Posted By H.B.M.C. on 09/14/2007 6:35 PM
What I'd actually like is for the price of ordering something in Bitz to match the price of ordering it separately. For instance, ordering a Kasrkin Sergeant requires the Sergeant and his backpack. Ordering the two items is more expensive than buying the blister. This doesn't make sense.

BYE

This includes simple and obvious things such as being able to order a specific individual model from our webstore rather than a random one, making it possible to buy multi-part models as a single purchase rather than having to order every bit separately

I think you'll be able to buy just the karsikin sgt.

that aside I think this will be good, a nice change.

Posted By Polonius on 09/17/2007 8:15 AM
No matter how badly GW duffs other things, their bitz and mail order have been the two best aspects of the company for a long time now.

In summary, Ricks been working. GW will allow online orders of complete models and bring back older models that have no current alternatives. There will be an expanded range of online exclusives. There will be a new range of bits specifically for conversions. They only have so much space and resources, old stuff will go bye bye; GW isn't sure which and so if you need something don't risk it, get it now.

I love how everyone is complaining about GW trying to improve their service and product offering. It was alway inevitable that the older models would be discontinued. I've always thought its kinda silly, from a business stand point, that they even offer stuff as old as they do, especially when they make newer better alternatives (like who needs the old carnifex the new ones better or even some of those older marines). Like its cool having them available and all but not necessary.

I'm surprised more people haven't talked about the more interesting part of a conversion bits offering not necessarily attached to a specific model. I thought they should have done this a while ago. Probably see more things like chapter specific shoulder pads and the alike.

Posted By aka_mythos on 09/17/2007 6:43 PM
like who needs the old carnifex the new ones better

Posted By aka_mythos on 09/17/2007 6:43 PM

(like who needs some of those older marines).

Posted By Abadabadoobaddon on 09/18/2007 3:48 PM
So how "new" is this "new range of bits specifically for conversions" going to be?  Will it consist of entirely new sculpts?  Or will it be existing bits that also happen to be popular for use in conversions?  If it's the former then that's fantastic (though a bit ironic considering they'd be introducing it only after Jervis' new paradigm has rendered such a range largely unnecessary).  But if it's the latter, how is that any different than the old system?  Won't that just be the same range we have now (minus the bits they deem "not as useful for conversions" )?

I have to agree,

if it's just a smaller sample size of bits with the same really expensive (well to get it sent to Australia - Hint: Australian GW put bits on your site!!) postage will be a little annoying,

But we still will buy it because sometimes you just need one bit!

However if they are new bits (IE arms, shoulder pads, weapons, etc) that would be a fantastic move for gamers, but do you think that they could make their money back on bits (I think they might, but they need to be clever about it)

Also, with the loss of bwbits (I know the warstore has taken over, but it's not as user friendly and a little more expensive at the moment) GW can take advantage of the gap in the bits market.

Very interesting to see whats happening, but if it means better profits that's ok with me because it means that they will continue to produce and create more stuff (hopefully cheaper at some stage)

:-)

Posted By Abadabadoobaddon on 09/18/2007 3:48 PM
So how "new" is this "new range of bits specifically for conversions" going to be?  Will it consist of entirely new sculpts?  Or will it be existing bits that also happen to be popular for use in conversions?  If it's the former then that's fantastic (though a bit ironic considering they'd be introducing it only after Jervis' new paradigm has rendered such a range largely unnecessary).  But if it's the latter, how is that any different than the old system?  Won't that just be the same range we have now (minus the bits they deem "not as useful for conversions" )?

Posted By 2112 on 09/14/2007 4:14 PM
<h2>Rick Priestley reports on some important revisions to our range, and the way Games Workshop's mail order and online store service is changing.</h2>

We’ll also be offering a range of models just for mail order, including some new top-notch design work from our finest sculptors -

So that we can get on with all this new stuff we have to clear the decks a bit and take a lot of our back-catalog and all of the currently available individual components off sale.

This means we won’t be selling some very old models any more -

If you collect models from our back catalog of otherwise discontinued miniatures, then now is a good time to make any purchases you need whilst they are still available.

I can’t tell you exactly which models we’ll be dropping as we’re working through the ranges as I write,

Posted By 2112 on 09/14/2007 4:14 PM
<h2>Rick Priestley reports on some important revisions to our range, and the way Games Workshop's mail order and online store service is changing.</h2>

We’ll also be offering a range of models just for mail order, including some new top-notch design work from our finest sculptors - This really means mailorder only, using a in store point doesnot count as a mailorder. I tried to purchase that maounted chaos sorceror..... though luck.

