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Bioptic wrote:
I remember, many years ago, several instances of going to the local GW in Hammersmith when they were clearing out old stock - either entire ranges (Man O'War) or to transition versions (Warhammer army books - the thick ones). The staff were psychotically pumped to be putting all of this stuff in big piles at huge discounts, and negotiating further reductions if you carted away a load. Their incredible keenness actually unnerved my dad quite a bit...

I suppose the difference (aside from a change in corporate culture) is that because GW only sells 2 lines now, discounted purchases *do* directly block new purchases. If you need a squad of Space Marines for 40K, and buy some old ones for a reduced price, you're never going to 'upgrade' to the new models at the current prices. They will absolutely see that as lost revenue, rather than getting a bit of extra money from wasted stock.

I remember that as well from back in the day. They did it when they moved from lead models to the pricier 'white metal' too I'm sure to clear the shelves of their old stuff. Remember getting a stack of discontinued Epic models that weekend.

Sadly agree with your assessment re the lost revenue. In principle I could still see it working in some cases now, but they'd probably be isolated instances they would cover as 'collectors' models anyway .

Spotted on Warseer, in their WHFB rumours section :
from Zakusmaximus

GW Begins the "Great Smelt"

Word today is that truckloads containing literally metric tons of metal miniatures have pulled away from GW HQ, headed for a date with a furnace. The entire stock is to be smelted down and sold off on the metals markets.

Look for any remaining stocks of metal models to disappear shortly from the website.

GW's era of metal miniatures is over.

source... is a friend of a friend type of thing

hmmm...

Their metal minis are still there for the moment.

Well I'm going to be ordering some metal figs tonight so I'll see the score then.

Good thing I ordered the last of my Sororitas Command Squad yesterday, then. Assuming this is true, of course.

Hopefully if some armies (some certainly more than others!) were to get screwed over by GW dropping metal models, those weekly model releases could address it, somewhat.

If they get rid of all existing stock that would gut some armies (especially Sisters).

Maybe they just are getting rid of the unused metal blanks?

 Ravajaxe wrote:
Spotted on Warseer, in their WHFB rumours section :
from Zakusmaximus

GW Begins the "Great Smelt"

Word today is that truckloads containing literally metric tons of metal miniatures have pulled away from GW HQ, headed for a date with a furnace. The entire stock is to be smelted down and sold off on the metals markets.

Look for any remaining stocks of metal models to disappear shortly from the website.

GW's era of metal miniatures is over.

source... is a friend of a friend type of thing

hmmm...

Their metal minis are still there for the moment.

Ah, that makes more sense. They aren't melting down the metal to make more minis (they don't have the capacity). They've decided (just before the end of the financial year) to liquidate the metal stocks and sell them as scrap. If it really is tonnes of pewter, then they'll make a fair packet from it. But it also means they're taking a massive (95%+) hit against what it'd achieve at retail. It looks like a pretty desperate measure to prop up their bottom line and potentially reduce some storage costs at the same time.


Sadly, I had a look on the website and whilst there's some cool stuff that's going to get lost, there's nothing thats really tempting me to buy now.

 Ravajaxe wrote:
Spotted on Warseer, in their WHFB rumours section :
from Zakusmaximus

GW Begins the "Great Smelt"

Word today is that truckloads containing literally metric tons of metal miniatures have pulled away from GW HQ, headed for a date with a furnace. The entire stock is to be smelted down and sold off on the metals markets.

Look for any remaining stocks of metal models to disappear shortly from the website.

GW's era of metal miniatures is over.

source... is a friend of a friend type of thing

hmmm...

Their metal minis are still there for the moment.

Interesting... thanks for passing that along.

Should be really easy to confirm this in one week's time.

Don't know if it is trustworthy, there are converging indications that pewter alloy minis are OOP, at least. But melting miniatures instead of selling them, even with a rebate and telling it's over ? Why ?

I will certainly place an ultimate order of metal minis very soon. Last year, when they were getting rid of epic stuff, I had regrets about hesitating on what to order.
Some minis have gone out of stock (but without notice) within a couple of days, when word has passed though the community.

I was in my local Games Workshop asking about the prospects of using the AS Penitent Engine for a conversion. He commented that the model was metal, heavy and pointed me at another product to use as a base for the conversion.

He then commented that the metals used in miniature casting were expensive, and had to be imported and shipped to their casting facilities.

His last comment was that miniatures not carried in the shop would be cast fresh from melted down stock from unsold inventories. This news could support the 'great melting' ...

 Troike wrote:
Sororitas Command Squad

.
How did you equip it ?

