Also, just as an FYI, I'm not reading any of the other Alien threads about refunds or polls or whatever else, and I don't intend to, being customer service isn't my job. If I have more updates that are helpful I'll post them here, but that's about as far as I feel like getting involved.

probably a good idea.

Chilling out with a beer. On it

Jeff

The incentive you get to not request a refund is a threat of a price increase. Nice!

People will be able to buy an Alien on the secondary market for the initial price or less if/when they get mass produced. What they should be doing is mentioning the price increase but also offer an incentive like free shipping to close the deal.

What they should do is build games and refund money.

I've asked for a refund more than a month ago, paid in full and have not received an email.

I'd say all the prepaid money is gone. They'd be refunding money out of the same pot they're buying parts from. It makes sense to conserve as much of it as possible even if they lose money building the prepaid games.

The latest financials show 26k in the bank. This explains the 30-60 day wait people were told on refunds.

Its nice to see that one is now allowed to discuss public records here on this forum without repercussion.

4 owners, from 3 countries. Not one local, not one wanting to give up their current lifestyle to relocate to England. But that is what it will take. An OWNER that is present 24/7. On top of it two of the four owners are longtime friends which will lead to tension amongst all four down the road.

My experience tells me that this will not work.

And from what I heard Andrew already has his eyes set on his next business "adventure".

Hi Aurich. Thanks so much for your efforts and input. I would ask if you could convey to The Management group that they implement some type of email/photo/video based update going forward on a regular basis. I get that they are still in process of taking over but need to show some tangible proof that changes are happening, manufacturing lines are being updated, parts ordered, and realistic timelines with customer delivery dates, etc. I'm paid in full since Feb and while I absolutely loooove the game I also feel so burned that I would need alot of confidence to get me to hold on, more than just words.

BTW - Are you aware if Morgan is still there and in charge of emails? It is also unclear who to contact by email now. Does anyone know who the point person for potential inquiring about refunds and/or status?

Don't ask for a refund or the price could go up if you want back in!! Sales tactics right out of the shitty salesman playbook. Maybe the prices will go up in the future, but they're telling you this for a specific purpose and it's not to be courteous about price changes.

I agree, but in some ways it's also kind of stating the obvious. I mean I could be wrong, but I would think one of the very few reasons for doing a pre-order is to get locked in at a somewhat better price than if you waited until they were cranking them out.

Color me non-respectable.

I get that people are negative now, and unhappy, etc, but if they increased prices and didn't tell people ahead of time everyone would be pissed. You can't be mad they said it's coming. Stern prices are up. JJP prices are up. Alien is frankly underpriced for the market, (if it was shipping!) Of course they're raising the price.

Of course they're trying to keep you in. If they weren't trying I'd bail right now because they would clearly be idiots with no business sense.

Aurich, You're going to be biased because the success of Heighway will result in you obtaining the Alien LE you were promised.

The reality is that they have no production line currently. They would of been better saying they'll need another 30-60 days and start building some games. Once folks who requested a refund actually see them produce something they might want to stay in. Currently its all chat and bs.

Aurich has already said, honestly, that he is on a "royalty payment" for Alien pins sold. And what you said is right Zen.

We all want the same thing, an Alien pinball machine.

I know I do.

I think its phenomenal and has GREAT potential.

If it doesn't work out then life goes on but its we are at least closer to having the pin that we all want.

We are in the same boat and on the same team.

I have expressed to them that Pinside likes updates. Beyond that they gotta run their business. I'm down to help out here, but I'm not a Heighway employee, I'm not paid to do PR or customer management, I need to let them figure it out.

Games shipping is the strongest statement they can make. I'm asking for a little patience from folks but ultimately games leaving factory is it, not video updates or whatever else.

Read what I just wrote, I'm with you. Ship games or die!

But complaining that people were told a price increase is coming is silly. If you pull out you hurt their efforts, of course they don't want you to. Of course they're trying to incentivize you to stay. To do otherwise would be dumb. I would do it in their position.

Everybody needs to take it down several notches until then. Take a F ing deep breath.

Can you imagine what has gone on to this point in Andrew's life? I have compassion for what he has built. Want to hate? That's ok.

Andrew might be guilty of too much communication compared to DP. Had to lie about things. Jack built JJP on us, the CUSTOMER and then needed a bailout from a multi millionaire to survive. I still respect that, and he lied his ASS OFF.

Life goes on.

When games start shipping, that's it.

By that measuring stick you'd have to let SkitB, JPop and DP off the hook too.

Maybe they'll start shipping games some day too?

I'd rather get a refund at $6500 and buy into it at $7500 if and when the games start shipping. There is still a significant risk of the company failing and I don't see a threat of a price increase as an incentive to stay in.

So ask for a refund. Everyone needs to make their own call. I hope prices aren't going up a grand though!

The higher the prices are, the more equity in the game you're owed. Don't be silly..

If we all had our games, I wouldn't know you characters as well as I do. Instead of playing it, I read this. Ya'll are definitely characters for sure! Mostly appreciated too. I'm paid in full since Oct '16. No plans on bailing but would like personal contact from the company. I do hope that happens this week. Last email was from Morgan over 2 months ago.

Well that sounds easy.
But Refund requests are being ignored.

Haha, I wish, but no, doesn't work like that.

