Well hello,

Just wanted to give you a heads up on a few things. Games Workshop Recruiting has started a Facebook pages.

Become Legendary for Games Workshop UK
http://www.facebook.com/becomelegendary.gw

And

Become Legendary - North America for Games Workshop US and Canada.
http://www.facebook.com/GWBecomeLegendaryNAm

We also announced three new stores for Games Workshop US and Canada.
San Diego, California - NEW STORE!!
Dayton, Ohio - NEW STORE!!
Toronto, ON - NEW STORE!!!

If you stay turned to the Facebook Page we will be announcing several more stores in the coming weeks. If you are interested in running a store you can apply directly through the Facebook page or the Games Workshop Career page.

Seriously? GW just started a thread on dakka?!

Kind of like those scenes in westerns when the gunman walks into a saloon, the music stops playing and everyone turns round to stare at him.

I'm dreaming? This must surely just be someone with a sense of humour!

Welcome to Dakka, O' mouth piece of the God Emperor.

To be fair guys, its not like its the first or last time this will happen... heck, back in the day, Paul Sawyer (Fat Bloke) came by the forums... once.

Well really we are here talking about is potential Work. Most likely everyone who reads this post that knows someone in their life currently, who is looking for work or needs to find better work.

That and talking about the excitement of new stores that is always great to hear.

I don't suppose you're authorised to talk about pricing are you?

Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

 Orki wrote:
I'm dreaming? This must surely just be someone with a sense of humour!

I'm gonna go with yes.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well really we are here talking about is potential Work. Most likely everyone who reads this post that knows someone in their life currently, who is looking for work or needs to find better work.

That and talking about the excitement of new stores that is always great to hear.

Nuff said.

 Flashman wrote:
I don't suppose you're authorised to talk about pricing are you?

They'll probably turn him into a servitor if he does.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

Smells like a troll. No one could be that clueless.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

Smells like a troll. No one could be that clueless.

I'm starting to suspect that too. Somewhere in this world there is a bridge with billy goats walking across it with impunity as the resident troll has decided it's more important to pretend to be someone from GW on Dakka.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well really we are here talking about is potential Work. Most likely everyone who reads this post that knows someone in their life currently, who is looking for work or needs to find better work.

That and talking about the excitement of new stores that is always great to hear.

If you are the mouth of GW, then welcome to Dakka and I hope you enjoy your stay! If your not, then i'm sure you will enjoy your stay either way.

 AlexHolker wrote:

 Flashman wrote:
I don't suppose you're authorised to talk about pricing are you?

They'll probably turn him into a servitor if he does.

Well I doubt we'll get any juicy pre-release info or snazzy WIP photo's either unfortunately.

BECOME LEGENDARY! WORK AS A LOW-LEVEL MANAGER IN A GENERIC RETAIL STORE! BE THE HERO OF YOUR CITY AND SELL GAMES WORKSHOP PRODUCTS!

 Grimtuff wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

Smells like a troll. No one could be that clueless.

I'm starting to suspect that too. Somewhere in this world there is a bridge with billy goats walking across it with impunity as the resident troll has decided it's more important to pretend to be someone from GW on Dakka.

Wow. Such unnecessary hostility, guys. Remember Dakka rule #1.

I don't know that it's a troll or if he's just having a little fun with us.

I think BLNA's reply is meant to suggest (in a subtle manner) that he isn't a person who can implement changes at GW or explain corporate policies such as why the prices are what they are. I think it's best if we regard him as your friendly neighborhood red shirt until proven otherwise.

And in that vein, I say, "Welcome to Dakka."

 Flashman wrote:
Kind of like those scenes in westerns when the gunman walks into a saloon, the music stops playing and everyone turns round to stare at him.

Yea. Let's hope this guy has his Mk VII "Thick Skin" Armor on. ;P

 Breotan wrote:
Wow. Such unnecessary hostility, guys. Remember Dakka rule #1.

It's perfectly justified hostility. It's non-constructive zero-content advertising by someone with no intent to participate in the community other than by posting advertising, so lock the thread and ban the poster just like every other spambot is banned.

Well thank you for the Welcome!!

I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me. I look for people who want to work for Games Workshop. Our positions are not for everyone, but there are people out there that want to run a business and love our product. We are opening new stores, which is creating jobs in different communities, helping those peoples families grow and prosper, which in turn is spreading the hobby. It is easy to be hostile but remember that at the heart of the first message is talking about Work.

Breotan wrote:Such unnecessary hostility, guys. Remember Dakka rule #1.

Yes, please.

Peregrine wrote:

 Breotan wrote:
Wow. Such unnecessary hostility, guys. Remember Dakka rule #1.

It's perfectly justified hostility. It's non-constructive zero-content advertising by someone with no intent to participate in the community other than by posting advertising, so lock the thread and ban the poster just like every other spambot is banned.

Nope - Rule #1 applies... at all times.

The Facebook page looks nice. Welcome to Dakka and I hope you find good talent for your positions. Don't let the grumps here get you down.

I don't suppose you could tell me where exactly the new store in Toronto is going to be?

I don't think its a troll... the facebook page is pretty extensive. Either way, welcome!

I quite like the idea of a GW rep (read: profile) being publicly visible on the forum, no matter the persons role or access to info. It makes them seem less faceless.

I guess I'm easily pleased

BLNA, I second the words offered by orkybenji. Just a little feedback for you, I'd snap a position up in a heart beat, if only it were better paid.

How many times do you hear that nugget I wonder lol

The new store in Toronto, ON is really south in the Burlington area

Awesome stuff about the store in San Diego!

Too bad I'd have to take an hour train ride there and back again, otherwise I would totally want to work there. Seems like fun to me.

Personally I'm happy to see GW recruiting from Dakka. I hope that the person who makes this thread ignores all of the needless, unnecessary posts and doesn't think that everyone on this forum is that impolite.

Are their any plans to relocate the Alamo California store? I know the manager has moved on, but it was a very popular store.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well really we are here talking about is potential Work. Most likely everyone who reads this post that knows someone in their life currently, who is looking for work or needs to find better work.

That and talking about the excitement of new stores that is always great to hear.

yeah I do, myself... not that I am qualified to be any sort of manager but... hey I live near Toronto, good to have another store here

I would only know about an Alamo store once we were told to recruit for it. So if your interested in that area I would suggest you follow the Become Legendary page or the Games Workshop Careers page.

Guys this is hardly a member of the design team posting in our little neck of the woods. Cut him some slack.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

Oh aren't you just adorable! *pinches new member's cheeks*

no openings in toronto i take it? lol

seems all manager positions... not even gonna waste the paper applying for that

As stated before. GW Employees have been and always will be here on Dakka snooping around. At least I give him some credit for being somewhat up front about it. However you are probably an Area Manager.

Can I inquire about a Games Workshop store in the Des Moines, Iowa area? It was announced and they were hiring for the position, but then I've never heard of the store actually opening anywhere and it was "supposed" to open months ago.

 Flashman wrote:
Seriously? GW just started a thread on dakka?!

Kind of like those scenes in westerns when the gunman walks into a saloon, the music stops playing and everyone turns round to stare at him.

There's always the ignore function.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me. I look for people who want to work for Games Workshop. Our positions are not for everyone, but there are people out there that want to run a business and love our product. We are opening new stores, which is creating jobs in different communities, helping those peoples families grow and prosper, which in turn is spreading the hobby. It is easy to be hostile but remember that at the heart of the first message is talking about Work.

I'm assuming you're serious, but please leave the corporate pep-talk speak at home. You're not going to win any support with it.

I live in Maryland, and recently the old Battle Bunker location closed, before re-opening in another part of the state. None of the employees put out of work for over a year by this were guaranteed positions at the new Bunker, they were told they'd have to re-apply (and had no idea when the new one would open).

The GW in the Arundel Mills mall closed after several years of operation, as seems to be common with small GW stores trying to get market share in different areas, but not being there to stay long-term. And the GW nearest to me downsized their second employee (after hiring him less than a year previously) and cut the hours of the one man left running it, to cut costs.

This is NOT a family-friendly career, it does not help families grow and prosper as you had the gall (imo) to say. It does not help people find long-term work.

Instead, it's a high turn-over position, involving high pressure sales tactics, and high pressure management interaction with employees. It does not offer them career advancement, or job security. I would never, ever recommend anyone I care about working for Games Workshop.

This is my honest opinion, and imo you're just parroting back corporate lines that will do nothing good for the company you're representing. I'd stop posting in this manner if I were you, because no matter what your goal is, you're certainly not accomplishing it.

I would except for two reasons...one i was a redshirt five years ago and the army treated me better but two and more importantly i like competition in demon more then just open category but.kudos to you guys for posting and maybe someone great will be.found from it.

I did often wonder where the employees would go beyond manager... I never known any to go anywhere else beyond that
a lot of companies toss that "career" word around, though most of them obviously do not offer that.
I have had a lot of jobs, most of them claiming that, and most, only the managers were ever there for longer then a year, the rest came and went, low pay, low benefits-if any, lousy treatment...
Now I cannot speak for GW, I have never known anyone personally to work there, nor did I ever have a chance to work there (I remember the one time I applied the guy doing the hiring didn't like me much, and i hated him)

I'd like to see them be more honest, even a little, it would go a long way...even just a swap of words

Ya know, I really thought this was some sort of joke when I first clapped eye's on this post late last night....But clearly not

I know a lot us on here (myself included) have lost a lot of respect for GW as a company over the years. This is probably not the place to set up a recruiting post TBH. Although I'm sure that someone at GW HQ had the bright idea to advertise on a free-to-join Wargames Forum, maybe it would have gone down better had GW treated it's customer's less like gak and more like people over the last few years. I can only agree with RiTides' comment above I'm afraid.

Does anyone know whether BOL's or Warseer have been similarly targeted? And if this is the way GW are recruiting now, then they must be pretty desperate. I really don't think anyone on here with a modicum of sense would join GW, and their sending a rep here would surely only exacerbate the current feeling's held by many of the members on Dakka.

Edit:
Hey! I used 'Exacerbate' in a post, and it's 5:04 am. Go Me!

does take some gonads, though I still am sure they wouldn't hire me (even for drone lacky)
how many of you do have manager experience in...anything?

I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

@rainbow...u would be surprised but i definitely do many times over.

walmart has ponies, GW has no ponies!

(oh I am more curious if anything)

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
does take some gonads, though I still am sure they wouldn't hire me (even for drone lacky)
how many of you do have manager experience in...anything?

I run my own little group of luvverly ladies at work. No, I'm not a pimp (which sucks), I manage the day-to-day aspects of a ward with some 21 resident's in it at a large Nursing Home, which includes looking after 3 20-something single ladies and their duty's. But that's a far cry from running a GW store. For a start I get respect from the upper echelon's of the Management at work, I'm not treated as a high pressure sales drone and I actually enjoy my job.

I'm actually a great salesman, oddly enough, though that's not what I do currently (I tear out kitchens in town houses and apartments)

First, welcome to DakkaDakka.

