funded Reaper Bones 5: Enthusiasm and Commentary thread

[amuller33]

9 minutes ago, PhantomAsh said:

I think from my understanding, part of it is cost, but also contract logistics; they've contracted with various shipping companies to distribute things a certain way and at a certain price, and changing things at the last minute and going "well, actually we want to do twice as many shipments at the same cost" ppprrooobbbabbllyy wouldn't go over too well for them.

That's a fair point the contract is probably for a certain # of orders

 

11 minutes ago, Cyradis said:

They also have their usual business to run. 

Cyr, I agree 100% with the added costs of doing it twice and it adds up, BUT I find "the have their usual business" as weak. YES its true. But the Kickstarters are a major source of revenue. Yea they do it at deep discount and I'm forever grateful, but its #5 they know it will be busy and they can hire temps.  

[Cyradis]

35 minutes ago, amuller33 said:

That's a fair point the contract is probably for a certain # of orders

 

Cyr, I agree 100% with the added costs of doing it twice and it adds up, BUT I find "the have their usual business" as weak. YES its true. But the Kickstarters are a major source of revenue. Yea they do it at deep discount and I'm forever grateful, but its #5 they know it will be busy and they can hire temps.  

 

And hire extra temps for the extra time it would take them to fulfill orders, temps who will work slower at the task because they are temps with less experience... ?

That's yet another cost reason that it isn't a good idea.

[Serenity]

This would be a good question for @Reaper_Jon to relay to those who know the answer (which could be Reaper_Jon).

[Inarah]

39 minutes ago, amuller33 said:

But the Kickstarters are a major source of revenue. Yea they do it at deep discount and I'm forever grateful, but its #5 they know it will be busy and they can hire temps.  

Running a Kickstarter is also a major expense.  Reaper is not overly forthcoming with business details but they have said in the past that their projects do not turn a huge profit in dollars.  The primary "profit" is the production of new molds, which are used to make product for the store. 

 

[PhantomAsh]

1 hour ago, Cyradis said:

More expensive and it would take much more time is my guess. It isn't just the software - there are people having to inspect and box the orders. They also have their usual business to run. 

 

On pick-up end, I'm pretty happy to only worry about one package anyway. 

 

This too! I seem to recall them saying that they had major concerns on the possibility of missing the second half, at some point; like, you pull an order, it's done! But if you split it up, then you're risking that someone is going to mark the WHOLE order as done, and not just half, or maybe that they won't mark an order complete at all, and then you may have someone shipping things out twice.

 

The major of error is way, way higher with split orders and it's probably just not logistically worth it. Better to wait a week or something and not have to deal with the margin.

 

I know people are complaining now, but can you imagine the complaints if people are like "uuuhh it's been two months where is my second half" or "you shipped me the first half but it's missing things that weren't on The List!"

 

Edited July 3, 2021 by PhantomAsh

[amuller33]

11 minutes ago, PhantomAsh said:

Better to wait a week or something and not have to deal with the margin.

The problem is its been 2 months not 1 week. And to their credit they have been open in saying they don't when the container is coming . It could be another 2. 4  or 6 months. at some point I'd rather have another 99% of my order now then wait for well... No one knows do they?

 

As for the added risk? are you telling me no one cant take a database of a few thousand orders and create a unique set of NEW orders by separating  oout  5 items? Hold my beer, I can do that in Excel in 10 Minutes 

[PhantomAsh]

10 minutes ago, amuller33 said:

The problem is its been 2 months not 1 week. And to their credit they have been open in saying they don't when the container is coming . It could be another 2. 4  or 6 months. at some point I'd rather have another 99% of my order now then wait for well... No one knows do they?

 

As for the added risk? are you telling me no one cant take a database of a few thousand orders and create a unique set of NEW orders by separating  oout  5 items? Hold my beer, I can do that in Excel in 10 Minutes 

 

It's been a global pandemic. 😂  The fact that they're only 1.5 - 2 months late starting is a miracle, especially considering the global shipping situation at the moment. They seen pretty confident that it will arrive sooner rather than later; it's just waiting for a spot on a train at this point.

 

I'm sure you can go ask Reaper if they're hiring if that's the case!

[Cyradis]

2 minutes ago, PhantomAsh said:

 

It's been a global pandemic. 😂  The fact that they're only 1.5 - 2 months late starting is a miracle, especially considering the global shipping situation at the moment. They seen pretty confident that it will arrive sooner rather than later; it's just waiting for a spot on a train at this point.

 

I'm sure you can go ask Reaper if they're hiring if that's the case!

