Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Just an FYI, here is GW US Customer Service #:

PHONE
Customer Services: 1-800-394-4263



In addition to sending a letter to GW proper----I spoke with a rep for 5-10 minutes RE: their recent policies and he said believe it/or not---they actually do file such calls. So if you have 3 minutes and you're bored. Probably won't do much---but hey you never know when someone will get frustrated and shoot an email to the right person.

And they'll keep filing calls, up until the point that they become too numerous. Remember, this is the company that decided that closing down their own forums was better than addressing the concerns of their customers.

One thing is for sure, if this ramps up much more, and becomes visible to their shareholders, they're going to go into damage control mode to try and head off their shareholders from dumping stock in what looks to be an unstable investment.

It'll have to impact their financials first, though, and it'll have to be visible enough to get the corporate types to take it seriously - no small feat. Vote with your $$$, that is all they care about. If you whine and complain, they'll just ignore you, but if you use $$$ against them, they cannot ignore you.

Their beast must be fed, starve it, and it'll change it's tune.

It's easy to let shareholders know of GW's incompetance in the eyes of their consumers.

Many stock site have comment sections for each company's stock.

Of course you cant just go in bad mouthing the company to be taken seriously, but if you have any stock market savvy and present the details with links in a clear matter, they do get recognized.

I recall something similar being done the last time GW's stocks were plummeting.

If course in that instance, I used it to get better prices on my shares of GW stocks when I shorted it a couple months later trebling my money. But the message was still clear. Shareholders beware of long stock hold. In other words, not worthy of long term investment and only good for riding fad waves such as what will be seen when the new Hobbit movie hits, etc.

Look guys - they've responded!


http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?aId=16600002a

LOL!

Yep. They 'responded' alright.

Article must be fake, if it was real it would have said "finely detailed" in front of products.

Thrax wrote:One thing is for sure, if this ramps up much more, and becomes visible to their shareholders, they're going to go into damage control mode to try and head off their shareholders from dumping stock in what looks to be an unstable investment.

It'll have to impact their financials first, though, and it'll have to be visible enough to get the corporate types to take it seriously - no small feat. Vote with your $$$, that is all they care about. If you whine and complain, they'll just ignore you, but if you use $$$ against them, they cannot ignore you.

Their beast must be fed, starve it, and it'll change it's tune.

Good point. But i'm wondering if the hardcore gamers do this will it make a difference. Considering the GW policy of bagging the newbs into spending a few hundred bucks i don't know if this would make a difference.

misfit wrote:

Thrax wrote:One thing is for sure, if this ramps up much more, and becomes visible to their shareholders, they're going to go into damage control mode to try and head off their shareholders from dumping stock in what looks to be an unstable investment.

It'll have to impact their financials first, though, and it'll have to be visible enough to get the corporate types to take it seriously - no small feat. Vote with your $$$, that is all they care about. If you whine and complain, they'll just ignore you, but if you use $$$ against them, they cannot ignore you.

Their beast must be fed, starve it, and it'll change it's tune.

Good point. But i'm wondering if the hardcore gamers do this will it make a difference. Considering the GW policy of bagging the newbs into spending a few hundred bucks i don't know if this would make a difference.

Likely not to the extent that people are hoping. However, it's a better alternative than raging hard and having that energy go to waste. I empathize with everyone who's upset with GW right now, but I also know the nature of the beast. Wells would like people to think they're helpless vs. his agenda, and to an extent he's right, but if the customer base as a whole shifts dramatically in one of many ways, he'll be all about that legendary customer service once again.

n0t_u wrote:Article must be fake, if it was real it would have said "finely detailed" in front of products.

It would have also said "adjustment" instead of "increase".

Fake.

Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

If they could make the connection that we were not buying their paints/hobby materials because we were pissed at them over recent decisions. Personally I do not think they would ever make the connection...

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

I had a vague idea like this, except I was thinking about a specific model range, but yes targetting modelling materials/tools/paints is a good idea, particularly as the quality of these products isn't that great anyway. As Scythican says a) loads of people would have to sign up to it and b) they would have to know we were doing it.