I work as a store manager for a retail chain. I've had supervisor or higher level experience for about....eight years now along with doing retail a total of 12 years. Very few people respond negatively to my selling. In fact, many comment I should do TV commercials, work as an announcer on the radio, or do auctions.

To be fair, upper level management talk and recruitment sound much better than reality. That is the truth in most cases. Of course, an employee's attitude and commitment may make their job far worse than it could be (I'm not saying become a sheep, but you have to put effort and creativity into the job). And yes, some bosses and companies are actually awesome to work for and be around.

GW has a lot of bad press and publicity, especially by the former employees and disaffected customers who bemoan the fact that GW simply does not offer either a great career choice nor a product that is affordable or worth the said price.

What does GW offer to prospective hires? What are the benefits?

How do you specifically contend with the criticism leveled against the company you are representing? How far do you go to represent the company you are recruiting for?

hows about re opening the store in regina? ours closed ages ago.... and the gaming community here has suffered majorly since then.

ill volenteer as manager

 WarOne wrote:
First, welcome to DakkaDakka.

I work as a store manager for a retail chain. I've had supervisor or higher level experience for about....eight years now along with doing retail a total of 12 years. Very few people respond negatively to my selling. In fact, many comment I should do TV commercials, work as an announcer on the radio, or do auctions.

To be fair, upper level management talk and recruitment sound much better than reality. That is the truth in most cases. Of course, an employee's attitude and commitment may make their job far worse than it could be (I'm not saying become a sheep, but you have to put effort and creativity into the job). And yes, some bosses and companies are actually awesome to work for and be around.

GW has a lot of bad press and publicity, especially by the former employees and disaffected customers who bemoan the fact that GW simply does not offer either a great career choice nor a product that is affordable or worth the said price.

What does GW offer to prospective hires? What are the benefits?

How do you specifically contend with the criticism leveled against the company you are representing? How far do you go to represent the company you are recruiting for?

thats kind of deep

 Breotan wrote:

I don't know that it's a troll or if he's just having a little fun with us.

I think BLNA's reply is meant to suggest (in a subtle manner) that he isn't a person who can implement changes at GW or explain corporate policies such as why the prices are what they are. I think it's best if we regard him as your friendly neighborhood red shirt until proven otherwise.

I hadn't thought of that. I'm just not used to giving anyone on the internet the benefit of the doubt. I apologize, BLNA.

Hopefully you'll stick around and discuss other publicity initiatives on behalf of GW. It might prove to be very interesting to have someone from GW actually interact with us on...well, not neutral territory, but close to it.

Oh, and tell James that people are still talking about him in L.A.. Just don't tell him what they're saying!

Are there employee discounts?

 Alfndrate wrote:
Are there employee discounts?

More importantly, are there employee discounts that are large enough to offset the money you are required to spend on buying an army for all three major games (even if you hate them)? Because I'd rather settle for a 20% discount at an online store than get a 50% discount and have to buy (and paint) a fantasy army.

Or did GW finally remove that policy?

just play daemons if you'd have to lol

We are talking about a company that has 35 years of history behind it. Those years mean change, with change comes feelings that are good and bad depending on how you look at each issue. People have a right to their feelings.

Yes we have benefits, it is one of the most amazing packages I have had in my career.

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

Our one person business model works extremely well. It means that person has sole responsibility for the success of that business. The job is not easy, but it can be really rewarding for people up to the challenge. People do fail at the job, just like any other role out there that is performance based. But there are also people who do really well with that kind of responsibility. It's not a fit for everyone. I can also say that I have learned so much about myself working for Games Workshop, and will always value my time with the company.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

Anyone else see how that could be used almost as a hammer to hold over someone's head?

I'm not really liking what you are saying, you seem to have answered none of the points and instead just said 'yes we have the best benefits' and the spiel about change means absolutely nothing.

You don't address many questions and instead say 'just go to the FB page or GW site.' If thats all you are doing, I have to agree that you are serving a similar function to a spambot, as peregrine pointed out earlier.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
No we don't require you to buy models.

Well hold on their Legy my man - that's not always true. I knew a guy who worked for GW and he had to buy a Fantasy army for a staff Fantasy tournament. He had no choice. He was not allowed to not participate.

Please stop referring to your shops as businesses too.

Unless your managers have control over holiday, budgets, salaries, recruitment, stock orders and get to keep any profit they make it's not their fething business, they're simply working in a shop.

To put it in a slightly less confrontational way:

A GW store is not a small business. They are retail outlets, nothing more, nothing less, so please call them that.




"When did I become the good cop!" - Rorschach, 'Rorschach & Deadpool'

Oh boy you guys are brutal!

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
To put it in a slightly less confrontational way:

A GW store is not a small business. They are retail outlets, nothing more, nothing less, so please call them that.




"When did I become the good cop!" - Rorschach, 'Rorschach & Deadpool'

Perhaps, but up until recently I ran my own business, which is freaking tough, and to be lumped in with jumped up till monkeys grinds my gears somewhat.

And yet I'm the one trying to be kind.

Maybe the Mayans were right...

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
We are talking about a company that has 35 years of history behind it. Those years mean change, with change comes feelings that are good and bad depending on how you look at each issue.

This is most definitely true.

If you look at the changes from a GW corporate point of view the feelings certainly must be good lately!

However then there is the customer's perspective which unfortunately hasn't been quite in the same sphere of jubilation as it has been in times past...

It is similar to when you become devoted to Tzeentch. At first you think "hey, this is cool stuff!!", but after you suddenly start to grow three extra pairs of finecast arms, a second butt and a big hump where your shoulders & head used to be, at 140% of the previous charge, then the feelings of jolly happiness suddenly start to go downhill real fast.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Guys this is hardly a member of the design team posting in our little neck of the woods. Cut him some slack.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Pricing? I can tell you the current price of any of our current product. Which you can find over at Games-Workshop.com.

Oh aren't you just adorable! *pinches new member's cheeks*

I am sure this friendly gesture is much appreciated, but did you really have to hold onto his cheek like that for a full 7 minutes?

If GW ever decides to open a store in the Anchorage Alaska area..I will be happy to apply, this town could use such a store, and I could staff it with former military guys.. (our gaming group has grown quite a bit)

I am about ready to retire and don't really need to work, but would gladly do some store duty

But welcome to Dakka regardless of reasons for visiting.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
Are there employee discounts?

More importantly, are there employee discounts that are large enough to offset the money you are required to spend on buying an army for all three major games (even if you hate them)? Because I'd rather settle for a 20% discount at an online store than get a 50% discount and have to buy (and paint) a fantasy army.

Or did GW finally remove that policy?

.

Yes we have benefits, it is one of the most amazing packages I have had in my career.

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

You rather twisted that around when answering that. How is asking if you have to buy miniatures for all three systems become a challenge as to your interest in the hobby? He asked if you'd have to buy all three systems, you say there's no need to buy miniatures but that you'd then query why they weren't into miniatures. I can almost feel the inquisition as to why a member of staff hasn't bought an army if Hobbit stuff (The staff discount had better be good to make that affordable)

My wife works in a bookshop and while they like people informed about books, there's no expectation to buy anything from the shop, or indeed read any books in your own time. Many staff don't buy a thing from the shop using their discount. Now I think about it, she often has publishers and some games companies send the shop numerous books and other products for free for staff to read in order that they familiarise themselves with new book lines.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

Oh yes, the good old "mandatory volunteering" management nonsense. You aren't obligated to buy armies for all three games, but if you aren't willing to do it we don't need you. But let's consider a couple reasons why someone might want to sell miniatures without buying their own:

1) Because they're into one system, but not others. For example, I love 40k, but don't really care about LOTR and hate fantasy.

or

2) Because they're into them, but can't afford to buy multiple armies of their own at their own expense.

or

3) Because they just want to get a paycheck. Call it "become legendary" all you want, but in the end you're just another generic retail chain hiring generic managers to sell generic products. Just like nobody has to care about groceries to sell them, or any other retail product, people can sell miniatures without caring about them. The only difference is most other companies don't pretend that their stores are part of some kind of "hobby" and just focus on selling you what you want to buy.

Our one person business model works extremely well. It means that person has sole responsibility for the success of that business.

Is there anything that you can't turn into a positive for the company? Let's look at the bad parts of your "business model":

1) Limited operating hours. Nothing says "welcome to the hobby" like a store that isn't open during normal business hours because you're too cheap to hire a second employee.

2) Limited operating days. Local store manager had to take the day off for some reason? Store's closed, come back another time.

3) Poor customer service. For example, what do you do when a new customer comes in while you're helping an existing customer deal with the 10th badly deformed finecast model in a row they've had to return? Who gets ignored?


But I suppose it's good for profits, so let's pretend it's good for the customer too!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
A GW store is not a small business. They are retail outlets, nothing more, nothing less, so please call them that.

This. Calling a GW retail outlet a "small business" makes about as much sense as calling your local walmart a "small business". It's insulting to the people who actually run small businesses.

This thread makes me smile, it smells like vindication, because I saw it a mile off. :-D

Welcome to the site, try and concentrate on the several hundred sensible sociable people's comments, and just ignore the needless gak you get thrown in your direction by a tiny minority of strange individuals who act like they caught you fingering their sister just because you happen to work for a company that charges a large amount for their stuff.

Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

It's not about the prices, it's about the fact that GW's propaganda account keeps posting ridiculous management nonsense about how awesome GW is, when in reality GW is a pretty bad company to work for. It's just funny that they were clueless enough to do it in a place where they don't have control over everything that's posted and people can be honest about their opinions.

If you start work for a company and find that it sucks, then you leave, simple really, I don't see the need to be outraged on behalf of potential employees.

If it winds you up so much, I suggest you turn your attentions to Indonesian sweat shops.

 mattyrm wrote:

If it winds you up so much, I suggest you turn your attentions to Indonesian sweat shops.

Then how will I get cheap Nike boots?

 Peregrine wrote:
It's not about the prices, it's about the fact that GW's propaganda account keeps posting ridiculous management nonsense about how awesome GW is, when in reality GW is a pretty bad company to work for.

Yeah. Because job recruitment drives are always on the up and up. Starbucks told me that they're not a corporation, they're a family!

It's just funny that they were clueless enough to do it in a place where they don't have control over everything that's posted and people can be honest about their opinions.

"Being honest about your opinion" does not require you to be a jerk.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Starbucks told me that they're not a corporation, they're a family!

That was just to try and stop you seducing all the womenfolk if you got a job there

 Kanluwen wrote:
Yeah. Because job recruitment drives are always on the up and up. Starbucks told me that they're not a corporation, they're a family!

Sorry, but I missed the part where people don't laugh at how stupid it is when other companies do it, or where a Starbucks recruiter wouldn't be laughed off a forum if they showed up and started parroting the standard corporate propaganda. I know you like to white knight for GW, but they are hardly the only object of criticism.

 mattyrm wrote:
Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

Oh get off your high horse. You don't think we'd cut through Nike or anyone's corporatespeak bs with a cynical blade? You think 'cause it's GW it's somehow different? Spin is spin, no matter who's spinning it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 motyak wrote:
Then how will I get cheap Nike boots?

