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I have purchased two GW Measuring tapes for 8$.

Within playing around 15 games, each measuring tape has broken.

The first broke when the metal piece at the front of the tape broke off.
the 2nd broke when the tape refused to roll out anymore.

Is anyone else having a problem with GW measuring tapes? or is my constant 40k measuring to strenuous on the equipment.

At least I think they got inches right on these, as opposed to the plastic whippy sticks, in which GW tried to redefine inches.

The GW accessories, including their modeling gear, unfortunately, is generally worse overall and costs more than similar non-GW items. The only 'GW' in my army is the models, everything else, including paint, glue, brushes, razors... is someone else, because they make it better and for cheaper.

Worse quality and a higher price tag--horrible combination for new hobbyists who don't know any better.

ITT: People who don't understand that you can return faulty merchandise at GW for a refund or a replacement.

Seriously people, this isn't a huge deal. Get an exchange and use the new one or get a refund and go buy one of those construction monstrosities that Home Depot sells.

I've only had this experience with the codexes.

my other gear, my dice, my tools, my paintbrushes are all in great quality.

I've had my tape measure since early 2008, it's not broken yet. I'm very happy with it.

Well, I think GW's hobby gear is like anything else. If you need it right then and there, there it is.

That being said, much like anything else, doing a bit of research and making sure you get what you want for your money is pretty much always a good idea.

My first GW tape measure lasted about a year and a half. The second one broke after 2 months.

I wasn't even aware GW MADE measuring tapes. I always have just gone to my local hardware store.

AesSedai wrote:Worse quality and a higher price tag--horrible combination for new hobbyists who don't know any better.

The problem with most other measuring tapes I find is that they're two heavy or large, because there actually built for construction.

The GW Tape fit in my case easy and was 8$ at the store, so I was like meh Ill keep my real tape in the tool box and keep this hobby one for my hobby. Too bad its broken twice (yes I refunded it and it broke again lol).

I love my GW tape measure. I'm admittedly on my second one, as the metal end of the first one broke off as some years of use, but I've been using the current one for at least a year as well.

I've honestly never had a problem with a GW tape measure.

Of course, having now said that...

Give me a good, heavy, metal cased, construction rated tape any day of the month. Sure, they might weight more but it's a few extra grams for the sake of a lot more survivability.

My friend is stupid enough to always buy a new one of those every few months. Myself I bought a tape measure 6 years ago for 99p from a hardware shop and it is still going strong!

You can get a fine tape measure at the dollar store.
Some are packaged with a sewing kit.
I have had mine for several years and it works great.

Perhaps being a tad heavy handed?

I have an old style black GW tape measure that I inherited from a friend getting out of the hobby a few years back. It has worked fine for 4 or 5 years now. I also have a couple of el-cheapo £1-for-2 tape measures I got from Poundland a couple of years back for my kids to use. These haven't broken either.

I'm not saying GW merchandise is great quality, and it certainly isn't cheap, but if you treat your tools with respect there isn't any reason why they should break from normal useage.

Of course, there's always the chance of a faulty batch.

I've had my old, beat up, gw measuring tape for about 4 years. I also have a newer one that's in this rubber encasing which is annoying, that one's about 2-3 years old. I've had a few issues, but nothing major.

If you don't like their tapes, goto home depot or a craft store, buy something from them for cheaper. Tapes break, those metal things break off all the time from any brand.

GW anything other than models/paint/books=BAD overpriced crap!

just buy one of those heavy duty construction tapes from a hardware store. Those will last you forever.

njpc wrote:I've had my old, beat up, gw measuring tape for about 4 years. I also have a newer one that's in this rubber encasing which is annoying, that one's about 2-3 years old. I've had a few issues, but nothing major.

Mine is this rubber coated version that I picked up the day of a tourney when I realized I had left my tape measure at home. I unwittingly bought it broken, at full price, as it's locking mechanism is faulty and will lock and unlock randomly without provocation. My regular tape measure is a little plastic promo item I got from a bottle of Lord Calvert about 15 years ago for free. It's been through 5 moves, three days of sitting in the rain, working at Home Depot for 2 years, sitting at the bottom of a toy box for another 7 years, and was finally rescued and enlisted as my 40k measure for the second time. Incredibly reliable, harder than a coffin nail, and best of all: FREE.

