GamesWorkShop puts the squeeze on eBay re-sellers

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**Panic**

yeah,
I got this email today from a eBay Seller...

treadhead2004 wrote:Dear [Panic]
Due to restrictions placed on us by Games Workshop, we are now unable to sell new Games Workshop products through e bay. As from the 1st August, our listings of new GW products will cease, so grab a bargain while you can!

However, We do have an independent web site from which you can continue to buy brand new, sealed Games Workshop Products at a discounted price. Even better, we will be offering free postage for all orders over £10.00 to UK buyers and a reduced rate to overseas buyers. Our web site will continue to grow with listings and will be fully stocked by 1st August.

Our website has a pay pal operated checkout cart so you will continue to receive secure payment and protection service when shopping with us.
At Arcane Scenery & Models we pride ourselves on fast despatch and superb customer service. We hope that you will visit us at:
www.arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk

If you do not see the item that you would like, please contact us through the shop and we will endeavour to full fill your order as quickly as possible and at the best price available.

In the meantime, all of our other manufacturers ranges will continue to be available through ebay at competive prices and we will be expanding our ranges to bring you even more great scenery, kits and modelling products at the best prices.

Regards, Steve

Panic....

**Balance**

Is this anything new, or just that GW noticed and is continuing to go after internet retailers as they've been doing for years?

I don't think legally that GW can say "you can't sell this product on eBay" but they can say "If you sell this on eBay, you no longer qualify for retailer special treatment."

**BrookM**

GW has issued a statement about this some time ago.

**swbruni**

They just want to make more $$$$$

**BrookM**

Something to do with on-line retailers needing a brick and mortar store and they can sell on-line, just not through e-bay.

**whitedragon**

IIRC, a retailer gets to purchase product from GW at a better "rate" if they meet certain criteria, ie, have a brick and mortar location, play games, etc. So, stores that only have an online presence get a worse "rate" buying product from GW.

This means that unless you do huge volume, there's no reason for a retailer to sell on ebay anymore for a potentially reduced profit. (Unless they can guarantee a huge volume, but that's unlikely with a niche product.)

So this isn't that "GW SAYS YOU CAN'T SELL ON EBAY", it just means that their policies are structure in a way to promote brick and mortar store sales, whether good or ill.

**H.B.M.C.**

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that Maelstrom Games, a wonderful store in the UK, sells some of their items via eBay.

They also have a massive store with 70 tables, a bar and a restaraunt. It's the perfect place for a really awkward first date with the girl who agreed to go out with you out of pity.

Maelstrom Games - Huge discounts and beer. FETH YEAH!

**Panic**

yeah,
The main reason I by from GW is I like supporting the actual Brick and Mortar GW stores.

I've bought from Maelstrom in the past and I might actually switch to Maelstrom permanently if they have plans to open a 70 table venue in London!

I mean for gak sake it's the capital of the UK and it has very little by way of battle bunker type places to play. none of the inner London GW stores have any real table space for gamers.

Panic...

**H.B.M.C.**

Nottingham's kinda like London... right?

**BrookM**

Screw London, Nottingham is wargaming Mecca in most cases.

**Flashman**

BrookM wrote:Screw London, Nottingham is wargaming Mecca in most cases.

Warhammer World certainly worth a look if you're up that way, but not sure I'd make a special trip to polar bear country (anywhere north of the M4) just to see some high quality painted miniatures and a games room that looks like a castle.

**Fishboy**

The Indy stores have a signed agreement with GW that they cant sell stuff on line below retail cost I believe. Actaully I am pretty sure as a bud of mine had a store and got the kybash from GW. This is how GW puts the squeeze on em. They can always but from Alied or other venders at a discount but its not as good as they get from GW. Yes GW will only supply to an actual store (except in the case of mass retailers like alied).

Personally I like the rule. It forces people to buy from their FLGS to help those stores stay in buisness. I have never been a big fan of the EBAY and online discount stores but I love the bitz stores.

**Cane**

Is this for the UK only?

**Nightwatch**

Prob not, us North Americans rarely get special treatment. Not that we should. But Ebay is generally found on the internet (duh!) and people ALL OVER THE WORLD can access it! (woah, totally cool, dude!) Yeah I think we're shafted too.

**Axyl**

I'm curious if this would prevent us from just selling the sprues by themselves or just NIB product.

**99MDeery**

Flashman wrote:
BrookM wrote:Screw London, Nottingham is wargaming Mecca in most cases.

Warhammer World certainly worth a look if you're up that way, but not sure I'd make a special trip to polar bear country (anywhere north of the M4) just to see some high quality painted miniatures and a games room that looks like a castle.