Flashman wrote:

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

I had a vague idea like this, except I was thinking about a specific model range, but yes targetting modelling materials/tools/paints is a good idea, particularly as the quality of these products isn't that great anyway. As Scythican says a) loads of people would have to sign up to it and b) they would have to know we were doing it.

don't buy space marines!

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

And so the waffling begins!

No, this will not work. If players have to invent strategies to feel like they've protested while still enabling them to buy GW product, then GW still has them by the gonads. You still think you need their product. And as long as you think that, GW can do whatever they want with you. The only thing that will affect company policy is not buying their product period. There are plenty of better games out there and there are plenty of better models. The only thing GW has going for it is being established as a franchise that is well-recognized. They've laid the ground work in getting players onto a common ruleset and game system. If players are really sick of GW gouging them, then it's time that players take responsibility for their own games.

JOHIRA wrote:

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

And so the waffling begins!

Possibly, but who's to say that things like the Great Fan Push Back didn't cause a drop in sales... and subsequently gave GW an excuse to raise prices

Realistically, I think GW will see a steep drop in sales this year, but they'll come up with their own vague reasons (it was a hot summer and everyone went down the beach, quick raise prices, that'll bring them back), but it would be good if there was some form of publicised co-ordinated protest to kick GW in the balls and let them know they were being kicked in the balls. Something like non-attendance of Games Day.

Someone get Anonymous to take down their web store. That will hurt profits.

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

Too late. A lot of people already do this. Many people use Vallejo or others. The generic acrylic paint that you can find in Michael's or other craft stores also works just as well.

Does the idea that citadel paints are necessary for GW models come from the idea that many people have that GW is "the hobby?"

Guildsman wrote:

Just Dave wrote:Just a thought, could one way to damage GW sales without affecting your own hobby be to not use their paints/hobby materials?

Understandably many people want to keep using their models, even if they are unhappy with the way they are being treated by GW, but switching to using other paints and not purchasing other GW hobby materials should still damage their sales - albeit not that much, but every little helps - whilst not changing your hobby experience.

Too late. A lot of people already do this. Many people use Vallejo or others. The generic acrylic paint that you can find in Michael's or other craft stores also works just as well.

Does the idea that citadel paints are necessary for GW models come from the idea that many people have that GW is "the hobby?"

No, it comes from the "idea" that Citadel paints are easier for many people to work with, have a pretty big selection of colors, the boxes and GW painting articles that most people are introduced to when they're first starting out all use Citadel's paints, and what's more: GW and pretty much any independent store who sells their stuff stocks them.

Are they the best paints out there for someone who knows how to color match or do their own mixes to approximate colors? No, they're really not.

But are they bad? Not by a long shot. They're just expensive as all getout for the most part.

CAse is point. Pink Horrors. number of pink's made by GW 1 or 0 Number I've gathered for mine. 13. Then the wifey decides that her colors are set for her brets......

Cutting out just the hobby stuff is minor as people use all sorts of products.

The only thing I can think of that would get their full attention would be a full page advert in a national newspaper. The media would certainly be interested as to why wargames fans were so angry with a company. It would also put the wind up shareholders. I see it as a way to raise genuine concerns without being abusive.

If I had a dollar for everytime i read a thread like this on Dakka I'd have about 17 dollars!!

I'll say what I usually say on these kinds of threads:

Nobody forces you to buy GW stuff. Plenty of cheap minis from all sorts of companys. Ditto that for paints brushes etc. I probably spend more on vodka than I do the hobby, so I don't resent the odd price rise.

I don't want to take anything away from people's anger, but I've been in the hobby a long time (20+ years) and I've seen a lot of things like this go on from GW. My advice would be to adapt. Make your own terrain, buy cheaper stuff from other stores etc

Going and yelling at the web team will acomplish nothing. It is like going to a supermarket and complaining to a shelf stacker, he has no control over what the company does, he just works for them. Futhermore the amount of buisness "experts" that seem to know everything about model making don't know what is happening behind gw's closed doors.

People are asking for a form letter. I posted one in the price rise thread. Feel free to use it. I've also posted it on the fb page, though I get the feeling they'll remove it.

