What the hell is happening with the Raider?!?! I pre-ordered this thing (read - Paid money) at the very beginning of Feb, and I know people who pre-ordered before this. We were told Q1, which fair enough we all know now means Q2, but with six weeks until the end of Q2 and the thing not even being near a boat yet, we're clearly looking at Q3. That's a six month delay, without explanation to paying customers. In no other industry would this be considered acceptable.

It went to the printers (by way of status update) in January. We're now nearly 5 months down the line and we have not had a single update on when to expect this. When the docking strike delayed reprints, we got a nice notice from FFG advising there may be delays. Not ideal, but at least people who have paid for a product know whats going on and why they haven't gotten it yet.

Here, I'm £75 down without a scooby-doo as to whats going on with my product, let alone when I'm getting it. Nothing has ever been this long at the printers. Clearly there has been an issue somewhere, and as a paying customer I feel entitled to know what is going on.

Yeah this sounds like another whiny, spoiled-brat post and I apologize, but I can't help but feel FFG customer services is slipping. The quality of my most recent purchases has been substantially lower than previous expansions (YT-1300 & Decimator don't fit pegs properly, broken pegs in my Z-95 expansion, misprinted pilot chits in my Starviper and second Firespray expansions, I even bought the Mrs a Core Set of her own and two of the six dice are deformed). I will admit that FFG have replaced most faulty items they have provided (Apparently the pegs are within their 'acceptable standards of deviation' and I didn't bother chasing up the dice), but waiting 2+ weeks for delivery from the states isn't ideal, and nor is having to chase something up after every purchase.

I have been FFG's torch-bearer in terms of championing their levels of customer service in the past, and frequently used them as the 'benchmark' of what customer service & quality should be expected from a gaming company, but with all these production issues and lack of news on products people have pre-ordered, I'm beginning to wonder if the company is growing much faster than it can realistically sustain?

Either way, if it's not clear I'm annoyed that now that my money has been taken no-one at FFG deems it fair, appropriate or necessary to tell me why I am still waiting for a product due for release months ago that still has AT LEAST 8 more weeks to go before it's in my hands.

And I'm done. Got that feels good to get off my chest.

And if anyone from FFG is reading this, no I don't consider this Email to be a reasonable explanation;

Customer Service

Hi there,

To be fair the person who I now get my X-wing off (& runs an online store) has REFUSED to take pre-orders of the Raider for this very reason (not knowing when he'll receive them)....

Also to be fair, FFG isn't taking your money for the pre-order. The distributor took your money for the pre order. The distributor doesn't pay FFG for the products until he takes delivery, so he's just sitting on your money.

As for your "6 month" delay, first off, as you said, it was initially slated for Q1, but never when in Q1. So the fact that it's (likely) to hit during Q3, that's really a 4-6 month delay. And when you consider that you already were expecting a Q2 delivery, then it's really a 1-3 month delay.

Your own post seems to be wanting everything. Here in the engineering world, we say that you can choose 2 of the following three attributes, Quick, Quality, Cheap. You're complaining that it's taking too long to get the Raider. Then you're complaining about quality issues. The only thing you're not complaining about (directly at least) is the price. So perhaps you would prefer to have the Raider be $300 and already delivered, but I have a feeling you'd be complaining about how expensive it was if that was the case.

So, assuming "cheap" is a given, do you want quality or quick? I personally want Quality. I'm willing to wait to get my Raider as long as it looks good sitting on my desk.

Here in the engineering world, we say that you can choose 2 of the following three attributes, Quick, Quality, Cheap.

I work in the film and video industry. We don't say it to clients, but its a running joke among us... Your product can be good, fast, or cheap. Pick 2.

Also to be fair, FFG isn't taking your money for the pre-order. The distributor took your money for the pre order. The distributor doesn't pay FFG for the products until he takes delivery, so he's just sitting on your money.