So that we can get on with all this new stuff we have to clear the decks a bit and take a lot of our back-catalog and all of the currently available individual components off sale. First they impose certain regiment strengths and now we take away the change to tailor your force and make you buy blisters in the store so that you'll end up with models spare no matter you mathematical level or are iunable to get that nice looking model without buying the ugly mut that they put in the blister next to it..

This means we won’t be selling some very old models any more - Squats won't come back, metal roquetrader imperial guard will not come back, old empire troops will not come back... Old is not like Rick priestly old, Old means maximum of 1 armybook change back.

If you collect models from our back catalog of otherwise discontinued miniatures, then now is a good time to make any purchases you need whilst they are still available. Quick buy stuff !!! We need to clear our warehouses and really need the money.. and there is no quarantee that you'll be able to use it in the next codex/armybook 

I can’t tell you exactly which models we’ll be dropping as we’re working through the ranges as I write, I can almost predict what will be dropped:

Any figure can be used instead of an expensive model. In the old days all harlequins were 1,25 pound, in an collectorsguide the troopmasters suddenlly were 6 pounds and the troopers 2 .

Any model that has a new equivalent in the armybook/codex and comes out in plastic.

Posted By Pariah Press on 09/19/2007 12:38 AM

Posted By Abadabadoobaddon on 09/18/2007 3:48 PM
So how "new" is this "new range of bits specifically for conversions" going to be?  Will it consist of entirely new sculpts?  Or will it be existing bits that also happen to be popular for use in conversions?  If it's the former then that's fantastic (though a bit ironic considering they'd be introducing it only after Jervis' new paradigm has rendered such a range largely unnecessary).  But if it's the latter, how is that any different than the old system?  Won't that just be the same range we have now (minus the bits they deem "not as useful for conversions" )?

  The impression that I got was that it would be new bitz.  Also, Jervis' new paradigm only effects 40K, not any of the other games.  Also also, how long before the "newer" paradigm comes along?  In a codex or two, would be my guess. 

Posted By Agamemnon2 on 09/19/2007 3:29 AM
I'd certainly welcome dedicated "conversion bitz". For example, I'd like more Imperial Guard arms holding something besides rifles, such as water bottles, shovels, hands reloading magazines, pointing fingers, hand gestures, shaking fists at the sky, etc. The same for legs. I'm sure Marine players wouldn't mind some more arms and hands that were in neutral poses, not holding anything.

After the Baneblade, the most exciting thing for me is the new Apocalypse basing kit, because it has PHOTOETCH!

Posted By Soulhunter on 09/19/2007 2:34 AM

<h2>Rick Priestley reports on some important revisions to our range, and the way Games Workshop's mail order and online store service is changing.</h2>

We’ll also be offering a range of models just for mail order, including some new top-notch design work from our finest sculptors - This really means mailorder only, using a in store point doesnot count as a mailorder. I tried to purchase that maounted chaos sorceror..... though luck.

So that we can get on with all this new stuff we have to clear the decks a bit and take a lot of our back-catalog and all of the currently available individual components off sale. First they impose certain regiment strengths and now we take away the change to tailor your force and make you buy blisters in the store so that you'll end up with models spare no matter you mathematical level or are iunable to get that nice looking model without buying the ugly mut that they put in the blister next to it..

This means we won’t be selling some very old models any more - Squats won't come back, metal roquetrader imperial guard will not come back, old empire troops will not come back... Old is not like Rick priestly old, Old means maximum of 1 armybook change back.

If you collect models from our back catalog of otherwise discontinued miniatures, then now is a good time to make any purchases you need whilst they are still available. Quick buy stuff !!! We need to clear our warehouses and really need the money.. and there is no quarantee that you'll be able to use it in the next codex/armybook 

I can’t tell you exactly which models we’ll be dropping as we’re working through the ranges as I write, I can almost predict what will be dropped:

Any figure can be used instead of an expensive model. In the old days all harlequins were 1,25 pound, in an collectorsguide the troopmasters suddenlly were 6 pounds and the troopers 2 .

Any model that has a new equivalent in the armybook/codex and comes out in plastic.

Gamesworkshop is obviously going through restructuring, it happens and companies have to do it everyonce and while or sink. GW is trying to justify the costs of is mailorder system and part of this is the removal of low profit low volume, high cost inventory. As metal models and their molds get older the cost to continue producing them goes up. The molds made to last years are pushing into decades at this point. I work with molding tools for a living and its just inevitable that the types of molds they use for the metal miniatures would eventually fail and on an economic level how do you justify the cost of a new model for what is an inferior product by virtue of having been replaced with a new product, that will probably only sell a couple of percents of the number the newer model. It was inevitability that models would become unavailable, isn't 20 years a good enough run?

