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My nephews are getting into Warhammer and I was looking to get a Skull Pass set since one likes Dwarfs and the other Goblins/Skavens (figured he could use the goblins as slave). I bought a Skull Pass set for myself when getting into the hobby in March of last year for $75 or $80 can't remember but I came across this: http://www.chaos-dwarfs.com/wiki/index.php/Battle_for_Skull_Pass The MSRP as you can see started at $45.

So in less then 4 years from September 2006 to March 2010 the price was increased over 66%

1.) This box is a special thing as it cost about half of what it did in the rest of the world (okay, quarter if you consider Australia ). This was a special price to gain more market share from Prvateer Press in USA. After a year or two GW gave up any long run strategy for short run greed and raised the prices to internatinal levels, with the result that Warmachine is now ahead of Warhammer Fantasy in USA.
2.) This box became OOP only months after you bought it. The current box has High Elves vs. Skaven and is on a higher quality level than the previous edition, for an even higher price. In Germany, I would say it is worth the price.
3.) That said, GW has ridiculous levels of price hikes, but that's nothing new. In recent times, price increases concentrate on starter products, which is economic suicide and results in decreasing sales and customer numbers every year.

It's interesting but I tell you, I'd think they would make a lot more if they lowered the cost of their models. It's hard to convince friends to play when they find out they are looking at $200-$350 just for a starter 1k army.

Personally if there were more people into war machine where I am I may consider it the models are cool and its a lot cheaper than fantasy.

My army without all the random models I bought for kicks or cuz they look good would be about 300 ish (canadian) for about 3k of warriors of chaos.

Still the price hikes are nasty but ebay and other retailers have em for cheaper than gw itself.

Nuh uh, Hargus, you see, GW makes the finest toy soldiers in the world, and you should feel privileged that they deign to allow you to purchase their incredible products.


OK, enough sarcasm.

It's interesting but I tell you, I'd think they would make a lot more if they lowered the cost of their models. It's hard to convince friends to play when they find out they are looking at $200-$350 just for a starter 1k army.

This is so true that it's excruciating.

Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard. If it was 25% cheaper I probably would have twice as many armies. It's sad, THQ is going to hook a lot of prospective players with their recent and upcoming games but no one is going to come over as a gamer realizing they could get 5-6 new video games for the cost of a small army.

Ok so I realize there are people to pay the machinery blah blah blah shipping but some of the prices are a little ridiculous.

Several of my friends are hesitant to get into it seeing how much models are like 10 guys 50 bucks sort of sucks.

cowpow16 wrote:Ok so I realize there are people to pay the machinery blah blah blah shipping but some of the prices are a little ridiculous.

Several of my friends are hesitant to get into it seeing how much models are like 10 guys 50 bucks sort of sucks.

Pft. Show them a Terminator boxset, and then try to get them into the game.

Sorry I was thinking fantasy
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440062a&prodId=prod900165a

But yes I know 60 bucks 5 guys

I mean it makes sense to charge more for characters since you dont buy a lot of them and they still have to mold them bla blah blah its still stupid expensive.

I wounder when they will stop because at some point people will not be ok with paying 70 bucks for your core guys that come in sets of 10 which you need hordes of.
People will stop buying I know I will.

Hargus56 wrote:Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard. If it was 25% cheaper I probably would have twice as many armies. It's sad, THQ is going to hook a lot of prospective players with their recent and upcoming games but no one is going to come over as a gamer realizing they could get 5-6 new video games for the cost of a small army.

Everyone seems to forget It's not just the materials cost. It takes hundreds of hours of artist's labor and craftsmen to bring the models to market, let alone the cost of the molds. But, yes i think GW charges to much.

I know crimson there is costs but hey just think of it like this.
Gw resellers sell the models for cheaper than gw itself and still make lots of money there is something wrong with that.

crimsonmicc wrote:

Hargus56 wrote:Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard. If it was 25% cheaper I probably would have twice as many armies. It's sad, THQ is going to hook a lot of prospective players with their recent and upcoming games but no one is going to come over as a gamer realizing they could get 5-6 new video games for the cost of a small army.

Everyone seems to forget It's not just the materials cost. It takes hundreds of hours of artist's labor and craftsmen to bring the models to market, let alone the cost of the molds. But, yes i think GW charges to much.

Yeah so the same time the artist spend to make the mold lets say he gets $1 per box of 10 models at $30 and $0.25 for each box of 10 models if sold at $10. The same time was taken to make the models they used as the mold yet at the cheaper price 100,000 boxes sell in a month and at the higher price 10,000 sell in a month. I mean I make good money I can afford it, some of my buddies can't, my nephews at 6 and 10 definitely can't, they are going to be limited to getting a box or 3 of models on birthday's and Christmas.

