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The last time I tried to help my local GW store. I took the effort to spend extra time and gas money to go to the store to place my online order for web exclusive items.

I was rewarded with constant sale pitches and 'helpful suggestions' to cancal my DA upgrade sprue of $22CAD and buy the DA veteran box for $40CAD which they have in store.




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The last time I tried to help my local GW store. I took the effort to spend extra time and gas money to go to the store to place my online order for web exclusive items.

I was rewarded with constant sale pitches and 'helpful suggestions' to cancal my DA upgrade sprue of $22CAD and buy the DA veteran box for $40CAD which they have in store.

Always take it with a pinch of salt when someone says "I hear"

The assumption is they have not witnessed this...

who is to say independent stores would spring up in place of vacant GW stores? If anyone here wants to start up their own business in this economy that is something I would support

Let me clarify- I have seen multiple reports, with photos of fliers or website captures showing GW stores advertising tables for demos only. The stores in question seem to be more located in the UK, which I think may be symptomatic of the fact that people over there play in gaming clubs.

So the point still stands, along with the others that I've made that GW stores don't offer a lot to encourage in-store purchases. And I think GW wants this- to eventually move all customers to online, I just don't know much luck they'll have with that.

9unit9 wrote:
I feel sorry for all those who don't have a decent one man store. But I can't believe they are all bad, Bedford is an example of this

People seam to forget that GW store staff are trained in more than just to sell, if they are doing their job correctly.

If your local independent stockist is only selling GW as part of its business (it could be a comic book store, which Bedford also has) then try and go in and ask which paint would be best for the job?

My local one man GW store means I can go in, sit down and do some painting and ask questions/get advice and buy any specific items I need, after discussing my actual needs

Try getting that from an independent stockist who does not know how GWs range of paints is designed to be used

Sorry, but this isn't a great argument. I have a couple of FLGS stores close by, one a fifteen minute walk away, the other a 20 minute drive away. Both owners paint, both play war-games but importantly they're open to new ideas - Warmachine, X Wing + Bushido are games I've found and loved because of the guys who run those stores, and yeh, they may not be amazing painters but there are people there who are. I'm massively fortunate to have an in-store commission painter, who gives advice for your own painting. They're not tied down to GW products, Army Painter do a great range, they even recommend stuff that they don't stock but have found to be great to work with. You won't get that at a GW store, from my experience.

I absolutely support my local FLGS, but I don't buy GW stuff from them anymore.
This isn't a charity. If a company doesn't do its part to earn my business, I don't give it to them. I give my money to the one that I like more. If GW is in such a situation that it needs charity, perhaps they should reexamine their business practices and change?

9unit9 wrote:
Always take it with a pinch of salt when someone says "I hear"

The assumption is they have not witnessed this...

who is to say independent stores would spring up in place of vacant GW stores? If anyone here wants to start up their own business in this economy that is something I would support

I can explicitly state that the presence of a GW in my local town is the single biggest reason I have to not have explored opening a FLGS. I have my doubts if non-GW sales alone could support a store, and I don't think diluted GW sales would be enough either. It took the closure of the previous Indy (because of owners choice, not failure) to cause GW to open their own store, so that would also support the assumption that my local town is only big enough to be a one store town.

Business abhors a vacuum as much as nature, if GW's stores closed, then we'd see a rise of the FLGS in the UK, not in every location because I'm sure some stores in the GW chain don't make much, or make a loss, but justify their presence as an anti-competitive measure, which is something a chain can do, but an independent can't, but I'd expect a significant upswing within a couple of years.

I like my local GW. The deliver to store option is very convenient - and the store updates its Facebook page to announce when online orders have come in and are available to be picked up - and I don't experience the hard sell.

One thing that has actually dissuaded me from using indies is that they can (not saying all, but some) be little bastions of anti-GW sentiment, showing more than a hint of disdain if you dare to like 40K rather than a 'proper' tabletop game.

9unit9 wrote:
who is to say independent stores would spring up in place of vacant GW stores?

That's the way it works in every other country that doesn't have GW stores everywhere saturating the market while adding little value to the community. Independent stores are everywhere because there is a market to exploit.


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 McManiak wrote:
It was ust a shout to let people who shop in a GW store understand that by buying direct from GW the store doesn't benefit.

And, again:

1) Not supporting your local GW store is a good thing. Buy online at a discount and use their table space, but don't ever purchase anything there unless you absolutely have to. If the store's sales are too low and GW closes the store then the community benefits. Do your part and help drive GW's retail abomination out of business!

2) Even talking about supporting your local GW store is just ridiculous. These aren't independent stores where the owner keeps the profits, the employee is paid a fixed salary regardless of sales and all the money goes straight to the same GW account as your online sales. It makes about as much sense as saying "buy from the cash register on the left, the one on the right isn't as nice".

