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Whole thing seems pretty sus. 700 copies of Master Lazarus? 400 of Galadriel? Who would buy that legitimately? No store in the world will keep that many of a relatively niche item in stock. That many of some of the more expensive FW kits is probably even more of a red flag. Does any non-GW store carry that stuff, even in the UK where it is made? Hell, over here in the US I don't think even GW stores stock FW kits.

I might suggest contacting the police, but without evidence there probably isn't anything they can do at the moment. Might at least let them know there might be suspicious activity and maybe they can investigate, or something. I dunno, no idea how that kind of thing works in the UK.

 RedDogMinis wrote:
There are also some dodgey companies that run legit product out of their factories 1st & 2nd shift when they’re “open” but 3rd shift they make stuff for the grey market all off the books. Sort of a version of counterfeiting but with actual product made in the same legit factory.

IIRC that was one of the big issues when GW/FW tried moving some production to China.

You’d be surprised at just how much production overage there is for manufacturing, in some cases it might be several times what the actual orders call for. There’s several national scaled retail chains that have built their entire business models on buying bulk excess lots. In the US we have Dollar General & 5 Below, I believe Poundtown in the UK uses the same model.

Not saying it’s the case with this guys stuff but it is possible that it’s of legit origin but gone through soft channels.

That just doesn't fit with GW's methodology or their deployment.

Their manufacturing is almost exclusively based in the UK, and, while maybe apocryphal, there's more than one story of excess stock being destroyed rather than sold cheaply and devaluing their product.

 Azreal13 wrote:
That just doesn't fit with GW's methodology or their deployment.

Their manufacturing is almost exclusively based in the UK, and, while maybe apocryphal, there's more than one story of excess stock being destroyed rather than sold cheaply and devaluing their product.

Exactly this.

Also, looking to get rid of it all for less than half retail is a massive red flag. If I were a betting man I’d put good money on this stock being stolen.

But then, sticking up on eBay as one easily found job lot as a means of fencing it is too boneheaded to contemplate.

That’s true, but never rule out stupidity.

Oh, I'm not saying I think it's impossible, just that it's really stupid!

Listing has been taken down by them now.

Really think something dodgy must have happened to get all that, shame I can't remember what I overheard about it in the shop.

Strangely though those Warhammer day coins, and the Bloodbowl teams, are from 2019, while some stuff is from last year.

 Azreal13 wrote:
But then, sticking up on eBay as one easily found job lot as a means of fencing it is too boneheaded to contemplate.

Professionally speaking?

I can confirm that many people up to no good really, really aren’t that smart.

Or at least aren’t as smart as me. Which admittedly isn’t a terribly high bar.

Would it be worth emailing GW about this, does anyone think? Like, it seems suspicious to me, but at the same time, if £100,000 of stock had gone missing, surely they'd know already and be watching places? That's not a small amount of stuff to go unnoticed.

Off the back of a truck or a recaster shutting down.

Or we're all conspiracy folks

What particularly made me suspicious is that the same seller is also selling the same, ridiculous quantities of high end perfume, all identical and from the same manufacturer.

I suspect this might be someone dealing in stolen container goods.

I noticed the listing is down due to an "error"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forgeworld-Warhammer-Massive-joblot-Read-Description/353890115720?hash=item52657ea088:g:GBIAAOSwGM9h-9td&pageci=45cf87ba-fdd9-49a7-972e-42a8ab50f6d4&redirect=mobile

StraightSilver wrote:
What particularly made me suspicious is that the same seller is also selling the same, ridiculous quantities of high end perfume, all identical and from the same manufacturer.

I suspect this might be someone dealing in stolen container goods.

Lol, I'll let Boots know that at least some people think No.7 is high end.

Before everyone gets their pitchforks out, it is important.to note that some people do, quite legitimately, make a living hoovering up stock in pallets at auction and various other sources and splitting them. Let's not go Judge Judy and Executioner, even if a bunch of GW stock finding its way into these channels is a bit odd.

 Mentlegen324 wrote:
Listing has been taken down by them now.

Really think something dodgy must have happened to get all that, shame I can't remember what I overheard about it in the shop.

Strangely though those Warhammer day coins, and the Bloodbowl teams, are from 2019, while some stuff is from last year.

Yup, that listing had just about every ebay red flag going. Incredibly barebones desription, no explanation as to how he had that much stuff when a explanation would be expected, then asking you to contact him by phone is pretty much code for "I don't want ebay to have a record of what I'm doing". He presumably intended to get an offer on the phone and sell it cash in hand, avoid ebay fees and electronic trail.

 Mentlegen324 wrote:

 RedDogMinis wrote:
There’s a phrase with manufacturing in China as “Uncle Wei” which is inventory manufactured with legit molds & production in the factory. It’s extra product from over production or stuff that’s made off the books at the legit source but then sold through under the table channels. It’s not always direct theft as in stolen goods but it might not be legit in the sense of being sold through proper channels that the owner would approve of.

That doesn't sound overly likely for at least £100,000 worth of both Forgeworld Resin, Made-to-Order metal and plastic GW stuff that's manufactured in Nottingham as far as i'm aware, and then there's the unreleased/unannounced Aeldari coins.

Why? You think Brits are any more honest than the Chinese?

It's not a mystery, just one of the following:
1) Sorcery
2) some form of recasting outside GW/FW.
3) stuff disappearing out the back door.
4) someone at FW running thier own private production line.
Likely a combo of 3 & 4.

Remember: Don’t suspect your neighbors. Report them.

I would think via ebay, or FB marketplace. Maybe someone selling their collection?

Considering things like the coins are only distributed through GW stores directly and aren't even sold trade, its a very strange setup. Almost like a GW staffer selling off a bunch of stock.


We know that GW HQ DOES sell excess things because a year or two back the Slaanesh Fiend sprue found its way onto a legitimate second hand seller on ebay by accident; way in advance of being released.

That said this amount of stock sounds like way way more than a collection of someone's pile of shame; and has enough unique items that aren't even sold trade nor have been sold yet that it sends up red flags.

Way underselling the market on things, like the coins, also suggests someone who wants to sell some of the stuff as fast as they can. They could easily make double on the coins if not more as they aren't even released yet.


A strange collection of stuff; too much stuff for one normal person; a lot of unreleased items; the original mega listing having very little real info and a phone number to call; undercutting the general market rate.