There is a reason why I don't fly airplanes as a hobby, it's out of my budget, but the reason is it's a high cost for the plane. There is no reason why someone should not get into the hobby that sells $2-$3 worth of plastic figures. And if you say well what about the time for those that make the rules and balance the game, look at 40k obviously they aren't doing their job balancing it, fantasy is a different game where balance is not much of an issue, and when you charge $45 for an army book I'd say you pay for it then. Or you can pay $30-$35 for a book that lasts a year before falling apart.

I think I'm a little bitter as my local game store is a GW, fantasy is not played at the independent stores, so I like the guy who runs it and wants to support it, but I go to buy models for my wife the other day for her Daemons and see what I paid for a box of 10 a few months back at $25 which is redonkulas has gone to $29+. I'm like Holy Crap! And lets talk about those lovely special boxes your grave guard, your bestigor, your tomb guard really $41.25? It contains the same amount of plastic as that $25 box of Gor right next to it, whats the deal with that? $43 fora box of minotaur for 3, yet that box of bulls has 6 for $40.

I don't want to be like whining about it but just seeing the increases over the 18 months I've been into the hobby has been a little crazy.

cowpow16 wrote:I know crimson there is costs but hey just think of it like this.
Gw resellers sell the models for cheaper than gw itself and still make lots of money there is something wrong with that.

It is called Capitalism, which is a "bad thing".

But when you ask why GW charge as much as they do, the answer is invariably, "Because they can, they are a BUZNUSS and they need to make a PROPHET.
This is called CAPITALISM, and it is a "GOOD THING".

HTH

The hard cover army book I am so down for spending the money of that they are very nice and hold up well love em.
Please make one for WoC. Mine is falling apart that thing is definitely getting high mileage

I dont think anyone expects them to be for free but seriously 10 white lions should not cost 50 bucks I can see them be like 30 or 35 and that would not be too crazy. Some people will not be happy about it but then again you cant make everyone happy.

The hobby is not for everyone but I would buy more stuff if it were cheaper since that way I could have more complete armies to my liking where as now it has to be planned out useless units that may look good dont get bought etc etc.

Still the prices hurt especially if you do not have a high paying job or are a student. :(

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:

cowpow16 wrote:I know crimson there is costs but hey just think of it like this.
Gw resellers sell the models for cheaper than gw itself and still make lots of money there is something wrong with that.

It is called Capitalism, which is a "bad thing".

But when you ask why GW charge as much as they do, the answer is invariably, "Because they can, they are a BUZNUSS and they need to make a PROPHET.
This is called CAPITALISM, and it is a "GOOD THING".

HTH

I'd punch Lennon in the face if I ever met him. Having said that I wish someone at the top would say if we lowered prices people would buy more and more people would start it up.

I understand capitalism and I support it but its a matter of I like the models the games etc.
The thing is other companies are coming out with nice models and good games that are worlds cheaper than gw models.

Again I have no problem with capitalism.

This reminds me someone a while back (not sure when) said something that make you think.
It was something along the lines of " there is always someone that does something first and someone sees the flaws of what they are doing. They start up doing a similar thing but avoid all the mistakes of the first one and eventually out grow the first company." This said privateer press is doing a great job and gw is being very arrogant in my opinion.

Hargus56 wrote:Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard.

Out of curiosity and not to single out Hargus, because he's not the first to mention it. But, are any GW models actually made in China? All my boxes say "Made in USA" and my FLGS owner claims to have been to the factory in Memphis, TN where they are made.

Verd_Warr wrote:

Hargus56 wrote:Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard.

Out of curiosity and not to single out Hargus, because he's not the first to mention it. But, are any GW models actually made in China? All my boxes say "Made in USA" and my FLGS owner claims to have been to the factory in Memphis, TN where they are made.

The plastic I'm fairly sure is from China as is the card board. I could be wrong.

Hargus56 wrote:

Verd_Warr wrote:

Hargus56 wrote:Lets keep in mind it's like 2-3 dollars worth of Chinese plastic and cardboard.

Out of curiosity and not to single out Hargus, because he's not the first to mention it. But, are any GW models actually made in China? All my boxes say "Made in USA" and my FLGS owner claims to have been to the factory in Memphis, TN where they are made.

The plastic I'm fairly sure is from China as is the card board. I could be wrong.

Sorry, guess I misread your post slightly Hargus. You are saying the raw materials are coming from China. I don't doubt that.

But I could have sworn that I had seen the claim made (and not challenged) before that the models were made in China. Like I said, I know the ones I buy at my FLGS are supposed to be made in Memphis, but didn't know if maybe there was actually a factory in China.

Cowpow
Sorry I didn't make the point explicitly clear.

Competition makes capitalism a bad thing from GW's PoV as retailers undercut their prices.

Whilst at the same time, the price hikes are always defended citing capitalist practice.

