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 loki old fart wrote:
I think that's because you can't. Because he never actually said where he bought them from.

Whatever man. If you can't be bothered to find the post yourself it isn't my job to find it for you. I really couldn't care less one way or the other if he did or didn't. Not like posting a comment on dakka is like testifying in court or anything. This has to be the funniest response I've ever gotten here...

Skriker

Cost of overhead MUST be paid.

It is done through selling goods or services.

If the goods do not sell enough, services need to be charged.

Simple math for a business, they MUST pay their bills and some amount of profit for expanding the business is needed.

Keeping count of foot traffic entering the store per month, overhead cost per month, gross sales per month (Can even track each instance of a sale to figure out ratio of sales vs. people entered store) all then gives a picture of what is going on and where you have your revenue issues.

Tables or space in general may need a membership fee or charge on use if the turnover of stock is not enough to pay the bills.

I contacted GW this morning,

My original email to GW (copy & pasted OP start of thread) -

"GW,
So my local GW just started a new policy whereby you have to spend £10 for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store- whether it be using a table for a game or just modelling/painting. Is this a new policy?
Thanks'
John"

That was it, (I did add "Is this a new policy?")

...................................and based on their response, and speed of it, I would say that manager crossed the line. Speaking to my local GW manager, they have quotas to meet, and they are under pressure, so someone may have turned to this trick.

Here is response -

"Hey there,
Thanks for writing in to us and bringing this to our attention.  We take this kind of feedback about our stores extremely seriously and I will be sure to pass your comments on to the appropriate people for further investigation.  It may be that we have to contact you for further information of clarification on some of the points you’ve raised.  Would you be open to being contacted by us and can you provide us with a phone number for us to do so?
Thanks!
Games Workshop"


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well this opened a can of worms, 2 more GW emails...

"Hey there,
Thanks for being open to us contacting you but you did not provide us with a phone number.
Thanks!"

They REALLY want to get to the bottom of this NOW!

Please keep us informed of the communication. Fascinated to see the outcome of this.

 bu11etmagn3tt wrote:
I contacted GW this morning, and based on their response, and speed of it, I would say that manager crossed the line. Speaking to my local GW manager, they have quotas to meet, and they are under pressure, so someone may have turned to this trick.

Here is response -

"Hey there,
Thanks for writing in to us and bringing this to our attention.  We take this kind of feedback about our stores extremely seriously and I will be sure to pass your comments on to the appropriate people for further investigation.  It may be that we have to contact you for further information of clarification on some of the points you’ve raised.  Would you be open to being contacted by us and can you provide us with a phone number for us to do so?
Thanks!
Games Workshop"


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well this opened a can of worms, 2 more GW emails...

"Hey there,
Thanks for being open to us contacting you but you did not provide us with a phone number.
Thanks!"

They REALLY want to get to the bottom of this NOW!

Well, yeah. Of course they do.

From the way you posted earlier in this thread, I'm thinking your email was worded such that it's easy to insinuate that the manager is actually requiring people to PAY to use the tables.
There's a very subtle difference between "Buy X amount of product to use the table" and "Pay X amount of money to use the table".
The first option uses the register and leaves a trail that can be followed by transactions and still results in product being sold along with money being properly handled. The second allows for someone to be actively stealing/skimming product and selling it on the side while also shorting the register.

The second scenario is something I've seen before in independent shops that weren't very well run.

If you worded your email in such a way that they think "One of our managers is stealing"--of course they want to get to the bottom of it.

Another email from GW...

"Hey there,
We would like to get some more clarifying information from you. What Games Workshop location did this occur? What is the manager's name? Do you have receipts of these transactions? The more information you can provide the better.
Thanks"

So, Psy-Titan (OP), who, what, when, how often, and where?

Or did you just make this (troll) thread up?






Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 bu11etmagn3tt wrote:
I contacted GW this morning, and based on their response, and speed of it, I would say that manager crossed the line. Speaking to my local GW manager, they have quotas to meet, and they are under pressure, so someone may have turned to this trick.

Here is response -

"Hey there,
Thanks for writing in to us and bringing this to our attention.  We take this kind of feedback about our stores extremely seriously and I will be sure to pass your comments on to the appropriate people for further investigation.  It may be that we have to contact you for further information of clarification on some of the points you’ve raised.  Would you be open to being contacted by us and can you provide us with a phone number for us to do so?
Thanks!
Games Workshop"


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well this opened a can of worms, 2 more GW emails...

"Hey there,
Thanks for being open to us contacting you but you did not provide us with a phone number.
Thanks!"

They REALLY want to get to the bottom of this NOW!

Well, yeah. Of course they do.