Why do sneakers cost so much when they're made by little slave kids? What are their overheads?











I hope someone gets the reference otherwise the above's going to make me look like a real jerk...

 mattyrm wrote:
If you start work for a company and find that it sucks, then you leave, simple really, I don't see the need to be outraged on behalf of potential employees.

If it winds you up so much, I suggest you turn your attentions to Indonesian sweat shops.

But then you could say it's only fair that people are given a fair description of what lies in wait for them if they apply for a job for GW. Yes there have been a couple of needlessly snide comments and too much banter, but it's worthwhile reading RiTides comment from a few pages ago:

I'm assuming you're serious, but please leave the corporate pep-talk speak at home. You're not going to win any support with it.

I live in Maryland, and recently the old Battle Bunker location closed, before re-opening in another part of the state. None of the employees put out of work for over a year by this were guaranteed positions at the new Bunker, they were told they'd have to re-apply (and had no idea when the new one would open).

The GW in the Arundel Mills mall closed after several years of operation, as seems to be common with small GW stores trying to get market share in different areas, but not being there to stay long-term. And the GW nearest to me downsized their second employee (after hiring him less than a year previously) and cut the hours of the one man left running it, to cut costs.

This is NOT a family-friendly career, it does not help families grow and prosper as you had the gall (imo) to say. It does not help people find long-term work.

Instead, it's a high turn-over position, involving high pressure sales tactics, and high pressure management interaction with employees. It does not offer them career advancement, or job security. I would never, ever recommend anyone I care about working for Games Workshop.

This is my honest opinion, and imo you're just parroting back corporate lines that will do nothing good for the company you're representing. I'd stop posting in this manner if I were you, because no matter what your goal is, you're certainly not accomplishing it.

In my experience it used to be that most people lasted about 6 months in this job. Depending on that situation, that can be absolutely fine; you get to do a job that you can really enjoy, get a load of reasonably priced miniatures (although nothing like as cheap as they once were). In return, much like so many shop jobs these days (but again taken to an extreme degree) you have to leave your ability to form independent thoughts at the door and swallow the company mantra.

If applicants understand that, are happy with it and accept it, then fine. But it shouldn't be allowed to pass through the BS filter from the members on this forum who know what the score is with jobs like this.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

Oh get off your high horse. You don't think we'd cut through Nike or anyone's corporatespeak bs with a cynical blade? You think 'cause it's GW it's somehow different? Spin is spin, no matter who's spinning it.

I'm merely pointing out the obvious, there are bigger fish to fry in the world of gak jobs than games workshop, and pretending otherwise is laughably disingenuous. There's little kids sewing Manchester united footballs for two pence a day in islamabad, but you are telling me with a straight face that you condemn everyone equally, and it's got absolutely nothing to do with a small minority of posters who feel really strongly about this issue thanks to their love of the hobby?

I'm not even having a go at anyone, I'm just pointing out that it's fething obvious, and proper having a go at a bloke for doing his job (advertising) is out of order. Clearly hobbyists have a dog in the hunt, it's not about standing up for workers rights across the globe, it's about some of the sites users venting because they are pissed off wargamers.

feth me.. Would some of you lot be happy knocking the gak out of a traffic warden as well?

 mattyrm wrote:
I'm merely pointing out the obvious, there are bigger fish to fry in the world of gak jobs than games workshop, and pretending otherwise is laughably disingenuous.

Sure, and when representatives from those companies show up and make laughably bad propaganda posts I'm sure we'll all be happy to criticize them. But right now GW is the only one doing it here.

 Peregrine wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
I'm merely pointing out the obvious, there are bigger fish to fry in the world of gak jobs than games workshop, and pretending otherwise is laughably disingenuous.

Sure, and when representatives from those companies show up and make laughably bad propaganda posts I'm sure we'll all be happy to criticize them. But right now GW is the only one doing it here.

Fairy nuff... Be aware ive not stuck up for GW, the salary alone is enough to put me squarely in the "feth this" department regards wanting a job with them. I just dont see the point in having a go at the guy, it smacks of shooting the messenger.

As has been pointed out, bollocking the bloke on dakka isnt going to get your points addressed.

 azreal13 wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
To put it in a slightly less confrontational way:

A GW store is not a small business. They are retail outlets, nothing more, nothing less, so please call them that.




"When did I become the good cop!" - Rorschach, 'Rorschach & Deadpool'

Perhaps, but up until recently I ran my own business, which is freaking tough, and to be lumped in with jumped up till monkeys grinds my gears somewhat.

If I worked in a shop, I'd be feeling quite insulted by your little tirade there. Time to get off the high horse Mr "But hey, I'm just a guy with business qualifications, 7 years in management and 3 years as a company director, what do I know?" Which, by the way, makes you sound like one of those bs spouting contestants on The Apprentice.

This is my version:

I'm still serving in the Forces after 17 years of being operational around the world, including coming under fire(which is "freaking tough") and to be lumped in with with armchair general toy soldier players grinds my gears somewhat.

If the above statement sounds ridiculous its because it is meant to be and mirrors azreal13's little rant.

There are upsides and downsides to working retail for GW.

The good
They pay much more than most other retail jobs. I heard it was in the low 30s, with the potential to earn more if the store does well.
They have great benefits. I think they even included dental care.
You get a very substantial discount on models. It was my understanding that it was a 50% discount.

The bad
You will almost certainly be fired within a year.
You do not have the tools to make the store succeed. (You cannot choose your hours, hire employees, choose stock, advertise, etc.)
Your bosses will ream you out. To be fair, many jobs have this problem.

 Peregrine wrote:
It's perfectly justified hostility. It's non-constructive zero-content advertising by someone with no intent to participate in the community other than by posting advertising, so lock the thread and ban the poster just like every other spambot is banned.

 Peregrine wrote:
I'd rather settle for a 20% discount at an online store than get a 50% discount and have to buy (and paint) a fantasy army.

 Peregrine wrote:
It's not about the prices, it's about the fact that GW's propaganda account keeps posting ridiculous management nonsense about how awesome GW is, when in reality GW is a pretty bad company to work for. It's just funny that they were clueless enough to do it in a place where they don't have control over everything that's posted and people can be honest about their opinions.

 Peregrine wrote:
Sorry, but I missed the part where people don't laugh at how stupid it is when other companies do it, or where a Starbucks recruiter wouldn't be laughed off a forum if they showed up and started parroting the standard corporate propaganda. I know you like to white knight for GW, but they are hardly the only object of criticism.

 Peregrine wrote:
Sure, and when representatives from those companies show up and make laughably bad propaganda posts I'm sure we'll all be happy to criticize them. But right now GW is the only one doing it here.

 Empchild wrote:
I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

Link please. I'm not disputing anything, I just want to read what Forbes had to say on the subject.

 Grimtuff wrote:
I'll get the popcorn.

Pass the bag, please. I'd go to the lobby and get my own but this thread is too much fun too miss anything.

Do GW have offices in Tennessee?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

Oh get off your high horse. You don't think we'd cut through Nike or anyone's corporatespeak bs with a cynical blade? You think 'cause it's GW it's somehow different? Spin is spin, no matter who's spinning it.

What's the point in cynicism? What's to prove?

 Henners91 wrote:
What's the point in cynicism? What's to prove?

He was being nice earlier so I expect he's simply doing penance for that heresy.

And that's why they closed the official GW forums =).

For every person who compliments, 10 complain.

It is the way of every company or product. People are more motivated to speak up when they have had bad service rather than if they had had good service.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

Oh get off your high horse. You don't think we'd cut through Nike or anyone's corporatespeak bs with a cynical blade? You think 'cause it's GW it's somehow different? Spin is spin, no matter who's spinning it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 motyak wrote:
Then how will I get cheap Nike boots?

Why do sneakers cost so much when they're made by little slave kids? What are their overheads?

I hope someone gets the reference otherwise the above's going to make me look like a real jerk...

well played

and dayton, oh area ... hmmm thats my home turf...

Thanks for telling me about the employee discount!

If I were to apply as manager for this 1 man store, would I have to have an army for Fantasy and Lord of the Rings/Hobbit? I have a Fantasy army, but it's barely assembled, and not of GW parts >_>.

The LoTR game doesn't really interest me. Also would I be able to demo/sell (even if through direct sales), BFG, Bloodbowl, and some of the other specialist games that are not really supported, but are still available on site for purchase?

I think that you would be losing out on valuable sales if you had an employee with interest to run these games, but told him that he was not allowed to run these games for reasons x, y, or z

 Pacific wrote:
In my experience it used to be that most people lasted about 6 months in this job. Depending on that situation, that can be absolutely fine; you get to do a job that you can really enjoy, get a load of reasonably priced miniatures (although nothing like as cheap as they once were). In return, much like so many shop jobs these days (but again taken to an extreme degree) you have to leave your ability to form independent thoughts at the door and swallow the company mantra.

If applicants understand that, are happy with it and accept it, then fine. But it shouldn't be allowed to pass through the BS filter from the members on this forum who know what the score is with jobs like this.

 spaceelf wrote:
The bad
You will almost certainly be fired within a year.
You do not have the tools to make the store succeed. (You cannot choose your hours, hire employees, choose stock, advertise, etc.)
Your bosses will ream you out. To be fair, many jobs have this problem.

I do not think many of us are trying to be unnecessarily snarky, I (and these above me) are actually genuinely warning people that this is a bad job.

It actually makes me sick to think about. At both of the local GWs (the Arundel Mills, now closed, and the one in Columbia) I got to see an employee get a "talking to" / reprimanded in front of customers. At the Arundel Mills one, it was the manager doing it to a regular employee. At the Columbia one, it was a higher-up doing it to the manager.

Let me focus on the Columbia one. Apparently, the manager was not being enthusiastic enough in the GW-style. He had an older player base and catered to them accordingly. A higher-up came in, and demonstrated how to act by acting like a 10-year old with the only 10-year old in the store. Meanwhile, many of us who liked the guy had heard he was going to be observed and came in and bought stuff that day to show our support.

But I have seen too many instances of GW trying to enforce an "attitude" or "psychology" on their employees- it really makes me sick. I know other companies do it, but GW is a rather bad offender. Add in the high turn-over rate because people can only take that crap for so long, and it becomes a very negative position for someone to take, imo. It's the holidays- there are LOTS of other retail positions for people to take that will be short-term.

Finally, I mentioned the Bunker earlier. The old manager of the Bunker got some financial backing and now a new game store is open in the exact same store- yes, attached to the old GW US Headquarters. It's called Dropzone Games, and it has SUCH a better atmosphere than the Bunker did. And yet, it's the same guy running it. This is what I'm talking about- the forced attitude / "psychology" that GW rams down it's employees throats is negative for everybody. It's only good for short-term employee methods and short-term sales techniques. Hence the single-man stores where costs are minimal, entry games are played, product moved, and the store closed within several years and opened in a new location.

