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First a disclaimer: this isn't intended to be a GW bashing thread. Its just a question

I am a younger gamer and was wondering how the GW prices have gone up in relation to inflation? Is a 33$ Rhino about comparable to the prices around the RT/ 2nd/ 3rd edition prices (In relation to inflation, etc)

I seem to remember a big discussion about it after the Finecast price hike. Killkrazy made a spreadsheet calculating what how prices would be if they followed inflation and what they are actually, if you have the patience and the aptitude to work the Dakka search engine to find the relevant thread.

In relative terms you get a lot less for your money now as GW prices have consistently raised higher than inflation.

The models they make now are not the same as back then, the Rhino is a different casting. But again, the old rhino model had still undergone higher-than-inflation price increases up to the point at which it was removed from the shelves. Originally they were 3 for £10 (in about 1988) but soon came to be sold separately. I think they were £15 each when they were removed from sale for the new release which was in the early 2000s.

Some other models increase due to them reducing the number in the box while altering the price. Catachans were £10 for 20 when first released for 3rd ed 40K and now they are £18 for 10.

Eldar Aspect Warrior price hike from NZ$64 to NZ$75.

Wave Serpent costs NZ$87 whilst Raider, Chimera, Rhino, Ghost Ark all cost NZ$64,WTF?

A SINGLE GUARDIAN JETBIKE costs NZ$23 and a Shrieker Jetbike costs NZ$32.

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????

Basically GW has consistently doubled or tripled the rate of inflation in their price hikes over the last 10 years. The result has compounded.

Because the only other country to pay more for this stuff than us Aussies are you kiwis.

It's payback for the All-blacks beating them at their own game.
(They just don't like Australia - hence why they stole our best and brightest to go to the US. I miss Dave Taylor's visits to my (old) local store.)

Don't forget Japan, Brazil, South Africa and a few other places.

Genestealers which are practically the same design as 15 years ago were once 12 for £5.

That's some big inflation. I seem to remember Imperial Guards being 20 for £15 including a heavy weapon squad around 3/4 years ago (I think it included a HWS anyway)


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Genestealers which are practically the same design as 15 years ago were once 12 for £5.

That's some big inflation. I seem to remember Imperial Guards being 20 for £15 including a heavy weapon squad around 3/4 years ago (I think it included a HWS anyway)

Nope, the guard boxes did not include HWT - they were a separate box (RT Imperial Guard DID include Lascannons for every x guy though).

When I first got into wargaming, (~5 years ago?) I bought SM tac squads for $30 US and a land raider for $50 US, no discount. So, prices have gone up considerably. I certainly know my parents would have laughed at me if prices were this high when I started buying in.

adameast wrote:Genestealers which are practically the same design as 15 years ago were once 12 for £5.

That's some big inflation.

'Practically the same design'? It's an updated kit. It's going to look similar.

Not defending the inflation here, but that statement is just stupid.

New genestealers are multi-part with optional parts. The older ones were simply three part assemblies that all looked the same, so it's not really fair.

I haven't got any of the new ones but much prefer them.

DoctorZombie wrote: First a disclaimer: this isn't intended to be a GW bashing thread. Its just a question

I am a younger gamer and was wondering how the GW prices have gone up in relation to inflation? Is a 33$ Rhino about comparable to the prices around the RT/ 2nd/ 3rd edition prices (In relation to inflation, etc)

About 500% mark up from the old RT era days.

Unexcusable on any planet.

Oh, and 3 rhinos per box, 2 landraiders per box, a regiment of around 30+ guys in thier boxed set.

They had a couple of WHITE DWARF games, where they would end up selling you the figs for them- all told the guys were less then eight bucks or so.
those boxed sets, cost around 10 -15 bucks. Metals? pft... a measily 20 bucks.

I'm wondering what the cost progression for individual characters is.

I remember looking at the selection at the FLGS a few days ago, and the prices were just absurdly high. Single blister characters with an average price of $25, ranging between $20 and $30 per character. I mean, I've only been wargaming for 4 years now, but I remember when I bought a Big Mek for $18... looking on the shelf now, he's $30.

GW prices, especially in the last 5/6 years, have generally risen about 3x inflation, codex books and basic Guardsmen are ~165% of what they cost back in 2006. At this rate a codex will be $55 in 2016. Given the current financial and economic environment, where many people haven't seen a raise in years or lost their jobs/can't get them/are underemployed/etc, this is a double-whammy.

TL;DR GW's prices rising several multiples higher than inflation, game becoming noticeably more expensive than it was previously even adjusted for inflation, while wages have remained largely stagnant or even declined during the same time period, making it even more expensive.

They've done a steady increase just over the past few years, (No account from me before then as I was not looking at buying anything).

To show a small example; the Grot Oiler model, http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440269a&prodId=prod1140253 was originally realeased slightly after the Ork codex was, at a price of 5.15$ or so, don't remember the cents exactly. Anyway, the codex was released back in 2008 and we're going to assume that even though the Oiler model came after the initial codex, since the book was in january that the model came during that same year. Over the next three years this model has jumped in price from it's original 5.15$ to a cost of 8.25$. This may not be astronomical but it's till a heavty percentage of a jump for something like that.

Another fun example is the Assault on Black Reach which was, when I bought it last summer, 60$ now being priced at 100$.

