GW needs some $3-$5 miniatures

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**Howard A Treesong**

CajunMan550 wrote:I think there trying to do what your suggesting by making units over all cheaper. Like 22 for a box of 10 Cadiens so wen you go to buy you can buy more at once or you spend more often cuz dont gotta save.

Wait, you're thinking because the box costs less than before it's 'cheaper', what about the fact the content has been halved? The price per figure has risen significantly.

If you swallow that as "cheaper" then GW have you suckered.

**olympia**

GW has $5 miniatures. One loota costs $5.

**Samus_aran115**

I still wish they sold the things like plague marines and fire dragons loose. I'd pay like 6 dollars per METAL marine. Not plastic though.

I don't see any feasible way GW could give you a plastic kit for less than 15 bucks. It would suck anyway. I'm happy enough with those snap-fit marines.

**whatwhat**

Mr Mystery wrote:
Jeep wrote:I know that many gamers plan their purchases carefully, but having the option of something in the "impulse buy" price range when you go to the FLGS would be nice.

Something as simple as a single plastic infantry unit, like an IoB Sea Guard, could work. Perhaps they can follow Lego even and have random figures in packages, so you don't know what you are getting. I think it would be fun, and it could bring in a few more dollars to GW and the FLGS. The only problem I see is that they'd need some smaller sprues or to somehow cut the minis free.

What do you all think?

Why?

GW's loss leader are the starter sets, like IoB, AoB etc. That is the entry point. Beyond that, why should they try to fit into the 'cheap and cheerful' mould?

The whole point of this hobby is collecting, painting and gaming with lovely models that catch your eye. Price, despite what the internet claims, isn't a barrier. You can either justify it to yourself, or you can't. GW still thrives, and does pretty well. No major losses for it's size, and it's rapidly remodelling itself to continue to do so.

Make models cheap and nasty, and the overall quality dives. For instance, I have a Skaven army. Right now, I have to pay £20 for 20 Clanrats. If they suddenly produced 5 Clanrats for £3....why would I ever bother buying the more expensive ones? Ah yes...because they are typically better models. Compare the Marines posted earlier, with the multipart kits. I know which I'd enjoy modelling and painting with, and which I'd thus be happier with on the battlefield.

Price is set. Value is up to the individual. Me, I find it the whole hobby good value for money. You might disagree, but hey, that's your sense, and I shan't gainsay it.

And on that note, I shall retire, and await the mindless squawking of those demeaning me as a 'fanboi' for my less than baselessly negative attitude....

Price IS a barrier for young kids getting into the hobby, when a basic unit is thirty quid. The point is they have ridiculous markup on their products. They get away with that due to their dominant position in the market, they have barely any real competition. Those same multipart models you are comparing to the "cheap and nasty" products haven risen 300% in price during the last ten years. It's not a case of price brings quality when there is that much markup, and most of it has to be markup. No materials GW uses have gone up by that much in the last ten years.

**Surtur**

Um, they make a killing selling 1 starter set. It costs less than $5 to make.

I can't tell you how many people I've seen turn at the sight of a $90 starter set that isn't even complete. Throw in the files, hobby knife, the primer and the hobby starter set. It's about $180 getting started minimum.

**Scott-S6**

whatwhat wrote:Ten years ago that combat squad cost 5 quid in the UK. That's 8 Canadian dollars apparently.

It's gone up 300% in ten years to £15. Which is horrendous. A large part of that has to be mark up. As I can't believe the materials have gone up that much.

Ten years ago the models in that set were atrocious - worse than the AoBR marines. They're substantially improved now.

**Mr Mystery**

whatwhat wrote:
Price IS a barrier for young kids getting into the hobby, when a basic unit is thirty quid. The point is they have ridiculous markup on their products. They get away with that due to their dominant position in the market, they have barely any real competition. Those same multipart models you are comparing to the "cheap and nasty" products haven risen 300% in price during the last ten years. It's not a case of price brings quality when there is that much markup, and most of it has to be markup. No materials GW uses have gone up by that much in the last ten years.

Perhaps not a single material no, then you have the stores to run (rents go up, usually above inflation) the workers to pay (yup, thats gone up as well) insurance, shipping, etc etc.

