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When Skaven Battle Magic cards came out, Great Escape games in Sacramento CA was charging $16 (msrp $4.95) for the cards. Though upset, I was a sucker and bought them at this time, because I wanted them. I thought this a ridiculous practice at the time. Their argument was that this is what they were going for on EBAY at the time, and the cards were sold out. Fast forward to today, and the same policy is in effect with the Ogre Kingdoms cards. This time I stood my ground and refused to pay these prices. They said the policy was to prevent people from buying up all the cards and putting them on ebay. I explained that I did not want to do that and just wanted to purchase one set for myself at regular price. They would not budge. I've been shopping at this store since 1993, and this is how they treat loyal customers. I feel like this is complete disrespect to the customer, and I don't think I will take my business there any longer.

It is impossible to "price gouge" on a luxury item. At least in the US, it can only be applied to people jacking up the price of bread and water (etc) before or during a civil emergency.

We have a sort-of free market. It only works when you do what you did - stop buying from them! So, good on you.

Perhaps someone else in your area can point out a place where you can get these at a reasonable price, if not ebay? Have you tried the Swap Shop?

there's a couple little stores in the area, I'll be checking them out for sure. This store is just the BIG one everyone goes too.

jcroxford wrote:When Skaven Battle Magic cards came out, Great Escape games in Sacramento CA was charging $16 (msrp $4.95) for the cards. Though upset, I was a sucker and bought them at this time, because I wanted them. I thought this a ridiculous practice at the time. Their argument was that this is what they were going for on EBAY at the time, and the cards were sold out. Fast forward to today, and the same policy is in effect with the Ogre Kingdoms cards. This time I stood my ground and refused to pay these prices. They said the policy was to prevent people from buying up all the cards and putting them on ebay. I explained that I did not want to do that and just wanted to purchase one set for myself at regular price. They would not budge. I've been shopping at this store since 1993, and this is how they treat loyal customers. I feel like this is complete disrespect to the customer, and I don't think I will take my business there any longer.

Thats a good idea.

That they even take this stance is laughable on so many levels.

Too bad you had this sort of experience with your store.

They're simply trying to make more money on an apparently wanted product (similar to how some stores upcharged on MTG in the early days... of course, distributors were doing the same to stores back then too so really nobody followed MSRP). Either way, vote with your wallet.

For those of us who don't play fantasy, what's so special about the cards? Are they just a completely optional but useful game tool (like the dark eldar portal that also gets overcharged for) or do they add a specific in game benefit like the D&D encounter cards?

Eh, they sell them for what people will pay. Thats why I ordered mine the day they came up on the GW website.

LOL that is hilarious. Don't get mad, laugh in their faces and spend your dinero elsewhere. Yes, they have the right to put whatever price they desire... they also have the right to go out of business if they don't price their stuff competitively. They are delusional if they think their only competition are the eBayers.

You want me to see if there are any left locally? I'll pick up a pack up for you. Going in today. PM me, let me know, and we can work out the details.

Edit: grammar error

Good one. Price gouging exits. To prevent it I am going to price gouge you. Awesome piece of circular logic.

I shop at stores/sites that offer me stuff at the lowest price, not the highest. It seems like a backwards way to do business, that is if you want repeat customers.

Would you rather they sold their shipment on Ebay and not given you the chance to buy them at all?

mattyboy22 wrote:Would you rather they sold their shipment on Ebay and not given you the chance to buy them at all?

Well, you could just go but them on eBay!

You know, thinking about this makes me realize how full of fail GW's strategy with these cards is.

They should keep them as a regular stocked item. I mean, they already paid for the artwork and typesetting (which is the expensive part), all they need to do is either order a second run, or a larger initial one.

But no, make them super small runs so you get a higher charge from the printer (and smaller profits), then let your customers cut each others throats over the few you released instead of buying direct from you. Brilliant! Or not.

I would suggest checking out A-1 Comics in Roseville if you are in the area. They have a pretty decent selection of GW stock and the staff is friendly. I go there and GEG when I am in the area.

I don't like it, but I can't totally blame them, either. They've got a product that they can get a certain amount for... Why not do it? it's not like they're going to be going for those prices forever.

I've got kids who were into Pokemon when it first came out. Every expansion that would be released, the $3 MSRP packs were going for $5 and $6, easily, because they were so hard to get. Other places would hold their 1st printing shipments until they got 2nd printing shipments. They'd sell them along side each other, with the 1st printing's jacked up in price.

Now, the part of me that was paying those prices wasn't too fond of it. lol The Free Market Capitalist in me was quite happy for them. As has been said, it's a luxury item. We don't HAVE to buy them.

I also agree that voting with your wallet is the best way to get your point across (although, TELLING them that you're voting with it isn't a bad way to emphasize it).

Eric

So in short, if those prices scare away the customer base, they end up without customers.

If the customers continue to come, well then that might encourage them to hike prices again.

Vote with your wallet. Buy where you want to.

Yup. Buy from an on-line discounter; tell your friends the same site and proceed to play at the store where the guy raises above MSRP. His strategy will have worked to keep everyone from buying up his stock and everyone will be happy


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Phobos wrote:You know, thinking about this makes me realize how full of fail GW's strategy with these cards is.

They should keep them as a regular stocked item. I mean, they already paid for the artwork and typesetting (which is the expensive part), all they need to do is either order a second run, or a larger initial one.

But no, make them super small runs so you get a higher charge from the printer (and smaller profits), then let your customers cut each others throats over the few you released instead of buying direct from you. Brilliant! Or not.

