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Post by: morpheus's child
i visited my nearest GW store yesterday, for the first time in several months, to pick up some glue and paint and perhaps a wartrakk. i made it fairly clear to the employee there that i shop on a fairly tight budget. he then proceeded to tell me about a tournament he's putting together, to (paraphrasing here) 'make players feel a little less constrained by the official rules'. the army list consists of an hq, a troop, a walker or its equivalent, and a storm raven. now, he began telling me it would provide a great opportunity for conversions for all players, as they could include a storm raven in any army...
i made it fairly clear that my desire to purchase a storm raven, for either my orks or my marines, is about nonexistent, but he continued to push it, switching gears on the reason...
to be honest, it kinda put me off a bit, like he was just trying to push storm ravens on all players. has anyone else experienced this sort of ham-fisted sales approach?
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Post by: BuFFo
morpheus's child wrote:has anyone else experienced this sort of ham-fisted sales approach?
Yeah, like over a decade ago, which is why I haven't set foot in a GW Store since 1998.
Stick with brick and mortar. Support your local gaming store.
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Post by: Inquisitor Lord Bane
Yeah. I stopped going to my GW because of that. They tried to get my fiance to buy figures after she already talked to me about our tight budget. The manager then tried to kick her out because she was reading (AKA not contributing to the hobby in his words) while I was gaming, right after I dropped $50. Its ridiculous...
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Post by: MechaEmperor7000
Not personally, but I've seen at least two other accounts on Dakkadakka where the employees blatantly told prospective marines players to buy the stormraven, despite not having legal rules for them to use in their armies (both were apparently new players, but were not playing BA, and GK at the time hadn't come out yet). I think GW realised how much of a screwup they did with the thing (The backlash due to it's appearance was horrendous, to say the least) and the fact that it costs 5 bucks more than a Land Raider here didnt help matters either, so they're trying to unload the Storm Raven stock by any means necessary. We might also see a similar thing with the Dreadknight in the coming days.
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
one of the employees @ my nearist store gives you 3 warnings (i know this has nothing 2 do with salesmanship but its kinda mean) and after the 3rd warning, he rolls 2D6 and thats how many MONTHS your banned frm the store. (i saw it happen). Its really mean especially if its only like a 12 yr old.
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Post by: MechaEmperor7000
That is certainly....creative...
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Post by: ColdSadHungry
I see this kind of stuff every time I go into my local GW and I absolutely hate it - don't really look forward to going there because of it.
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Post by: Formosa
i made it abundantly clear to my Local GW manager, im poor, and i buy what i can, when i can... he does not bother me in the slightest, when new stuff comes out i ask him about it and everything, same with the staff.
they are excellent 
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Post by: Kanluwen
MechaEmperor7000 wrote:Not personally, but I've seen at least two other accounts on Dakkadakka where the employees blatantly told prospective marines players to buy the stormraven, despite not having legal rules for them to use in their armies (both were apparently new players, but were not playing BA, and GK at the time hadn't come out yet). I think GW realised how much of a screwup they did with the thing (The backlash due to it's appearance was horrendous, to say the least) and the fact that it costs 5 bucks more than a Land Raider here didnt help matters either, so they're trying to unload the Storm Raven stock by any means necessary. We might also see a similar thing with the Dreadknight in the coming days.
Actually, you can't use the Stormraven in 'normal' 40k games...but there's nothing stopping you from fielding them in Apocalypse.
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Post by: case013
wow 2d6. so no matter what its a minimum of 2 months. i can see how it would be mean, but im sure there are some times where he's praying for double 6s.
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
double 6's have happened to a 9 yr old too. really cruel....
Please don't use things like "2" instead of typing the word to, we want people to take the time to communicate properly on Dakka, and bear in mind that not everyone who reads a post has english as their first language.
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Post by: Mal the Wolf
This is an issue at the local shops. The owner of my local shop is a turd (3 gw shops in west virgina he owns them all). He even berated a player when calling out the winners at Charcon( gaming convention in Charleston) I now use gw web site for everything. I go to these stores to play and thats it.
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Post by: Juvieus Kaine
hehe FAIL! wrote:double 6's have happened 2 a 9 yr old 2. really cruel....
... You can stop using textspeak now (as in, "to"/"too" instead of 2, shown above)
And yeah I've heard and had of similar bad salesmanship. My parents said that when they took my bro to GW a staff member was hounding them all the time they were there. My bro only wanted a box of models and the staff member was trying to push battleforces and AoBR boxes down their throat.
Then there's been a few instances of me going to GW and the staff member present nudging me to buy something I'm curious to purchase but trying not to. Last time that happened I ended up getting home with an ork megaforce, some nobz and a black orc big boss, when I wasn;t sure whether to get the megaforce. Needless to say I wasn't happy with that.
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Post by: Nick Ellingworth
Formosa wrote:i made it abundantly clear to my Local GW manager, im poor, and i buy what i can, when i can... he does not bother me in the slightest, when new stuff comes out i ask him about it and everything, same with the staff.
they are excellent
Indeed they are, although I did have bad experiences in there when I first joined the hobby but that's probably because at the time (1999ish) I was the annoying 12 year old brat who's models were basically blobs of paint. 
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Post by: AdeptusAssfartes
Last time I went in, it was maybe 6 years ago?
I went for a 19 dollar ork warboss (that I was already kicking myself for wanting to buy) and the guy was trying to get me to pick up some leman russES. As in plural, for looting.
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
And yeah I've heard and had of similar bad salesmanship. My parents said that when they took my bro to GW a staff member was hounding them all the time they were there. My bro only wanted a box of models and the staff member was trying to push battleforces and AoBR boxes down their throat.
Then there's been a few instances of me going to GW and the staff member present nudging me to buy something I'm curious to purchase but trying not to. Last time that happened I ended up getting home with an ork megaforce, some nobz and a black orc big boss, when I wasn;t sure whether to get the megaforce. Needless to say I wasn't happy with that.
When I first went to a GW, the same thing happened to me. I was just looking around at all the different armies and I got AOBR shoved down my throat along with Ork this, Space Marine that. In the end I ended up wanting Space Marines (after telling me all the hypes but not the other bad stuff) but now I regret that. Ever since Blood Angels got upgraded.
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Post by: case013
First time i walked into one i made the mistake of telling the guy i was a new player and just doing some research and it's like he tried to push the whole space marine line up on me and i didnt even want space marines. so i just left and ordered myself some tyranids. Gotta love the metal Hive Tyrant.
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Post by: winnertakesall
Oh hey, do this have this massive paint set thats like £300?
No.
Would you like bu...
No.
How about a WHFB rulebook?
I don't play fantasy.
well why don't you start!
I don't to.
Well, what army do you like the look of? Orcs and Goblins might suit you, why not this £50 box set, and this great armfull of stuff you don't really need?
I think I will pass.
And then I hear them muttering about me as I leave the shop. Not my local, they are actually quite good there.
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Post by: Portaljacker
The guys at mine are quick to suggest what you should buy whenever you mention the slightest problem you're having with modeling or painting. Though they don't mind if you say no or deflect by saying maybe another time. I've been in the store for 2-3 hours without assembling, painting or buying and they're fine. I guess Montreal lucked out.
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Post by: Lycaeus Wrex
I guess my local GW is a far-cry from the norm. The manager at our store is very helpful, very enthusiastic, does not hard-sell, and continually asks people about their armies/lists so as to recommend products suitable for them. He's also very lenient about popping in and having a chat, and is more than happy to discuss painting/modelling/gaming tips as opposed to just selling the newest, most expensive kit at the time.
Then again, all that combined might be why he's on his final written warning from the company...
L. Wrex
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Post by: Son_Of _Deddog
I am generally left alone. This may be because I am "..that Epic guy..", or because I played rugby against one of the employees...I'm yet to decide.
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Post by: MechaEmperor7000
I've become the TFG for the salesmen at any store I go to (not just GW stores), namely because I have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of where the best prices are. They all hate it when I open my mouth.
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Post by: case013
awww man rugby...lucky brits. played it a couple times when i visited australia on my first deployment and had a blast. not much call for it were i live though.
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
The other day when I walked in, I got bombarded about buying GK's, the codex, Dreadknight ect when they know perfectly well that I collect Space Marines and I'm nt going to start collecting another army.....
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Post by: PraetorDave
For some reason there aren't any of these problems at my store. Then again I go fairly irregularly, <1 per month, but even so I have never seen any of these things. My Manager actually tried to dissuade me from getting a land raider one time. I got it anyway 
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Post by: Portaljacker
What reason did he give not to get one?
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Post by: Cerebrium
It happened the first few times I went in until I just took one of them to one side and explained "Look, I know you're paid to sell this stuff to me, but I'm just here to buy what I need".
Now they even know that I buy most of my stuff from Maelstrom and ebay, and they don't mind.
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Post by: Murray145
The old GW that closed down was alright for the most part, they did muscle me into buying unnecessary paints once. He did try to sell my an Ork Stompa, I said
"But I don't play Orks or Apocalypse games."
"Well, it still a cool model to have!"
"How much is it?"
"Around $110 with tax"
"Its not that cool it looks like a fat-guy in a dress"
The subject was dropped after that.
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
The manager at my GW store is actually really cool. It's just this one person thats not that cool... like 2D6 months banned? Thats overkill.... and only he does it. No-one else does it.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just face it, GW needs ALOT of improvement customer service wise.
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Post by: case013
What usually causes him to whip out the dice?
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Post by: Nitros14
I've never seen anything like this. My Games Workshop store is great.
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Post by: Noir
When I come to people trying to up sell me I tell them all one of two things based on how much they are brothing me. "If I want help I will ask for it." or "If I wanted to shop with someone I'd bring a friend."