These seem to be, I believe, a 30% or so increase in price on a year to year basis. I've no comparison to other gaming cites and stores but it seems to be a rather hefty

Grot 6 wrote:

DoctorZombie wrote: First a disclaimer: this isn't intended to be a GW bashing thread. Its just a question

I am a younger gamer and was wondering how the GW prices have gone up in relation to inflation? Is a 33$ Rhino about comparable to the prices around the RT/ 2nd/ 3rd edition prices (In relation to inflation, etc)

About 500% mark up from the old RT era days.

Unexcusable on any planet.

Oh, and 3 rhinos per box, 2 landraiders per box, a regiment of around 30+ guys in thier boxed set.

They had a couple of WHITE DWARF games, where they would end up selling you the figs for them- all told the guys were less then eight bucks or so.
those boxed sets, cost around 10 -15 bucks. Metals? pft... a measily 20 bucks.

Price of a Ford Model T vs the price of their top end Luxo SUV? I dunno, yes it's more expensive but can you really compare something like a RTB-01 to a current Death Company? IMO there is too much detail (I hate painting it) on current minis and think they should have more cleaner lines like Infinity or Hasslefree as I can bang out their minis and enjoy the brush work

Some items have gone up way more than others.

For example, IG troopers cost $29 for 10 now rather than the old $30 for 20, ensuring no new player will accidentally pick IG.

ph34r wrote:Some items have gone up way more than others.

For example, IG troopers cost $29 for 10 now rather than the old $30 for 20, ensuring no new player will accidentally pick IG.

You'd think so, but they are my first and favorite army, no matter how much money I've thrown away because of them.

Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality. The question to ask is weather or not it is a fair price related to the cost GW has invested into the current products.

Things like paying the artists, the overhead regarding molds/materials and packaging/shipping and staff as well as the AMAZING return policy (which they take a hit for). How much does it cost to get the stuff out?

Well, I personally don't know but I could see the markup for GW products being something like 800-1000% which is pretty crazy but not unheard of, look at the clothing industry, for example. Only thing is GW has a monopoly on GW products and kits so its not exactly fair IMO to charge the prices they are charging.

I wonder if lowering the prices substantially will increase sales/profits...I believe it will. I know that I make it a point NEVER to buy anything retail/full price from GW and most if not ALL of my current forces are from prize support from tournaments or ebay/trades.

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

Finecast?

Fafnir wrote:

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

Finecast?

If only we could say that

Fafnir wrote:

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

Finecast?

Look at the models 10-5 years ago compared to today, the ones today look so much cooler IMO. Some of the new kits are really great like the necro sphinx/war sphinx model and I do like the direction the new plastics are going in. I think the Lizardmen line from Fantasy or the Dark Elf line are a good indication, the old plastics were hideous for saurus warriors lol... I still have 40 of them.

mortetvie wrote:

Fafnir wrote:

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

Finecast?

Look at the models 10-5 years ago compared to today, the ones today look so much cooler IMO. Some of the new kits are really great like the necro sphinx/war sphinx model and I do like the direction the new plastics are going in. I think the Lizardmen line from Fantasy or the Dark Elf line are a good indication, the old plastics were hideous for saurus warriors lol... I still have 40 of them.

While design has improved, the quality of the finecast that get sold is pitiful, some models are so deformed that they cannot be repaired, GW is reasonably gracious and offers returns but even then you could still get ANOTHER bad model. The only measure of avoidance is to shop at a local store that allows you to open the packaging to check out the model before purchasing it.

I think when I got into playing in maybe 1996? I got a box of 20 gobbos for 30-35 AU$, the exact same models now cost 55 AU$ for the 20.

I would have to say that the new models gw are producing are somewhat better quality than previous models made.

The new DE range is a good example, pretty high quality stuff.


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Yeah the stuff is expensive, but I still buy it, just cause I enjoy the hobby.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Don't forget Japan, Brazil, South Africa and a few other places.

Pretty much everywhere outside of US and EU wasn't it? Even then there are probably places in the EU.

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

The exact same Cadian troopers that cost $35 for 20 in 2009 are $29 for 10 now, that's a 65% price hike in two years for the exact same models.

Vaktathi wrote:

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

The exact same Cadian troopers that cost $35 for 20 in 2009 are $29 for 10 now, that's a 65% price hike in two years for the exact same models.

But look at that new awesome box art...Worth it!

Squidmanlolz wrote:

mortetvie wrote:

Fafnir wrote:

mortetvie wrote:Prices have considerably gone up but so has the quality.

Finecast?

Look at the models 10-5 years ago compared to today, the ones today look so much cooler IMO. Some of the new kits are really great like the necro sphinx/war sphinx model and I do like the direction the new plastics are going in. I think the Lizardmen line from Fantasy or the Dark Elf line are a good indication, the old plastics were hideous for saurus warriors lol... I still have 40 of them.

While design has improved, the quality of the finecast that get sold is pitiful, some models are so deformed that they cannot be repaired, GW is reasonably gracious and offers returns but even then you could still get ANOTHER bad model. The only measure of avoidance is to shop at a local store that allows you to open the packaging to check out the model before purchasing it.

Exactley why I asked for the metal farseer for christmas.

Please note I have been talking about the plastics, not finecast. I have no experience with finecast and am not too enthused on investing in any finecast models anytime soon.