I looked it up a bit, and found this public statement from the management of Mierce:
http://www.thefieldsofblood.com/2012/12/the-word-from-inside-maelstrom.htmlI have never ordered from either company, but I am hesitant to do so. The complaints I've read are all similar, that Maelstrom took payment for orders and pre-orders after they were already in a hole of debit, withut an ability to actually fulfil those orders. So a lot of people got screwed.
From the link above, if I understand correctly, their explanation is that although the same people operate(d) both companies, and while they coexisted they were even opeting under the same roof, they are should be considered two different businesses, and therefore people shouldn't judge one company based on the failures of the other.
Most of it seems like excuse-making that fails the test of logic.
I feel bad because the creative side of Mierce doesnt seem to have had much/any direct involvement in the mismanagement of Maelstrom in its final days, and my understanding is that Maelstrom was a great retailer for years. But its going to be hard for thm to shed the reputation of the past as loing as its th same management.