Dude you forgot about Bugmans, best pub in the world bar none, mainly because its the only pub i've found not in London that sells Desperado - tastiest beer in the world.

**te3b0r**

I know I get one from a UK ebayer that I have bought from a few times but the US based ones have not sent a thing.... (cue dramatic muzaks)

**ChainswordHeretic**

My best friend is in the process of opening a store in the midwest. He specifically asked about their pricing based on in store services (painting area, classes, tables,etc.). He was told that is only in Europe. When he asked if they controlled discounting, he was told he could sell their product for any price he wanted. when he asked about online sales he was told the U.S.A. policy is you are not allowed to sell online AT ALL.

**Nightwatch**

Oh...I could swear I've seen US people selling stuff before...

**te3b0r**

Nightwatch wrote:Oh...I could swear I've seen US people selling stuff before...

Shhhhh! Dont ruin it for the rest of us.........

**CT GAMER**

Fishboy wrote:s retailers like alied).

Personally I like the rule. It forces people to buy from their FLGS to help those stores stay in buisness. I have never been a big fan of the EBAY and online discount stores but I love the bitz stores.

That is BS.

My LGS is crap, I have no FLGS aand I should not be forced to support any certain business, especially one that is sub par. Not everyone lives in the fantasy land that you do in which the LGS is a thing of greatness...

**ChainswordHeretic**

He is planing on opening a separate online store under a different name. Maybe that's what other people due also. But he was told you are not allowed to have in online store connected to your brick and mortar. And definitely no EBay . I know there is another store here that advertises call in orders on their site. That might be another way to get around it.

**Oldgrue**

The US online store you're thinking about is thewarstore.com (which i like better than maelstrom games!)
The reason they can do this is that they have a very clever method to get around GW's rather clever policy

Not being a lawyer I'm ignorant in how they can maintain strict control of a sales method for a seller they don't distribute to.
Edit: ignorance solved:

"The decision to comply with this Policy is left to each individual distributor and retailer. However, GAMES WORKSHOP does reserve the right, pursuant to this Policy, to terminate sales of GAMES WORKSHOP products to any distributor and/or retailer that chooses to resell in violation of this Policy."

If you don't buy directly from them they can strongarm your distributor. You'd have to have a holding company of some sort to shield the distributor so they can state under subpoena they don't sell to your internet company. Much like how Coke sells in Cuba past the US embargo.

**RogueMarket**

This policy - no selling online or ebay or online holds against stores who go GW DIRECT or Alliance games (I think)

There are other places ;P out there - that serve as the 'middle' man. Granted - they make roughly 10% off you for merely being the 'middle'.

But once you go through them you can say FETH you GW.

Because you haven't made a policy agreement with gw =)

**oni**

GW has, for as long as I can remember, strict limitations on distributors who sell their product online.

**RogueMarket**

I can point you a few that don't. I know a guy who gives FETH All about GW' policy - because he - himself - does not violate the policy P.

Once he sells the product to me - he isn't liable on how i sell the product.

Another example - would be making an agreement with a LGS.
I've done it with a few - and bought in bulk.

Serves the same way!

**BrassScorpion**

Since July 2003 Games Workshop has not permitted retail stores to sell their products on the internet via an online shopping cart and those stores must have a "brick and mortar" store in order to sell via mail order.

**RogueMarket**

BrassScorpion wrote:Since July 2003 Games Workshop has not permitted retail stores to sell their products on the internet via an online shopping cart and those stores must have a "brick and mortar" store in order to sell via mail order.

Which is dumb - agreeably.

At the same time... I see their reasoning - it hurts their value of product - as the online world prices things between 20-40% off MSRP.

At the same time - in the same essence- I can see LGS's profitizing now - since the ONLINE world is getting smacked.

They cut off your online source - so where you go next? A GW or LGS.

Since GW pays money to run their stores - OR - LGS's are dependent on local sales.

It benefits everything.

(I am no GW lover at all - just ... thinking about it!)

**dashrendar**

BrookM wrote:Something to do with on-line retailers needing a brick and mortar store and they can sell on-line, just not through e-bay.

thats the way it is in the US. I spoke with one of their retail managers or whatever you want to call them about becoming a reseller, and you you have to have a brick and mortar store to become reseller. you cant do online only.

H.B.M.C. wrote:I'd like to take this opportunity to say that Maelstrom Games, a wonderful store in the UK, sells some of their items via eBay.

but not GW stuff anymore. they dont have any GW stuff listed in their ebay store. but yes they are a great store.

**Jive Professor**

HBMC's constant pimping of Maelstrom has got me shopping there. I don't buy anywhere else, really, except impulse buys at the LGS.