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Post by: morpheus's child
wow... usually when i post on a thread on any forum, it dies with my post...
anyhow, i had forgotten to mention that he shoved the grey knights codex in my face, as well, though after his 'plus, they're ALL psykers!' and i responded with 'wow, sounds grossly overpowered to me' he gave up on that pretty quick.
one thing that worries me is if he'd even let me use my battlewagons (once they're finished), as they'll mostly consist of converted/scratch-built/kit-bashed wwii-era tanks...
the store was a lot better when i first started going there, before they went to a one-man store model, and then replaced the one man, who'd been there before, with the current guy, who apparently holds several degrees, and spends all his time modelling and painting, playing guitar, and working out... which means he's no good for discussion about literature or films (unless they're black library)...
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Post by: Tzeentchling9
At my local GW, if you are a new face, you'll be asked if you need help. You say no, you are left alone. If you browse for awhile, you might be asked if you play an army to get a discussion going.
If you are an old hand, the worst you'll get is getting asked if you've seen new X models on the site(aside from the customary reminder of tools, primer, and/or glue).
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Post by: Formosa
see i find that useful, i always forget stuff like glue/paint etc. lol
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Post by: Jackal
I do if its a random GW, but at the local i only ever talk at the till, and its being told how much
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Post by: y0disisray
I wish I had a local GW to complain about.. 
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Post by: Khisanth Magus
There isn't even a GW store in my state, let alone near my town!
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Post by: -Loki-
I just make them aware that I've been in the hobby longer than they have, and I am sure I do know what I am looking at and want, and no, I don't want tips on what I should buy.
Hell, I've been in the hobby longer than some GW staff have been alive.
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Post by: lionfire
I guess this is why all the GW stores seem to be shrinking in size/closing. People would rather go to a local shop where they can actually oh, I don't know, play the damn game and not be hassled.
God forbid the GW store employees actually WANT to have people in the store and promote the games. I mean, we wouldn't want to get in the way of selling stuff.
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Post by: PraetorDave
Portaljacker wrote:What reason did he give not to get one?
We were discussing my trouble with Deathstar nobz. We couldn't decide between increasing number of TH/ SS termies, or using a land raider. He said go termies but I decided on the land raider.
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Post by: Ascalam
I don't think there is even a GW store IN Oregon. My local FLGS is great !
The owner is an awesome guy, of overworked, and the rest of the staff won't power-sell you stuff.
I did get enthused at to buy the new Grey knights by one staff member, but that's because he remembered me having my asp kicked with my GK force 2 years prior at a tournament
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
case013 wrote:What usually causes him to whip out the dice?
Dpeneds what mood he's in. Sometimes it's only asking him a simple question to leaning on the WOODEN game tables.
He says that the wood can break but then he goes and leans on it! Like WTF?
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Post by: Hans Chung-Otterson
Their customer service line is actually fantastic. I've never been in a GW store before, so I wouldn't know about in-store.
And how can that dude ban people for 2d6 months without the manager allowing it?
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Post by: morpheus's child
perhaps there are others i haven't found yet, but the local shop i frequent most often is more than twice the distance from home as the nearest gw store, and is primarily a comic shop. while they have a vast and amazing archive of comics, trade paperbacks, and board and rpgs, as wellas a fairly small selection of 40k stuff, they don't offer any actual place to game. while i'm in the process of building my own dedicated game table, it isn't easy to find others in my area that live close enough to me that they would be willing to drive to my home to play rather than gw's store...
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Post by: TheFuzziestBear
Way back when I was first getting into the hobby I went to a GW store to pick up the basics of my army. I hadn't done a bit of research but from talking to my friends who were at fault for getting me into the hobby had decided I wanted to play Daemonhunters with Inducted Guard. I explained to the clerk that I what I wanted, The bare minimum I needed to field a legal army consisting of Daemonhunters and Guard. I left with an Inquisitor, a squad of PAGK, and squad of Inquistorial Stormtroopers . I'm still bitter that my lack of knowledge and the clerk's want to make the sale and get me out quickly ended up with me having Stormtroopers instead of a platoon of guardsmen like I wanted, or that I didn't verify with friends I had with me cause I thought the clerk knew what he was doing (At the time I thought the stormtroopers were a command squad or something that I could add to to make a real platoon later on). Edit:Spelling
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Post by: Brettila
I'm actually surprised so many of you had contact at all. You must be young, or at least look it. My buddy and I went to the 'mighty' Battle Bunker when it was still in Maryland. The people in the store consisted of, literally: my friend and I (who spend 1000's on this hobby), 2 14 yr. olds playing 40K, one of their mothers waiting for them to finish, a guy (possibly an employee) painting on one of the tables, and 3 dudes in the store section. They showed no interest in us, and hardly helped us once we entered the store. They were less than helpful with questions, and did not offer to go back and get models we wanted to buy, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE ALL SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED FROM. So yeah, not impressed. I'm rather happy there are no GW stores in my entire region of the country.
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Post by: Mr. Burning
If I walked into a GW and didn't find an employee trying to sell me the flavour of the month I would be confused.
GW's pushy approach stems from poor training to staff members. I have yet to have anything but a closed question thrown at me.
Be polite to the guys trying to hawk their wares, they'll take the hint....eventually.
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Post by: Bullockist
AAaaah GW sales staff. summed up in one line 'socially slowed frothers'.
After enjoying going to a FLGS, which actually wasn't that friendly, but i could browse to my hearts content, a GW store opened up. I thought great, now i can see what the hobby is really about. I get to the store , get met by this guy who kept getting in my space, blathering on overenthusiasticly about everything and insisting on yelling WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH all the fething time (sometimes i hate being an orc player).I dunno, but having a moron yell loudly in my ear doesn't make me want to buy stuff... The flgs closed a few months later.
andi come back to the store a few years later to see what was happening with the hobby, get into a demo game of 3rd edition, and then another sociallly slowed frother wants me to yell waaagh before i roll the dice...FFS
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Post by: Retrias
GW guys never bother me, then again everyone knew about everyone buying schedule, the guy would also only pursue the space marine players about GK or storm ravens
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
god, GW staff need to be either nicer or less nicer because some people are just too friendly.....
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Post by: Azure
How does the 2D6 ban man keep up his end of the bargain? Kid goes back in and is in the process of buying something, manger walks out and says 'You can't buy that, get outta here!'?
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Post by: case013
I mean if he's the only one who does why doesn't the manager man up and tell him to stop
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Post by: Sturmtruppe
Brettila wrote:I'm actually surprised so many of you had contact at all. You must be young, or at least look it. My buddy and I went to the 'mighty' Battle Bunker when it was still in Maryland. The people in the store consisted of, literally: my friend and I (who spend 1000's on this hobby), 2 14 yr. olds playing 40K, one of their mothers waiting for them to finish, a guy (possibly an employee) painting on one of the tables, and 3 dudes in the store section. They showed no interest in us, and hardly helped us once we entered the store. They were less than helpful with questions, and did not offer to go back and get models we wanted to buy, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE ALL SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED FROM. So yeah, not impressed. I'm rather happy there are no GW stores in my entire region of the country.
I was in there several times while it was open and I've had that same experience before. On the other hand, they could be pretty helpful at times too. For instance, they sold me a copy of the new SM codex the day before it was to officially go on sale when I told them I was leaving for Iraq early the next morning and would be gone for a year.
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Post by: snake
Their pushyness reminds of how the GW website tries to push things as gifts, suggesting that our loved ones need to buy us multiples of said gift. How many times have I read "This makes a "insert boxed set" - or even three - a great gift!".
Not that I mind receiving 40k gifts or multiples thereof 
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Post by: hehe FAIL!
Azure wrote:How does the 2D6 ban man keep up his end of the bargain? Kid goes back in and is in the process of buying something, manger walks out and says 'You can't buy that, get outta here!'?
He writes a note and keeps it behind the counter
I'm pretty sure the manager doesn't know, he hasn't said anything about it....
EDIT: I complained to the manager today and the 2D6 guy got told he
had to change it or else. So now it's 2D6 HOURS! YAY!!!
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Post by: SagesStone
OP, just buy the glue from somewhere else saves you the hassle and you'd probably get the same quality stuff for about half the price.
I don't really go to my local GW that much anymore, not because of the staff it's just I generally don't have as much time to go there anymore. I had the problem with another GW that's in the area though so I stopped going there before I found the good one.
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Post by: ph34r
hehe FAIL! wrote:Just face it, GW needs ALOT of improvement customer service wise.
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Post by: Phayse
My locals fine. Understaffed, but fine.
I never get bothered, mainly because I initiate the conversations. When I'm buying something, they ask what I'm planning for them. I haven't had a sales pitch, and have enjoyed a few 750 pointers with the chap over his lunch break. If he's trying to sell me something, he'll field it from the store cabinets during one of those, show me it's pros and cons, but still doesn't push too hard.
Bottom line is they're a store. They have targets to meet, they're going to try to sell. Hobbyists aren't generally social butterflies at the best of times, so yeah it's probably going to be hamfisted. Most human beings however tend to become less pushy when a rapport is established.
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Post by: Hargus56
I like mine. The manager is cool, and I've been kind of a pain in his ass (couple of returns he hasn't given me grief about) and he's been nothing but cool. It is a business, there is no doubt they are told hey try and sell "x" amount of Assault on Black Reach sets per month, and it has an effect on their quarterly reviews, we all have jobs and know that is how it goes. Best of all it's maybe 10 minutes away. I have a non GW gaming stores I've checked out recently. I went to one last month on a Friday around 3pm I was told Friday night is there big Warhammer night, I show up it's about 30 minutes away and it's just a group of older teenagers playing some card game. I ask about the Warhammer and they say no one comes in and plays that anymore. The other place about an hour away tells me they only get 40k players, which is at least something though I do like a game of fantasy, also the people that work there have no idea what the rules are which is not too cool when you're a noob to the hobby like myself. At GW there is aways a game to be played and if I need some rules interpretation it's there.
