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What is the worst experience you have ever had at games workshop or local gaming store?

The worst thing that has ever happened to me was i had just bought a pro-painted mini off ebay and i was putting some
personal touches on it and i got up to go watch a big game going on at a table
and when i came back there was black paint spilled all over my model.
Hence i will never by a pro-painted mini ever again.


but that was the games workshop in Richmond VA,now i have to go to fairfax which is four hours away but it is a much better store(even though it has the same owner.)

jetjetex wrote:Hence i will never by a pro-painted mini ever again.

This reminds me of my friend who ate a rare-cooked burger, got food poisoning, and blamed it on the lettuce instead of the bloody chunk of half-raw meat. The lesson I would draw from this is, "don't leave pro-painted minis unattended on a painting table in a store where there are sweaty nerds bumping into each other.

My first and only visit. My friend and I travelled 45 minutes to the closest store. We were pretty psyched up for what was supposed to be a good trip. According to the white Dwarf they would allow free help and painting. Well when we got there the paints were put away.Ok, no big deal. So we decided to play a game, it worked out alright. It was when the new IG codex was out. They wouldn't let me see the store copy, the red shirt let his friend see the codex. Then to top it off the Red Shirt was eating nachos, I brought a little snack bag of popcorn and was told "no." Suffice to say it was horrible. We called up the Customer Service and told them the whole thing. Last time I checked that man no longer worked at the Games Workshop.

I had a pretty miserable experience a few months ago. I've just started playing small tourneys and events for WHFB, and I was psyched for the "North American Tournament" and talked to the local GW manager about it. We talked several times since there are a few stores in the area that I could play at. We only had 3 of us signed up for the local store, so he called a friend earlier in the week to be an opponent for me, and it was all set.

Three of us showed up with well painted armies... the friend had an army that was falling apart and with some unpainted models. It was skaven, and some units he just piled onto a movement tray. His trays were larger than needed, so he often moved them saying that he "meant for them to be here". He got upset when I charged the flank of a unit, saying I should have warned him when he moved it.

He also mopped the floor with my army (figuratively speaking), only I found out on the last turn that he took an illeagal list.

I was bummed because I'd been talking to the manager about it for a few weeks, and would have much rather played the game at another store than have him line up this opponent for me...

I haven't been back to the store since then, although I think it's been long enough that I might give it another try. I don't know, I'd rather go to a store that plans out their events and pulls them off well.

By contrast, my best gaming experience so far has been the tournament at mikhaila's store. Aces all the way! I'll definitely be attending more events there in the future, despite the drive.

I myself am just not fond of the GW retailers. They are not personal enough, half of them know little about the hobby. I mean they know the basics. The painting and modeling, Forget about it. Im well acquainted to the owners at 3 of the independent retailers here and i just go there. There i can at least discuss things outside of the new releases.

I was a Blackshirt for two years. *shudder*

WITCH......Burn him!

I have not really had any bad experiences at any of the local GW/gaming stores, except maybe for the one time a sweaty Michael Moore lookalike neckbearded behemoth walked in without a shirt on.

I haven't had bad experiences in mi city's GWS. But I had one with my FLGS: they closed :(

My Games Workshop is awesome. The manager knows a lot about Warhammer 40k, same with any of the three red shirts you see there. They even sometimes come into the store when they aren't working to play games. One of the redshirts is even going to play a game with me and my dad soon. They are great at painting, and to top it off, there is one guy who goes there who knows a lot about tactics.

once a 6 foot 4 inch tall man who prolly weighed atlest 370 lbs, had a ratty neck beard and was missing teeth approached me and said "I just bought new ogres for my list! game? game? game?"

it was one of the funniest/scariest things i had ever seen...

TBD wrote:I have not really had any bad experiences at any of the local GW/gaming stores, except maybe for the one time a sweaty Michael Moore lookalike neckbearded behemoth walked in without a shirt on.

SwanCo wrote:once a 6 foot 4 inch tall man who prolly weighed atlest 370 lbs, had a ratty neck beard and was missing teeth approached me and said "I just bought new ogres for my list! game? game? game?"

it was one of the funniest/scariest things i had ever seen...