Balance wrote:At least I think they got inches right on these, as opposed to the plastic whippy sticks, in which GW tried to redefine inches.

sigged.

Personally I wouldn't buy one, for what you pay you can get exactly the same thing elsewhere and it probably is just as good. I bought a day-glo orange one for about £3, its smaller and lighter than a GW one, has lasted me 18 months (locking mechanism went about 1 month ago).

You're probably better off going down this route as well, asalthough I will recommend most GW products, despite price tag, this is one where they are being a bit silly. Plus, if you're like me, and the thought of accidentally bringing home someone else's tape measure (despite it being identical to yours) is off-putting, then you can look around until you find a truly funky looking one (like my day-glo orange one!).


I'm still looking for a replacement, as soo as I find one that looks awesome I will buy it, though I am thinking of being 'that guy' and getting myself a laser range-finder!

As odd as it sounds, one of the main reasons i really appreciate warmachine is after turn 1 you can generally get by with measure with the spray template's straight edge. Is remarkably easer then busting out the tape measure.

I still play both GW and PP games, as both have the strengths. But measuring is easier in PP based on the 4x4 board and close in game style.

I will recommend most GW products, despite price tag

Really? Which?

Anyone complaining about the size of measuring tapes bought from Home Depot, etc. are buying the wrong tapes.
If you don't want a metal cased monstrosity, there are plenty of others out there. You can buy them pretty cheaply, too.

My current gaming tape measure is one of the rubber coated GW ones.
Like Gavin, above, I went to an event at a store (Apoc battle), only to recall taht I took my measuring tape out for non-gaming use the night before and didn't put it back.
The GW tapes were the only ones they had.

That was about a year ago. I've had NO problems with it, and it has become my ONLY gaming tape. I use it for 40K, D&D, modelling (on occasion) and the occasional home project. I have had no problems with it and, oddly enough, it is my favorite of all the tape measures I've ever had.

As for people complaining about the metal tip coming off; likely, it's because you're abusing the tape. if you have it extended and just hit the button to let it roll itself back up, but don't stop the metal tip from clamming into the casing, you're causing the connection between the tip & the tape to weaken. Just be more careful.

I will say that EVERYONE at the event where I bought it, who was using a GW tape, had problems with it. EVERY ONE of them had their winding mechanism broken, and their tapes got stuck "extended." Hasn't happened to me, though.

Eric

I've never had one break that was from GW, and our FLGS owner keeps giving us more ... I think I'm up to about 8 or so ... keepem in a brown lunch bag

My dollar store one finally broke (the non-retract-lever-thingy stopped "non-retracting") at a FLGS so I bought a GW one. It's not that bad. Two friends have them and they've been great. One's had his about a year and it's good, the other has had it for the 3 years or so he's played, and it's still working, though the release button sometimes sticks a little. Even then, disassembling and lubricating the parts would probably fix it. I think it's all in how you care for your toys.

Balance wrote:At least I think they got inches right on these, as opposed to the plastic whippy sticks, in which GW tried to redefine inches.

I know someone who knew someone who made a bow out of one of those things and shot that person with a giant pencil. THey almost passed out from the sight of their own blood.

Smitty0305 wrote:I have purchased two GW Measuring tapes for 8$....

They're cheap, I don't think it's you either, having been a carpenter for years, I've gone through many tape measures, you get what you pay for. 4$ tape measures are pretty much the bottom of the barrel, go to a hardware store and check, it's actually a competitive price, as far as they go.

My suggestion, by a nice 12 footer and spend say, 15$ (not even the value of a single GW character blister) and try that out, I'm sure it will last longer, probably get a Stanley.

Most $4 tape measures are cheap Chinese junk, not just GW ones.

A little better (for 6$ on Amazon):

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-30-810-12-Foot-LeverLock-Tape/dp/B0002CX9CW

Even better (for $16):

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-33-692-16-Foot-Measure-AirLock/dp/B00002X2GY/ref=sr_1_13?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1291655352&sr=1-13

They're definitely not great, but they can last if you treat them right. Like someone else said, though, there is no accounting for a random batch of bad ones.

I've had mine for 2 years, and it's fine. It's not the best I've ever owned, but it's also not the worst.