Far be it from me to stand in the way of a good, zealous rant Peregrine, but GW staff are actually on PRP based on improvement year in year, they're aren't on a fixed salary.

As an American 40k gamer, the only time I've ever heard some one mention any gamesworkshop store is in the form of a complaint or punch line.

Now that the bunkers are gone I hope they all close. Libre FLGS.

I have a good bud that works a GW store. He's one of the good ones that goes out of his way to routinely make the hobby grow. He refers gamers to other places to go if they want dice rolling, facilitates trades, and generally is awesome. I do not want him to lose his job. He's a great guy and runs a tight ship.

Do I agree with GW's business model or current practices? No. I shopped at that GW store because I supported someone who put customer service first and does a damn good job of doing so. Otherwise, I'm a deal hunter and will also support FLGS when it's a win-win. My current shop has a huge consignment cabinet. Whatever you put in there, the shop nets 10% (max $100) and you get the rest on store credit. It's like bartertown/ebay with a cheap fee and no shipping. I love this feature and the cabinet changes almost every time I'm in there, meaning a great turnover rate on well price product. I use it often and it's smart of the FLGS as they keep people who want cheap stuff happy while still making a cut of what they wouldn't otherwise!

So yes, Viva La FLGS. I wish GW went back to bunkers...

 McManiak wrote:

Hey guys. Just a quick shout regarding 7th edition. Without causing too much controversy then remember that the new rule book can be bought from your local store. The stores are suffering badly this year as is the company. It is no cheaper online and even if you get it posted to your home the store gets the £££'s in their till.

Go ahead and waste your money. I care about me pocket monies a little more than my feelings of *obligation* to some store. And I've found that by being patient and shopping around online, you can get some mighty fine discounts.

 McManiak wrote:
If we don't put money into the stores they will end up closing...Just a thought guys. I'll be putting my order through games workshop southport. Where will you put yours? ? Post below and let's give the stores something back....

My local stores are far more logical than that. They use comic books and magic cards as their main money-maker and the GW shelves are usually just purty bright colors they use to decorate the store. When the rare person comes in and buys some GW stuff there, they are usually surprised.

 McManiak wrote:
Most of us are going to buy the 7th ed book (even if we say we aren't) because despite all the that GW keeps pulling we love the hobby..,

Nope, I'm not buying 7th edition. Maybe, maybe I'll be getting the starter set if it seems particularly appealing. No way on 7th edition.

 AesSedai wrote:
I get what your saying, but it's survival of the fittest for me. Let businesses compete for my money.

This guy gets it.

 Accolade wrote:
McManiak, I get that you're trying to be supportive of your local GW guy, and I'm sure he's a good person and nobody wants him to lose his job. But it is not our fault that GW puts him or her in a position to fail.

Preeeeeetty much. Ottawa's GW Bayshore was an epic place to hang out and get in a game. According to the staff, they were also one of the top 5 stores in North America. However, when their lease didn't get renewed they had to move out into a one-man store. I went to stop in only once so far and it was closed. Now you have to book tables ahead of time and they threw out most of the awesome old terrain. I could give less than half a feth about the store now, and from what I hear from other local gamers, it's a common sentiment. The one-man store policy is a cancer to GW that's just killing the community and hurting GW's own bottom line - since all our games occur in the man caves now, we can use third-party models and can, uh, share Codices all we want.

There's only one GW in NZ now, the location for the previous store was actually insane and needless to say, closed. The staff were professional and not pushy at all. FLGS has GW product cheaper though, not that it matters, I do my shopping in China these days.

GDub, putting the Duh in dumb.

 Peregrine wrote:

 McManiak wrote:
If we don't put money into the stores they will end up closing...

Actually, this would be a good thing. GW stores shouldn't exist, if GW decides to close them then it's good for the community because those sales will go independent stores that sell GW games and other games. Either buy from a local independent store, or buy online. This whole "support your local GW store" thing is just nonsense.

Right.
I'll buy either online or from a local gaming store.

 Lobukia wrote:
GDub, putting the Duh in dumb.

So far, in my experience, that has been the rule for anything with those initials.

I think GW would be better without the stores.

9unit9 wrote:
I feel sorry for all those who don't have a decent one man store. But I can't believe they are all bad, Bedford is an example of this

People seam to forget that GW store staff are trained in more than just to sell, if they are doing their job correctly.

If your local independent stockist is only selling GW as part of its business (it could be a comic book store, which Bedford also has) then try and go in and ask which paint would be best for the job?

My local one man GW store means I can go in, sit down and do some painting and ask questions/get advice and buy any specific items I need, after discussing my actual needs

Try getting that from an independent stockist who does not know how GWs range of paints is designed to be used

First of all - seem...not seam.