 

1.5-2mo delay is a pretty common thing in Kickstarters, even without a pandemic. So yeah, friggin' miracle they're as on-it as they are. Kinda seems like they may have been able to be early if not for a plague encompassing the world, which is amazing.

 

I am sure that someone could change up their software to separate orders, but that still ignores *all* the other logistics of managing packing and shipping. This isn't a small Kickstarter or preorder event where one person boxes up their boutique figures, all 20-100 of them, and brings them to the post office. This is a "we need a prearranged deal with shipping companies to manage it" event because they have what, TWENTY THOUSAND people when late backers are included?

 

If things end up being on the Tons of Time longer, perhaps Reaper will change their minds, but I seriously doubt it. They seem to have information on where the container is, in that it is already state-side of the ocean. If it hadn't crossed the ocean, *maybe*. But it has.

[Backflowteck]

Hello all, I’m wave 2 and have 4 out of 5 items on the missing container. Funny thing is I have 1 GITD ship and 2 regular ships. I have no clue where to put them. Lol. I would like to say I think reaper is doing a fantastic job. I will just sit in my pile of unpainted plastic and wait. On a serious note, I understand both sides. I’m just glad people are starting to get theirs. Love the pictures. Please keep posting. 
we will get them eventually. 
John

[Chris Palmer]

2 hours ago, The Steve said:

could you do a shot of the henchmen next to forscale? these are the ones I am most nervous about.

 

 

MAN I want the dwarf king set!

thanks for sharing!

 

Here you go. Looks like a good match to me. 

[Ratmaster2000]

3 hours ago, PhantomAsh said:

 

I think from my understanding, part of it is cost, but also contract logistics; they've contracted with various shipping companies to distribute things a certain way and at a certain price, and changing things at the last minute and going "well, actually we want to do twice as many shipments at the same cost" ppprrooobbbabbllyy wouldn't go over too well for them.

 

Plus I don't think 2 is as weak sauce as you think it is. I imagine you're working with a program and system that has been set up to take and make changes for years. Their software is most likely designed for a singular use and only gets pulled out for a few weeks every couple of years. It's feature range is most likely very limited and the chances of anyone on the ground being able to modify it on short notice is slim. Convincing a program to do something it's not meant to do takes time and effort that can quickly turn into a LOT of time and effort - time that could be spent pulling orders or harrassing someone to ship the container.

Making changes to an inventory based system is NOT easy. Adding extra characters or *gasp* a whole new category is a major pain and cost. We used to wait and make a list of the major changes we wanted to make because it was cheaper and easier then just doing one or two items. It also would take our whole system down for a significant time. And don't even get me started on migrating to a whole new inventory system:( 

2 hours ago, amuller33 said:

That's a fair point the contract is probably for a certain # of orders

 

Cyr, I agree 100% with the added costs of doing it twice and it adds up, BUT I find "the have their usual business" as weak. YES its true. But the Kickstarters are a major source of revenue. Yea they do it at deep discount and I'm forever grateful, but its #5 they know it will be busy and they can hire temps.  

temps would probably be more hassle then they are worth. I spent more time babysitting temps then I would have doing it myself, plus I think Reaper likes keeping things to a small team (not saying that's a good thing though. Too many people wearing too many hats, but I am tired kicking that poor dead horse)

1 hour ago, Cyradis said:

 

1.5-2mo delay is a pretty common thing in Kickstarters, even without a pandemic. So yeah, friggin' miracle they're as on-it as they are. Kinda seems like they may have been able to be early if not for a plague encompassing the world, which is amazing.

 

I am sure that someone could change up their software to separate orders, but that still ignores *all* the other logistics of managing packing and shipping. This isn't a small Kickstarter or preorder event where one person boxes up their boutique figures, all 20-100 of them, and brings them to the post office. This is a "we need a prearranged deal with shipping companies to manage it" event because they have what, TWENTY THOUSAND people when late backers are included?

 

If things end up being on the Tons of Time longer, perhaps Reaper will change their minds, but I seriously doubt it. They seem to have information on where the container is, in that it is already state-side of the ocean. If it hadn't crossed the ocean, *maybe*. But it has.

Hell, it doesn't even take a pandemic to mess up shipping logistics. Sometimes you have to plan around asian holidays (For me, May was the worst because Japan literally shuts down for two weeks), or you have major work stoppages (strikes) at the ports and broccoli sits on ships for two months because no one is unloading them. Hell, a certain "Diamond" company was going to refuse their magazine shipments because the magazines were in their opinion time sensitive. When we told them how much it would be to air freight them in rather then wait, they backed down.

