Chris Decker has sold the retail function "Trident Hobbies" to a group in Georgia (Brandon Lowe & his father). Chris has retained the Midship Models part of the business.
Chris had been having problems doing the design & development of the Midship line, working with John Sheridan in the Yankee Modelworks line (including integrating the old Classic Warships products into the YMW line), running a online retail operation, and answering the phone. He could not handle it all and things were falling through the cracks. Long lead time on orders. Orders charged but not delivered. Incomplete orders. Failure to communicate. It was getting very nasty on SteelNavy, and from what I've heard on ModelWarships, calling Chris a crook and threatening legal action. Your good impression of Trident is one of few expressions of good will I've heard recently. Generally their name was mud.
Chris Decker has divested himself of Trident, allowing him time to concentrate on the core of Midship Models. Sheridan is concentrating on the YMW stuff. Time will tell wheter the new management will be able to extract the Trident Hobbies name and reputation from the toilet. They have been doing better. They have been communicating, at least on SN, but they are doing what they need to do to distance themselves from the former Trident.
If you are feeling lucky and generous -- give the new Trident a shot. I'm more of a cautious mind