From the way you posted earlier in this thread, I'm thinking your email was worded such that it's easy to insinuate that the manager is actually requiring people to PAY to use the tables.
There's a very subtle difference between "Buy X amount of product to use the table" and "Pay X amount of money to use the table".
The first option uses the register and leaves a trail that can be followed by transactions and still results in product being sold along with money being properly handled. The second allows for someone to be actively stealing/skimming product and selling it on the side while also shorting the register.

The second scenario is something I've seen before in independent shops that weren't very well run.

If you worded your email in such a way that they think "One of our managers is stealing"--of course they want to get to the bottom of it.

My original email to GW (copy & pasted OP start of thread) -

"GW,
So my local GW just started a new policy whereby you have to spend £10 for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store- whether it be using a table for a game or just modelling/painting. Is this a new policy?
Thanks'
John"

That was it, (I did add "Is this a new policy?" .....now they are in a tizzy & witch hunt.

 Elgrun wrote:
This poor hygiene thing... I mean people are talking about smell right? I really can't imagine this being an issue for 99% of fanbase's , why does it have to be one for ours?

Seems like there's a plague of these people looking at some of these posts.... Honestly if you can't respect people enough to pick up a bar of soap everyday then I'm fine with kicking them out.

It's not uncommon in any RPG crowd, too, though incidents of it usually decrease the older your gaming group gets, or if you only game among friends to whom you don't feel so off in telling them to wash their ass. However, some of the game-tables Ive sat at at RustyCon or NWCon or DragonCon or whatever, were definitely ripe for an Old Spice commercial to break out at.

Though, there are people with poor hygiene all over the place, basically through choice, and not just in war-gaming or RPGs or whatever... just that most of us are unlikely to encounter such people on a regular basis. I'm sure anyone here who works at a grocery or other high-volume retail location, or in a call-center, could comment on some of their customers/co-workers.

Insaniak wrote:
You have apparently arbitrarily decided that people with poor hygiene are TFGs who will refuse to pay for table space. Which is just an absolutely bizarre thing to say.

You do realize that "TFG" is a very open-ended term. It's "That Fething Guy", as in "don't be That Guy", where "That Guy" fits a contextually-defined standard of unwanted behavior or action.

For example, it's the guy who cuts his way through the line at the grocery store by standing at the magazine rack and staring at the swimsuit model, who then hops in line ahead of you with a basket full of wtfever... and then tries to pay cash but doesn't have enough and so has to then spend 20 minutes deciding what he's going to have the clerk put back..

Don't be "That Fething Guy".

TFGs are not always some WAAC-type player. TFG could be the kid who only plays fluffy build lists but then bursts into tears when his badly-FOC'd SM army gets blown off the table by your SOB list, because "SPACE MUHREENS DON'T EVER LOOSE (sic) !!11one!!eleven!!"

Don't be "That Fething Guy".

TFG, in this usage, is the TFG that sits there in the store, getting Cheetos dust all over the store copy of the book, hasn't bathed in six months, and leers at anything with an X chromosome that walks through the door. Actual play-style is irrelevant.

Don't be That Fething Guy.

Kanluwen thinks I should have emailed the entire claim/rant that the OP had...

"So my local GW just started a new policy whereby you have to spend £10 for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store- whether it be using a table for a game or just modelling/painting. As someone who is in the process of building up the 4000pts worth of models which I have already bought and so will not be receiving this store credit I am pretty annoyed. I like to use the tables for gaming and painting because it makes the hobby more social, and besides that, there is the fact I've been buying models from GW for 20 years now and apparently that counts for nothing and I'm effectively banned from the store unless I buy more stuff. I should have my own seat! Anyone else experienced this policy and what do you think about it? "

Although, I feel that the main first sentence was sufficient in getting an answer from GW. It was also the main point of his (the OP) thread and beef. Does anyone else feel I had some influence on the answer from GW because I left out -

"As someone who is in the process of building up the 4000pts worth of models which I have already bought and so will not be receiving this store credit I am pretty annoyed. I like to use the tables for gaming and painting because it makes the hobby more social, and besides that, there is the fact I've been buying models from GW for 20 years now and apparently that counts for nothing and I'm effectively banned from the store unless I buy more stuff. I should have my own seat! Anyone else experienced this policy and what do you think about it?"

Personally, I do not see any info in the extra portion that would change GWs mind that it is WRONG AND AGAINST POLICY to require a minimum purchase to use the tables that are in the store and/or pay to use the tables...

The meat & potatoes of the original OPs post was -

"So my local GW just started a new policy whereby you have to spend £10 for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store- whether it be using a table for a game or just modelling/painting. "

And that is that. An official GW store/manager requiring a 10 pound min purchase to use tables, is enough for GW to hear and give an answer to.... (based on their reaction, I would say there was a foul here).

Wrong is Wrong no matter how you slice it/word it.

Now we only need to know if either
A.) The OP was trolling,
or,
B.) The OP was honest & if it is policy or a GW Manager needs to be fired.

End of story.