I will say the 1 man stores are a bad move, though I fear in my area it will not support more then a 1 man operation. Being closed 2 days a week though hurts a little.
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
Wow Mal. I'm not sure who I berated but if you say I did then I guess I must have. Did I pronounce someone's name wrong or something? (I have gotten a bit of a backlash from some people for having barred a  shoplifter from playing in my events after getting caught trying to steal from my store, maybe this is part of that BS.) I think your information is a bit incomplete though. My stores aren't Games Workshops, they're independant retail locations that happen to carry Games Workshop products. Games Workshops are owned the GW Corp and carry only Games Workshop stuff. My stores are comic and game store. Stores that you are more than welcome to not play in if you feel the need to insult them in worldwide online forums. I'm such a horrible person for running 3 free tournaments a month and giving prize support out at all of them. You can play in the tournaments that the GW website hosts.
Mal the Wolf wrote:This is an issue at the local shops. The owner of my local shop is a turd (3 gw shops in west virgina he owns them all). He even berated a player when calling out the winners at Charcon( gaming convention in Charleston) I now use gw web site for everything. I go to these stores to play and thats it.
....
BuFFo, is my hero today!
BuFFo wrote:
Stick with brick and mortar. Support your local gaming store.
....
My apologies for playing advocate here. For anyone who doesn't know, independant retailers worldwide are struggling constantly to stay open. If you are lucky enough to have a local game store, shop there instead of online and support your local gaming community! It's not a hugely profitable business and many of us store owners actually work another job to make ends meet. I know some stores sell retail in their stores and then sell discount online to undercut sales of stores outside their own region where they don't have an overhead to finance. But there are some of us in the industry who don't try to take sales from any other brick and mortar store because we know how hard it is to keep the rent paid. Very few game stores last very long because so many people expect them to be able to compete with people running a mailorder business from their basement. Support your local stores. Otherwise you'll miss it when it's gone.
And if you have a problem with your local store, show some backbone and bring it to the owner's attention. It might help improve the location. If you think they're being too pushy about sales, I would simply say, "I already know what I want and I don't need any assistance right now, thank you." I used to get the hard sell from Sean (rest his soul) at the Games Workshop Fairfax years ago. But it is a salesman job to try and sell you things. They have quotas to meet in order to retain their jobs and satisfy corporate shareholders. If they refuse to try and sell the product they lose their job, then the stores, and eventually the entire company, would close. They aren't trying to be abrassive, they're trying to earn their pay. They're just doing their part in the economics that keep the world turning.
As an independant retailer, I know every sale I make is an attempt to make sure the rent checks don't bounce. If I make more than that, then that's one of the months when I actually get a paycheck for myself. More than half the time I don't actually make any money running my stores. But I am blessed because I do like my job and not everyone can say that.
My own business policy has always been to make sure a customer knows what they're getting and are sure they want it. I would always rather discourage a customer from spending too much and make sure they get what they will enjoy instead of breaking their budget and never coming back. A lot or customers insist on jumping into the hobby 2000 points at a time no matter how many times I say, "pace yourself, get a unit and see if you enjoy that army before expanding..." But I can't blame anyone for having a more aggressive sales policy if it works for them.
Regardless of the way your local store sells, remember, self employment in this industry isn't a gold mine and without your suppport you FLGS won't survive. Shopping online and taking your army into your FLGS to play, makes you a turd.
Support your local gaming community!
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Post by: Radikus
I just picked up the hobby in 5th ed. The first few times I walked into my local GW I felt semi bombarded by sales pitches ect.. But at the end of the day its my money and I decide how to spend it. I dont EVER let anyone talk me into buying something. Only when I was asking the real newbie questions did I get a sales pitch at my store. Now when I go in I actually have a 'catch' up chat with the one guy who runs the store. We've actually become friends and we discuss alot of things besides the hobby there. He knows I come in to buy exactly what I want and doesnt sell me anything. If anything my experience with this one person at my local GW has given me cause to support GW as a whole.
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Post by: Nightrave
So i am kinda that "Guy" you know the one, the guy involed way to much into this hobby as both a winner of tournaments and a painter of models (who also win painting competitions) i havnt gone national but some day i plan to.....and it all started with me being a salesman of this hobby....
I think people really love to use the internet to complain about things they have not the Courtasy, integridy or backbone to deal with. so they instead find a place to complain about it.
Dont get me wrong, as a salesmen i know when it happens to be laid on to thick, and when i go shopping elsewhere it happens to me, but as a CONSUMER, you know, the guy/girl with the money in the wallet, its ultimitly my decision to spend it how/where i want. if you have a salesmen all up in your Grill (sorry for hipster speak, i feal alot of younger members might get that better) then instead of insulting or being abrassive to a guy who probably dosnt want to force you into something, or better yet, actually IS trying to help you, why dont you ask questions back, be proactive in the conversation and things go better. if you get asked "Can i help you with something" and you respond with "no" or "nope" or "just looking" it is their JOB to pursue further to find out WHAT it is you are "just looking for" my suggestion, is go "well, im a "insert army here" player, i have "insert points guesstimate" and im kinda just scoping out whats going on around here/what i wanna expand into" Chances are....they employee will have ALOT of useful information you can use to further figure out what you wanna do. i have sold over 20 armys in the last year to 20 people who have went from 500 points to about 3000 points and have loved every minute of it, they went from "im going to put plastic models on a table, and play" to "im going to go find this guy, make him sit down and talk tactics/painting/army pro/con" with me.
Sometimes guys, its NOT the salesmen, its the consumer that makes everything rough. work with the guys trying to make a living doing something they love to help you do something you love. at the end of the day you both go to bed, wake up and get dressed and maybe hunt down some warhammer stuff
(lord knows i do all the time XD)
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Post by: Howard A Treesong
Nightrave wrote:Dont get me wrong, as a salesmen i know when it happens to be laid on to thick, and when i go shopping elsewhere it happens to me, but as a CONSUMER, you know, the guy/girl with the money in the wallet, its ultimitly my decision to spend it how/where i want. if you have a salesmen all up in your Grill (sorry for hipster speak, i feal alot of younger members might get that better) then instead of insulting or being abrassive to a guy who probably dosnt want to force you into something, or better yet, actually IS trying to help you, why dont you ask questions back, be proactive in the conversation and things go better. if you get asked "Can i help you with something" and you respond with "no" or "nope" or "just looking" it is their JOB to pursue further to find out WHAT it is you are "just looking for" my suggestion, is go "well, im a "insert army here" player, i have "insert points guesstimate" and im kinda just scoping out whats going on around here/what i wanna expand into" Chances are....they employee will have ALOT of useful information you can use to further figure out what you wanna do.
Saying "no" or "just looking" isn't being abrasive. Maybe it's different in the US but many people just want to browse stuff in peace and at their own pace, they don't want to say they are a 'Space Marine player' and then get pushed towards the Space Marine stuff like a noob that hasn't picked up a brush. They know where the Space Marine stuff is, the shop isn't that big. I mean I collect certain things and not others, sure, but I like to have a general browse around too. I don't go in there with a shopping list. I certainly don't want a salesperson try to focus me onto a small selection of the overall products or try to push stuff under my nose. If I need help I'll catch your eye.
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Post by: Nightrave
Not saying it is abrasive so much as it CAN be, its not different in the US, but attitude and pose can say much more then words, and im sure you know that ^^
But of course words always speak volumes unto themselves. And im not saying that you wont ever get bugged to death, or wont see a ghost thing going on, that is all based off the attitude of the customer coming in. Ever enter a room and feel that one guy in the corner just REALLY dosnt like you? well, people in every country pick up on that. Ever enter the room and feel that one person staring at the wall is to shy/embarressed to strike up a conversation but really wants to? sometimes it takes the extra push of talking to get them to open up and have a good time with it.
Thats not to mention sometimes salespeople try to understand you for you, when you enter the store, especially in a hobby style store, because chances are....they are going to see more of you.
So generally if you enter a store i work in, ill ask if i can help you, if you say no, ill leave you be for a few minutes continue stocking/working/crusing the internet forums of dakkadakka >.> then in a few minutes ill pop my head in and ask if your still doing allright, maybe ask what army/armies you collect, what you like of the hobby. Generally this is where people start talking about what they like wiether it is playing, painting, converting, tactics, terrien, whatever, and ill listen and ask when they like to play, or where if i hadnt seen em in a while, after that ill talk shop with ya (general term meaning ill talk with you about the hobby, tactics, or whatever you informed me you liked/do so i can learn more about what you like) then ill either letcha be for a bit more, or help you with what you may or may not be looking for gauging what you tell me as a way to see what you may or may not want!
Now i know not all situations go down like this, mostly because by the second time i check on you like 10 mins down the road, some people just feel ....annoyed? that im doing my job. take great offense to the fact that im getting paid to try and help you out with someting. I havnt seen this to much myself, but when i go shopping with the little lady (oh gods does it hurt) i feel the pressure of it (ever go to a bath / body / beauty shop? try dealing with them for a minute and tell me they are not pushy) and i will admit, that sometimes timing is the greatist problem with consumer/sales relations. but thats what makes it so darn....frustrating for a salesmen, if they go talk to you to soon/to much the consumer feels Pushed, when in all honosty the salesmen was just trying to make sure you were taken care of and HELPED. if they wait to long (mostly because of vibes or perhaps other variables, or even a new salesman) then the consumer feels ignored and flustered. What im trying to say is instead of being the consumer that is either feeling ignored or pushed. Be proactive and work with the guy who is just doing his darn job.