As for your "6 month" delay, first off, as you said, it was initially slated for Q1, but never when in Q1. So the fact that it's (likely) to hit during Q3, that's really a 4-6 month delay. And when you consider that you already were expecting a Q2 delivery, then it's really a 1-3 month delay.

Your own post seems to be wanting everything. Here in the engineering world, we say that you can choose 2 of the following three attributes, Quick, Quality, Cheap. You're complaining that it's taking too long to get the Raider. Then you're complaining about quality issues. The only thing you're not complaining about (directly at least) is the price. So perhaps you would prefer to have the Raider be $300 and already delivered, but I have a feeling you'd be complaining about how expensive it was if that was the case.

So, assuming "cheap" is a given, do you want quality or quick? I personally want Quality. I'm willing to wait to get my Raider as long as it looks good sitting on my desk.

I'm not 'complaining' about anything other than the lack of notice or updates from FFG.

I understand the issues of production, and I'm not stating 'I want my Raider now cause I've paid'. As is clearly stated in the title of the topic, I want an ACTUAL update as to what is going on. I'm happy to wait, but I feel it would be good customer service to advise your customers of why you have not been able to meet the deadlines you advised. That's standard good-business practice.

I'm waiting for a new windscreen for my car. It was due to be done two weeks ago. Three times the repair company has booked an appointment only to have to cancel it. However, each and every time they have contacted me promptly and advised 1) why the appointment can't be met and 2) when they expect they can now complete it. Despite the delays, I consider this good customer service. That is all I am requesting from FFG

I don't think FFG is slipping, You don't even know how long I waited for the X-wing original release. It came out a year late. I have noticed that they have taken any release date information off their upcoming section of their website, so at least their not habitually wrong.

Yeah! Consarnit! Where's mah Raider? I'm spittin' mad an' all this lollygaggin' is damagin' may calm and makin' me plenty ornery! Razzafrazzin'...low-down...no-good...AHHH HATE THAT RRABBIT!

This is precisely why I'm NOT pre-ordering the Raider until there is more information. Far too expensive to have money tied up in it and far too many delays/hiccups in FFG's supply chain the last couple releases. It'll be here when it's here. That being said, an update for those of you in a similar situation to the OP would be perfectly acceptable. I find it hard to believe it's been at the printer for 2+ months.

I gets even worse when you take wave 7 into consideration. Companies take in pre-orders, but the ships are not even listed in the development stage (never mind printing or on the boat). Our local gaming store wanted to take pre-orders, but I told him that while I want to support him, I'll still wait until the miniatures are at least "on the boat" before doing anything.

Incidentally, here is a raider specific question. Is it just me, or did the definition of the ion cannon battery change in the past 2 months? I could have sworn that the first time I had seen it, it had stated "spend 1 energy from this card to perform this attack" (instead of 2)... or is that just my imagination?

I could have sworn that the first time I had seen it, it had stated "spend 1 energy from this card to perform this attack" (instead of 2)... or is that just my imagination?

It's possible. It wouldn't be the first time they showed a preview card that was changed by the time it was released.

I don't know what anyone was expecting but when the raider was announced I immediately assumed a gen con release.

My hopes are that it will be arriving soon. As someone who keeps up with Armada as well I'd like to point out that on Monday wave ones status was updated to shipping now with the date of the update being the 10th which was Sunday. People have wave one in hand yesterday and the status on the products page still showed on the boat while the upcoming page showed shipping now. This tells me that they aren't updating the pages until they are closer to delivery. Hopefully that means the Raider will be arriving soon. This is of course all speculation on my part but wave one for Armada did come in under the radar.

edit: vykk got there a minute before me!! NINJAS are in the interwebz

Take a look at this:

The whole of wave 1 for armada has been on the boat (which it was supposed to release with the core) and as of Monday, went to "shipping to stores," which generally means it needs about a week to get from FFG to distributors to then get to your store.

It was "shipping" as of Monday, and is in stores and on the web for order as of today in a lot of places. Spoilers have gone up, etc etc.