Markup is allegedly high, but profit margin is not.

And I can remember, 10 years ago, when my pint was £1.80, and a packet of 20 Sovereign (cheap, nasty ciggies) £2.50. Now I'm lucky to get a pint under £3, and have switched to rollies. Things go up in price. It's part of the economy.

Now you mentioned a basic infantry unit being £30..which one? Sure, a few years back they started at £10 (1996...was in Colllege) then up to £12 (98ish?) then £15...£18....£20....but I beyond Skaven Stormvermin, I can't think of any £30.

**skrulnik**

Scott-S6 wrote:
whatwhat wrote:Ten years ago that combat squad cost 5 quid in the UK. That's 8 Canadian dollars apparently.

It's gone up 300% in ten years to £15. Which is horrendous. A large part of that has to be mark up. As I can't believe the materials have gone up that much.

Ten years ago the models in that set were atrocious - worse than the AoBR marines. They're substantially improved now.

You are off by about 5 years. The multipiece Space Marines have been around about 12+ years now.
They came out around '98 and were in the 3rd ed box set, but I think they came out a bit before that.
The statues came out with 2nd in '94 and were it for plastics.

**Ouze**

Jeep wrote:GW, trying to make things cheaper? What are you on?

Technically, the plastic Bloodletters on Juggernauts release substantially lowered the price, from singles of $40ish each as I recall, to $54 for 3. The plastic Demon Prince is also slightly less expensive. Of course, these are exceptions to the trend.

**whatwhat**

Mr Mystery wrote:Markup is allegedly high, but profit margin is not.

What do you think markup means?

Mr Mystery wrote:And I can remember, 10 years ago, when my pint was £1.80, and a packet of 20 Sovereign (cheap, nasty ciggies) £2.50. Now I'm lucky to get a pint under £3, and have switched to rollies. Things go up in price. It's part of the economy.

What so your saying the price increase is due to inflation? 300% increase? don't think so.

Scott-S6 wrote:
whatwhat wrote:Ten years ago that combat squad cost 5 quid in the UK. That's 8 Canadian dollars apparently.

It's gone up 300% in ten years to £15. Which is horrendous. A large part of that has to be mark up. As I can't believe the materials have gone up that much.

Ten years ago the models in that set were atrocious - worse than the AoBR marines. They're substantially improved now.

No the same combat squad existed more than ten years ago youngsta.

**Purple Saturday**

Ah yes, this topic... I remember when people were discussing this back on Portent and Dakkadakka ten years ago. I too pine for the days when the average plastic trooper cost 1.25 and the average metal trooper out of the blister cost 2.50. Sadly, those days won't be returning, but it's nice to dream. In the meantime, I have models I bought 10 years ago that I still need to paint, so I haven't had to purchase anything from GW since about 2000 give or take a few years--my memory gets fuzzier by the day.

**Mad4Minis**

I paid $13 (US) for a squad of 10 tactical SM from the Black Reach set on ebay, that includes shipping. Sure, they arent the best minis, but its a great and cheap way to get some troops on the field.

Seems other people agree too...when I bought mine the guy had 40 sets, by the time I received them a week later he was down to 20.

I may pick up a second set soon as well. They are for the SM army Im doing for my son. Hes 7 and doesnt really notice the little details in the minis yet. As far as hes concerned the are SM and cool as can be, double so since they are his.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Poor examples provided
Beer and cigs may have become more expensive. But much of that is goes to the Treasury.

The last 10 years have seen very low rates of inflation.
Only a blip a couple or few years mack when oil prices went nuts. But that wouldn't affect GW plastic according to themselves.

Mark up and profit are not the same thing though Whatwhat. What you are referring to is the difference twixt cost price and retail price. However there will be further costs involved so the difference won't be profit.

AFAIK there is no middleman to take a cut though when GW sell through GW stores or online from their website.

**juraigamer**

What if they actually sold some bits this way? Would fit the price range and keep the detail most want out of their models.

**KingCracker**

olympia wrote:GW has $5 miniatures. One loota costs $5.

HEll yea they do! And you usually only need 15-30 of.......them......