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Post by: timetowaste85
I have to agree with the "this again..." comment, but as I said in the last topic about problems with GW stores, I've only been in one and the guys have been extremely helpful and nice-didn't hard push any sales on me-asked what armies I played, what I was looking to spend and gave me a few ideas in that range. In the end I walked out of the GW store with 3 minotaurs (this was 5 years ago) for about 35 bucks or so after tax (maybe it was 40).
I'd also love to support the "F"LGS, but when the owner is a complete donkey cave who suggests to his patrons to prepay for a 20% discount, then spends their money on buying M:TG cards for other players and telling the people who prepaid "sorry, it's out of stock" for a half year...it's hard to support that. And when I worked for the guy and he lied to my friends about orders, made up a prize for a year of tournaments and gave it to the second place player instead of the 1st place player ($100 store credit)...I can't support that.
I intentionally spent 20%more on a box of daemons from a game store in another state on a trip home instead of at my store because the out-of-state guy was friendly and knowledgeable about his products while my owner is less than pleasant. I no longer work at said store because I chose loyalty to friends over loyalty to people who intentionally screw over my friends. Sadly, this is the only store I have in my area without driving at least an hour, and with high gas prices it isn't worth it. So to the store owner who just joined to post, I love to help out the brick and mortar stores-I just can't spend the gas to do it unless I'm already passing by for another reason and I refuse to help my local store-I'd be happy to see it sink into the ground. But I will always do my part in supporting the brick and mortars if they treat me-and-mine appropriately.
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Post by: DarkTraveler777
hehe FAIL! wrote:god, GW staff need to be either nicer or less nicer because some people are just too friendly.....
This statement is twisting my brain in knots.
On topic the local GW store closed last year and ever since I have had mixed feelings about its absence. I would often dart in to the GW store to pick up items that my LGS rarely stocked. Having both a GW store and LGS within 3 miles of my house was a luxury, but I hated running the gauntlet of "customer service" attempts by the red shirts. Still, despite the rather stereotypical heavy-handed sales pitches of the GW staff it was very convenient to have an alternative to my LGS--even if I had to give myself a momentary pep talk before entering the store.
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Post by: Sugar_Woof
Mal the Wolf wrote:This is an issue at the local shops. The owner of my local shop is a turd (3 gw shops in west virgina he owns them all). He even berated a player when calling out the winners at Charcon( gaming convention in Charleston) I now use gw web site for everything. I go to these stores to play and thats it.
I personally can vouch for the 3 stores you speak of and they're nothing like that and the owner is the exact opposite you speak of. Also, I was at Charcon and I'm not quite sure where your getting this berating of a player when winners were being called out from.
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Post by: Jimole
Ugh, I worked at my local GW for 3 years in the mid-late 90's. Two years as a casual running games on Friday nights/weekends, and another year as a full-timer. Prior to that I had been a regular at my FLGS for a few years and played with the local games society, so I knew all the old hands. They would only ever come into the store to look for something that the FLGS didn't have in stock. Man, I used to cringe when I saw the other staff push the sales pitch on them.
'Hey man, what army do you collect?'
'Been playing for long?'
Whenever possible I would intercept them before the other staff could get to them, simply ask them what they were looking for and have a yarn if they wanted one. Sounds like things haven't changed much, they always alienated the older gamers by using a sales pitch appropriate to children.
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Post by: jonolikespie
I've never encounter anything like what you guys are talking about at my local GW. The guys there will usually point out new stuff (especially if it is something they know I'll be interested in) and ask what I'm thinking of getting if I'm looking at something. They ask if I have all the paints I need when getting something new and that about as close as they get to the ham-fisted sales approach.
There also really nice guys and have some pretty awesome (if impractical) ideas.
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Post by: guyperson5
Yes, I had an experience like this once. I wanted to buy a Space Marine Rhino or some Fire Warriors and I walked out with a Land Raider! Since I am only young, he used lots of phrases like "Yeah thats cool, dude!" I walked in a few days later and a different guy was helping me build it and he was a great help ( I'm not being sarcastic)
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Post by: Cyberjesus
The GW Store near me has stopped all gaming except on thursdays for the Veterans and Sundays for the Kids. This is one of the stores that is advertised as a "Hobby Centre" in your white dwarf.
One incident I bought a valkyrie and some guardsmen (about £59 worth with glue) and then got asked to leave 10 minutes later because I was watching a game the staff member was having with his friend on the grounds that it's not a "spectator sport" -.-
I'm all for getting new people into the hobby, but at the expense of alienating its regulars? Not exactly good practice to me.
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Post by: Mahtamori
In Sweden you have to train people to be pushy, not the other way around. I've got good experience with the Stockholm store, but sadly the prices in Sweden are just downright poor - so I just end up buying from Maelstrom.
The only thing that gets me is GWs constant push to get more kids into the hobby. Simply the fact that they not only put up with the youngsters' poor attitudes but sometimes even encourage it just alienates me. I know I'm no longer the kid I used to be, but it's never attracted me this whole screaming matcho image that they push on those kids. (I'm talking about Space Marines, of course)
I find it a bit uplifting the few times I go in there and it's fantasy evening. The language is different then.
(Apparently, spelling "fantasy" is beyond me)
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Post by: Boba Fex
At least all of you have a GW or FLGS. The only shop near me is tiny, hardly any stock at all. I think all they carry for 40K is SM, CSM, and Orks. The owner is a good guy though, he has a few tables set up and you can come play a game pretty much whenever you want. I just wish he was able to stock more items...
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Post by: nosferatu1001
OUr local GW is mostly good - the occasional overexcitement on bored of the ring, but I can deal with that.
The main issue I can see is the insane targets GW puts out - during the first hints of recession the targets all went UP, because and I quote "recessions dont affect us"
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Post by: Mentat
I have only been in one GW shop and it was in the Soho area of London IIRC. I had no problems with the staff and I loved it that the store was stocked so well with stuff I wanted. My only complaint is that the store was so small and cramped, but thats not a problem unique to GW.
Mal the Wolf wrote:This is an issue at the local shops. The owner of my local shop is a turd (3 gw shops in west virgina he owns them all). He even berated a player when calling out the winners at Charcon( gaming convention in Charleston) I now use gw web site for everything. I go to these stores to play and thats it.
This is not an issue at the local shops in WV. The employees in those shops have not been pushy to my knowledge, though it could have happened here or there. You should clarify who he berated, because there is a lot of joking and insulting that goes on, maybe somebody took it the wrong way.
Basically without the store in Charleston, there would be no gaming scene or place to play. The last two gaming shops we had were basically Nascar Collectable shops that had back rooms that they let us use. They were great at the time since we had no other option but the Lost Legion stores have more table space and the stock is far better. Space costs money, and thats why I try to buy everything I can at the local shops. Without the local shops I could still play in my basement gaming room, but I like to play different people now and then so I enjoy playing at the shops. Also, without the local shops you would most likely be driving to Ohio for the nearest tournaments , and they wouldn't be FREE with PRIZE SUPPORT and 3 TIMES A MONTH.
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
timetowaste85 wrote: I no longer work at said store because I chose loyalty to friends over loyalty to people who intentionally screw over my friends. Sadly, this is the only store I have in my area without driving at least an hour, and with high gas prices it isn't worth it. So to the store owner who just joined to post, I love to help out the brick and mortar stores-I just can't spend the gas to do it unless I'm already passing by for another reason and I refuse to help my local store-I'd be happy to see it sink into the ground. But I will always do my part in supporting the brick and mortars if they treat me-and-mine appropriately.
I don't mean to say that every brick and mortar store is a "F" LGS by any means. Some of them close down for very good reasons. But if you have a FLGS, or even a decent LGS, then do everything you can to support them.
Where I'm located there are a lot of people who have to drive a great distance to get to any of my locations. One thing we offer is the distance discount. Anyone travelling from more than 30 miles away to get to one of our stores can fill their gas tank before they leave their home area and bring the gas receipt with them. Then we give 20% off their purchases (exceot for card games) until the discount has covered the gas cost. I don't like the idea that the cost of fuel is what keeps anyone from supporting a shop that they're willing to drive a great distance to get to. The discount tops out at the cost of fuel though because I don't want customers ignoring their own LGS, if they have one, just to get things cheaper from me then go home and play in their local store. I think that's a bit underhanded. The travel discount is just to offset the extra cost of travel only. So if someone prefers the atmosphere of my store over one closer to home, it doesn't cost them more to come to mine, but it doesn't cost them less either. Your situation is a perfect example of how this can help. I would like to see other store do it, but I would also like to see other stores stop with online undercutting. I'll just keep wishing in one hand...
As for the joining to post, I have actually been on dakka for 13 years. I just fealt the need to finally make a profile for my store as an entity due to the thread and have a voice as a brick and mortar retailer to support other retailer that are on here. Something I have been meanign to do for a long time. (when someone pokes you in the eye, it's motivational)
....
As for the idea of the Stormraven being pushed to sell by GW. I think that indeed might have something to do with the 'blah' of the model. I personally think it's not in the neighborhood of awesome. Remember how cool the LandRaider was when the new one came out in 3rd ed. and how cool the Baneblade was and hell, how cool the Eldar Falcon was... the Stormraven definitely did not get that kind of response from anyone. So I think the hard sell that got this whole thread started might very well be due to a lull in sales and need to make back the money lost in engineering it. Awesome models don't need to be pushed.
THE ROGUE TRADER
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Post by: Khisanth Magus
We have 2 FLGSs here, one of which is a pure gaming store that has tables set up for both TCGs, boardgames, and wargaming, while the other is more of a general hobby store with no actual gaming area.