Andrew was putting people off I guess, but now the new money men are in, so I'm sure people will get their refunds. Whole thing goes to shit if they don't, they know it, we know it.

If people aren't being taken care of after a bit, after a grace period to settle in, then you won't see me defending it. I hope they reassure everyone and everyone stays in, better for me, better for everyone who wants to see this game made. But if you really want out then I damn well hope you get your money.

I would be shocked if they refund any money in the next few months...I am sure all of their investment and then some will be required to get this project off the ground.

If I were in charge, I would only give out refunds once production has started up. Then, refunds would be granted once new buyers bought in. The deposit money is gone, to refund anyone at this point is using money that could be better spent elsewhere...Yes people are going to be upset, but if that is the only way to keep the company running then its a small price to pay.....Truth be told, I am surprised they are even accepting liability for the prepaid....business is harsh and not fair...anyway, just my opinion....worth what you paid...

They haven't accepted liability as yet.

You don't threaten customers in order to get them to stay in, you give them an incentive to stay in: free shipping for any current pre-orders, for example. Or you get some free upgrade. We're talking about exceptionally loyal customers who have been jerked around for years and the new management chooses a stick over a carrot? Maybe a little reward for all the agony would be more appropriate.

If they can't afford to do this, as some have suggested, then they should just walk away from the deal and accept their loss.

This could have been easily been addressed at another time rather than within a letter to the current pre-order customers. There was really no reason to say that other than as a threat.

I've spent years doing corporate turnarounds and I've seen this issue before; the new leadership comes in like everything is starting over fresh. The problem is, that's not the way it works. They are responsible for the pain that Heighway put customers through, especially in this case because it was on their watch. They need to understand they are just as responsible as Andrew, and should come in humbled and begging forgiveness. Throwing Andrew under the bus does not absolve them of guilt.

Draw your own conclusions.

Stupid analogy. The better one would be JJP.

Jack brags about building Woz on our $$$, good for him, then but for a fanboy multi millionaire JJP is finished.

-removed-

Now we have more millionaires coming to the rescue.

This F ing time, I would like an Alien pinball machine. Nuff said.

I'd be prepared for refunds galore if i was the "investor" but then again, haven't heard from them yet.

Dancing on the Heighway pinball grave might be a bit premature like a lot of people can't wait to do.

Wtf is wrong with people.

That would be no bueno.

Can't write off the current customers and then sell new Alien pins.

Best thing we can do is offer our time & support to help them get through this hurdle and get the business up & humming.
( ( ( ((Sending positive vibes their way)) ) ) )

Once rebirthed they can.

They can what? Fuck us over and continue on like nothing happened? I don't think so. Not if they really want to be successful.

I have not seen any email. I agree with others that rather than a price threat, it would be more appropriate to issue a gratitude letter... thank you all for your support over some rough times and for your loyalty we would like to offer ____. Free shipping would be a nice perk to loyal supporters.

Rather than a price increase, they just need to sell a bunch of these games which they could/will at some point. Volume will make up for any additional costs. R&D is aready complete.

Did only full paid in folks get that email?

After skimming the last 60 or so pages, if Alien ships, I'm going to plan a vacation to Sweden, and I'll be dropping by Patrik Tenn's house to play some of those games of his. I'll bring the beer!

If it doesn't ship, well I'll just go to Jamaica I spose

Would love to hear gameplay opinions from those who have actually flipped an Alien. Great flow? Clunky?? Somewhere in between??? I've had a deposit dwn since 11/15/15. Trying to decide if I wanna continue to keep up with this circus or just go ahead and request a refund.

I wonder if these five investors have read the main alien thread from start till now.
If they have been in the background and wanted to know what was happening, they could just read the thread, it's all here on pinside.

So there you have it, 5 investors, all extremely successful and now in full control. This company will succeed - all refunds will be given, games will ship out and communications will be reestablished. If I didn't think so, I'd quit my job with HP today and be looking for new employment.

This is the light at the end of the tunnel we've all been waiting for at HP. We could always see it, we just didn't know how long the tunnel was.

Thanks for posting , yours and about 2 others are basically the only ones I still view as credible in this circus

Here would be my recommendation using the assumption that they are all highly successful and want to make a go of it.

Each investor ponies up a rather modest $500k resulting in a new cash infusion of $2.5mm. Immediately bring A/P current. Send a letter to everyone saying. "Hey we are the new guys we are all in and fully funding this company. Obviously, we think this is a great product and hope everyone will stay in; however, we certainly understand people's concerns and frustrations. Therefore, if you want a refund, please send a new request to [email protected]. All refund requests will be processed within five business days. As for production, we are spending the next 60 days finalizing the current production processes, hiring additional staff and yada yada yada. After 60 days we will provide a definitive production schedule."

Send this letter to everyone. Process all refund requests in five days. If I were in on this and sitting on the fence, nothing would assuage my concerns more than this action since it basically says 1) we aren't going to jerk you around 2) we are invested in making this work 3) our pockets are deep enough so 4) your money is safe

I'm with you so far. But then...

Saying it should be out of here and then adding to it isn't really the solution. It's just asking him to respond.

Remember, you're considered successful only if you've had a business failure or three in your past.

No joke. I've boomed and busted multiple times in my life. Currently on my next boom, and hopefully have learned enough from the last ones to avoid the bust this time around.