I just want people to view this as what it is, a short-term gig where as Pacific says, you have to swallow the company mantra to an extreme degree. It's not worth it, imo, and I wanted people to know that who are not familiar with GW's approach to its' employees (note: I'm not talking about it's customers here, as some folks seem to be doing, but it's workers).

 RiTides wrote:
But I have seen too many instances of GW trying to enforce an "attitude" or "psychology" on their employees- it really makes me sick. I know other companies do it, but GW is a rather bad offender. Add in the high turn-over rate because people can only take that crap for so long, and it becomes a very negative position for someone to take, imo.

Now we're edging into the "10 Laws" and the (unfortunately named) SS Camps of GW rumour and legend.

The first (and last) time I went into a GW store was when I was just thinking about staring wargaming, must have been around 15/16 I think. Anyway, I was scared off by the employee working at the store, practically loading my arms with stuff I really didn't want to get and really getting in my face quite a bit. Never gone back again and this is years and years later!

I understand the need to sell your merchandise, how else are you going to keep the store going? But a friendly atmosphere keeps people coming back time and time again which surely works out better in the long run?

Neither rumour nor legend. Been there, done that, left. Unfortunately the way they handle staff means that the only people who progress in the company are those who won't find employment elsewhere so wholeheartedly buy into the philosophy as they are determined to keep there jobs. These individuals, perfect employees in GWs eyes, ascend the corporate ladder and reinforce this behaviour ensuring fresh ideas are quashed and GWs dogma is rigorously enforced.

Totally don't have a facebook profile anymore... but it would be wicked boss if they had a 'reads white dwarf for money' position. I'd totally be on it. WHITE DWARF FTW!

 Flashman wrote:
Seriously? GW just started a thread on dakka?!.

Space marines...know no fear.

This is great. They really have no idea how many customers they have dis-satisfied...and worse turned into detractors.

alphaecho wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
To put it in a slightly less confrontational way:

A GW store is not a small business. They are retail outlets, nothing more, nothing less, so please call them that.




"When did I become the good cop!" - Rorschach, 'Rorschach & Deadpool'

Perhaps, but up until recently I ran my own business, which is freaking tough, and to be lumped in with jumped up till monkeys grinds my gears somewhat.

If I worked in a shop, I'd be feeling quite insulted by your little tirade there. Time to get off the high horse Mr "But hey, I'm just a guy with business qualifications, 7 years in management and 3 years as a company director, what do I know?" Which, by the way, makes you sound like one of those bs spouting contestants on The Apprentice.

This is my version:

I'm still serving in the Forces after 17 years of being operational around the world, including coming under fire(which is "freaking tough") and to be lumped in with with armchair general toy soldier players grinds my gears somewhat.

If the above statement sounds ridiculous its because it is meant to be and mirrors azreal13's little rant.

*slow clap*

Well done, you can look at people's post history, and then quote it back. That's a mere statement of fact, no Apprentispeech there.

Perhaps I should mention that all but a small portion of my career has been in retail sales, including running my own shop, so in my case what I did/do is directly comparable to what GW employees do, but with a lot more responsibility, flexibility and accountability.

As for you being lumped in with armchair generals? Not one person has, or would, compare real world military operations to playing a game indoors with a beer in their hand, as those two things aren't comparable in the least, and if someone did they would deserve more than your annoyance.

Anyone else notice that most of the anti GW posters start their stories with that a friend of mine who worked for GW or I saw this happen to this one manager, but nevery really give any kind of idea of time frame of when it happened. Or have never worked for GW themselves.

If you look at GW US over the last two or three years you can see a steady change. They went from multi staff to one dude. They appear to be closing stores that don't work and are openning stores that do. Most likely your time frame of when you saw something is from a different point in their business model.

I don't have any friends that work at GW. But I do enjoy going into my Local store.

 Alfndrate wrote:
Thanks for telling me about the employee discount!

If I were to apply as manager for this 1 man store, would I have to have an army for Fantasy and Lord of the Rings/Hobbit? I have a Fantasy army, but it's barely assembled, and not of GW parts >_>.

The LoTR game doesn't really interest me. Also would I be able to demo/sell (even if through direct sales), BFG, Bloodbowl, and some of the other specialist games that are not really supported, but are still available on site for purchase?

I think that you would be losing out on valuable sales if you had an employee with interest to run these games, but told him that he was not allowed to run these games for reasons x, y, or z

That'd be a "no". Those stores are there for 1 reason only, to market the 3 core systems to new hobbyists, and to get them to buy into those 3 core systems. Everything you do in store needs to be based around that core ideal.

narked wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
Thanks for telling me about the employee discount!

If I were to apply as manager for this 1 man store, would I have to have an army for Fantasy and Lord of the Rings/Hobbit? I have a Fantasy army, but it's barely assembled, and not of GW parts >_>.

The LoTR game doesn't really interest me. Also would I be able to demo/sell (even if through direct sales), BFG, Bloodbowl, and some of the other specialist games that are not really supported, but are still available on site for purchase?

I think that you would be losing out on valuable sales if you had an employee with interest to run these games, but told him that he was not allowed to run these games for reasons x, y, or z

That'd be a "no". Those stores are there for 1 reason only, to market the 3 core systems to new hobbyists, and to get them to buy into those 3 core systems. Everything you do in store needs to be based around that core ideal.

Specialist games don't exist. You never saw them.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:


No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

Ok I wasn't going to go negative until you said this as that's a bold faced lie and you know it! I worked for over a year and a half at GW in Seattle and we WERE required to buy models and rules for every system and at $8.50 an hour starting wage that was a little hard to come by, Not to mention that medical package you are raving about sucked up a bunch of pay as well. We were required to play games with customers but log out during said games as the company would not pay us for them. If we did overtime our mgr would fix the time cards so it looked like we didn't, and this wasn't the store mgr of no but regional. Now I am all for being nice on the forum especially in news but I do get upset when people at GW claim it's a great job when it isn't. If your store isn't making sales the whole store will be fired and new people hired as GW seems to think that it's the employees fault and not the location. It's fine to post about job openings and such but don't openly lie to people. Heck myself and a friend were told if we would move to the east coast we would be transfered job wise to those stores as they needed people, or trade and sales. Both he and I did (at different times) and we only found out we had to reapply completely and neither of us were hired because GW doesn't like to hire former employees.

 RiTides wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me. I look for people who want to work for Games Workshop. Our positions are not for everyone, but there are people out there that want to run a business and love our product. We are opening new stores, which is creating jobs in different communities, helping those peoples families grow and prosper, which in turn is spreading the hobby. It is easy to be hostile but remember that at the heart of the first message is talking about Work.

I'm assuming you're serious, but please leave the corporate pep-talk speak at home. You're not going to win any support with it.

I live in Maryland, and recently the old Battle Bunker location closed, before re-opening in another part of the state. None of the employees put out of work for over a year by this were guaranteed positions at the new Bunker, they were told they'd have to re-apply (and had no idea when the new one would open).

The GW in the Arundel Mills mall closed after several years of operation, as seems to be common with small GW stores trying to get market share in different areas, but not being there to stay long-term. And the GW nearest to me downsized their second employee (after hiring him less than a year previously) and cut the hours of the one man left running it, to cut costs.

This is NOT a family-friendly career, it does not help families grow and prosper as you had the gall (imo) to say. It does not help people find long-term work.

Instead, it's a high turn-over position, involving high pressure sales tactics, and high pressure management interaction with employees. It does not offer them career advancement, or job security. I would never, ever recommend anyone I care about working for Games Workshop.

This is my honest opinion, and imo you're just parroting back corporate lines that will do nothing good for the company you're representing. I'd stop posting in this manner if I were you, because no matter what your goal is, you're certainly not accomplishing it.

This needs to be repeated for emphasis.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
Funny I don't see people trolling Nike on the football forums, have you seen how much they charge for boots?!

Oh get off your high horse. You don't think we'd cut through Nike or anyone's corporatespeak bs with a cynical blade?

What's sad is that you think this is what you're doing.

From where I'm sitting it all looks like a bunch of vindictive trolling. If you don't want to work there, fine. All this ranting is just making a bunch of Dakkanauts look bad (or worse).

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me. I look for people who want to work for Games Workshop. Our positions are not for everyone, but there are people out there that want to run a business and love our product. We are opening new stores, which is creating jobs in different communities, helping those peoples families grow and prosper, which in turn is spreading the hobby. It is easy to be hostile but remember that at the heart of the first message is talking about Work.

It is rather ironic that you speak of families. One former GW manager had a wife and two kids. He had to work every weekend and thus rarely saw his wife. This put a real strain on his marriage.

This is definitely a job for a single person their 20s. Sadly, with such a job, you will likely remain single, as you will not have time to date on evenings or weekends.

We should also recall a statement from the previous fiscal report. It stated something to the effect that GW had 'backup' employees for a large percentage of their stores. The implication being that they could fire staff at will and not suffer a stoppage of work.

PLASTIC STEEL LEGION

 RiTides wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me. I look for people who want to work for Games Workshop. Our positions are not for everyone, but there are people out there that want to run a business and love our product. We are opening new stores, which is creating jobs in different communities, helping those peoples families grow and prosper, which in turn is spreading the hobby. It is easy to be hostile but remember that at the heart of the first message is talking about Work.

I'm assuming you're serious, but please leave the corporate pep-talk speak at home. You're not going to win any support with it.

I live in Maryland, and recently the old Battle Bunker location closed, before re-opening in another part of the state. None of the employees put out of work for over a year by this were guaranteed positions at the new Bunker, they were told they'd have to re-apply (and had no idea when the new one would open).

The GW in the Arundel Mills mall closed after several years of operation, as seems to be common with small GW stores trying to get market share in different areas, but not being there to stay long-term. And the GW nearest to me downsized their second employee (after hiring him less than a year previously) and cut the hours of the one man left running it, to cut costs.

This is NOT a family-friendly career, it does not help families grow and prosper as you had the gall (imo) to say. It does not help people find long-term work.

Instead, it's a high turn-over position, involving high pressure sales tactics, and high pressure management interaction with employees. It does not offer them career advancement, or job security. I would never, ever recommend anyone I care about working for Games Workshop.

This is my honest opinion, and imo you're just parroting back corporate lines that will do nothing good for the company you're representing. I'd stop posting in this manner if I were you, because no matter what your goal is, you're certainly not accomplishing it.

I will add my 2 cents to the NOT a family-friendly career at all bit. It isn't. You work evenings and weekends. If your spouse has a normal job then you will not see each other very much. Your days off are Monday and Tuesday. Again, if your spouse has a normal day off that means you do not have days off together. You can take vacation. You can take time off. BUT... you will be spoken to if your sales numbers are low for that week. Because most likely they will not be able to send a replacement, so your store will be closed. You WILL have to answer for your sales numbers for when you were on your paid vacation.