Otherwise known has wanting to have their cake and eat it.

the main reason GW raises their prices is because they refuse to aknowledge the fact they have competition, aside from their efforts to twist the arms of their own retailers.

Hopefully, GW will eventually realize that they are losing customers, and retailers, by doing these things.



I think GW thinks that the onlt competition they have is other sellers of 40k, including people selling cheap rip offs to GW's customer base. They don't realize that other games like Flames of War, Warmachine, and Firestorm are also competitors.

GW does have some reason to have higher prices. their figure quality is the best out there(although Avatars of War is coming close) and they have a good game setting.

They just need to lower their prices down to only slightly more expensive then other game systems. make a box of 10 marines $20 again.

They should also start doing sales again. have Army of the Month deals where a certain army is discounted. have Build a Battleforce programs(like you choose 1 HQ, 2 Troops that may or may not have DTs, and choice of 1 HS, FA, or Elite unit. all with a nice fat discount) and bring back the Bits catalogue.

Sorry not the communist musician but Vladimir Ilyich Lenin the communist leader.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. -Churchill

But I'm pretty miserable about my expensive toy soldiers

But dosnt competition make for cheaper products? Like the gas wars where the gas station across the street from each other were always making their prices cheaper than the guy across the street.

I mean if gw did that well they would have the market pretty much cornered.
But with these prices they pretty much invite competition to take their customers.
Or else I really need to pay more attention to business classes.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Good ol commies not my cup of tea haha but ya toy soldiers are expensive I dont plan on buying much for a while.

ha ha ha americans and their crazy prices

Not going to mention aus prices here as i bet it's been ground in that they are excrutiating.
I do find the price hikes odd, since they aim their market at young teens (IMO) yet most young teens can't afford alot of models, let alone tell their friends to join since it is so dam expensive. Although saying all this fantasy is alot cheaper than 40k for some odd reason, the price leaps between units are bizzare though. It's $55 for 16 saurus and $69 for 10 temple guard makes zero sense to me

Your right Fantasy seems a lot cheaper like I mean I spent like 500 ish on fantasy and have well over 3k and jsut thinking 1750 of 40k Ba cost me 550 wow didnt see that coming.

I have heard horror stories about the ausy prices :(

Thats the problem, GW THINKS they have the market cornered and that they can keep prices where they want them.

Competition does make for cheaper prices, but it requires to sellers to actually lower the price.

Now there are some customers who are loyal to the brand, like me. I may scream and fuss over the price, but at the end of the day I fork over the money because I want Warhammer, not Flames of War or Warmachine(although I also play Flames)

now there are people who are less picky. they want a Sci-fi or Fantesy game and look at the options. Then, because they are completely unbiased in terms of their Sci-fi/fantesy fix but are very biased when it comes to their cash, they pick Warmachine because its cheaper. a person who has played GW games for years will find it hard to leave because the universe is so appealing while a newcomer will tend to gravitate towards the cheaper alternative.


I feel confidant that GW will realize the error of their ways and come down to earth soon enough.

I like the brand too to be honest they have great products no question there all the staff I have ever dealt with in North America and Europe have all been great same with customer service.

Its just the prices hurt and I like fantasy a lot and if another game like it comes out from a different company at cheaper I may switch but we will cross that bridge when we get there.

I do complain about prices tho no question asked.

Well they may have a little crash when they push the prices too high and their sales drop off a cliff I would say a few years until it is just ridiculous and they drop the price.

I just hope the Crash doesn't kill them.

I want it to bloody them enough to realize they can't do business like that, but leave them alive to keep making minaitures.

It will hit them hard we do know that but as of their current status they are a giant and if they keep that status it will be a kick in the groin that will make them fall to their knees that should be it then it may hurt a while but they will most likely get back up. Woot lets hope they get that kick in the nuts soon.

I completely agree. I plan on buying one more model (pyrovore to use as a hellcannon) and I think I will be done. If I had the money, I would start warmachine/hordes instead.

As it is, I can't justify paying these prices for the game/hobby. I have no idea how new people are suppose to get started with it. I've seen a couple in a GW store seeming pretty excited when playing a small demonstration game only to walk straight out of the store after looking at some of the prices and realizing how much they needed to start and this was back in 7th when you didn't need hordes and prices were cheaper. I think GW is just shortsighted and will be paying for it in the long run. I've also heard a GW employee say that GW really didn't care where you bought your models because they still made their money from those other retailers. The stores really just served as advertising. It is sad that they have gotten so greedy and are preventing new perspective players from starting. GW has just gotten to be too much; too long to play, too many models, too much $.

I should have just stuck with Necromunda and Mordenheim. Unfortunately, I am limited on time, opportunity, and friends that play it. The GW store is over a half hour drive and doesn't have a big following for either of those games. (some kids in there have never heard of them ) My old gaming buddies are even farther away and setting up a time for all of to get together is difficult to say the least.