FYI, used to work for an indie stockist. Got me into the hobby. 6 years ago. Prices have increased for battleforces and contents lowered since then.

Started at €50, last time I checked, €80. In 6 years.

it's incredible when you look at simple examples

Black Library (GW publishing arm) is selling eBooks online to the world

From Australia we even pay more for electronic stock

The new story "Midnight on the street of knives" is GBP1.50, but we pay AU$5.99... even though the exchange rate for the last 2 years has been in the vicinity of AU$2.28

Other eBook offerings are

GBP2.50 AU$6.99 exchange rate AU$3.81
GBP6.50 AU$13.99 exchange rate AU$9.90
GBP8.50 AU$19.00 exchange rate AU$12.94

how can they do this

Oh yeah... coz we keep paying it

Mik


Where is their justification for that

oni wrote:Someone get Anonymous to take down their web store. That will hurt profits.

That would be interesting as it is a corrupt company that does need to get their head back in gear. Just shoot Anonymous an email about what GW has been exactly doing. Of course I can't really say they will do anything plus it would be a bad idea. Knowing them

Also I commented on it saying, what the helk oh well Time to play sc2 and blizzard games...

Hey all, I had an account here a long time ago, apparently lost to the Warp. I lurk here, post on Warseer. HBMC and I go waaay back over on Spacebattles. I've been following the conversation on this entire debacle and wrote an editorial for a blog/podcast I'm a part of here in New York, Tabletop Hooligans. Incorporated into it is some stuff I've seen in some threads here on DakkaDakka, and I wanted to post a link here to give everyone an opportunity to see it. I specifically wanted to thank to guys who posted the customer service numbers and the UK mailing addresses for Games Workshop. Who knows, maybe we can make a difference.

Have a look and let me know what you think.

http://tabletophooligans.com/?p=241

Slacker - that was an extremely well-written and informative editorial. Well done, sir. That's the kind of level-headed writing we need to get across to other fans, and most importanly, GW itself - that we're not just "nerdraging" or whining, but that we're honestly upset about things and we HAVE thought things through and done our research before making this decision. Carries a lot more weight behind it than simply moaning and screaming.

And welcome (back) to Dakka!

Jervis likes mail for his column/article/blatherfest doesn't he?

Slacker wrote:Hey all, I had an account here a long time ago, apparently lost to the Warp. I lurk here, post on Warseer. HBMC and I go waaay back over on Spacebattles. I've been following the conversation on this entire debacle and wrote an editorial for a blog/podcast I'm a part of here in New York, Tabletop Hooligans. Incorporated into it is some stuff I've seen in some threads here on DakkaDakka, and I wanted to post a link here to give everyone an opportunity to see it. I specifically wanted to thank to guys who posted the customer service numbers and the UK mailing addresses for Games Workshop. Who knows, maybe we can make a difference.

Have a look and let me know what you think.

http://tabletophooligans.com/?p=241

Fantastic. This is exactly what I was hoping to see. Everyone that cares about their hobby needs to get serious, right now, if they expect to be able to enjoy it for even another year. GW is headed for a trainwreck and clearly they need some collective input to "right the ship" if you will.

People need to stop posting internet flames, stop whining within the walls of their FLGS, and start making the types of positive contributions, such as this article suggests, that will bring our hobby back from the brink.

Some of you may not yet be convinced that things are truly all that bad, or that they will ever be - but if you sit this out, you will find that this is not a all-of-a-sudden thing, and GW is literally taking our hobby away from us. With their latest garbage they've effectively taken half the globe out of the hobby via pricing it beyond people's means. With these yearly price hikes, this WILL BE THE REST OF US before you realize it.

Act now. Be courteous and mature. Tell GW you're walking away until they address the community in a way that is more than patronizing, and let them call your bluff. Stand firm. They won't last a year if we all cut back. Their stock will slip and they will re-evaluate this strategy.

Your alternative is to wait. To wait and enjoy the same fate as Australia and NZ in a few more years, when a box of tactical marines costs as much as a battleforce.

Trust me, I am not normally someone to "call people to arms" over the internet - but if you sincerely care about this hobby even a little, you need to follow through with due diligence and do what you can, legally and maturely, to protect your investment in it.