The problem with the gaming store is they have practically nothing for 40k stock. While they can special order most stuff, I got frustrated after the person in charge of ordering 40k stuff forgot to order my stuff twice, while the other 40k orders went through fine. For shelf space they have pretty much replaced all of the shelf space that held 40k stuff with Warmachine/Hordes stuff. They have a couple random units for most armies, but that is about it.
The hobby store on the other side of town has a lot more selection of 40k stuff, and have pretty much everything in boxes for every army, but have very very limited blister selection and strangely are unable to order some stuff that comes in blisters(I wanted to order 2 SW Rune Priests, one in power armor one in termie armor, and they are unable to get them).
I guess a lot of the problem is that the owners of both stores don't really know much about 40k, and don't really have any interest in it. The gaming store focuses more on Warmachine and Bloodbowl, along with TCGs, than on Warhammer stuff, while the hobby store is all over the place on hobby/gaming stuff, and I'm honestly not sure what the owner of that one is in to!
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
Khisanth Magus wrote:
The hobby store on the other side of town has a lot more selection of 40k stuff, and have pretty much everything in boxes for every army, but have very very limited blister selection and strangely are unable to order some stuff that comes in blisters(I wanted to order 2 SW Rune Priests, one in power armor one in termie armor, and they are unable to get them).
Almost everything in blisters from GW are only available to retail stores through Trade Sales for a very short period of time. After that, stores have to order them from direct services the same way you would order them from GW yourself. The stores still get a little bit of a price break but it's not very good. This is partly to force players to order from GW directly so GW gets the full markup on those items and according to GW it's because those less popular items will bankrupt brick and mortar stores that try to stock things that aren't brisk sellers. It makes no sense to me, there's 1 person in this whole state that plays Lord of The Rings but I HAVE TO keep 2 of every LoTR "hot item" in stock at each store but I can sell Blood Bowl all day long and can't order it with my regular weekly orders. But this business model must works for GW or they wouldn't be doing it... I guess...
The Rune Priest is a great example. I have to reorder them monthly but they're through direct services. Sanguinary Priests are another good example. Everything for the Necrons except for the plastic models is direct services now.
I am sorry to hear they aren't stocking what you are asking for. But please try not to judge your local store too harshly. Talk to the manager and be clear and say, "I know it's not easy to keep everything in stock, I would like to order XYZ and would rather keep the money in my local economy supporting my local store, but if you can't get it, let me know now so I can order it from GW direct (or whoever). I'm trying to be a loyal customer and just want to know if you can/will get me this model."
If he can't get it for you and your order elsewhere, at least you tried to support them.
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Post by: labmouse42
hehe FAIL! wrote:one of the employees @ my nearist store gives you 3 warnings (i know this has nothing 2 do with salesmanship but its kinda mean) and after the 3rd warning, he rolls 2D6 and thats how many MONTHS your banned frm the store. (i saw it happen). Its really mean especially if its only like a 12 yr old.
Crap like this is one of the benefits of living in a capitalistic society.
Vote with your dollar. Don't support stores with people with bad attitudes. Automatically Appended Next Post: Ascalam wrote:I don't think there is even a GW store IN Oregon. My local FLGS is great !
The owner is an awesome guy, of overworked, and the rest of the staff won't power-sell you stuff.
I did get enthused at to buy the new Grey knights by one staff member, but that's because he remembered me having my asp kicked with my GK force 2 years prior at a tournament
If your in the Portland area, Ive found really good luck with all the gaming store owners. All of them have been exceptionally cool.
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Post by: Ugavine
Other than the usual glare one of my lines to pushy sales is, "I studied marketing twenty years ago, I know all the marketing ploys, I'm only buying what I came for."
Considering most of the staff I see are not even twenty it just kind of shuts them up.
But to be fair I can understand it, they do work on commission GW staff don't they? Considering the low pay they are on I can understand why they are trying to get every sale they can. And most managers are circling their staff like a hawk. Even a friend who used to work at GW was forced to give me the sales pitch through gritted teeth the once because his manager was within earshot.
So don't always blame the individual, often it's the store or area manager.
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Post by: Azzedar101
I just wish roseburg had a local gaming store that we could play and meet new gamers even if they had pushy salesmen
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Post by: gpfunk
There has only been one time when a salesman has even mentioned another item that I didn't currently have sitting on the register counter.
I go to my local gaming store, as the town I reside in wouldn't really take to having a GW store too well, and their sales approach is honestly my favorite. I exchange pleasantries with the two employees that run the store, they leave most of their customers alone while they look around, and only talk to folks when they ask questions. And then when you bring your things up they ask the simple "Will that be all for ya?" If you say yes, they ring you up and send you on your way.
They don't really push products a lot, but then again they just had a 30% off sale on already marked down stuff because they were moving across the street. But don't tell GW that! 
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Post by: nosferatu1001
Ugavine - NO commision for GW employees. None.
However they have *insane* targets they MUST comply with (number of intros, number of core sets, number of WD / extras) otherwise they are let go.
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Post by: Sledgio
When I started, for the first couple of years I was only in occasionally, like once every 2-3 months if that; the staff would constantly hound me for buying everything and anything when I'd go in for one thing in particular, and then go!! But once you get to know them and they get to know you, they are pretty sound, friendly and the staff at my local store know what armies I do, tactics I use and the sorts of models I like!!
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Post by: KamikazeCanuck
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:timetowaste85 wrote:
As for the joining to post, I have actually been on dakka for 13 years. I just fealt the need to finally make a profile for my store as an entity due to the thread and have a voice as a brick and mortar retailer to support other retailer that are on here. Something I have been meanign to do for a long time. (when someone pokes you in the eye, it's motivational)
THE ROGUE TRADER
So you have two accounts?
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Post by: Lord_Osma
I told the local GW manager I will come in and already know what I'm buying and if he tries to sell me on things I don't ask about I will stop buying altogether. I have worked a lot of retail and do not like being sold to. If you ask me how I'm doing and let me shop at my own pace you can have my money.
This arrangement is very good.
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Post by: Scott-S6
lostlegiongames&comics wrote: If you are lucky enough to have a local game store, shop there instead of online and support your local gaming community!
I still really don't understand why "local gaming community" = "local store" in the US. What is this strange mental block that stops you guys from setting up gaming clubs?
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Post by: shingouki
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
My own business policy has always been to make sure a customer knows what they're getting and are sure they want it. I would always rather discourage a customer from spending too much and make sure they get what they will enjoy instead of breaking their budget and never coming back.
Support your local gaming community!
you sir are a legend,this is exactly what gw need to teach their staff.
.
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Post by: Mentat
Scott-S6 wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote: If you are lucky enough to have a local game store, shop there instead of online and support your local gaming community!
I still really don't understand why "local gaming community" = "local store" in the US. What is this strange mental block that stops you guys from setting up gaming clubs?
We have one official gaming club, and at least 2 other "groups" that play 40k, but the local store is where the groups have some crossover. Previously one group played at the NASCAR/collectibles store and the other played at the library. The other group I know of plays at their houses. The store has plenty of tables and you can usually find members of all the various groups plus new players there.
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Post by: morpheus's child
Scott-S6 wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote: If you are lucky enough to have a local game store, shop there instead of online and support your local gaming community!
I still really don't understand why "local gaming community" = "local store" in the US. What is this strange mental block that stops you guys from setting up gaming clubs?
i have the same issue. i don't want to have to drive the twenty-five miles into houston after i get off work just to play a game or two, which isn't even necessarily guaranteed, as there may not be anyone who feels like playing in the store (for some strange reason, the regulars at the nearest gw are very fickle)...
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
KamikazeCanuck wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote:timetowaste85 wrote:
As for the joining to post, I have actually been on dakka for 13 years. I just fealt the need to finally make a profile for my store as an entity due to the thread and have a voice as a brick and mortar retailer to support other retailer that are on here. Something I have been meanign to do for a long time. (when someone pokes you in the eye, it's motivational)
THE ROGUE TRADER
So you have two accounts?
Kind of, but I can't get the other one logged in. It's been 8 computers and 4 email addresses ago since I logged in did anything but lurk and see what the buzz is from time to time. So I had to make a new account because I can't figure out what my password was and don't remember which old email it was under.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Scott-S6 wrote:I still really don't understand why "local gaming community" = "local store" in the US. What is this strange mental block that stops you guys from setting up gaming clubs?
I think you misunderstand me. If you have a local store then buying local keeps more money in your own local economy and helps provide one more job to your area. If you're local store runs events and does the things that you would want from a club, then it's a double win. If you don't have a local store then by all means, support your local clubs. When I was in Ireland on my way to a UKGT some years ago my friends in Dublin took me to their local game club. It was great. They all paid dues to rent a room at a firehouse once a week so they could all get together and game. If that's your local game community, then you should support it. Support your local game conventions. Your local stores. However and wherever the most basic part of gaming is in your community is crucial for the future of these hobbies.
I helped form 2 game clubs. Lost Legion Game Club in one town, which I later named my 3 stores after, and the The Kanawha Riflemen in another city, which I later subtitled my third store after since it was in the same area. I'm all about game clubs!
Young cheesy munchkins don't grow up to be mature adult gamers without our help. In my area, there are some clubs and a local convention. I do everything I can to help them grow. But I also run a business of game stores where it's free to play, free to use our paints and supplies and work on your models, every game we carry can be demoed before you decide to buy it, and hanging out all day and gaming is fine without ever needing purchase anything or pay any fees. We even have armies and blood bowl teams and stuff for people to borrow if they can't afford the hobby. So sometimes, supporting your local store IS supporting your local gaming community. Not always of course. Some game stores, mine included, have been the daily after school hangout for some kids that otherwise would have be wandering the streets bored or home alone. Saddly, some game stores don't have much interest in community and just exist as a retail tool and nothing else.