Pretty sure that I didn't say anything about that.

Personally though I don't think that "you should have emailed the entire claim/rant that the OP had".

I don't think that YOU should have emailed them anything except a link to this thread and a brief explanation of the situation. Something to the effect of "Soandso on Dakka Dakka is claiming that their local GW store is now requiring players to buy a minimum of 10 GBP worth of product for every two hours of table use. Is this something that is encouraged by your corporate policies?"

"The main first sentence" is vague and provides very little actual information.

It's important to remember as well that a shop requiring a 10 pound minimum purchase to use tables for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store is VERY different from a shop requiring you to flatout spend 10 pounds for every 2 hours.

 Elgrun wrote:
This poor hygiene thing... I mean people are talking about smell right? I really can't imagine this being an issue for 99% of fanbase's , why does it have to be one for ours?

Seems like there's a plague of these people looking at some of these posts.... Honestly if you can't respect people enough to pick up a bar of soap everyday then I'm fine with kicking them out.

Should be no problem telling a stinky person that they need to bathe. Simply tel them it is affecting your busniness because it is chasing customers away. Tell them they are welcome back when they dont stink.
This case is obviously not because of "stinky players" though.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Pretty sure that I didn't say anything about that.

Personally though I don't think that "you should have emailed the entire claim/rant that the OP had".

I don't think that YOU should have emailed them anything except a link to this thread and a brief explanation of the situation. Something to the effect of "Soandso on Dakka Dakka is claiming that their local GW store is now requiring players to buy a minimum of 10 GBP worth of product for every two hours of table use. Is this something that is encouraged by your corporate policies?"

"The main first sentence" is vague and provides very little actual information.

It's important to remember as well that a shop requiring a 10 pound minimum purchase to use tables for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store is VERY different from a shop requiring you to flatout spend 10 pounds for every 2 hours.

I PMd the OP several times & posted a msg to him to contact GW direct. He gave no answer. I assumed since my word for word email to GW (the OPs actual words) were "under attack/scrutiny" I would not have emailed my point of view/understanding of a thread to GW... (Last time I sent GW a link, they blew it off, they have a policy not to comment or get entangled with blogs)... AGAIN, I SENT GW THE OPS EXACT PHRASE. No interp, translation, not my words, nada.... Get off my back, I have NO weight on GW saying it is wrong. Contact the OP and have him give you a COMPLETE word by word dissect of his underlying meanings of the words he said or meant to say.

At the end of the day, an official GW store does not charge entry fees, and/or fees to stay in stores, and/or fees to use tables, and/or require minimum purchases to do any of the mentioned, and/or sell food/drinks, and/or violate GW policy......it is not GW policy/nor is it the manager's right or decision to make a policy for his/her own store, or any combo of the above.

Your starting to sound like Bill Clinton.....


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Medium of Death wrote:

 Psy-Titan wrote:
So my local GW just started a new policy whereby you have to spend £10 for every 2 hours you want to spend in the store- whether it be using a table for a game or just modelling/painting. As someone who is in the process of building up the 4000pts worth of models which I have already bought and so will not be receiving this store credit I am pretty annoyed. I like to use the tables for gaming and painting because it makes the hobby more social, and besides that, there is the fact I've been buying models from GW for 20 years now and apparently that counts for nothing and I'm effectively banned from the store unless I buy more stuff. I should have my own seat! Anyone else experienced this policy and what do you think about it?

This did not happen.

We've had this exact thread before and it did not happen.

This right here.

Troll thread.

GW responded to me (if this is really happening) it is a violation of GW policy.

Take this thread with a big dose of salt...... the OP (who joined a year ago) is "A fresh face new user" and has 2 threads started.....


Automatically Appended Next Post:
OP said it was one of these stores ("...London borough location...") but did not want to get manager in trouble (Because "...he is a nice guy...")


Games Workshop

Lancer Square, London · +44 20 7937 7011

Unit F10, The Plaza, 116/128 Oxford Street, London · +44 20 7436 0839

3637a Myddleton Street, LONDON · +44 20 7713 0835

Unit 33 The Market, London · +44 20 7240 5106

161 King St, London · +44 20 8846 9744

Unit 93 The Mall Wood Green, London · +44 20 8889 1079

117 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, LONDON · +44 20 8883 9901

Moor House, 120 London Wall, London · +44 800 394 4263

33 Fife Road, Kingston upon Thames · +44 20 8549 5224

F9 Mall 3 Shopping Centre Brent Cross, London · +44 20 8202 4979

So, anyone go to these locations? Anyone else get charged?


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Reds8n

 loki old fart wrote:

Spoiler:

 scottmmmm wrote:

loki old fart wrote:

 Skriker wrote:

 loki old fart wrote:

 Skriker wrote:

 loki old fart wrote:
The OP stated that he had 4000 points of army to paint. Did he buy them from there.? Anybody ask ? besides me.