 Shandara wrote:
If they get rid of all existing stock that would gut some armies (especially Sisters).

But removing metal miniature for which a plastic version is available (i.e. marine characters ) would be quite easy.
And anyway, we all know how much they care about Sisters. If you think they would not do that, just check here :
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/armySubUnitCats.jsp?catId=cat440039a&rootCatGameStyle=wh
Woah, those units truly are rare units !

This personally disappoints me. I always liked in the old days being able to go the FLGS and see rows upon rows of blister packs, and more importantly being able to space out purchases. 10 guys cost let's say $30, I only have $10 on me, let me buy a blister pack or two so I have a bit of that force. Now it's all or nothing, either you buy the plastic boxed set or you go away with nothing.

You'd never be able to have something like the original Tale of Four Gamers today, because most of their monthly expenses were in the form of blister packs as units slowly formed, and then the next month they'd buy the remaining part to make the full unit.

It might be a bit melodramatic, but getting rid of the metal figures was, for me, the end of "my" era of GW and Warhammer.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:

 Troike wrote:
Sororitas Command Squad

.
How did you equip it ?

Haven't yet, still painting and modelling them.

But my plan is power axes, a hospitaller, and a Sacred Banner of the Orders Militant.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
And anyway, we all know how much they care about Sisters.

We also know that they've actively tried to make plastic Sisters, and just released an AS codex which sold well.

No need to lose hope.

 Ravajaxe wrote:
Spotted on Warseer, in their WHFB rumours section :
from Zakusmaximus

GW Begins the "Great Smelt"

Word today is that truckloads containing literally metric tons of metal miniatures have pulled away from GW HQ, headed for a date with a furnace. The entire stock is to be smelted down and sold off on the metals markets.

Look for any remaining stocks of metal models to disappear shortly from the website.

GW's era of metal miniatures is over.

source... is a friend of a friend type of thing

hmmm...

Their metal minis are still there for the moment.

As I thought. They wasted it. Instead of doing the smart thing and selling it off at a reduced price. Apparently, Kirby is allergic to sales.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Troike wrote:

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:

 Troike wrote:
Sororitas Command Squad

.
How did you equip it ?

Haven't yet, still painting and modelling them.

But my plan is power axes, a hospitaller, and a Sacred Banner of the Orders Militant.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
And anyway, we all know how much they care about Sisters.

We also know that they've actively tried to make plastic Sisters, and just released an AS codex which sold well.

No need to lose hope.

Ai, but they could have at least waited to release the plastic versions before wasting all of that metal. Now there's going to be a bunch of players with a book but no or half an army. Where's the logic in that?

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Ai, but they could have at least waited to release the plastic versions before wasting all of that metal. Now there's going to be a bunch of players with a book but no or half an army. Where's the logic in that?

Honestly, given GW's attitude towards customers I wouldn't be surprised if their logic was that you'd go out and buy a different army that's supported with lots of plastics; in fact, I would not be surprised if they shifted blame on the player. "You should have picked an army that was better supported. How about some new Space Marines?"

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Ai, but they could have at least waited to release the plastic versions before wasting all of that metal. Now there's going to be a bunch of players with a book but no or half an army. Where's the logic in that?

I never denied that GW could be inconsiderate.

Just pointing out that there's a good case for Sisters getting plastics at some point anyway. So if this does turn out to mean that the Sisters lose their models (as frustrating as that would be). then it's not necessarily the end. Again, perhaps those weekly releases would be of help, if this happens.

Besides, we don't yet know that this rumour is 100% accurate, if at all.

The thing is, GW's customers being what they are...

All they would have needed to do is just announce that they're getting rid of their metal stock and 'watch this space' for future updates.

You'd get a mad scramble for people buying whatevers left. - Heck, look at what happened last summer based just on the rumours, without GW saying anything at all.

Yes the good old days of GW deals is gone. I had ordered from the mail order trolls one day an army of adeptus arbites, they were listed at $5.00 each or so and I asked him how many they had. Moment of silence later and I had 150 of them on the way to my house at half off. Didn't kill the brand, in fact shortly after that people were writing up articles in citadel journal for arbites armies. In business there's. term called "turns" or "turn over", its how often you sell through a particular stocked item per year/month/ fiscal period. Obviously since the discounts stopped the turns have too. While a fire sale at one register might get some sold, I think they are looking at selling ALL the metal at once, not just the sisters of battle, and with metal prices fluctuating its best for them to sell it all in one go now. While most people would say they'd buy a ton of stuff right now, knowing the gaming community, how many actually have the $$$$$ or ££££££ to buy all of it at once, even discounted. Then he remaining scraps that are left over wouldn't be enough to take to the metal market and get a good buy on it. We would all love to get a great price on the minis, but GW is doing the "right thing" for GW with his move.