The other point I was trying to make is, shopping outside your locale (whether it's because your local guy was a pushy slaesman or because you are looking for a bigger discount or whatever) doesn't do anything to support your local game community. Shopping at your local store -probably- does.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
morpheus's child wrote:i have the same issue. i don't want to have to drive the twenty-five miles into houston after i get off work just to play a game or two, which isn't even necessarily guaranteed, as there may not be anyone who feels like playing in the store (for some strange reason, the regulars at the nearest gw are very fickle)...
I totally understand that. Having set nights for certain types of gaming or for clubs to run events would help with that sort of thing. There's no reason to avoid having a place to play at your own house or closer to home if you have that option. I used to have 4 gaming tables set up in my basement and armies to loan when the closest game store to me was 6 hours away in another state. I own 3 game stores and I still play board games at home often.
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Post by: Kanluwen
Scott-S6 wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote: If you are lucky enough to have a local game store, shop there instead of online and support your local gaming community!
I still really don't understand why "local gaming community" = "local store" in the US. What is this strange mental block that stops you guys from setting up gaming clubs?
Jeezum christ, this again?
It's not easy to get dedicated space to rent for gaming, as has been pointed out repeatedly. Churches, public halls, etc generally won't let you rent or use the space because of the involvement of dice somehow equating to 'gambling'.
It's also not easy to just do pick-up games for that same reason, and also because people are spread out all over the place.
Shops, however, let you break both of those barriers (and an additional one in the idea of having home gaming spaces which you wouldn't use for 'tournaments', but friendly beer & pretzel styled games with a buddy of yours rather than some random stranger who in most cases you wouldn't let into your home) in giving you a dedicated space where people are all there for the same reason: to play a game.
Once those games are done and the shop's closing, you're all set.
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Post by: CaragaraPDF
In the GW I go to the Manager is Great.
Sure he can Push stuff I don't need, and is not the best for Christmas Advise (Both my brothers got me Shadowswords, Not that I'm complaining about super heavies its just... I have three now)
he is a great dude. Just a few weeks ago, I hadn't gone in to GW in a wile and I didn't know what store Events were going on. He called me up and invited me to a Huge Apocalypse game out of nowhere, went in and Played a great game.
Also he Has a brain. 75% of all talking is about Non GW related stuff (Movies/Books/The meaning of life).
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Post by: nosferatu1001
Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
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Post by: Kanluwen
nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
Education on the topic won't help, because what's more: the gaming scene here in the US isn't generally a 'friendly' one, but more a 'competitive' one.
If you want friendly games, you'd better have your own table or a shop that runs wacky fun days.
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Post by: Mentat
Kanluwen wrote:nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
Education on the topic won't help, because what's more: the gaming scene here in the US isn't generally a 'friendly' one, but more a 'competitive' one.
If you want friendly games, you'd better have your own table or a shop that runs wacky fun days.
Our meta-game at the store is very competitive, I enjoy it though. I play some "friendly" games at the store and at my house.
I have heard a lot of people in the UK and Europe say that they don't have room in their house to set up a gaming table, that may be why local clubs are more popular there. Almost everyone I know in the US can set up a table in their house or apartment and play without worrying about renting/reserving a hall, and we have the store to play against people outside of our immediate group.
Also, when playing at the store we have about 6 tables available with terrain to cover them all, which makes it easier than transporting terrain to the library for example.
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Post by: Kanluwen
Mentat wrote:Kanluwen wrote:nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
Education on the topic won't help, because what's more: the gaming scene here in the US isn't generally a 'friendly' one, but more a 'competitive' one.
If you want friendly games, you'd better have your own table or a shop that runs wacky fun days.
Our meta-game at the store is very competitive, I enjoy it though. I play some "friendly" games at the store and at my house.
I have heard a lot of people in the UK and Europe say that they don't have room in their house to set up a gaming table, that may be why local clubs are more popular there. Almost everyone I know in the US can set up a table in their house or apartment and play without worrying about renting/reserving a hall, and we have the store to play against people outside of our immediate group.
Also, when playing at the store we have about 6 tables available with terrain to cover them all, which makes it easier than transporting terrain to the library for example.
The space issue for the UK/Europe is definitely a factor, but so is public transportation that's more accessible. There's rail systems and buses out the wazoo.
In most areas here in the US: that's not the case. I can't just hop an Amtrak to the nearest community center--hell, I can't even hop an Amtrak to any museums here in Raleigh.
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Post by: Lord Scythican
A lot of WV guys one here. I am friending everyone of you, so when I see one of those "Dakka rule discussions" I will be sure to point you to the thread in question...speaking of which, I need to find that Death Company thread...
As for the WV stores themselves, man they are great. It has been a long time since Princeton had a decent comic/game store. Most of them have failed horribly for various reasons (wife taking half in the divorce, owner using it as a outlet for his own hobby, expanding the store too soon, or employees just being jerks.) Everyone is pretty nice at those stores.
Some things to consider:
Work Uniform - Polo shirts with Lost Legion Games & Comics written on them. They would present an image of unity to customers and stop those "Do you work here?" questions that annoy people. Plus you guys would just look smart. Who can argue with that? Heck if you hired me in the summer I would wear one with pride.
Old Stock - One thing that has always bugged me about shops in Princeton. There always seems to be loads of old stock on the shelves for years. Heck is is something I have seen in more than gaming shops. There is a bridal shop in Princeton where my wife works. She pointed out to me the other day about 20 dresses that have been on the rack for almost 15 years. The lady is still trying to get 100% profit out of them. I would have sold them on ebay or with a major discount years ago. There are GW minis at your shop that are the current model but look like they have been there for years. If you knocked that price down at put it on a special rack for clearance you could at least get what you paid for out of it. Who knows? That one clearance model might make someone start a new army? Six Month old White Dwarf? 50% off and put it on a rack at the front of the store. D&D book been sitting on the shelf for a year? Put that thing on sale and get rid of it.
Regardless I will still support your shops as much as I can. Heck I took a big chunk of tax return and bought as much blood angels as I could. I pay full retail price for everything I buy because I know it will help the shop out. I know I can get stuff cheaper elsewhere but I can't play Warhammer on ebay right? The thing is, there are cheap asses out there and you have to stick the hook in the mouths sometimes.
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Post by: nosferatu1001
Kanluwen wrote:nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
Education on the topic won't help, because what's more: the gaming scene here in the US isn't generally a 'friendly' one, but more a 'competitive' one.
If you want friendly games, you'd better have your own table or a shop that runs wacky fun days.
DO you mean you do then gamble on the outcome of games? Because in our club the emphasis is definitely (more than 80:20 split) on competitive games. It helps that we're one of the largest clubs around (the bar helps ) and thus hold tournaments, and have GT-level players here, but the same can be said of all the clubs i know of.
So why is educating the people that hire out so much of a problem? Competitive games without gambling are the same, to them, as "friendly" games, so that cant be the only reason. If the problem is of perception, then that can be changed.
Of course the issue coulf be that when you say "competitive" you really mean "prone to arguments", which may make it a non-starter in shared venues. Again, an issue we dont have at our club...
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Post by: liam0404
The guys at GW glasgow are actually a really great bunch. They know what all the vets and regulars have, and if any of us complain about things we are struggling with (in terms of getting a colour right), often some staff member will produce a sample marine and show us right then and there. And will then wander off to help the next person - absolutely no pressure to buy, I love it.
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Post by: Gorgarak
I dunno how it is around the world, but in calgary the guys seem pretty chill. I've been in there for a couple hours before just reading codexs and talking about models, and they are more than happy to discuss the hobby without making you buy stuff. Granted, Im sure if i was there everyday doing that, they may take issue, but if you pop in once a week or every two weeks to just shoot the with them, they are pretty chill guys. I havn't been there in awhile though. After some friendly Dakkite pointers to find cheaper models at Maelstrom and Heavy support, I don't really feel the need to go back to GW unless I wanna play.
Even then, If i ever actually collect an army sizeable to play anytime soon, I find FLGS have alot of younger players, which is fine, but at times can be testing. I deal with crazy dogs all day, it's like dealing with children, and I have a son to boot, so the last thing I wanna do is go to FLGS and deal with kids for another 3 hours of my night. It's no offense to them, I was young and creepy once too, but i'll readily admit I can't handle younger versions of myself when I was 12-14.
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Post by: Cerebrium
liam0404 wrote:The guys at GW glasgow are actually a really great bunch. They know what all the vets and regulars have, and if any of us complain about things we are struggling with (in terms of getting a colour right), often some staff member will produce a sample marine and show us right then and there. And will then wander off to help the next person - absolutely no pressure to buy, I love it.
Another GW Glasgow regular?
But yeah, the guys in GW Glasgow are really good. I've noticed they're a bit pushy with new players, but once they learn you're a regular, they'll leave well enough alone.
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Post by: Kanluwen
nosferatu1001 wrote:Kanluwen wrote:nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
Education on the topic won't help, because what's more: the gaming scene here in the US isn't generally a 'friendly' one, but more a 'competitive' one.
If you want friendly games, you'd better have your own table or a shop that runs wacky fun days.
DO you mean you do then gamble on the outcome of games? Because in our club the emphasis is definitely (more than 80:20 split) on competitive games. It helps that we're one of the largest clubs around (the bar helps ) and thus hold tournaments, and have GT-level players here, but the same can be said of all the clubs i know of.
It's less "gambling" and more "people take it seriously".
So why is educating the people that hire out so much of a problem? Competitive games without gambling are the same, to them, as "friendly" games, so that cant be the only reason. If the problem is of perception, then that can be changed.