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

I have the fortune to say the negative experiences are very much outweighed by the postive experiences. I've enjoyed many years of happy gaming. But there are a few experiences in stores i've not enjoyed.

GW Cherry Hill~ I previously had a 75% converted 40K ork army including over 30 Mega Armored nobs converted from terminators. Each model was personalized and represented a space marine chapter he'd taken terminator armor from. I loved the models, took me a entire summer to convert them. I used all 30 1x in a mega battle. On a lunch break from the Mega battle I return to find that 15 were stolen off the table of the mega battle. To say I was pissed would be an under statement. I know that its on the gamers, not the store, but I was blown away that they'd be stolen as in the shop that day was all the regulars that i'd know for over 5 years. I packed up and left. I also never got the models back, but years later found out who took them. Was a 16 year old high school player who was a GT gamer who i'd help build his list for Gamesday.

I packed up and left. I also never got the models back, but years later found out who took them. Was a 16 year old high school player who was a GT gamer who i'd help build his list for Gamesday.

Ok, you have to tell me the name at some point, just so I can make sure if he ever comes in, I can have the inquisition watch him.

I've only been to two GW stores since I started collecting in '88. Neither were bad experiences, but both were let downs. I was psyched up to drive 3 hours to my Mecca (exagerate much?). I was all amped up as I walked into the mall and found the store front. Then I walked in and was let down by the fact that there was nothing in the store that I couldn't get off the shelf at my FLGS. I gave GW another GW a shot thinking one of the stores in NYC HAS to have a good inventory. I was let down again and have decided to NEVER use a GW retail outlet until they offer product that I can't get elsewhere (Direct/ Forgeworld).

My worse experience was when 5 of my Grey Knights were stolen from me. I had just finish painting them, left them at the store to get a quick drink since I knew almost everyone there. When I came back they were gone.

I had just picked up a box of Killa Kans, only to find once I got home that the box only contained "Empty Sprues", looked to have all the parts already clipped out & the bases and instuction sheet were missing too!

I immediatly went back there and got it switched for another "Complete" Killa Kan kit!

Balance restored!

Glendale, CA -

I tried to enter a LoTR painting contest when the first box of heroes came out.

Brought my figures and was ignored by the manager/ event coordinator until he had a chance to present the prizes to his friends. There was no way that he could have missed seeing what I was carrying or that I was there for the contest. Trying to be objective, I think I would have taken second place but never got the chance to enter them.

Alderwood Mall, WA -

I have called in twice now to ask if they had something. Once was for the new Space Hulk, once for the Tyranids codex. When I drove out there, I was told that the copy they had was the store copy and they had no more stock. Like I would have been asking to just come and see the things instead of wanting to buy them?

It's more the atmosphere when i go into the shops. One of my latest experiences, i was just running by for an ogre kingdoms codex.

First the guy took forever to ring me up trying to get my to buy the starter box for ogres, I told him i wasnt interested that i just wanted the codex and already had 2 fantasy armies at over 3000 points and was just getting the codex for now. He tried again saying that it was a great deal and explaining what was in it, i again told him no.

He then went off on a tangent asking if i played 40k, i said no that i wasnt really interested, and fantasy already took up most of my free time. He then said i should play a trial game with him to see if i liked the feel of it. Told him i wasnt interested and just wanted the codex. He said just let me show you how it works, you might like it.

Then i walked out of the store, without getting what i had came for.

I understand trying to get people into the game, but when someone walks in, goes straight to what they are after then straight to checkout, they obviously know what they want...

I played for awhile at LGS #1, and then I stopped because the people were obnoxious. Once I started getting back into the hobby, I go to LGS #2 which is run by a guy who, unbeknownst to me is in something just shy of a blood feud with the owner of LGS #1.

I walk into LGS #2 for the first time and once it's made known that I used to play at LGS #1, the manager of the store accuses me of being a spy for LGS #1, and that I'm trying to steal his customers back to the other store.

The absolute most bizzare experience I ever had walking into a store of ANY sort, much less a gaming place.

Otherwise all of the rest of my worst experiences all involved other players being jerks, not anything in particular.

Ah, poor blue shirts. Upsell like crazy and face the disgust of the paying public... or lose your job.

