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I've heard a lot of aggravation towards GW shops & the redshirts, but I was wondering if there is any way to request a store be built. In the Twin Cities, aka Minneapolis and St. Paul of Minnesota, there is ( I think ) not one GW store. There are many wonderful independent retailers, but I would just like a shop that is guaranteed to have the blister pack, box, ect. that I am looking for. We have this giant complex called the "Mall of America", one of the largest malls in the world (it has its own theme park inside). There is only 1 store in it that sells GW merchandise, and the pickings are pretty slim.

So, is there any way to request a store?

Write a letter, make a phone call, send an email. Hell, you could catch a plane to Nottingham and ask them nicely.

There was a campaign a few years back with ads in White Dwarf asking for suggested locations.

Am pretty sure I also saw something recently, but can't remember where. But I got the impression they were still open to suggestions.

It may be worth having a good look for contacts on the website. If you can't find anything do as Dreadnote suggests.

They have a strategy that is constantly changing as to where stores open. A good bet is that they will be close to other GW stores. And as to how they are opened there is s whole basis on their website for demographics that you can look at and then suggest areas that meet that. Basically Median income over 50k, concentration of schools nearby, outdoor space with good anchor stores and inexpensive rents.

Besides, they are moving to 1 man stores open 5 days a week for 37.5 hours.

Besides, they are moving to 1 man stores open 5 days a week for 37.5 hours.

Hi Orion

if that is true then I pity the poor er that has to run the gaff on his (presumably as never yet seen a female GW salesperson, bit like Femarines, noooo don't open that can of worms!!!) own. Havingto watch out for the thieving little so and so's and all else.

Have worked a store on my own and it ain't good practice.

Cost cutting and hiking up the prices cos there ain't any competion.*
Ah I love the stench of monopolistic practice in the morning!

*Yes I know, I know- but near enough true

I know up here GW runs a campaign to have people kind of nominate a store they'd like to carry their products, but I'm pretty sure it's just for FLGS that they've yet to invade. Although when they shut down the local GW, the staff used this ad as a way to get their customers to badger the powers that be to put a new GW store in the area.

Unfortunately, a giant mall that seems like an ideal place for a GW is exactly the opposite of what they want in a store these days.

@Chibi: While there still was such a thing, my local GW had not one, but TWO female employees over the years.

*insert "ZOMG, taht's liek 4 BEWBSoneoneone!" remarks here.

If my GW stores go to single person, I will take up theft as my second job.

The GW's around here are often single-person :(. I've started going in them a lot less... finally located a FLGS and will be bringing my army for their "Warhammer night" for the first time this Thursday

I know it's a "grass is always greener" thing, but I'd be wishing for a normal hobby store that stocks GW, rather than an actual GW... and the single man run stores somehow make the pressure tactics worse, not better... it's like they can't give you the time of day if you're not buying a battleforce!

Edit: Also, as far as the aggravation with employees goes, my only problem is with the managers. From what I've seen, they treat their employees (and sometimes by extension, customers) like dirt. I've seen too many examples to list... and in the single-man store near me, the person who runs it is the manager, so there's no getting away from them by talking to a "normal" (and, imho, "nice") redshirt. Just trying to make their way in the world and all that, not grinding the underlings under their heel like the managers around here...

Actually, my redshirts and manager are really nice.

Well....two of the redshirts are good, common guys, who are really cool.

One...one of them.

He is literally the girth of a hippo. To provide movement to his massive form, he must waddle back and forth, creating momentum before his form may move.

He literally has to tell people to get OUT OF THE GAP between tables and the shelves, stop their games for a minute, so he can walk through, he is literally HUGE.

The manager pretty much treats the customer like "Hey, you like that? Why don't you FLAKKIN BUY IT BEFORE I CUT YOUR NOSE OFF AND MAKE YOU EAT IT WITH YOUR EARS

I mean, I bought the new beastmen book a while ago, and he was ringing me up and he just said "Oh, you like those beast-man's? Why don't you buy some minotaurs? Gors? Ungors? Bestigors?

I mean....come on. He's a really cool guy on a personal level, but he would probably seem less of an annoyance if he took my wallet out of my pocket and took all the money and gave me boxes of crap.

-----------

Enough ranting...sorry, lol.

My local gw store is fine, a little pushy on sales but nothing unbearable.

I love my GWS. The redshirts are all really nice, and actually don't push much down your throat. They occasionally will say that I should get _____ sooner or later, but not very often. Also, the manager there is always there, and is pure awesome.