Back to the other thing... I see GW doing three different things, offering new sculpted bits (probably in an attempt to mimic forgeworlds success with extras for cadians), offering indivual casts of bits that are normally on larger sprues (competing with the nitch BW bits/Warstore have been filling), continuing to offer some of the bits they think are still useful (anyone say  rock http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=Individual&code=9947029901009&orignav=9 jk jk). I think it'll well be worth the wait.

I actually remember when that rock was only $0.25... should have gotten my stack of 100 then.

If you still need something get it, atleast they warned us.

Oh and to all the stuff on making profits, no duh thats what companies do or they fail (and GW hasn't been doing too well).

New from the GW online store:

Updated 9/19/07: Click here to download a complete list of all of the components we will be running down until our current inventory is exhausted. Any remaining components on this list will be removed from sale on November 5, 2007.

Clicking there sends you to a huge excel sheet which lists all of the bits which will be turned off.  2961 items, spaning an imense portion of GW's catalog.  Some very surprising items on this list, including new figures, old figures, archive bitz etc. Hopefully we will hear more about the future of these bits soon, because frankly some of them are just too good to disapear forever into the vaults.  Some of them I am surprised that they are sold at all (BoFA bits?  who knew?)

The spreadsheet looks like GW just made a big list of 1) what's been replaced by plastic bitz, 2) what was never generally available in the first place (Colombo, Sicarius) and 3) the things nobody's really bought over the last X years.

Fr'instance, look at the list for Krieger, the =I= cyber gladiator. His torso, legs, foot and trophy are going away. His arms are staying. They make good alternative power klaws.  I bet some people have bitz ordered those, so they stay; nobody orders the body, feet and legs, so they go.  And so on for the other things on the list.

I'm as obsessive as anyone about this stuff, but there's precious little on the list that I'll miss.

It seems like a good idea. You wouldn't expect other businesses to keep every bit made in the last two decades available for sale. You've had 15 years to buy an old-look Carnifex. If you don't have one by now, you probably didn't want it that badly anyway. If this deal means more curious new figs from Mail Order, I'm all for it.

Posted By RichCurren on 09/20/2007 6:51 AM
Hi there:

Only the ability to buy these components individually will be removed. For example: If a removed from sale component is part of a current blister or box, it will still be in the blister or box when you buy it. We hope this list is helpful and that should clarify things.

Thanks,

Rich Curren
GWUS Web Manager

Posted By Pariah Press on 09/20/2007 8:17 PM

Posted By RichCurren on 09/20/2007 6:51 AM
Hi there:

Only the ability to buy these components individually will be removed. For example: If a removed from sale component is part of a current blister or box, it will still be in the blister or box when you buy it. We hope this list is helpful and that should clarify things.

Thanks,

Rich Curren
GWUS Web Manager

  Thanks RIch.  I mourn the loss of the archive service as it used to be, but I can understand why things need to change. 

Posted By Blackheart666 on 09/20/2007 9:08 PM

Posted By Pariah Press on 09/20/2007 8:17 PM

Posted By RichCurren on 09/20/2007 6:51 AM
Hi there:

Only the ability to buy these components individually will be removed. For example: If a removed from sale component is part of a current blister or box, it will still be in the blister or box when you buy it. We hope this list is helpful and that should clarify things.

Thanks,

Rich Curren
GWUS Web Manager

  Thanks RIch.  I mourn the loss of the archive service as it used to be, but I can understand why things need to change. 

you mean that you understand that they're now cutting more corners after years of poor business practices?

  No.  I mean that I understand that they're eliminating an unprofitable practice (though one that I, as a customer, have come to appreciate).  The archive service was very labor intensive, and only became more so as the catalogue continued to grow.  Many of those bitz were probably never ordered, or only ordered once or twice per year.  (That said, I don't doubt that there have been plenty of poor business practices going on at GW; I just don't care about such things as long as they keep me entertained and continue to employ some of my favorite artists and game designers there.)

  I don't see how this represents the death (final or otherwise) of Necromunda or Mordheim.  We will still be able to order individual models (once the new system is put into place), just not individual bitz.  That won't have the slightest effect on my Mord or Necro buying habits, and I seriously doubt that anyone in my gaming group will stop playing because of something as trivial as the mail order department's restructuring.