It is not a business. You are not a manager. You are a sales person. You are expected to sell product. Which makes sense. It is a retail store. Your job is to sell stuff. Period. You will have sales goals. You will be expected to project your sales goals with like to like sales. They will NOT help you with that. They will NOT give you anything other than crap when you don't. You are expected to figure it out yourself. And if you don't they will fire you and get somebody that will. It is a very short term deal. They have no loyalty or sense of anything about any of their retail people. You are very expendable. Mostly because people jump to get a job at a GW store. They are never hurting for employees.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
We are talking about a company that has 35 years of history behind it. Those years mean change, with change comes feelings that are good and bad depending on how you look at each issue. People have a right to their feelings.

Yes we have benefits, it is one of the most amazing packages I have had in my career.

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

Our one person business model works extremely well. It means that person has sole responsibility for the success of that business. The job is not easy, but it can be really rewarding for people up to the challenge. People do fail at the job, just like any other role out there that is performance based. But there are also people who do really well with that kind of responsibility. It's not a fit for everyone. I can also say that I have learned so much about myself working for Games Workshop, and will always value my time with the company.

Benefits. They have the best benefits I have ever seen. They are simply unbelievable. Hands down. The employee discount is overly generous. The pay could be the best in retail. I'm not sure. If it isn't the best it has to be in the top tier.

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

This a thousand times this. This is how GW talks to its employees. They will NEVER say you have to buy an army. They will say crap like that. And then you walk away wondering. Did I just get threatened? OMG. I have to buy a fantasy army or they are going to fire me!

Now, that ISN"T what the manager said. They can deny that is what they said. When you work for GW you NEVER get a straight answer to anything. You are kept in the dark about everything. Told at the last moment. And often end up feeling like a jerk to your customers because corperate told you one thing... or denied what you and everyone else thought was coming... and then just dump the truth on you.

This is a great between high school and college summer job. It is a great job for various temporary situations. It is NOT a career. Heh... Corporate line is it is not a job "It is a way of life". If it isn't for you we can find somebody that can do it. (Always with the veiled threats, only way they know to manage.)

 draugadan wrote:
This is a great between high school and college summer job. It is a great job for various temporary situations. It is NOT a career. Heh... Corporate line is it is not a job "It is a way of life". If it isn't for you we can find somebody that can do it. (Always with the veiled threats, only way they know to manage.)

GW, like Starbucks and McDonalds put forth glowing advertisments about "careers" at their establishments and people like to attack said businesses for not revealing the unvarnished truth, so to speak. Still, do people honestly apply for positions at any of these companies hoping one day to be the CEO? Or do they apply as you say, seeing it as a short-term gig to earn some money in a job that seems cool (or maybe not) until they can get something better lined up? I'm thinking a lot of younger people apply at GW wanting to be liked or to be popular by being in the hub of things only to find out that GW is a business that's rather serious about maintaining their bottom line. Maybe the "you will not be missed" phrase in the books should also be in the employee manual, maybe not. But GW isn't the only company to manage this way. Sales is a rather ruthless business model.

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well thank you for the Welcome!!

I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me.

That sounds so much like hard-core indoctrinated lingo, and gives such a frightening insight into the corporate attitude, that it isn't even remotely funny.

 Breotan wrote:
GW, like Starbucks and McDonalds put forth glowing advertisments about "careers" at their establishments. And people like to attack said businesses for not revealing the unvarnished truth, so to speak. Still, do people honestly apply for positions at any of these companies hoping one day to be the CEO? Or do they apply seeing it as a short-term gig to earn some money in a job that seems cool (or maybe not) until they can get something better lined up?

You would be suprised actually except the CEO of GW owns a majority of the shares so I am sure no one ever thinks they will attain that but they want to get to trade and sals or corp office some day. I have known tons of friends that thought this and were even told if they worked hard they could be a regional manager or even some day manage one of the countries.

Steelmage99 wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well thank you for the Welcome!!

I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me.

That sounds so much like hard-core indoctrinated lingo, and gives such a frightening insight into the corporate attitude, that it isn't even remotely funny.

What?

Dude, what the hell are you talking about? "Hard-core indoctrinated lingo"? Seriousy? He's just saying he's here to post about open jobs at GW, and can't answer questions and concerns regarding product or company pricing practices. Wow. There certainly are legitimate reasons to criticize GW. Your flames address none of them.

I know GW is the great devil, but I doubt OP is even a part of GW proper. Most likely just somebody hired to be either a social media presence, or somebody hired to hire people. I would imagine that they don't know much about the inside working of GW or have drank from the fountain of kool-aid.

It's just somebody doing a job, reading of the script that was handed to them to answer the question thrown at them from a hostile crowd.

Be critical of GW if you want, but please represent DakkaDakka better than a bunch if angry fethers. Because of that guy is GW in our eyes, then we are all Yakface in the eyes of any outsider reading this thread.

So please remember rule #1 and carry on.

 d-usa wrote:
. Because of that guy is GW in our eyes, then we are all Yakface in the eyes of any outsider reading this thread.

So please remember rule #1 and carry on.

I will have you know I am much taller then yakface thank you very much

If GW have actually just dipped their toe in the water openly here (I know several employees and a few of the author/design team do read this forum on the quiet), then it's a shame we as a board just burned them to a crisp for it.

I'd love it if we could actually encourage the company to come out from it's shell and start interacting on open independently owned forums and engaged with reasonable conversation. I think the road to a better company and a healthier hobby can come from improved communications between us, the consumers and fans and them, the company GW.

If, as soon as an employee states he works for the company and is looking to recruit others here, he is accused of being directly responsible for the pricing or scrapping squats or even Jervis Johnson's infamous 'beard' phase, then he (or she) will just nod, have all the negative things that are said in corporate about forum be reinforced and go back to silence.

Please, lets try and not burn anyone with a GW paycheck anytime they appear here, lets just welcome them aboard same as anyone else and if we have questions, phrase them politely and ensure we don't spit or rant at them, it's highly doubtful we're talking to Tom Kirby or anyone else in a position to change things, but it's possible that they may report to someone who reports to someone who might be able to. If they get a better reception than 'aaah your a fool for working for the company and you're a bastard for trying to recruit others and your insane for asking 100 bucks for 3 trolls' to someone who's likely just a store manager or something, then we might actually open up honest dialogue.

Remain Calm.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
If GW have actually just dipped their toe in the water openly here (I know several employees and a few of the author/design team do read this forum on the quiet), then it's a shame we as a board just burned them to a crisp for it.

I'd love it if we could actually encourage the company to come out from it's shell and start interacting on open independently owned forums and engaged with reasonable conversation. I think the road to a better company and a healthier hobby can come from improved communications between us, the consumers and fans and them, the company GW.

If, as soon as an employee states he works for the company and is looking to recruit others here, he is accused of being directly responsible for the pricing or scrapping squats or even Jervis Johnson's infamous 'beard' phase, then he (or she) will just nod, have all the negative things that are said in corporate about forum be reinforced and go back to silence.

Please, lets try and not burn anyone with a GW paycheck anytime they appear here, lets just welcome them aboard same as anyone else and if we have questions, phrase them politely and ensure we don't spit or rant at them, it's highly doubtful we're talking to Tom Kirby or anyone else in a position to change things, but it's possible that they may report to someone who reports to someone who might be able to. If they get a better reception than 'aaah your a fool for working for the company and you're a bastard for trying to recruit others and your insane for asking 100 bucks for 3 trolls' to someone who's likely just a store manager or something, then we might actually open up honest dialogue.

Remain Calm.

I agree. It's also a little silly that a lot of people here use GW products and the moment someone from GW shows up he gets flamed.

 Breotan wrote:

Steelmage99 wrote:

 Become Legendary NA wrote:
Well thank you for the Welcome!!

I don't speak for Games Workshop, that is for other people who see a bigger picture than me.

That sounds so much like hard-core indoctrinated lingo, and gives such a frightening insight into the corporate attitude, that it isn't even remotely funny.

What?

Dude, what the hell are you talking about? "Hard-core indoctrinated lingo"? Seriousy? He's just saying he's here to post about open jobs at GW, not can't answer questions and concerns regarding product or company pricing practices. Wow. There certainly are legitimate reasons to criticize GW. Your flames address none of them.

Indeed. Dakka itself had a news about GW appointing a new digital agency. http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/456457.page

Now about six months later, someone appears saying they represent GW in an online forum for a new online recruiting initiative and sounding very much like a recruiter. This...should be entirely expected. As someone said just because a person does a job for GW does not make them the Great Satan of wargaming; they're doing their job as they were told to do it. They need to eat too. Shooting the messenger makes us all appear to be ignorant, especially if they merely a contracted party.

I also appreciate those who share the "real-life" side of the story. While I understand that recruiters of all stripes have to lie (a job that was genuinely rewarding with good pay, benefits and stability wouldn't need a recruiter after all), it's good that the people who are interested can go in prepared. When I was younger I might have been interested, but I doubt I'd have lasted with not being particularly extroverted.

The more I read on the topic though the issues highlighted are all variations on the callousness that is any corporate retail. The unreasonable sales goals and corporate pep-talks and staff churn seem to be rather common, and not a particular GW failing.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
If GW have actually just dipped their toe in the water openly here (I know several employees and a few of the author/design team do read this forum on the quiet), then it's a shame we as a board just burned them to a crisp for it.

I'd love it if we could actually encourage the company to come out from it's shell and start interacting on open independently owned forums and engaged with reasonable conversation. I think the road to a better company and a healthier hobby can come from improved communications between us, the consumers and fans and them, the company GW.

If, as soon as an employee states he works for the company and is looking to recruit others here, he is accused of being directly responsible for the pricing or scrapping squats or even Jervis Johnson's infamous 'beard' phase, then he (or she) will just nod, have all the negative things that are said in corporate about forum be reinforced and go back to silence.

Please, lets try and not burn anyone with a GW paycheck anytime they appear here, lets just welcome them aboard same as anyone else and if we have questions, phrase them politely and ensure we don't spit or rant at them, it's highly doubtful we're talking to Tom Kirby or anyone else in a position to change things, but it's possible that they may report to someone who reports to someone who might be able to. If they get a better reception than 'aaah your a fool for working for the company and you're a bastard for trying to recruit others and your insane for asking 100 bucks for 3 trolls' to someone who's likely just a store manager or something, then we might actually open up honest dialogue.

Remain Calm.

Im not a big GW fan for many reasons (though I do buy their stuff now and then) but this sentiment does have merit.

I don't see people flaming this guy over GW prices and squats. I see ex employees taking issue with certain claims the recruiter has made about working conditions and the little matter of 'having to buy miniatures' to stay in the job.

 SilverMK2 wrote:
For every person who compliments, 10 complain.

It is the way of every company or product. People are more motivated to speak up when they have had bad service rather than if they had had good service.

Which means that you can still tell something about the company by the volume of complaints... since a company that provides good service will have fewer of them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 spaceelf wrote:
It is rather ironic that you speak of families. One former GW manager had a wife and two kids. He had to work every weekend and thus rarely saw his wife. This put a real strain on his marriage.