[Chris Palmer]

For those that got the Brinewind Expansion, how detailed is the cat’s head on your ogre cart? Mine’s very mushy with only the slightest nubbins for ears. Before I go to [email protected] with it, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t that way in all of them. It’s a very small bit, and sharp detail and full size ears might not have been possible. 

[R2ED]

@Ratmaster2000100% agree. Added labor is expensive!  Not only that, but then you're looking at training and higher risk for errors because temps are not as invested.  Having more bodies is not a solution, just another added cost and cost with minor productivity gain.  

 

People, the waves are going out!  They are making great progress.  They (Reaper) even come to talk about it to their customer and fan base on a weekly basis!  They put up cameras so we can see their activity on the hour (at great risk, in my opinion of being judged or having people overlook their progress).  

 

Here's what we can't see: 

* The team fulfilling may have been vetted strongly and trained to do the job with precision to avoid errors (as most do not get time to do with temps).

*  The planning and execution has to be flexible to ain't for changes.  The fact they are sending out now instead is waiting on all containers is a testament to how quickly they changed to satisfy the customers.

* The warehouse area may have a limitation on bodies it can have without impacting efficiency or possibly safety. 

* shipping and packaging as well as split or back orders is a major hassle for accounting (not when including the extra payroll time needed to do that).  That and possibly more charges to ship.  On top of that more room for error. 

* with how much Reaper had already fielded with complaints on shipping, which i say is as crazy as complaining about gas or electricity prices, since you have to pay it regardless, has been terrible.  I can't imagine what would happen if Reaper had to charge twice.  I'm betting it would be fallout! ...although in reality those who really made a big stink may actually buy again or simply not, but the threat of not buying again will certainly not stop Reaper's growth.  I'm not seeing a catastrophe here in that no is getting B5 at all, what I'm seeing are unrealistic expectations a few customers have.  Reaper is making great strides to provide for soooooo many people.  I'm guessing percentage-wise, the shipping issues are probably around 5% of total B5 orders.  

 

What is great to see are how visible they are making themselves to the public.  They are pouring themselves into this process.  I can't think of another company that gives their customers this much visibility, reaction to feedback, transparency, and on top of that does it with a kind and receptive manner.  Imagine for a second that Reaper was treating this like when you have to contest a phone or utility bill?  Imagine if this was like baggage handling with United?  I've had a worse time having someone at McDonalds explain to me why their milkshake machine is broken (although that's a funny one for another time). 

 

What I'm saying is see the wins and celebrate how cool it is to even have a forum with the company.  We're not stock holders - we're hobbiests. We're not consultants, we're gamers.  It's tough to see one positive comment followed by 9 negative. 

 

I don't have my stuff yet.  I paid the late backer prices. I'm still waiting patiently. And that's really it - we've all invested but it takes time.  Enjoy the ride and know Reaper wants this stuff out of their warehouse as fast as possible.  

 

If i had pom poms I'd be cheering "Go Reaper."

 

Although that's a scary thought me with pom poms, so... I'll just stick to the Go Reaper. 

[ratsmitglied]

4 hours ago, amuller33 said:

The problem is its been 2 months not 1 week. And to their credit they have been open in saying they don't when the container is coming . It could be another 2. 4  or 6 months. at some point I'd rather have another 99% of my order now then wait for well... No one knows do they?

 

As for the added risk? are you telling me no one cant take a database of a few thousand orders and create a unique set of NEW orders by separating  oout  5 items? Hold my beer, I can do that in Excel in 10 Minutes 

Considering my knowledge of databases I would say that this is not a simple job - the database is set up to give each account a single pull list, and each email address is only permitted a single account, which means that in order to do what you are suggesting they would need to change the underlying database tables quite significantly. I could do it in excel in 10 minutes as well, but there is no way I'd try doing it in a database due to things like database keys, unique fields etc.

[PhantomAsh]

47 minutes ago, ratsmitglied said:

Considering my knowledge of databases I would say that this is not a simple job - the database is set up to give each account a single pull list, and each email address is only permitted a single account, which means that in order to do what you are suggesting they would need to change the underlying database tables quite significantly. I could do it in excel in 10 minutes as well, but there is no way I'd try doing it in a database due to things like database keys, unique fields etc.

 

Oh this is very true; there's a reason a bunch of businesses still work out of spreadsheets! Databases are a nightmare; they're actually not that overly optimized in general to work well with modern programming, but due to the fact that they've been around for so long, we're still using them.

 

Half the time you can sneeze on a database and it starts making a dial-up noise. But, they are often necessary. I have no doubt Reaper is working with something much more complicated than something that can just be stuck in a spreadsheet.