But you can mitigate the price, by say, making a burna boyz squad, and then use regular boyz to hold those guns. Or just cast and mold them

Seriously I feel less and less guilty with the idea of molding parts and what not. They raise their prices so damn high anymore, that it just feels like they are sticking us all in the ass

**doctorludo**

Two thoughts:

Firstly, I wonder whether GW prices are higher than we are used to because they are manufactured in the UK. Sounds obvious, but related products (toys, if I'm honest) tend to be manufactured in the developing world. Maybe we are paying a higher price for ethics and quality. Lets face it, the sculpts and materials of the recent kits are as high quality as could be expected, and staff working in the UK will have good pay and employment rights.

Secondly, are there any companies that break up the multiple sets and sell individual models? Is that legal? Could a FLGS do this, allowing for impulse buys?

My struggle is the opposite. Their competitors manage discounts and bulk-buy offers, and still turn a profit. Why don't GW do the same? Their overheads will, by definition, be lower. Something simple, like two troops boxes and get a free commander, or three box sets gets a fourth free. Even a loyalty card, with a discount for regular in-store customers, would help.

**whatwhat**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Mark up and profit are not the same thing though Whatwhat. What you are referring to is the difference twixt cost price and retail price. However there will be further costs involved so the difference won't be profit.

*sigh*

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

What whatwhat?

You insinuated that mark up and profit are the same.
They are not. You may sigh if you wish but that is just the way it is

**Jeep**

Heh, I think a lot of people have misunderstood what I'm saying. I'm not saying that GW should be cheaper (though they should). I'm saying that they should have some products available that are smaller and cheaper. $15 for a special metal character or two regular metal characters(getting more and more rare, btw)- whatever, that's their prerogative.

I think that by having a few of their plastic minis available individually, even marked up more than they already are, would be nice.

Take the new Sea Guard, for example. 16.50 for 5, 3.50/piece. If they had a $4 for 1 pack or $8 for 2 pack, it would be a lot more tempting, and they'd still make more per mini.

**WarOne**

GW seems to be steering away from impulse buying, determined to make their customers buy their products with higher ADTs (average dollars per transaction).

**Mad4Minis**

doctorludo wrote:

Secondly, are there any companies that break up the multiple sets and sell individual models? Is that legal? Could a FLGS do this, allowing for impulse buys?

Ebay is full of people that do it, from individual minis, to units and separate bits. There are a few websites that specialize in bits, they buy kits/blisters and sell the bits separately. Is it legal (law wise) for a retail store to do?...yes. However it may or may not be a violation of GW and/or distributor contracts. Also its a bit time consuming so many small stores wont want to get into it.

One thing to remember about GW selling minis individually or in small groups...as the number per package goes down the cost (to GW) goes up. Its easier to package and sell in bulk than smaller numbers.

Take a squad of tactical SMs. Retail is $37.25 (US) for 10 of them, making it aprox $3.73 each. Now to package and sell them individually it might be closer to $5 each, especially since the sprues would have to be separated by hand, requiring more employees. To make special sprues for individual sale would require new molds, which cost 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars, driving the cost up more.

**whatwhat**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:What whatwhat?

You insinuated that mark up and profit are the same.
They are not. You may sigh if you wish but that is just the way it is

No I didn't. I know what markup is. You don't appear to.

**WarOne**

whatwhat wrote:
Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:What whatwhat?

You insinuated that mark up and profit are the same.
They are not. You may sigh if you wish but that is just the way it is

No I didn't. I know what markup is. You don't appear to.

Markup-
1. To sit Mark up, who was really, really, drunk and needed to be propped into a sitting position.
2. To draw, write, or illustrate on a person who is really stone cold drunk and is probably named Mark.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Well well Whatwhat

So if I mark up a dibdob 50% but everyone wants dobdibs and I don't sell it, I will still have a profit on the item?

I was thinking, above, in terms of net profit which I ought have made clear. This has lead to the misunderstanding. Being an astute businessman you probably got that, but chose not to make a simple, polite statement pointing out the difference. Play nice old thing.

**whatwhat**

I think it's clear now WarOne is the only one here who knows what markup means.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

No, that would technically be mark making "on" not "up".

unless it was ana...