To be fair, that's not an issue exclusive to GW, but is pretty standard in retail. A lot of companies hire people specifically to cover weekend and/or night shifts, and if you're married, well, suck it up. When my now-wife first moved in with me, she was working 7am to 3pm in the office of a quarry, and I was working 3pm to 11pm in a photolab at Kmart. We made it work, because those were the jobs we had.

My relatively brief stint working in a games store (indie, not GW) I was hired specifically to cover wednesday to friday nights and weekends. Which, yes, makes it bloody hard to spend time with family... but I knew about it going into the job, and so we planned around it.

If you work in an industry that does most of its trade on weekends, then there's a pretty good chance that you're going to wind up working weekends.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
I'd love it if we could actually encourage the company to come out from it's shell and start interacting on open independently owned forums and engaged with reasonable conversation. I think the road to a better company and a healthier hobby can come from improved communications between us, the consumers and fans and them, the company GW.

Talk is cheap. Unless GW is willing to follow through in dismantling the obstacles they have built that have burnt through so much goodwill, the only way GW is likely to make a healthier hobby is by crashing so spectacularly it serves as a warning to the others.

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
I don't see people flaming this guy over GW prices and squats. I see ex employees taking issue with certain claims the recruiter has made about working conditions and the little matter of 'having to buy miniatures' to stay in the job.

Right... this is News & Rumors, the OP made a post about job openings at GW, and people who have seen what those jobs are actually like are pointing those things out. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this.

If GW wanted to post a News or Rumor item about their products in this forum, I think you'd see folks rejoicing!

But posting about a retail sales position with the name "Become Legendary"... isn't going to merit the same response, no matter the company, but particularly one with a history of treating their retail sales positions like GW does. This is just the reality, no matter the motivation of the OP for posting.

Wow, I am seriously disappointed in the moderation in this topic. We all have several problems with GW and especially their pricing and attitude towards their customers, but seriously, who do you think you guys are to offend this guy out of the open? The fifth post immediately calls him a troll and it goes all downhill from there.

Do you seriously think that offending GW employees / head hunters will even make GW think about changing their course?

We all know that working at GW is not a "career" in a classical understanding...the salary is below-average and you are asked to work in your free time as well e.g. when it comes to painting new starters. What do you expect GW to do? Make an announcement saying "yo man we don't pay well and you have to work a lot but you love us and we love you, it's like a we're a big family!"? Every company does that. It's YOUR job to properly inform yourself before applying for a job and when browsing the internet, you will quickly get the information you're looking for.

Furthermore, GW frequently browses internet forums, let it be for getting their trigger-happy lawyers alone...guess why we may now not even post pictures of some leaked releases?

Anyway, back to my point. Step down and cool down, guys. He's a head hunter looking for people who want to work for GW, nothing more, nothing less. If you have a problem with GW's policy, feel free to vouch it in any of the other countless threads on how bad GW is. The hostility shown here by some people, however, is uncalled for.

Remember: you always have the option to not post.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
I'd love it if we could actually encourage the company to come out from it's shell and start interacting on open independently owned forums and engaged with reasonable conversation. I think the road to a better company and a healthier hobby can come from improved communications between us, the consumers and fans and them, the company GW.

If GW wants that kind of open and reasonable interaction then perhaps they should come and make reasonable posts instead of just parroting GW propaganda and spamming their recruiting link? What they've done is not a constructive two-way discussion, it's exploiting an existing community as nothing more than a free advertising space.

It is indeed a person's job to inform themselves about a position before taking it.

However, on an open, independent forum people are going to be told the truth about positions such as this.

I agree that calling the OP a troll is out of bounds / uncalled for- just hit the yellow triangle to alert a moderator to such a post and they'll deal with it if necessary. Posting a thread ranting about people ranting doesn't help much

 RiTides wrote:
It is indeed a person's job to inform themselves about a position before taking it.

However, on an open, independent forum people are going to be told the truth about positions such as this.

I agree that calling the OP a troll is out of bounds / uncalled for- just hit the yellow triangle to alert a moderator to such a post and they'll deal with it if necessary. Posting a thread ranting about people ranting doesn't help much

Agree, I think the four or five of us who have stated what working for GW was really like have been mature about it. I never commented on half the junk they pulled on us that was far worse or said I hate them or even flamed them. Flaming is generally a trolling thing yet if somone has first hand knowledge that counters the ideal and we are on a open gaming forum we hold the rights to state as much. I can definately say for certain that I have never had my past employees talk about how I treated them poorly as I never did, but if I had and they did then that would be their right. This is far different from somone commenting on theft of IP or this person sucks with no explanation why this is several people who have worked for them who can attest that a lot of the lines stated are so out of context. I do have the right not to post, but at the same time I have the right to post as long as I am not vulgar or rude about it which from what I have seen a majority of the people haven't been. I find it interesting that people saying we are being mean keep brining up prices and what not yet those who have said what it was actually like as an employee have not said any such thing.

I prefer PM'ing mods instead of using the report function...but that's another issue.

I fully agree with you - and let's be said again, I am a fond enemy of GW''s current customer-hating policy (e.g. removing gaming tables from their stores).

It's the tone that matters though...and that's what really irritates me. Normally, most people, especially those who have been around for a longer time, have a nice tone to them, but as soon as it's about GW, suddenly, the hate-trigger is activated and language goes down the drain. That's what makes me itchy.

To me, it's appropriate to make post like "Working at GW? Yeah, I'm in for terrible wages and long working times!" but while those ALL CAPS POSTS made me smile, I do not consider them appropriate and fair.

I disagree with the last part though...even an official warning will not make people change their mind, and neither will any post. I do want to express my opinion though especially given all the unjustified negativity and hostility by some fellow dakkanites.

Be advised, though, that I only refer to those harsh comments. I really, really appreciate the actual reports of former GW employees. Those usually are fair and well-written posts with some actual thought behind.

 Sigvatr wrote:
I prefer PM'ing mods instead of using the report function...but that's another issue.

I fully agree with you - and let's be said again, I am a fond enemy of GW''s current customer-hating policy (e.g. removing gaming tables from their stores).

It's the tone that matters though...and that's what really irritates me. Normally, most people, especially those who have been around for a longer time, have a nice tone to them, but as soon as it's about GW, suddenly, the hate-trigger is activated and language goes down the drain. That's what makes me itchy.

To me, it's appropriate to make post like "Working at GW? Yeah, I'm in for terrible wages and long working times!" but while those ALL CAPS POSTS made me smile, I do not consider them appropriate and fair.

I disagree with the last part though...even an official warning will not make people change their mind, and neither will any post. I do want to express my opinion though especially given all the unjustified negativity and hostility by some fellow dakkanites.

Ya see the problem is you can't convey tone over the internet so to that angel it is your own perception that is kicking in.

Personaly, I feel that many of the negative comments are uncalled for and rather childish in many instances. I am by no means being a white knight for GW but I am fairly certain the original poster is a contractor, much like most of the American employed are. So venting on him is much like slapping on a boats hull repeatedly, everyone hears it, some know what is happening, and others are mildly confused and in the end it does nothing.

My favourite place to visit it a local store, I wish they made stronger efforts on getting others involved in the selections of games but no world is perfect.

I'd just like to say that although I have no problem with Headhunters per se (they have a job to do like anyone else) I don't see how, with all the negative feelings towards GW here on Dakka that it's a good idea.

It seems that most of the hate directed to this poor guy stems purely from frustration. There have been numourous threads on Dakka over the last 18 months with titles like "I emailed GW and got no response", and "Why won't GW listen to me!". Obviously, GW will ignore all but the most threatening email (which they would just pass on to the police). As soon as a supposed GW 'Mouthpiece' appears and tries to recruit for the company that refuses to listen to its customer base, that 'Mouthpiece' will take flak. It's human nature. The best example would be someone yelling at a member of the ground crew at Heathrow, because your flight was delayed. It's not his fault, but he is representing the company that wronged you.

And a lot of people feel wronged by GW. It's not just a hobby, for a few of us, it was a part of our childhood and has carried on being a part of our adult life.

I'll post this one here because to me it tells the true story about the corporation.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Games-Workshop-Reviews-E11822.htm Though there are only 8 postings on this site, I like the part from this poor unfortunate.



“Somewhere between a dream job and fever induced night terrors”
Former Hobby Center Operator in Dallas, TX – Reviewed Sep 13, 2011

Pros – Truly INCREDIBLE employee discount
You get to sell games for a living and play them in your spare time
Awesome community of customers that are incredibly loyal and effectively become part time employees
You get to teach painting models as well as paint in your spare time
Fixed hours that are amazing for retail management
Generous pto and sick leave
Good insurance
Regular and productive meetings in Las Vegas and corporate HQ
When your store hits bonus, it's a really great bonus
The customers make the job worth coming in to every day, they are so loyal to you and your products it is quite simply staggering. You want to hug them at times.
Great work/life balance. You literally still play the games you sell at work in your time away from work

Cons – The discount invariably means that you spend large chunks of your salary on the games
Stores are obsessively and very strictly numbers driven
You must always be in sales mode even though most of your customers will literally be in the store as much as you are
One woman/man stores mean if you are sick, have car trouble, etc the store isn't getting opened and you will loose sales for that day which is a very bad thing
Taking vacation and sick leave to take care of your kids can and/or will be used against you because not being open is no excuse for not having sales unless you are fortunate enough to work in a city with a floater
UK management really does give the impression of not having a clue as to how the US markets function even though we are very different
Zero room for advancement
Upper management has constantly shifting ideas
They will tell you it's not a numbers driven game but all reviews are strictly numbers based
Don't expect to get bonuses often
Upper management is turning the information pipeline into a very narrow trickle and is aggressively and openly keeping their store managers in the dark
Rarely do you recognize people from one year to the next at meetings given the turnover

Advice to Senior Management – Realize that the US is very different from the UK market. Become more open and stop making employees be the last to get info that is going to anger customers. Store managers should be prepared at least somewhat to tamp down the latest thing we did to anger customers. Try placing some trust in the store managers and allow them to do things that they know works. Quit angering customers even though you know they will still remain loyal as puppies to you. Even if you are a manager that gets treated well, you see how others are treated and it is discouraging.



And as far as the first one that is quote "Hobby Center Operator". I'm glad he likes his job. Been there too. I go to Ivars every year because of the excellent sea food. However I am not particularly impressed with that site.

And finally as far as Alamo California store closure. No fault of the staff or the people in that community because it was a success for what it was. The Fault is squarely on the corporation for Alamo store did not fit the current one man micro stores I know what has been said about the reason for its demise as well as the lease issues. But like I have said before. I specialize in real estate and I know what it takes to renegotiate a long term lease.

So yes there is a lot of negative comments that are validated by actual experiences because of dealing with that corporation in one form or another.

How could it be any less?

Staffer discount is crap.

