Warhammer Scam?

[montka]

Check out this ebay seller, claiming to sell 'heavy metal quality' figures from Poland:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/wwwminiature...in_kw=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1#item4aa53deaca

Obviously you can see they fall short of that standard from the photos.

But check their main website:
http://www.miniaturepainters.com/

You can see that the photographs used to advertise the highly priced models are scans directly from warhammer codexes, so an naive buyer will think he's buying eavy metal quality work at appropriate prices but will presumably end up with the junk being sold on ebay...

To my mind 'heavy metal quality' means work as good as the photos they are using to advertise, which the ebay stuff is not. What do you reckon?

Edit: Just thought up an alternate theory that the original artists may just be overrating their work and consider themselves eavy metal standard...

 

[xMANIGHTx]

only had a brief look at the website, but the ebay stuff isn't scanned. look great on the small pics but not so good when blown up.just think they overrate themselves

 

[montka]

I know man I'm saying the website pics are scans, the ebay ones are originals.

 

[skeeve]

Ummm this is from FAQ posted on their site:

"Q: What quality are the pictures on the site?
A: Most pictures are stock picture from Games Workshop which are heavy metal quality, some pictures are our pictures, in that case you will see the miniature painters logo along with the quality below. "

 

[littlewolf1176]

Ha what a effin scam! its people like that, that make the rest of the honest painting community look bad!!!

 

[Torn blue sky]

It'd be enough to have people buy from the main site. Their Ebay stuff doesn't hold a spark to what they promise to deliver on, however.

 

[montka]

Ummm do you read the faq of every site you buy from? Do most people. How many pics of their own work are even on the site?

 

[cassar]

i personally havent purchased any gw, fw models for a long time, over priced under quality(from what used to be produced) that is. i now just sculpt my own stuff or convert my old stuff. lack of a decent local retailer my have contributed also.

 

[freakinacage]

tbh if i were getting something painted like this, i would look at the full site to see all the examples. i wouldn't describe it as a scam, as such, just rather loose descriptions of eavy metal quality!!

 

[Torn blue sky]

tbh if i were getting something painted like this, i would kick the seller in the face!!

Me too, Tim. Me toooo =3

 

[montka]

I would say even if you DO read the FAQ you might be scamed. It indicates, that the GW pictures they use are on par with their own "eavy metal"-standard, which if clearly not the case but might be regogniced only if taking a closer look on the gallery where they show their different standards.

 

[Einion]

Truth in advertising? :thinking:

I do think they have a right cheek plugging their quality in such a specific way if they're not delivering on that promise. One thing's for sure, they shouldn't be using the GW pics on their site (surprised they've gotten away with it TBH).

Einion

 

[Torn blue sky]

I was pondering the same thing considering their crusade on "intellectual properties" in LOTR GD conversions etc. Legally , they're tighter than a whales arsehole!

 

[cassar]

i.p. would the world be a better place with or without it?

 

[Einion]

Intellectual property is very important, just like copyright.

Einion

 

[kris6666]

As long as they dont say that they sell eavy metal staff painted miniatures and they are not...
Or if they say they painted the minis in the picture and they are from the eavy metal team, then that would be false.

I don't care much for copyright and such. But of course its nice if someone who used your pictures wrote your name underneath, that would be nice of them.

 

[supervike]

Oh jeez...I thought this was about the way GW just keeps rehashing the same old armies, and redoing the rules every 2-3 years.

Talk about a scam.

 

[Mad-Doc]

What kills me is the amount of "pro painted" minis on ebay that look like a drunk monkey with Parkinson's painted them.

 

[Terraformer]

the term "pro-painted" has become a complete joke, especially in the more sarcastic circles of the hobby. While some genres of traditional art might get away with the excuse that every piece of art is legitimate on its own merits, and not to denounce anyone's particular skill level, mini painting is a particularly harsh and dangerous field to try to pass yourself off as "pro" in.

But even so, there are still large and popular online communities out there that discourage any negative criticism of work done by anyone else. (I won't name names, but I'm sure some of you have an idea.) As long as places like these keep pandering to the loudest, most immature and sensitive members, there will be a lot of ignorant souls proudly parading their half-assed work around the internet because they learned their craft in a place where nobody told them they need serious improvement.

 

[mickc22]

they actually say "Heavy Metal" not "'Eavy Metal" not that that makes them any better quality of course