Not really. In the end, they view it as a "boardgame" and won't allow terrain, etc to be brought in or tables to be moved to make a suitable space things of that nature.
Not to mention some of the churches here in the South would consider it to be "a tool of the Devil!".
Of course the issue coulf be that when you say "competitive" you really mean "prone to arguments", which may make it a non-starter in shared venues. Again, an issue we dont have at our club...
Again: not really. But when people see tournament standings, etc they start to get suspicious and think you're running something illegal.
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Post by: nosferatu1001
People take it seriously here, as well. But if it's a religious thing, and that's the only avaialble space well, there isnt much reasoning there. One good thing about the CofE being quite so laid back, in general.
If its the suspicion thing then that could be educated around, unless they are hideously close minded.
WE're very lucky where we our - the royal mail has a social club (read: cheap drinks and darts / pool) which we got into years ago, they give us a reasonable price on room hire and in return we get to keep all our terrain etc (enough for 60 player tournaments) at the club. We also provide a good income to the club, espeically with all the tournaments we put on. Our bar bill on a saturday alone is usually enough
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Post by: Kanluwen
I think here in the US, even if we could reliably rent space, we would still see a store culture just based on the transportation and distance factors.
The distance thing just throws a huge monkey wrench in most plans, and seems to be why if you look--most US gamers who have 'pick-up games' have them with pals but have arranged it in one form or another.
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Post by: GazzyG
Wow. I guess the church-owners in the US are a little stricter than over here.
When I was a kid, my mates and I regularly held weekend tournaments in the church hall!
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Post by: Steu
I have visited the US and have to say you really do need a car to travel anywhere and can fully understand its not as easy to set up clubs like in the UK.
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Post by: Khisanth Magus
nosferatu1001 wrote:People take it seriously here, as well. But if it's a religious thing, and that's the only avaialble space well, there isnt much reasoning there. One good thing about the CofE being quite so laid back, in general.
If its the suspicion thing then that could be educated around, unless they are hideously close minded.
WE're very lucky where we our - the royal mail has a social club (read: cheap drinks and darts / pool) which we got into years ago, they give us a reasonable price on room hire and in return we get to keep all our terrain etc (enough for 60 player tournaments) at the club. We also provide a good income to the club, espeically with all the tournaments we put on. Our bar bill on a saturday alone is usually enough
One thing to learn about the US: The older people who run these types of places are almost always close minded. I'm not sure why, but it always turns out that way.
Plus, as someone else said, a lot of churches here would consider it devil worshiping. Particularly if they here any chaos players say something like "Blood for the Blood God" or something.
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Post by: nosferatu1001
Needing a car to get to a club isnt an issue for just the US, so that isnt a negative. It seems like it simply comes down to close minded and overly zelous religious persons
The last over zealous CofE people were about 200 years ago....
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Post by: Uhlan
Wow...
I guess I'm really lucky that I've never been subjected to this kind of behavior at my local GW stores.
Now don't get me wrong, I've had the odd, aggressive red-shirt try to promote the latest and greatest with a bit too much gusto, but I generally just listen and then politely 'beg-off' if the sales person hasn't made a case. Their jobs really depend on sales and considering this economic climate I tend to be far more tolerant than most I guess. Not to mention I've come to know a few ex-redshirts and most have said they really hated doing the hard sales pitch. So, I try to imagine the salesperson from that perspective.
GW is all about sales, and I simply can't fathom 'corporate' allowing some of the behaviors I hear about without nipping them in the bud should they get reported. I mean, who would sit and put up with some of this stuff? ...especially if I was a 'regular' and spent a lot of money there.
Geez, another edit... sorry.
I have never had any issues with religious people myself. In fact, I gamed historical miniatures with a local Lutheran minister who ran a 'game-night' at his church for some years as he also had a degree in history. Whether he would have allowed 40k is another matter. Most fans are fairly young and 40k is an extremely dystopian universe... not to mention the demon worship. I don't think that point of view is particular to the US though. I think most religious folk anywhere might cast a dim view of the game and not only for the 'demonic' content, but rather for the sheer amount of violence portrayed in the game.
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Post by: Lord_Osma
shingouki wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
My own business policy has always been to make sure a customer knows what they're getting and are sure they want it. I would always rather discourage a customer from spending too much and make sure they get what they will enjoy instead of breaking their budget and never coming back.
Support your local gaming community!
you sir are a legend,this is exactly what gw need to teach their staff.
.
+1
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Post by: DarknessEternal
Generalizing any cultural values or traits about the US seems full of hubris. There's 300 million people over 5 million square miles.
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Post by: Gorgarak
and I simply can't fathom 'corporate' allowing some of the behaviors I hear about without nipping them in the bud should they get reported.
It's funny how quickly people abuse their station. As a business owner, I'd never represent my company in ways i've seen many people do it. But thats the thing though.....if it's not your own project, business or hard work going into it, your motivation is low. Hence the crappy attitudes and abuse of authority. I find GW employees empitomize this, as most I've met, although nice, tend to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. I find alot war gamers tend to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They all exude this cocky im better than you attitude, or have some snide remark or gak eating grin on their face, like everything you do is elementary and amusing, all while they scream WAAAAGH, Blood for the blood god, many other terrible Warhammer slogans and jokes, and in general act like children. I find it difficult to deal with people like that...mainly cause I worked in construction for 5 years, and if you had that kind of attitude you'd end up on your ass pretty quick, and without a job.
Unfortunately for people who frequent GW stores, the battle goes on...
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Post by: Steu
nosferatu1001 wrote:Needing a car to get to a club isnt an issue for just the US, so that isnt a negative. It seems like it simply comes down to close minded and overly zelous religious persons
The last over zealous CofE people were about 200 years ago....
Its not just the issue of having a car to get back and forth if their is insuficent public transport to the location reults in the same situation.
My point is the USA is VASTLEY more spread out than locations around the UK making it harder for gamers to comute to clubs.
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
nosferatu1001 wrote:Kan - really? That's impressively short sighted of people. Given I'm off to a tournament this weekend held in a church hall it seems the UK is slightly ahead in some respects
I assume education on the topic hasnt ever helped? LIke explaining its a bit like monopoly, but with a bigger board and more dice?
I can't say about other regions but in this state we do have a lot fanatical bible thumping "the devil is in those dice games" old ladies who might get upset if their pastor let anyone doing such a thing use their facility. It's a headache. When I was coaching highschool wrestling back before I had a store, one fo the kids was pulled off the team by his mother when she saw 2 other kids playing Magic after weigh-ins before they could take the mats to stretch. She was afraid we would drive her son to the devil.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Lord Scythican wrote:A lot of WV guys one here. I am friending everyone of you, so when I see one of those "Dakka rule discussions" I will be sure to point you to the thread in question...speaking of which, I need to find that Death Company thread...
As for the WV stores themselves, man they are great. It has been a long time since Princeton had a decent comic/game store. Most of them have failed horribly for various reasons (wife taking half in the divorce, owner using it as a outlet for his own hobby, expanding the store too soon, or employees just being jerks.) Everyone is pretty nice at those stores.
Thank you for the kind words. The LLGC Legionnaires work very hard (I'm a slave driver) for not enough money to keep it going. When you see them, thank them in person please.
Lord Scythican wrote:
Some things to consider:
Work Uniform - Polo shirts with Lost Legion Games & Comics written on them. They would present an image of unity to customers and stop those "Do you work here?" questions that annoy people. Plus you guys would just look smart. Who can argue with that? Heck if you hired me in the summer I would wear one with pride.
This is kind of in the works once we get the new soda coolers financed.
Lord Scythican wrote:
Old Stock - One thing that has always bugged me about shops in Princeton. There always seems to be loads of old stock on the shelves for years. Heck is is something I have seen in more than gaming shops. There is a bridal shop in Princeton where my wife works. She pointed out to me the other day about 20 dresses that have been on the rack for almost 15 years. The lady is still trying to get 100% profit out of them. I would have sold them on ebay or with a major discount years ago. There are GW minis at your shop that are the current model but look like they have been there for years. If you knocked that price down at put it on a special rack for clearance you could at least get what you paid for out of it. Who knows? That one clearance model might make someone start a new army? Six Month old White Dwarf? 50% off and put it on a rack at the front of the store. D&D book been sitting on the shelf for a year? Put that thing on sale and get rid of it.
For GW products there are a lot of things we are required to keep in stock whether it's selling or not. If we liquidated it we would be forced to reorder it and put it back on the shelf. It's part of the GW retailer agreement. We do some specials and events where we discount and liquidate old stock but there are several reasons we don't do the clearance liquidation hard sell but from time to time we push out some of the old stock. Some of the items sell and you don't realize it because we pull one from one of the other stores to replace it.
Lord Scythican wrote:
Regardless I will still support your shops as much as I can. Heck I took a big chunk of tax return and bought as much blood angels as I could. I pay full retail price for everything I buy because I know it will help the shop out. I know I can get stuff cheaper elsewhere but I can't play Warhammer on ebay right? The thing is, there are cheap asses out there and you have to stick the hook in the mouths sometimes.
Thank you, and feel free to send me any and all the comments or ideas you have. I am pretty set in my ways but I am still willing to consider anything try to be progressive.
Have you ever been to a GW storefront? I am curious how we compare since we are on the subject of GW employee salesmanship.
Lord_Osma wrote:shingouki wrote:lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
My own business policy has always been to make sure a customer knows what they're getting and are sure they want it. I would always rather discourage a customer from spending too much and make sure they get what they will enjoy instead of breaking their budget and never coming back.
Support your local gaming community!
you sir are a legend,this is exactly what gw need to teach their staff.
.