I expect the same thing to happen with the Raider. Sometime soon, it will go to "shipping," and it will be in some locations within that same week. And it will be soon, I would bet.

That dock strike message we got a few months back was completely uncharacteristic of FFG. The only "we're sorry we're late" messages I remember seeing on FFG were:

1) Star Wars: The Card Game was getting a complete overhaul as they scrapped the cooperative version [RIP ]

2) The dock strike was affecting FFG's product releases.

In 4 years, those are the only announcements I've seen on their web page that addressed delays. If I recall correctly, even the X-Wing delay wasn't formally addressed on their website.

It is not a good idea to give someone money before your item can be shipped or handed to you. This hobby is not a kickstarter, ask the store to hold the item and you will pay when it is available.

Here in the engineering world, we say that you can choose 2 of the following three attributes, Quick, Quality, Cheap.

I work in the film and video industry. We don't say it to clients, but its a running joke among us... Your product can be good, fast, or cheap. Pick 2.

Music industry too. Same phrase.

Except sometimes its not fast nor particularly good in our own mind. Though sometimes, the client loves it wayy more than you ever did yourself as the creator.

It is not a good idea to give someone money before your item can be shipped or handed to you. This hobby is not a kickstarter, ask the store to hold the item and you will pay when it is available.

I agree entirely, but the stores I spoke to would only hold a paid preorder. as I have missed almost every wave drop since I started (by it being out of stock by the time it was in general release) I saw no option but to pre order if I wanted this thing when it was released and not a couple of months afterwards.

This is one reason I don't preorder. The other is I typically buy in a got twice a year at Christmas and in July and stuff is usually available then.

The warped dice and pegs would bug me more. Do they roll off? I've had warped large bases and mt Sycks don't all sit on the pegs as well as is like them to. None of it is more than mildly irritating though.

Here in the engineering world, we say that you can choose 2 of the following three attributes, Quick, Quality, Cheap.

I work in the film and video industry. We don't say it to clients, but its a running joke among us... Your product can be good, fast, or cheap. Pick 2.

Music industry too. Same phrase.

Except sometimes its not fast nor particularly good in our own mind. Though sometimes, the client loves it wayy more than you ever did yourself as the creator.

If you're ever satisfied, you might as well retire.

This is one reason I don't preorder. The other is I typically buy in a got twice a year at Christmas and in July and stuff is usually available then.

The warped dice and pegs would bug me more. Do they roll off? I've had warped large bases and mt Sycks don't all sit on the pegs as well as is like them to. None of it is more than mildly irritating though.

The dice has what I assume is a huge air bubble under one of the blank surfaces. As a result the entire surface of that face 'bulges' creating a hemisphere effect. The opposite side is an evade too, making it nearly impossible to hit that evade result when you roll it. It's the known as the cursed dice in my gaming group and people are always trying to sneak it into the opponents pile in good jest. Again, an annoyance only as I have 3 core sets now so plenty of spares.

To OP, £75 ouch ripped off somewhat.

It'll turn up eventually. As Yoda says " patience must you have "

I'm not sure what you mean by roll off....

I was wondering if the warped dice rolled wrong. You answered that they do. I love the cursed dice thing. That sort of shenanigans are what keep me visiting the FLGS for games. Well that and my need for a plastic spaceship fix.

I will have to agree with the quality slipping. You really can't argue the other way when you have things that are printed wrong and just don't fit. Its more than just mildly irritating. Sure you can ask for replacements but I've gotten some consistent screw ups and I find that unacceptable. If I were new to the game I may call it crap and look for something different to spend my money on.

I will have to agree with the quality slipping. You really can't argue the other way when you have things that are printed wrong and just don't fit. Its more than just mildly irritating. Sure you can ask for replacements but I've gotten some consistent screw ups and I find that unacceptable. If I were new to the game I may call it crap and look for something different to spend my money on.

It's never too late

It's a fun game. My point is if I was just trying it out and I got crap I may look elsewhere. But your comment was very constructive.