4 of for 1 pack is still expensive, and that is domestic rates. I don`t wish any bad feeling to Foundry, but if people are not buying something is wrong in your business model

I am starting a Landsknecht pike block of around 44 figures soon,i would gladly have done it with foundry miniatures but went with Artizans instead,why,simply because they are as good as foundry but alot cheaper per pack. We now have aventine miniatures bringing out the most superb ancients especially Romans,and they are far better than the old foundry ones and yet foundry cost more.
I think this is the point Lord Raglan is trying to make about the so called new foundry