Second of all, you seem like a GW plant who's trying to somehow change the general opinion of people sick and tired with the crap they're getting from GW. My FLGS has two former GW employees on staff, and everyone there is quite well versed in paints, supplies, and modeling. They recommend paints, they can magnetize, they can explain and demo the use of technical paints, and they sell products other than GW and often recommend them over GW paints when applicable. They even sent me to a store down the road to get materials, mentioning that the GW paintbrushes they sold were crap and that they themselves headed to Michael's (a US craft supply store) to get their paintbrushes. Why would I even prefer a GW store that only recommends and sells the OK paints, crap paintbrushes and crap glues that GW produces?

Also, my FLGS is open 7 days a week with multiple staff members (with sometimes more than one in the store at once! Gasp! And sometimes they hang out there while not working! Double gasp!), so even if one guy was unsure about painting there would be others to help out. So explain once again how a one-man monopolized GW store is better?

I never started this thread to have so many GW haters post but as predictable as ever the level of intellectual replies never ceases to amaze me.

I simply stated that if you buy from a GW store (not an independent) then put the money through the store as they get the credit.

As for ALL of you who keep moaning on every thread that has anything to do with GW then a word to the not so wise. If you are unhappy with them, their product or their business model then stop buying their stuff (from anywhere) and stop commenting on threads which are clearly about GW.

There are lots of other game systems and if the company you hate so much is soon oso bad then walk away and leave the ones of us who like them to carry on.

You know who you are and you obviously have nothing better to do than be negative about things...

I’m a big proponent of buying local. I’ve seen a number of FLGS close up shop over the years, often leaving me with no place to play. So whenever I have the chance, I support the one I have. Even if it costs me a few extra bucks. I think of it as dues I pay to have open tables and pickup games.

I’m waiting until I get get a small rulebook, so there is a chance I’ll have to hit the secondary market, rather then direct from my store. Depends on the contents of the next starter box and if one is sold separately.

I'll be picking it (7th edition) up from my FLGS to support them. I get my board games from there, I play (when time permits) at their Thursday Night open gaming night, so I want them to be around for a while.

 McManiak wrote:
I never started this thread to have so many GW haters post but as predictable as ever the level of intellectual replies never ceases to amaze me.

Great way to deal with disagreement, don't debate the opinions but resort to ad homs.

I simply stated that if you buy from a GW store (not an independent) then put the money through the store as they get the credit.

Other people simply stated why this was a bad idea for the hobby. I don't recall any of them insulting you though.

As for ALL of you who keep moaning on every thread that has anything to do with GW then a word to the not so wise. If you are unhappy with them, their product or their business model then stop buying their stuff (from anywhere) and stop commenting on threads which are clearly about GW.

Many people do. There are viable options to get the rules and models without paying GW. That doesn't help the situation much though does it? We don't want to hate GW. We want 40k to be awesome, and would love to support GW if it was making great rules and great models.

There are lots of other game systems and if the company you hate so much is soon oso bad then walk away and leave the ones of us who like them to carry on.

If everyone took this stance there would never be change. If there is no pressure for a company to improve their product they won't improve it as they don't need to. People are negative about it because there's a lot about 40k they like or used to like.

I'm actually trying to figure out the best way to get it. Sure, my FLGS has a discount and that's fine if I'm going to order the "Standard" book.

However, I'm sure GW will have at least 2 versions of the book available. When 6th was released I ordered the Gamer's edition from GW's site.. and it sold out within a day or two. This time I wouldn't buy the Gamers edition but I might consider buying something like the Collectors..

So, my problem is that I have an unknown number of choices and an unknown time frame to ensure that I'm able to get exactly what I want. I wish GW would just go ahead and tell us what's going to be available and the prices BEFORE we could actually order it that way we could take a day or so to decide what to do when the time comes. .. lol - first world problems.

Regardless, I agree with the OP's premise: support your local gaming store. Other than the rulebook 2 years ago, I only buy through my local hobby shop.


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9unit9 wrote:
I feel sorry for all those who don't have a decent one man store. But I can't believe they are all bad, Bedford is an example of this

People seam to forget that GW store staff are trained in more than just to sell, if they are doing their job correctly.

If your local independent stockist is only selling GW as part of its business (it could be a comic book store, which Bedford also has) then try and go in and ask which paint would be best for the job?

My local one man GW store means I can go in, sit down and do some painting and ask questions/get advice and buy any specific items I need, after discussing my actual needs

Try getting that from an independent stockist who does not know how GWs range of paints is designed to be used

Sounds like you have a good GW store. That said, the independent store I go to has 8 open gaming tables in the front, and 4 more in the back when tournaments are going (once a week). Carries 3 different paint ranges and the entire range of 40k, WHFB, PP, FoW and others. When I was in a few weeks ago picking up a new vendetta I watch one of the guys spend over 30 minutes giving paint advice for a new BA army to new person. Patiently answering every question and giving, what I thought to be, very good advice. I could have paid and left earlier but I just wanted to see how the employees did.