I just roll with upselling. It takes no effort whatsoever to say no thanks and said firmly enough, should bring their efforts to a swift close.

Kudos to the blue shirt in GW Oxford Street today. He asked what I was in for. I said I was killing time. We talked Skaven for a bit (discussing the merits or otherwise of Grey Seers without a Bell) and then he left me alone to browse through the Beastmen army book which I hadn't read yet.

I've never really had a bad experience in GW and I've been going for 30 odd years. I've never played or modelled there though. Maybe this is where the problems start?

EDIT - 20 odd years, not 30

I haven't had a bad experience in my GW (glasgow), I dont go often but everytime I go in the boys are friendly and helpful, they usually shout hello to you when you come in.

There is one guy who I love, I asked him about the new Dark elves around the time they where set to come out and he talked to me for ages about them, showed me his copy of the new codex, some of the new model figures. It was how a staff member should be.

When I was younger, about 16 I entered a small competition and got slaughtered off everyone. But they where real helpful, a fellow dark elf player even showed me tactics and strategies to use. Only negative thing was how badly I lost to wood elves, 1 guy 40 shots, another guy and everyone gets 5+ ward save...oh the times when they where broken.

So i was working at my Flgs, and a customer came in and wanted something.

Worst experience ever: The Screaming SMurf Kid of Terror
Being a kid myself, I may not be the most mature, but I can keep my cool ESCPECIALLY when I'm playing a game. Not this kid.
We play a scenario where we have about 10+ people bring down 500 pts of whatever and kill the crap out of eachother (love that phrase)
I bring down 10 Vanguard with as many power weapon guys as I can and put it in heroic intervention.
He brings a dev squad with a captain. O.o
I proceed to drop them down within murdering range of his devs and he begins throwing a giant fit and ends up with one of my vanguard being hurled at me and his mom dragging him to the car.
yeah that was probably the worst experience, although I have to say it was my only bad one.
Sighs,
Mr. Self Destruct

The most bizarre experience I ever had at a GW store was when they still did the anniversary 24 or 48 hour events. They were always interesting around 6 AM when people gt tired and start loosing their brain to mouth filters. Some stupid jokes are made (IE, Canadian shock troops, taliban desert raiders), when suddenly, out of nowhere, a redshirt starts ranting at length about how awesome porn with space wolves and sisters of battle would be. That was strange.

I dont have an local GW stores. But both of my FLGS stores are very kick ass. The worst is a group of about 30 D&D players who show up once a month, take most of the tables, all the chairs, and stink/heat up the gaming room all day.

I did have a pack of dice stolen from me at an ard boyz. And a rulebook when I started, but I think that was an accident. Overall our store is good about stuff. I have no problems leaving my armies around while going to go get lunch and expecting to see them back there.

Once a month? How inconsiderate.

Howard A Treesong wrote:Once a month? How inconsiderate.

Lol nice one.
But yeah man surely you can give up your tables for the poor fellas, once a month and you still want to ruin there fun.

I played for awhile at LGS #1, and then I stopped because the people were obnoxious. Once I started getting back into the hobby, I go to LGS #2 which is run by a guy who, unbeknownst to me is in something just shy of a blood feud with the owner of LGS #1.

I walk into LGS #2 for the first time and once it's made known that I used to play at LGS #1, the manager of the store accuses me of being a spy for LGS #1, and that I'm trying to steal his customers back to the other store.

The absolute most bizzare experience I ever had walking into a store of ANY sort, much less a gaming place.

Otherwise all of the rest of my worst experiences all involved other players being jerks, not anything in particular.

I have to say, I've been to several GW stores, and the only bad experience I've ever had was at the now gone store that used to be in the Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge, VA (which is just south of DC). I went in there, talked to the manager, and when I mentioned I played BFG, before I could even ask, he tells me flat-out that they don't allow it in the store since they don't sell the game on the shelves. This is actually the only GW where I've had that experience, but it was pretty disconcerting for me to find out that my favorite game was treated like the plague!

Otherwise, it has been pretty positive. I had a blast playing at the Seattle battle bunker, and the store here in Springfield, VA seems nice enough.