Even with 50% off everything, you're still better off just paying full RRP for Mantic stuff from the perspective of a gamer looking to save money. Plus webstores offer GW at 30% off anyway. When it was 90% off it was actually good. Remember, those plastic sprues take about 4 pence each for GW to roll off their production line, they're making phat profit even at 50%off...pay the employees and then encourage them to give half their wages back to you in exchange for a few pennie's worth of plastic. GW's staffer costs are seriously low once you take into account the "pay them with product" angle.

Pretty good if you've got a stash ready and want to ditch the job as soon as you've abused the hell out of the staffer discount and get a nice windfall from hocking it all on ebay.. but otherwise no.

 scarletsquig wrote:
Staffer discount is crap.

Even with 50% off everything, you're still better off just paying full RRP for Mantic stuff from the perspective of a gamer looking to save money.

Not everyone wants to pay full RRP for what is by and large an inferior sculpt which might have to be ordered online, since not every independent will stock Mantic's stuff.

 scarletsquig wrote:
Staffer discount is crap.

Even with 50% off everything, you're still better off just paying full RRP for Mantic stuff from the perspective of a gamer looking to save money.

It's cool that you like Mantic stuff better than GW stuff, but not everybody does. I think GW at full price is a better deal than Mantic in most cases-- though there are exceptions, like the Mantic zombies. Saying that a 50% discount is "crap" because other companies sell other products at other prices seems silly though.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 scarletsquig wrote:
Staffer discount is crap.

Even with 50% off everything, you're still better off just paying full RRP for Mantic stuff from the perspective of a gamer looking to save money.

Not everyone wants to pay full RRP for what is by and large an inferior sculpt which might have to be ordered online, since not every independent will stock Mantic's stuff.

Yeah, saying "just buy Mantic" is pretty stupid. The real problem with GW's employee discount is that you're required to buy (and build/paint) armies for all three of their major games, all at your own expense in time and money. It's not very helpful to save 50% on your 40k models compared to 20% off online if getting it costs you hundreds of dollars in fantasy and LOTR stuff that you have no interest in owning. You're only going to make a profit on that discount if you actually enjoy all three games and want to buy armies for them, otherwise you're just throwing away money.

 scarletsquig wrote:
Staffer discount is crap.

Even with 50% off everything, you're still better off just paying full RRP for Mantic stuff from the perspective of a gamer looking to save money.

Considering that the latest Mantic models are 1.88 pounds each while GW standard is still 1.80, I wouldn't say that.

I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Just go back a few pages and look at the GW propaganda account's response to the comment where I first brought it up: "you aren't required to, but if you don't like our miniatures why do you want to work for us?". In other words, it's entirely "voluntary", but you'd better volunteer or we'll replace you with someone else who will.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

Sure, that's why GW should have (paid) training time to learn the basics of each system, and provide fully painted and playable demo armies to each store. The problem isn't having people who know enough about each of the major products to offer useful sales advice to customers, it's that GW employees are required to spend their own time and money on making armies for the store.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

Sure, that's why GW should have (paid) training time to learn the basics of each system, and provide fully painted and playable demo armies to each store. The problem isn't having people who know enough about each of the major products to offer useful sales advice to customers, it's that GW employees are required to spend their own time and money on making armies for the store.

Fair point. On the other hand, GW seems to have little reason to establish paid training and supply armies in the fashion you suggest. Certainly it would be more fair-minded if they did, but since there seems to be a ready supply of willing volunteers under the current system, the upside seems limited.

 Kingsley wrote:
Fair point. On the other hand, GW seems to have little reason to establish paid training and supply armies in the fashion you suggest. Certainly it would be more fair-minded if they did, but since there seems to be a ready supply of willing volunteers under the current system, the upside seems limited.

Sure, obviously it's working for them and they have no obligation to be an enjoyable company to work for. It just undermines their claims about how their nice employee discount is an awesome perk of the job when in reality taking advantage of the "discount" probably costs you more than just buying for 20% off online.

It's nonsense (at least in the UK) that there is a requirement to collect armies from all 3 systems. Having knowledge of all 3 systems is a different thing. Staff tend to get free copies of rulebooks. I got a free staff copy of WFB 8th edition rulebook, I got a "free" Dark Vengeance box (actually paid for by painting the store copy in own time), a free copy of the 40k 6th edition rulebook, and would have got a free copy of The Hobbit rulebook had I not ended up having to leave.

At no point was I ever given the impression that I had to have an army for each system in the 2 and a half years I was with GW. I will however agree that it's not a job for someone with family commitments, and ultimately this is why I'm no longer with them. Married to a teacher, and pretty much unable to get any time off when she's off as it is, and further cuts that will further reduce availability of cover to the point that basically I would have got my holidays when I was told I was having them.

As others have said, it's a job that, when times are good, it's awesome. When times are bad (regardless of where the cause lies), look out.

Other than the fact that any cost they incure training the staff to play the games and useing stock for display is tax deductible? yeah why wouldnt you want fully trained staff and beautiful and aspirational armys ready to use? lol

i find it interesting that the OP has not posted in a few pages of this thread. given the level of outright hostility (justified or not) im not surprised. however, one would assume that the OP has been informed or at least done some kind of research into the online community hes entered. ... or at least i would hope so.

as mentioned a zillion times, the OP is probally just a drone hired online to be online, and likley dosent even play the games. his job is to simply advertise about advertisments.

i would also like to agree that working ANY retail job is going to be stressful on family and social lives. i worked in a casino for 3 years - and 90% of the shifts were nights and weekends. because thats when the demand for staff was. retial, especially around the holidays is the same. many stores open for longer, have more customers and thus longer lines and more need for additonal staff. if your going to apply for such a job, it would seem prudent to know what your getting into before submitting the app.

and finally... i believe a sales person should KNOW his product. i dont want to buy a computer or a car from a guy who knows nothing about his products. if you have zero interest in apple computers or ford cars, then DONT SELL them as your job. so if your not a wargamer, and have no interest in GW or its games, then why sell? if you do, then why not take advantage of the discounts? - heck as a WHFB and 40k player, i would be more then happy to work at a GW store, simply for that discount.

anyway, all of that has been said, so ill shutup now, and if the OP is still around, - once again, any chance of opening a store in regina? or at least getting me in touch with a product sales rep so i can get my IR store up and going?

It's too late everyone. You scared the poor OP off ages ago...

I don't know if he's scared off... maybe he just doesn't work weekends.

Ah. That is also a possibility!

narked wrote:
It's nonsense (at least in the UK) that there is a requirement to collect armies from all 3 systems

Maybe in the UK, but the GW representative admitted that you are expected to "volunteer" to buy all three armies or you aren't the kind of person they want to hire.

 Commander Cain wrote:
It's too late everyone. You scared the poor OP off ages ago...

Good. Maybe next time they'll think twice before being a disrespectful and treating the community like nothing more than free advertising space.

Yeah, how dare a corporate goon post news in the news & rumors section...

 Peregrine wrote:

narked wrote:
It's nonsense (at least in the UK) that there is a requirement to collect armies from all 3 systems

Maybe in the UK, but the GW representative admitted that you are expected to "volunteer" to buy all three armies or you aren't the kind of person they want to hire.

No actually, he did not.

He said, quoting here the reply to you:

No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them.

You're welcome to read into that what you like, but it seems pretty distinct that the statement is "you are not expected to buy all three armies".
Anyways, who in the world is going to jump at a chance to work at a retail shop for retail wages on worse than normal retail hours if they did not already have an interest in GW's products?

 Peregrine wrote:

 Commander Cain wrote:
It's too late everyone. You scared the poor OP off ages ago...

Good. Maybe next time they'll think twice before being a disrespectful and treating the community like nothing more than free advertising space.

All you have done is vindicate the perception that Games Workshop has had of the community.

Notably that they are not worth the hassle of communicating with.

 d-usa wrote:
Yeah, how dare a corporate goon post news in the news & rumors section...

News and rumors or not, it's still a forum where discussion is supposed to happen. It is pretty obvious that the GW representative had no interest in having a discussion with any real substance, and just showed up to spam their link on what they saw as a free advertising space. They should have been treated no differently than any other spambot account.

 Peregrine wrote:

 d-usa wrote:
Yeah, how dare a corporate goon post news in the news & rumors section...

News and rumors or not, it's still a forum where discussion is supposed to happen. It is pretty obvious that the GW representative had no interest in having a discussion with any real substance, and just showed up to spam their link on what they saw as a free advertising space. They should have been treated no differently than any other spambot account.

How is that different from Brother Vinni? Or any number of the "companies" which post here on Dakka?

It's not. They engage in some minor discussion, and then they're gone until they have new crap to flog.

 Kanluwen wrote:
You're welcome to read into that what you like, but it seems pretty distinct that the statement is "you are not expected to buy all three armies".

Oh please, it's just textbook manager language. You don't explicitly say that X is a requirement because it's probably something you can't legally require your employees to do, you just make it very clear that anyone who doesn't do X is "lacking in team spirit" or "not fitting in with our company's culture" or whatever and will be fired. To anyone who isn't dedicated to white knighting for GW it's just another case of the same old "voluntary" condition of continued employment.

Anyways, who in the world is going to jump at a chance to work at a retail shop for retail wages on worse than normal retail hours if they did not already have an interest in GW's products?

Someone who can't get any better job? You know there's a bad economy with high unemployment, right? Taking a worse than average retail job with GW is better than having nothing at all.

And nice job with the strawman turning "buy all three armies at your own expense" into "not interested in GW's products". You can be interested in GW's products and do a good job of selling them without wanting to buy, build, and paint an entire army for each of their games.

All you have done is vindicate the perception that Games Workshop has had of the community.

Notably that they are not worth the hassle of communicating with.

What happened here wasn't communication, it was spamming.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kanluwen wrote:
How is that different from Brother Vinni? Or any number of the "companies" which post here on Dakka?

It's not. They engage in some minor discussion, and then they're gone until they have new crap to flog.

Because they're actually promoting a product that most people wouldn't otherwise hear about. All GW did here was spam the link to their job application and lie about how awesome it is to work for them. Everyone knows that GW is hiring store managers, that's just the default for a retail store with a high turnover rate. Hit-and-run posting to tell everyone about it isn't giving anyone any new information or adding anything of value to the community.

Well...might I just say, in my good year of murking about here I haven't seen many posts from you that AREN'T mildly-aggressive...

But on-topic, if only I was near one of the stores....but the closest is in Philadelphia, and its not hiring....so...

 Peregrine wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:
You're welcome to read into that what you like, but it seems pretty distinct that the statement is "you are not expected to buy all three armies".

Oh please, it's just textbook manager language. You don't explicitly say that X is a requirement because it's probably something you can't legally require your employees to do, you just make it very clear that anyone who doesn't do X is "lacking in team spirit" or "not fitting in with our company's culture" or whatever and will be fired. To anyone who isn't dedicated to white knighting for GW it's just another case of the same old "voluntary" condition of continued employment.

To anyone who isn't dedicating to trying to justify their perception of an "Evil Empire", it's language that you'd have to be very clear about asking an employer when on the interview.

Not the web monkey who posts the job opening on a public forum.