Or you can just believe n executive actually read the grey knight codex and understood all the sisters of battle were destroyed, so he told the guy in the warehouse to box them up for exterminatus. Your choice.

Or it is just a bunk rumor...

 pretre wrote:
Or it is just a bunk rumor...

well then lets slap false all over it and shut it down

If they do get rid of all metals I should have waited to trade away my steel legion.

I just checked GW webstore ( IG especially) All the squads for the different regiments are back in stock. Steellegion, Mordians even Tallarns. Can someone please doublecheck that because I don't want to raise your hopes too much because theres an issue with my browser.

 Seneca wrote:
I just checked GW webstore ( IG especially) All the squads for the different regiments are back in stock. Steellegion, Mordians even Tallarns. Can someone please doublecheck that because I don't want to raise your hopes too much because theres an issue with my browser.

still no Vostroyan Mortar, Grenade launcher and the 2nd 3 man blister has gone too.

 Theophony wrote:

 pretre wrote:
Or it is just a bunk rumor...

well then lets slap false all over it and shut it down

Not until we know one way or another. Give it a week.

Well, happily ordered various bits of metal in-store tonight. Store manager hasn't heard these rumours.

I'm calling it BS - and I don't mean Battle Sisters!

 Troike wrote:
But my plan is power axes, a hospitaller, and a Sacred Banner of the Orders Militant.

Woah. CC Sisters ! Well, 30 point each, is that it ?

 Troike wrote:
We also know that they've actively tried to make plastic Sisters, and just released an AS codex which sold well.

You know that. I think it is a rumor that may be true, or false.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Now there's going to be a bunch of players with a book but no or half an army.

Half an army ? I guess almost nobody started Sisters in the last 3 years at least, for obvious cost and rules reasons. So people either have a full army, or did not start.

 Troike wrote:
So if this does turn out to mean that the Sisters lose their models (as frustrating as that would be). then it's not necessarily the end.

The end ? It would be Great News™®© !
And by that, I mean that your army, should you ever want to sell it, would have taken a huge increase in value, because it is now full of collector out of print model never again available! Except that if they do release plastic, then you are screwed and the value of the army will plunge even under the current level.


If you ask me, I am pretty sure I will have a very valuable army for at least two or three more editions, and likely more.

Totally believe GW would destroy all their metal mini's like this. They're just the type of company to do that.

The whole "will they destroy their molds out of spite before they go under?" is a real threat imo.

 Ravajaxe wrote:
But melting miniatures instead of selling them, even with a rebate and telling it's over ? Why ?

Because GW operates under the assumption that all of their customers are rabid fanboys. They assume that you are going to buy X models every month, and the only question is how much you will pay for them. Offering the old metal models allows you to spend less money on your purchase. Someone at GW has probably decided that it's better for profits to just sell the remaining stock as scrap metal and let you buy that nice expensive plastic tactical squad instead.

 Harriticus wrote:
The whole "will they destroy their molds out of spite before they go under?" is a real threat imo.

Not really. GW's management wants to make money, and making money by selling the IP is still making money. Trashing molds out of spite reduces the sale value of that IP for no good reason. The only reason to trash the molds would be if they don't think the models are going to sell at all in the future and there's no point in spending money keeping the obsolete molds in a warehouse somewhere.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
Woah. CC Sisters ! Well, 30 point each, is that it ?

It's a pretty good way to run them, from what I understand. I'd also have a priest in there, for extra fun.

30 points per model, you mean? I dunno, could be.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
You know that. I think it is a rumor that may be true, or false.

Whilst none of us can confirm this for sure, since we weren't present when GW was trying to make them, I'd say it's pretty damn solid anyway. We have two quotes from two different well-known developers saying so.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
Half an army ? I guess almost nobody started Sisters in the last 3 years at least, for obvious cost and rules reasons. So people either have a full army, or did not start.

I dunno. I've come across quite a few new SoB players on my Internet travels. The digital codex also sold very well, and I'd image that a good chunk of the buyers were people looking to start an SoB army.

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
And by that, I mean that your army, should you ever want to sell it, would have taken a huge increase in value, because it is now full of collector out of print model never again available!

But I don't want to sell my SoB. I want to use them to play 40K.

 Shandara wrote:
If they get rid of all existing stock that would gut some armies (especially Sisters).

GW would never discontinue a whole army that just got a fresh full expensive Codex, right?