The sad thing is that this type of customer service is NOT normal. I had 2 GW shops (one finally closed) within driving distance of me. The one that closed wouldn't spend more than 45 seconds with you. The other one, well, he tries but he's only 1 guy. So when he has 3 or 4 people in the store you are inevitably going to be waiting a long time just to check out much less ask detailed questions.


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 McManiak wrote:
I simply stated that if you buy from a GW store (not an independent) then put the money through the store as they get the credit.

I missed this from the original post. Why exclude independents? That part seems silly.

As I do not have a GW store in my area. I will only buy from a FLGS, which buy the way gives me 20% off. I would buy from them even if we had a GW store since I pay 20% off and play other non-GW games.

If they truly stop printing a full mini rulebook, I will never get a new rulebook. I refuse to pay $75-$100 USD or more on 80-90% reprinted storyline and a huge picture section that I could careless about. A truly poor investment for a potential year and a half use.

 Rune Stonegrinder wrote:

If they truly stop printing a full mini rulebook, I will never get a new rulebook. I refuse to pay $75-$100 USD or more on 80-90% reprinted storyline and a huge picture section that I could careless about. A truly poor investment for a potential year and a half use.

Nice way of putting it. Instead of using "reprinted" I keep saying regurgitated. Especially the pictures. Especially the same pictures that were black and white are in colour now but still regurgitated.

One reason why I quit LotR/The Hobbit was because I didn't want to spend $100 on a rule book that would only last one year. GW couldn't even communicated to it's fans/customer that this wouldn't be the case and it didn't happen, so I could have enjoyed The Hobbit without fear of being invalidated. Now after not even a 2 years for 6th edition I have the fear of that book being invalidated now. Because GW doesn't communicate nd the local store doesn't/can't say anything, what is the use of supporting them when they can't support us anymore? Yes the employees are great. This is not about the employees though. This is about GW not letting it's employees supporting the people who buy from them anymore.

I am tired ongoing into a GW store, asking what will happen in a few months time so I can save my money and prepare for some big purchase at full price, and then hearing, "don't know, please buy the White Dwarf magazine". WD magazine doesn't tell me anything. Argh.

 McManiak wrote:
I never started this thread to have so many GW haters post but as predictable as ever the level of intellectual replies never ceases to amaze me.

I simply stated that if you buy from a GW store (not an independent) then put the money through the store as they get the credit.

As for ALL of you who keep moaning on every thread that has anything to do with GW then a word to the not so wise. If you are unhappy with them, their product or their business model then stop buying their stuff (from anywhere) and stop commenting on threads which are clearly about GW.

There are lots of other game systems and if the company you hate so much is soon oso bad then walk away and leave the ones of us who like them to carry on.

You know who you are and you obviously have nothing better to do than be negative about things...

First of all, you must be new here... welcome to Dakka. Second I like GW, I love my FLGS. GW's moronic business practices have hurt FLGS stores carrying their stuff and their one-man-store business model is so epically dumb that I have to question the acumen of anyone associated with it. If, in buying from independents (opposite of your odd suggestion), I can put another nail in the coffin of the one man stores AND support my FLGS, I'm actually doing GW a solid. If they started playing nice with US FLGSs and removed their stupid stores, both they and the FLGS owners would do better.

I can like a product and dislike the company marketing/selling it. I can prefer that someone I am giving my hard earned to treat me better, and I am allowed to engage in legal economic practices that makes those positions attractive to the companies I am dealing with... and I do, by never ever buying from GW's stores or even from them, but through either those that give me deep discounts, or through those that maintain the spaces I play at.

You all seem to have missed my point. I have no problem with FLGS and if that is where you buy from and game then give them the money. If you buy fro a GW store and game there then buy it from them or they won't be there much longer. I am simply saying don't by it through GW website as the store GW/FLASH need the support.
One way or the other GW end up with the money so if you have a problem with them then don't buy it from anywhere but also stop buying their other products too as they will never please you.
Sorry for any confusion or insult.

Does anyone think this is connected to the hired GW Sri Lankan employees?

 McManiak wrote:
You all seem to have missed my point. I have no problem with FLGS and if that is where you buy from and game then give them the money. If you buy fro a GW store and game there then buy it from them or they won't be there much longer. I am simply saying don't by it through GW website as the store GW/FLASH need the support.
One way or the other GW end up with the money so if you have a problem with them then don't buy it from anywhere but also stop buying their other products too as they will never please you.
Sorry for any confusion or insult.

This makes more sense now. I believe people was thinking only to buy from GW and nobody else. That was my impression.