+1
Thanks, I never understood the hard sell. I guess if I was selling you a car or a grave plot I wouldn't need to worry about return business anytime soon, but if I convince you to buy all the volumes of Spider Girl telling you they're awesome and you hate it, then you are never going to listen to me again. However, if I give you Walking Dead volume 1 (I loan them out like handshakes) because I know it's awesome, when you realize I was right, it is awesome, then you might just come back to me and ask what else is good. If you're buying for a child, then I won't mention Walking Dead because they say and they show but then I might mention Spider Girl because young ladies enjoy it. It's good for business and it's good for my peace of mind to know I didn't intentionaly mislead anyone. If the salesman at your store insists you should buy the Stormraven for your Necrons... I'm guessing he doesn't know the products very well or he is a poor salesman or doesn't respect his customers.
When Sean Forbes ran GW Fairfax, he had a great way to sell product. Sean ended up working his way up to head of US Sales for GW before he passed away a couple of years ago. I was a kid then and my dad bought Man-O-War (dad loved naval battles and built a Norse Fleet to match our 1/3 scale viking longship we used to race in the Charleston Regatta's Anything That Floats race) and several fleets. So Sean gave us Plague Fleet for free. Next time in we bought all the Chaos Fleets so he gave us Sea of Blood for free. Next time in we ended up buying the rest of the fleets and flyers. If you want someone to buy something for their army or game, you let them try it out or show them how it wold work in their army.
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Post by: Slipstream
I did hear of someone who walked into a GW store and the assistant had just said "Can I help you?" To which the guy said "**** off". Strange but true.
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Post by: Praxiss
My local GW tends to be pretty good. I think when i go in the manager is just happy to see soemone over the age of 12.
Never hard sells to em and just chats about armies and conversionwe might be working on.
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Post by: Scott-S6
Kanluwen wrote:The distance thing just throws a huge monkey wrench in most plans, and seems to be why if you look--most US gamers who have 'pick-up games' have them with pals but have arranged it in one form or another.
Doesn't a club meeting at a regular time and place solve that problem?
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Post by: Lux_Lucis
I have three GW stores - one near my Dad, one near my Mum (opposite sides of the county, Norfolk) and one at university (Canterbury), and they are all different. The good one is my university one, the guys are always friendly and don't bug you at all. The only sales pitch they throw is when you're at the counter they ask if you need any paints or anything, which is more helpful than anything else. Even when the Stormraven was first released I went in and looked at the one they were painting up from their Black Box and they didn't try and sell me on it or anything.
My next one is near my Mum, in Norwich. These guys can either be helpful and interesting or pushy, depending on who you talk to. Sometimes they'll try and sell you everything in the shop (I have been offered Chaos Land Raiders and Ork Boyz even after saying I collect Tau and Dwarves), and other times I've just been able to have a good chat, about all sorts, including video games and films etc.
Finally there is the shop I avoid at all costs, Kings Lynn (those of you who read the UK GW site may have seen this one a few times), although this isn't hard as it is rarely open. Unlike the other two this is a one woman store. It never seems to be open, but when it is she does all of those pushy sales tactics mentioned above appear. Also, just after it opened everybody who sold GW stuff in Kings Lynn seems to have had their GW retailer license thing revoked. Might just be a business decision on the part of the small retailers, I don't know.
So yeah, I get the full range, although I've never come across someone like the 2D6 guy.
And since I like games other than GW's, I do support my local shop!
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Post by: Praxiss
TBH i'm not aware of a LGS other than the GW near Derby.
Does anyoen know of any?
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Post by: Lord Scythican
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
Thank you for the kind words. The LLGC Legionnaires work very hard (I'm a slave driver) for not enough money to keep it going. When you see them, thank them in person please.
Yeah, I shop there quite a bit and I am friends with most of them. I don't think I ever actually thank them though...I will rectify that this weekend.
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
This is kind of in the works once we get the new soda coolers financed.
Oh, yeah that needs fixed. I am missing my yoohoos. :( If you do get around to making some polos, make a few t-shirts too and give them out as prizes at some tournament. I know I will wear one and that becomes a walking advertisement.
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:
For GW products there are a lot of things we are required to keep in stock whether it's selling or not. If we liquidated it we would be forced to reorder it and put it back on the shelf. It's part of the GW retailer agreement. We do some specials and events where we discount and liquidate old stock but there are several reasons we don't do the clearance liquidation hard sell but from time to time we push out some of the old stock. Some of the items sell and you don't realize it because we pull one from one of the other stores to replace it.
I didn't know that. Man GW's retail agreement makes it tough doesn't it?
lostlegiongames&comics wrote:Thank you, and feel free to send me any and all the comments or ideas you have. I am pretty set in my ways but I am still willing to consider anything try to be progressive.
Have you ever been to a GW storefront? I am curious how we compare since we are on the subject of GW employee salesmanship.
No problem. I will send you what I can. You guys are doing great. Hopefully on down the line you guys can get some more space at the Princeton store. Keep the drama out of the store and make it a fun place for everyone. Keep all the negative BS that fills people's lives up so much out of the business.
As for how you guys compare, well GW can be great and GW can be dicks. I have seen them be both. I don't like how a few of their stores are trying to curb the game scene. The last thing you want to do is talk a bunch of people into buying a warhammer game and not having a place for people to play. Your stores are pretty good in this aspect though.
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Post by: Praxiss
I like the fact that some GW storwes have their own games rooms.
The one in Dery has a couple of tables but the store in burton has a whole upstairs room with quite a few big tables. Me and some friends once had a 15k apoc adn it only took up half the room.
Awesome.
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Post by: bruno.sardine
My brother and I honestly prefer our local Games Workshops (there are two that I go to) to our LGS. Granted, I really only go to any of those stores to buy models and not actually play games or paint.
I walk into my LGS and I immediately get harassed about what I play and what I'm looking for and get involved in a 20 minute long conversation that ends up being about D&D, when really, I'm just in the store to pick up a single pot of paint. On top of that, EVERYTHING in the store is marked up even more from the GW price and their selection is really poor. The fact that deodorant seems to be banned in that store doesn't help, either.
The Games Workshop employees will ask me if I've seen the latest model they got in, but admittedly, I'm normally pretty interested in seeing it in person. I grab what I'm looking for, talk to the guy about what we're both building for 5 minutes, and leave.
One thing that absolutely drives me nuts about GW in Canada is how everything is marked up by 10 to 20% from the US price. It makes an expensive hobby even more insanely expensive when our dollars are at parity and have been for the better part of two years. But I digress. 
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Post by: Gorgarak
Hey Bruno.sardine, check out a site called Heavy support, or maelstrom, if you havn't heard of them before. the costs are like 20 percent less including shipping I beleive. so give it a check!
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Post by: Necroshea
Being that I live near the center of dallas, I have a few options in terms of where I can go to, and all within 40 or so minutes tops. The local GW is much like any other GW. You get the sales pitch, but I don't blame them for it (it's their job). Besides what they pretty much have to do, I usually enjoy going their. Usually start every discussion "complaining" that IG got nerfed and need more vehicle options, then proceed to whatever I actually want to talk about. There's a LGS I can't really say is friendly. I get the feeling when I go in their they think I'm going to steal something the way they constantly watch what I'm doing. They run tournaments ever so often, but only 400 points so I avoid them.
So I guess all in all my GW is pretty much what I expect it to be, no complaints here.
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Post by: thesearmsarerob
I would like to echo the positive comments about the Canterbury store. I don't go in very often, but I have never come across the pushy sales techniques described by others.
Westgate games is worth a look if you are in the area as they sell coat'd arms paints and the guy in there has been quite helpful with sculpting/painting tips etc.
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Post by: lostlegiongames&comics
I was at Best Buy today with my wife and mother-in-law. We are looking around and a new guy who doesn't recognize my mother-in-law as frequenter waks up and starts the hard sell on getting directTV or dish or some other tv service. She tells him, "I went through this last week and you guys couldn't beat my current service in price or product so I can save you some trouble." He continues to ask, "well what do you pay? is it cable? dsl? phone service included? " blah blah. So she humors him and goes through it all again but starts telling him what he's about to say as part of his sales pitch. He still went through all of it before finally saying, "wow, we can't can't beat that price or give you that many channels."
It's not just GW. Corporations are built by finding out wht works and making it policy and procedure. More revenue is generated by using sales pitches than is lost by annoying some customers with the pitches... IF you're a large corporate chain of stores sellig your own product that you produce yourself and your large sales are to fairly new customers looking to be competative with already established customers.
That style doesn't work for me personally but I do ask almost everyone, even the regulars, "what can I do for you?" or "if you need any help finding anything let me know." whenever they come in...
I have gotten complaints before that we don't insist to be helpful enough and approach the customers. I've had complaints that we bother them too much. There are just too many people in the world to have a policy that is sure not bother somebody.
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Post by: DeadBabySoup
doesn't it always seem that when you don't want to talk to someone, there is four of them ready to sleep with you for a sale, and when you have a question, your either standing in a lonely isle or your in line waiting for them to finish their schpeel to another customer (victim).
I haven't really had buy it now attack with this hobby yet... the guys at my FLGS are too busy playing magic to give a Sh** about a customer.
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Post by: Ascalam
Can't say i've ever had the offer of sex for sales before...
Where do you shop we can organise a field trip
My FLGS is cool. They will show you the new goodies as they come in, but they tend to remember who plays what with their regulars.
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Post by: Zebanash
I'm in the, "You should buy this crowd" introduced my friend to the hobby, and the manager actually convinced him to buy the hobby kit and a battleforce of orks, when i nicely stepped in and said "he has the tools, he just needs 3 pots of paint and this warboss"
There's two good people at that store, but due to the way the other 2 employees are i refuse to shop there now. Go to Sentry box or Myth, less selection but more fun.
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