GW did a similar thing with those limited run skull dice for WHFB. Even at their crazy prices I fully intended to pick up some of those when they came out. But....every last pack was scooped up and now they're out of production. Good on them. They sold what they had, which is a win for them. They also never sold a single piece more, which I wonder about.

@Warone

A fitting reply to your Avatar




Since it does come from Metalocalypse

As far as the topic goes. The product sells what the market will bear in your area. If you can purchase it cheaper going out of your area as well as looking online then that is the way you should go.

privateer4hire wrote:Yup. Buy from an on-line discounter; tell your friends the same site and proceed to play at the store where the guy raises above MSRP. His strategy will have worked to keep everyone from buying up his stock and everyone will be happy

I really disagree. Here is what I think you should do.

1) Stop buying at that store.
2) Find a FLGS that charges normal prices. Most of them have clubs that offer discounts if you join them.
3) Tell all your friends

You're right to not go back. There are online retailers willing to give you bone deep discounts on the same items, and there are other brick and mortar stores that are willing to offer you excellent customer service for your patronage (and often have loyalty programs so you can get some form of discount).


I got ripped off by a FLGS here in New York City and haven't been back since. Long story short, I bought a bunch of Reaper Miniatures in solo blisters, in addition to some hobby supplies. Not 5 minutes later, as I was waiting at the subway stop, I checked my bag- one of the miniatures was not in there (it was, however, on the receipt). When I returned the store, I was told that it must have 'fallen out of the bag' and when I pressed the issue, asking how exactly something just falls out of a large shopping bag, I was accused of trying to scam them. I was a longtime, $100/mo+ customer, who they lost, for the sake of a $5 miniature that I immediately ordered online. I haven't found a good FLGS in the area to replace them, so have, for the past few months, been using online retailers. I've found that most have great service- For instance, warstore.com usually gets the order out the same exact day they receive it, and are really quick friendly, and thorough with their communication. Dakka's own swap shop is excellent for getting slightly used items for deep, deep discounts. Ebay's got a number of rock-solid retailers as well, Hoard of Bitz, Dzur's Treasures, the Players Cove, and The Neutral Zone have all left me a very satisfied customer. Themn again, I guess the real issue arises if you primarily play at your FLGS (I don't). If you play there, and are friends with everyone else who does, it's a lot harder to just walk away.

So, rather than put a 'one per customer' limit, they decided to cut out the middle man, and do the gouging themselves.

Feth me! It's not often I say this sort of thing, but I hope their store burns down.

And joking apart, why not tell GW? May not achieve owt, but it might just get them to belt up.

Mr Mystery wrote:And joking apart, why not tell GW?

Don't do that, or they'll decide to charge everyone $16 for those cards!

Ho ho!

Though I suspect they might not be too amused to see someone seriously taking the piss! (cue some smart arse saying something along the lines of that's GWs job, or a variation upon)

In all seriousness, Mr. Mystery has a very good point-

GW is very diligent in the enforcement of their trade terms. If this in violation of their terms, GW would be keenly interested in this information. That being said, I'm not familiar in the least with the trade terms.

Just don't buy them! Make your own flash cards. There is NOTHING you can do because if you don't buy them they will just sell them on ebay anyway.

Telling GW won't do anything.

I can see where the store is coming from, but it's still a crappy thing to do. But, yeah. just don't buy them.

If you're totally sure you want one of GW's special releases and want to make sure you get it no matter what, you really gotta just pre-order it from GW. That's really the only way to guarantee you'll get it if you don't have FLGS that will be able to accommodate you.

I deleted my prior post as per a freinds request.

See now, heres the stores mistake...if they are selling for $16 on ebay, the store should sell them for $13. First, that gets them a huge premium over MSRP. Second, its close enough to ebay prices its not worth someone buying them to put them on ebay, fees would eat the $3 difference. On the consumer end...your gonna get gouged either way, at least if the store was a couple $$ cheaper than ebay you got the lesser of the gouging.

You do know these are still available on GWs own site for a few quid?

Phobos wrote:You know, thinking about this makes me realize how full of fail GW's strategy with these cards is.

They should keep them as a regular stocked item. I mean, they already paid for the artwork and typesetting (which is the expensive part), all they need to do is either order a second run, or a larger initial one.

But no, make them super small runs so you get a higher charge from the printer (and smaller profits), then let your customers cut each others throats over the few you released instead of buying direct from you. Brilliant! Or not.

This - these ultra-limited products are just throwing your customers to the vultures. Especially when you can order 10(!) per customer, way to make sure 90% of the stock gets scooped up by Ebay resellers. Maybe try limit 2 in the future? That way people can order one for themselves and maybe order one for their buddy if they need/want to.

I almost ordered one too - my total came to 32.70 - but for some reason the GW site didn't offer me the free shipping (and wanted $14! for it) so I passed.

Mad4Minis wrote:See now, heres the stores mistake...if they are selling for $16 on ebay, the store should sell them for $13. First, that gets them a huge premium over MSRP. Second, its close enough to ebay prices its not worth someone buying them to put them on ebay, fees would eat the $3 difference. On the consumer end...your gonna get gouged either way, at least if the store was a couple $$ cheaper than ebay you got the lesser of the gouging.

This was my thought. If you're going to mark up from MSRP based on demand for the item, it makes business sense to undercut competitor's prices enough to make your stock more desireable, but not so much that you lose significant profit. GW doesn't offer much in the way of wholesale discount for FLGS's to make much profit, one reason I can see for the store to make this decision. However, where do they draw the line? Only limited edition items? Everyday stock?