Pretty early on he said that he had recently bought all of those minis at the store in question and was miffed because he was being given grief about not buying something "today" to be able to play on the tables. That would annoy me as well.

Skriker

Did he? where? link it

I recalled reading it early on...sorry if you want to see the post, then feel free to go through all the thread and find it, as I don't have time to do it for you.

Skriker

I think that's because you can't. Because he never actually said where he bought them from.

Psy-Titan wrote: As someone who is in the process of building up the 4000pts worth of models which I have already bought and so will not be receiving this store credit I am pretty annoyed.

I think it's implied by this sentence. The mention of store credit suggests that he/she bought the models there and won't have back-dated time in the store to account for that.

Pretty shoddy customer service if true...

The post only suggests it, nowhere does he say for certain that he bought those 4000 pts of models in that shop.

I can't help thinking this is a troll thread.

Like I said troll thread.

You're maybe thinking of this thread..

There have been a few weird ones... I particularly remember one kid posting how one GW manager had some sort of surveillance software monitoring what he was buying.

I facebooked messaged all London GW stores, and GW HQ in the UK, so far 2 managers said this is not policy, and it is untrue. Hq said they are investigating.

London based GW stores are probably going to get a few mystery customers scheduled now.

few more responses....

I think this most likely troll OP has started a official inquest.

Well, if what those FB GW people posted, there's no "official inquest". If a Store Manager can run his store as he likes, then he's free to charge for table time, or to give vouchers/coupons that can be used towards it if you spend X amount.

Mhm apparently in that email they were interested in just what store was doing it rather than just giving it the ok.

.................do not charge, or require minimum purchase to get hours....

pejota wrote:
My FLGS here in the states has a slightly similar policy.

If you buy stuff from him you can play on the tables for free. He also runs tournaments and special events but doesn't charge an entry fee.

If you buy stuff from the internet/ebay you have to pay to use the table OR pay his markup on the item as if you bought it from him. For example, a guy got a great deal on some sisters on ebay. After he paid the markup, he still paid less than if he bought them outright and the store owner was cool with him using them in the store.

lol this guy sounds like he is in the mob, he gets a cut of all warhammer action no matter where it happens.

You are free to buy from who ever you want, as long as bender gets to wet his beak lol.

another London manager -

"...we don't charge for anything other than the product off the shelves. I couldn't imagine this would be true but that my guess. It would be a manager up to it, and it would be against the rules. Let me know if you find out anything else.
Thanks
~Mitchel"

I know of a GW store that give vouchers for table/store time for purchases over a certain value.
It's a good idea, and can let people 'jump the queue' if there is a queue.
But it seems as though some stores run schemes of some kind. Taking money for table-time seems to be the tipping point for GW HQ to clamp down.

I don't play my games in GW or independant stores.

I go to a club where I pay £2 to play, no matter how many games I get in. This I am happy to pay as all the money generated goes into a kitty to buy more scenery/rulebooks for the club (they get the space for free as the pub gets more money from drinks and food).

Yeah, if my local GW starts charging for table use I'll just go to the club more often, with 5 times the number of tables, heaps of terrain to choose from, and no little kids to bother me while I'm painting. Or I'll grab a bus and go to the other local store a bit further away.

My FLGS charges a flat fee for use of the gaming space/painting tables that runs at the equivalent of about 5.5$ for full day access and I definitely don't mind paying that for the ~4 hours I usually end up spending there when I do.

Ok, so all the London locations responded and do not charge, or require minimum purchase to get hours.... or if they do, it is rare.....

 bu11etmagn3tt wrote:
I'll be darned...maybe UK stores are run differently....

Games Workshop: Croydon
So It's not as straight forward as that. Some GW managers run voucher schemes, where you get a voucher every time you spend certain amounts of money. These can be used for gaming table time,paint station time as well as entry into certain store events. This is the choice the manager, and can be attributed to only having certain amounts of space for games, painting etc, and rewarding loyal customers with the time to use the space. I myself don't do this but I have the space to be able to facilitate most hobby requests and needs. All I ask is two days notice for bookings, as I do get busy. Hope this helps

How does this point to croyden??? Try reading before posting.

 Psienesis wrote:


TFG, in this usage, is the TFG that sits there in the store, getting Cheetos dust all over the store copy of the book, hasn't bathed in six months, and leers at anything with an X chromosome that walks through the door. Actual play-style is irrelevant.

yeah, Bi-Sexual TFGs are the worse. They hit on everyone

Woops, you are right. Serves me right for reading on my iPhone....


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Mod, go ahead and lock thread. Conclusion is either OP (who has not responded to posts or pms) of other thread is trolling and/or just wants to bad mouth gw , or, in my inquiries a manager of one of the 14 gws in london realized his scam was up (if this truely happening at all)......probably will stop now.....