Why is it that all GW staff are pushy? Even just a little bit?

It's not like you go into Topshop and have some storegirl trying to force you to buy a pair of jeans that you simply MUST own.

Why does it being a hobby shop mean they have the right to try and tell you what's a good buy. is it just because they're used to dealing with pushover kids who will believe them and hand over £20?

Lack of customer service. Talking with a customer is much different than talking at a customer. Many redshirts and even blackshirts haven't mastered the art, so they fall back to the "buy this buy this buy this", which may work sometimes but for those customers who know how to say 'no' and mean it, it's useless.

never really had a problem with the redshirts at my store. Granted though they never actually wear red...maybe thats the problem They always seem quite happy to talk through things and not force a purchase down my throat, although that may be because Im not 10 and they'll get a decent hobby conversation that the little kiddies can't do.

Still thats my 2 cents. Just wish the staff would stop getting moved to GW HQ so I could walk in without not recognising anyone

Quality of staff varies but they do all try. And yes, there will still be some stores, which will all be called bunkers, that will have more than one staff member but most stores will only have the manager.

The guys in my GW ar awesome the first time I went in they showed me everytihin and are really helpful

The staff in both my local stores are excellent, there have been a couple of tools in the past, but they tend not to last long. From what I have heard GW arent the greatest employer to work for with a combination of low wages, strict targets for introductory games and expecting staff to cover shifts for free (all heard from current or past employees) however they do offer some pretty hefty discounts and allow you to earn money whilst playing with toy soldiers, I dont doubt for one minute that it's hard work with some stores being used as glorified day care centres in the school holidays, but there are far worse jobs out there.

Going back to the staff specificaly at my local stores they are all genuinely helpful, friendly and not pushy. I wouldn't say I was a regular but they tend to recognise me so spare me the typical sales routine which is appreciated.

One thing I can safely say that I havn't ever come across in any GW store is that "can't be arsed" or "what the hell are you doing in here" attitude you tend to get in a lot of retail stores. They are probably the two things which are certain to make me walk back out of a store regardless of if I wanted to buy something or not.

To answer the OP I would suggest emailing them, get your friends to do the same as this can only help.

The Fallen Raven wrote:The guys in my GW ar awesome the first time I went in they showed me everytihin and are really helpful

Thats because its there job to help out new players,
or people new to the store in general.

They were trained to head for the new faces
so that those new faces would buy more things.

You all bring up nice points, and I guess I should be careful of what I wish for. I think I'll try the letter idea, I wasn't sure if that'd work at first. Another reason a friend brought up is that we DO have a bunch of FLGS in the area, real good ones too. Because they buy all their stuff from GW, wouldn't GW be making competition for their customers by opening up a store? Or would cutting out the middle man still be beneficial? I guess that I'll just have to be content w/ the wonderful staff and environment of the FLGSes in the area, and simply have to request that they order a new blister pack.

Karon wrote:Actually, my redshirts and manager are really nice.

Well....two of the redshirts are good, common guys, who are really cool.

One...one of them.

He is literally the girth of a hippo. To provide movement to his massive form, he must waddle back and forth, creating momentum before his form may move.

He literally has to tell people to get OUT OF THE GAP between tables and the shelves, stop their games for a minute, so he can walk through, he is literally HUGE.

The manager pretty much treats the customer like "Hey, you like that? Why don't you FLAKKIN BUY IT BEFORE I CUT YOUR NOSE OFF AND MAKE YOU EAT IT WITH YOUR EARS

I mean, I bought the new beastmen book a while ago, and he was ringing me up and he just said "Oh, you like those beast-man's? Why don't you buy some minotaurs? Gors? Ungors? Bestigors?

I mean....come on. He's a really cool guy on a personal level, but he would probably seem less of an annoyance if he took my wallet out of my pocket and took all the money and gave me boxes of crap.

-----------

Enough ranting...sorry, lol.

We have a one man store and the current guy too k a holiday for abit , so we got a guy in from the next town over. I have seen him before he is nice and all but very pushy about buying stuff. The old guy is back now though and he is awesome not pushy at all nice guy . Anyway it can be a curse or a blessing a local GW . The one man storess are pretty good its not as focused around always having to buy stuff. One man store opened up in my town back in August 09 there are some dudes who come in who are pretty good at playing so they help out the little kids with games. It feels more relaxed not 4 guys walking round like the Inqusition.