Anyways, who in the world is going to jump at a chance to work at a retail shop for retail wages on worse than normal retail hours if they did not already have an interest in GW's products?

Someone who can't get any better job? You know there's a bad economy with high unemployment, right? Taking a worse than average retail job with GW is better than having nothing at all.

I'm quite aware of that, thanks. I'm currently seeking employment actually, while also doing college.
If you do not have the availability to work crap hours for crap wages, the retail chains do not want you. They want people who are desperate for work and have to take their offers.

And nice job with the strawman turning "buy all three armies at your own expense" into "not interested in GW's products". You can be interested in GW's products and do a good job of selling them without wanting to buy, build, and paint an entire army for each of their games.

I don't think you know what a "strawman" is.

As mentioned before, it's a crap job which has perks which are really only going to appeal to someone who already is involved with the products.
You can be as interested as you want in GW's products, but it's been known for awhile that they are not really interested in simply hiring people because of their aptitude for the products. They want a specific attitude, which most gamers do not have.

All you have done is vindicate the perception that Games Workshop has had of the community.

Notably that they are not worth the hassle of communicating with.

What happened here wasn't communication, it was spamming.

Again, you keep saying that.

Repetition does not make something true. There are plenty of sculptors/companies/painters that come on here and do the same thing as done here. In fact, many of them don't even bother replying until they come back to post their next products.

 Kanluwen wrote:

It's not. They engage in some minor discussion, and then they're gone until they have new crap to flog.

Hey I post everyday thank you very much, and where I was in GW US we were REQUIRED.

A 'crap job' may beat NO job for many folks.

A 'crap job' in a hobby they like may not be too bad to someone looking for a job in this economy.

Generally I have trouble calling an advertisement for open positions 'spam'. He isn't trying to get you to buy anything, he is announcing an opportunity for employment on a website where a LOT of the content seems to be from people using his company's products which just may indicate that some folks on this website may be interested in the opportunity he is advertising.

It seems a lot of past GW employees are willing to share experiences, but I have not seen too many of you state WHEN and WHERE those were. Frankly I question if these experiences are relevant to current open positions. I suspect GW has changed their business model over time.

The OP has no reason to engage in discussion with folks just out to trash talk. I strongly suspect anyone actually interested in the positions has contacted his via other means and he will work with them as needed. He would be doing his company wrong to try to engage on this forum past the initial contact after seeing the responses.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Not everyone wants to pay full RRP for what is by and large an inferior sculpt which might have to be ordered online, since not every independent will stock Mantic's stuff.

Yeah I'm with Kan here. "Buy different products from a different company" isn't a solution to anything. The 50% staff discount is a good thing (for Aussies, it meant they paid ROW retail prices!). It's not as good as it once was (buying bits by weight rather than by cost), but still, 50% is huge.

 Empchild wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

It's not. They engage in some minor discussion, and then they're gone until they have new crap to flog.

Hey I post everyday thank you very much, and where I was in GW US we were REQUIRED.

Note that I did not say everyone.

You and Cyporiean are good about that, as is WarMill and Chapterhouse.

 Kanluwen wrote:
To anyone who isn't dedicating to trying to justify their perception of an "Evil Empire", it's language that you'd have to be very clear about asking an employer when on the interview.

Not the web monkey who posts the job opening on a public forum.

Ok, let's be nice and clear on this:

People who have worked for GW in their retail stores have stated that owning (at your own expense) armies for all three systems was mandatory (if not in explicit rules, at least as an implied threat of firing if you don't).

GW's representative posts a statement that owning those armies is "voluntary", but they only want to hire people who will volunteer.

Conclusion: GW's "must own armies" policy is still in effect.

I'm quite aware of that, thanks. I'm currently seeking employment actually, while also doing college.
If you do not have the availability to work crap hours for crap wages, the retail chains do not want you. They want people who are desperate for work and have to take their offers.

What's your point? You asked why someone would want to work for GW without being a hardcore fan and buying armies for all of their games, I posted some explanations for why that would be the case. Desperation and taking any job you can get is a perfectly good reason to want to work for GW.

Repetition does not make something true. There are plenty of sculptors/companies/painters that come on here and do the same thing as done here. In fact, many of them don't even bother replying until they come back to post their next products.

First of all, I don't really love them, especially when (like a certain borderline-porn sculptor) they insist on making new threads every time they make a new model.

But despite that, they aren't stating the obvious. "I made a new model, it's up for sale now" is at least relevant news that people probably don't already know. "GW is hiring" isn't news at all because GW is always hiring. It's an inevitable consequence of running a high-turnover retail store, you have to constantly hire new employees to replace the ones you fire. It makes about as much sense as a walmart representative showing up and posting "hey, we're hiring, check out our application form". No new information is being communicated, so it's no loss if they never post anything like that again.

From the first post, I believe the "News" is that there is a new Facebook page for searching about jobs at GW. Those that are interested have a new way to find out about opportunities. Those that aren't are just keeping this at the top of the forum.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Breotan wrote:
Wow. Such unnecessary hostility, guys. Remember Dakka rule #1.

It's perfectly justified hostility. It's non-constructive zero-content advertising by someone with no intent to participate in the community other than by posting advertising, so lock the thread and ban the poster just like every other spambot is banned.

There are threads on here for new stores all the time, why would the mods discriminate against GW ones?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Peregrine wrote:



And nice job with the strawman turning "buy all three armies at your own expense" into "not interested in GW's products". You can be interested in GW's products and do a good job of selling them without wanting to buy, build, and paint an entire army for each of their games.

You might be able to do a good job at selling all three systems if you hate two of them, but all other things being equal, someone who is passionate about all three lines is going to sell more models than the person who isn't. And that's why they want people who are into all three - it drives sales.

 Peregrine wrote:

Ok, let's be nice and clear on this:

People who have worked for GW in their retail stores have stated that owning (at your own expense) armies for all three systems was mandatory (if not in explicit rules, at least as an implied threat of firing if you don't).

GW's representative posts a statement that owning those armies is "voluntary", but they only want to hire people who will volunteer.

Conclusion: GW's "must own armies" policy is still in effect.

As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you that under no circumstances was I ever pressured by my direct supervisor (or upper management) into owning armies for all three systems. I've had lots of staff who didn't care much about LOTR and WFB in their personal gaming, but as long as they could encourage that excitement in the shop (through great demos and lessons,) they made fine staff. The store normally has some "store armies" that staff can use for activity, there was no need for members to own their own stuff.

I can't speak for all staff in the history of GW NA, but in the Toronto area in the last decade I have never heard of staff being reprimanded or let go for such a petty reason.

 Kingsley wrote:

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

This.

IMO the worst part would be the inability to admit to playing any other games or having to only play GW games. Ive never played WHFB or LoTR but the current 40k rules are some of the worst Ive ever seen...and the previous ones were already pretty bad.

Clarence wrote:
As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you...

Sadly, I don't think you can, Clarence. You see, Peregrine simply doesn't care enough to listen to anything that contradicts his position on GW. I don't know what his reason for being so butt-hurt is but apparently it's enough that he just can't be very civil to (or about) the OP who hasn't broken a single Dakka rule despite all the trolling and flame-baiting taking place.

Clarence wrote:
As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you that under no circumstances was I ever pressured by my direct supervisor (or upper management) into owning armies for all three systems.

Congrats. I know a guy who worked at GW who was told he had to have a WFB army for a mandatory staff tournament and was denied the receipts to claim it as a work expense.

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

That they have knowledge of all three, sure. There's nothing unreasonable about that requirement and at the end of the day what good is a salesman who only knows 1/3rd of your products?

But buying armies for the games is a different story. How many car salesmen get told they must buy a car from their lot? I work for a phone company and I get neither my phone or my Internet through them.

 Empchild wrote:
I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

I'm actually curious what article you are getting this from? The Forbes and Fortune 500 company lists involve companies with minimum revenues in the billions.

@Adam LongWalker
Thanks for the link, some interesting comments there. Surprised you didn't also mention the last post on that link:
Former Regional Manager
Advice to Senior Management – Tom Kirby is blinded by the yes men withing the US retail leadership. This company could be great and truly expand as rapidly as it desires if it starts being honest with itself. If you want company values to drive the company than look at the results of the values you teach. If the bottom line matters most than let the managers do what is needed to get the sales results in their area and let them know that is what really counts.

*edit* Wait, they get medical and generous medical to boot? I think I know where those GW price hike costs go to...

I don't know if this is against Dakka's Terms of Use but I'm desperate. I have a college degree, experience with all microsoft office, experience in retail, and have been involved with Warhammer (40k, Fantasy, and Blood Bowl) for 11+ years. If you need someone even in sales, I will gladly send you my resume, references, cover letter, etc. PM me if you still need people, willing to relocate (on my own dime for US and CA).

 Peregrine wrote:

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Just go back a few pages and look at the GW propaganda account's response to the comment where I first brought it up: "you aren't required to, but if you don't like our miniatures why do you want to work for us?". In other words, it's entirely "voluntary", but you'd better volunteer or we'll replace you with someone else who will.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

Sure, that's why GW should have (paid) training time to learn the basics of each system, and provide fully painted and playable demo armies to each store. The problem isn't having people who know enough about each of the major products to offer useful sales advice to customers, it's that GW employees are required to spend their own time and money on making armies for the store.

Wow. Kind of aggressive there. Thanks to your prompting I did look back. The reply you put in quotes is absolutely nothing like the actual reply. That is shown below. What you have actually done is paraphrase and twisted it for your own agenda.

"No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them."

So the rep actually clearly states that you are NOT required to buy models. The second part is, I believe, a requirement. I would expect any salesperson to be into or at least know about the product I want to buy whether it be a tablet, PC, car, tumble dryer or miniatures.

Two staff members have said they have been under no pressure to buy. HBMC knows someone who had to buy an army for a mandatory competition (which stinks by the way). Does anybody actually know someone who has been fired for not buying across all three systems?

In my case all of the staff members I have met have always collected across the systems, even before becoming staff so I have no knowledge of it being a problem.

Plus in this thread there have been words and phrases like "jumped up till monkey", "stooge" and "drone" bandied around. Ever consider that you may have received poor service because you were looking down your nose at the person on the other side of the till?
All of these stink of a superiority attitude. The fact that you may have a better job than someone else, be more intelligent than someone else does not make you superior.

silent25 wrote:

 Empchild wrote:
I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

I'm actually curious what article you are getting this from? The Forbes and Fortune 500 company lists involve companies with minimum revenues in the billions.

@Adam LongWalker
Thanks for the link, some interesting comments there. Surprised you didn't also mention the last post on that link:
Former Regional Manager
Advice to Senior Management – Tom Kirby is blinded by the yes men withing the US retail leadership. This company could be great and truly expand as rapidly as it desires if it starts being honest with itself. If you want company values to drive the company than look at the results of the values you teach. If the bottom line matters most than let the managers do what is needed to get the sales results in their area and let them know that is what really counts.

Some article i read in forbes in late 2010. If i can find it i will post it.

Six pages of comments on why you should or shouldn't join GW are enough.